Ran Run Running

Year in review

2011-12-31T21:15:00.000-08:00

~Finished my 3rd half marathon

~Ran my first full marathon

~Finished an October 5k in 25 minutes

~Miles total for 2011=860.96

Manchester City Marathon

2011-11-07T02:14:00.000-08:00

BIB #248 F40-49 4:59:34

Place	332
Out Of	450
Bib#	248
First Name	JUDY
Last Name	KOLLMORGEN
Gender	F
Age	44
City	BEDFORD
State	NH
Guntime	4:59:34
ChipTime
Ageplc	29
Agefin	35
Div	F40-49
Winning Time for Your Division	2:59:56
Genplc	99
Genfin	124
10KSPLIT
Time	1:04:56
Pace	10:28
13MSPLIT
Time	2:22:57
Pace	11:00
21MSPLIT
Time	4:00:44
Pace	11:28
TAGTIME
Time	4:59:34
Pace	11:26

Witch Way to 5k 2011

2011-10-29T11:46:00.000-07:00

TIME 25:08 same as bib!

Post Spring Training

2011-06-14T05:25:00.000-07:00

I've been toying with speed work and having a blast! Who knew that 200's could be so much fun. I love the feeling of controlled abandon that my recent trips to the track have given me. Those 200 meters of all out flying are, to me, akin to riding a roller coaster. I feel free and FAST! And I love the reminder (via little beep from my garmin) that it's time to put on the breaks for a couple hundred meters, catch my breath, re-fuel my muscles.
I've spent almost two years working on my distance, slowly gaining mileage, carefully adding intensity.......slow, sure, steady, careful.....
Now finally, once a week, I get to go!

more race photos

2011-05-13T19:11:00.000-07:00

Where else should I put them?

The race that made a wish come true

2011-05-08T07:26:00.000-07:00

My third Half Marathon (hence the three fingers in every photo) and my hardest by a long shot. There were many, many moments during the race when I wanted to drop out. I don't know if it was the 6 mile UP hill at the start, or the unpaved roads during mile 9 and 10, but this race kicked my butt!

Here I am blissfully unaware pre-race.

And visiting the VIP Port-a-potties.

Post race. The smile on my face is out of pure relief that the race was over and I was still alive.

Then came the sweet reward and the reminder of the real reason I was there. I ran to make a wish come true for a precious three year old boy with brain cancer.

I didn't come close to breaking any personal records, but I made it through chemo and came out the other side with my running shoes tightly laced. I am very very grateful!

Place Bib# Name G Age Chiptime Pace

412 120 Judy F 43 2:00:57 9:14

Last run before taper

2011-05-03T19:00:00.000-07:00

I struggled today. I couldn't catch my breath and my legs were so heavy. And it was only mile 2 when this started. As you can see in the picture I am already whipped and I had 9 more miles to go.

Thank goodness there was some beautiful early spring scenery around to take my mind off my failing body.

The temps were great and there was only a hint of a breeze, and though I was moving slowly I DID make it back to the sight of my original photo and this time I only had two more miles to go before limping home

I pray this last performance is not an indicator of how unprepared I am for Saturdays’ race! Yikes!

Finding Bliss

2011-04-29T07:26:00.001-07:00

Running my last 5 miler before race day, I had a beautiful tailwind coming off The Long Island sound here in CT, where I am visiting my mom. The clouds were heavy and ready to burst and the wind was causing white caps, but the air was cool and perfect for running.

8 miles in Maui

2011-03-29T19:11:00.000-07:00

I look a bit haggard given the heat, but man did it feel good! I even got an 80 minute sports massage on the beach right after.

I'm back

2011-03-20T21:02:00.000-07:00

I will run to make a child with a life threatening illness smile. Please support me, so I can support them. Thank you!

Remission!!!

2011-03-05T20:07:00.000-08:00

My scans are clear, my blood work is fine and my eye pain is gone. Now all I need to do is stay on a low dose of chemo for another few months!
Big Lake Half Marathon here I come. I may be stumbling my way through the last few miles but I am going to finish. Because, for me, the greatest way to celebrate the end of this medical journey will be to run.

Outside

2011-02-19T14:20:00.000-08:00

After a few weeks of shuffling on the treadmill one of my running buddies dragged me outside today. And boy was she a patient angel! She stayed by my side the whole 5 miles even though there were turtles passing us. As soon as I get my legs back I am going to pay it forward and run with some friends that I know could use some encouragement. Sometimes you just need a fellow runner to guide you along when you can't seem to find your own path.

Favorite Quotes Friday

2011-02-18T18:11:00.000-08:00

"Methinks that the moment my legs began to move, my thoughts began to flow."
- Henry David Thoreau

"We may train or peak for a certain race, but running is a lifetime sport."
-Alberto Salazar

What keeps me going

2011-02-15T12:41:00.000-08:00

Favorite Quotes Friday

2011-02-11T19:01:00.000-08:00

Fridays blogs are devoted to my favorite running quotes. Join me!

"If you run, you are a runner. It doesn't matter how fast or how far. It doesn't matter if today is your first day or if you've been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run."
--John Bingham

"I run because it's so symbolic of life. You have to drive yourself to overcome the obstacles. You might feel that you can't. But then you find your inner strength, and realize you're capable of so much more than you thought."
--Arthur Blank

At the risk of sounding like a medical journal...

2011-02-04T09:50:00.000-08:00

This treatment, in particular the methotrexate, is kicking my ass. And because of this I sadly have to drop out of yet another half marathon.
I didn't make this decision lightly, and though it seemed obvious to everyone but me, my most realistic goal is The Big Lake Half in May. I'm currently able to maintain about an 18 mile a week base and I don't see that number rising in the next four weeks.
It's OK....really (she tells herself) I mean, I can still run and that alone is a blessing that many people, much worse off than myself, will never know.
Still, I do long for those miles where I felt invincible, full of breath and seemingly able to run forever. Ohhh how I miss that feeling.

2011-01-30T06:17:00.000-08:00

Another snowy weekend run. My last few runs have been in the three mile range followed by a few miles of walking. I have resigned my self to the fact that this is what my body can healthfully handle right now and I have made peace with it. My body is healing and needs the energy to do so. I hope to be running well into my eighty's and to make this big picture goal happen, I don't mind stepping back right now.
I am going to take the Hampton half off the schedule. Is there anyone out there in New England who wants a free bib transfer?

88° in Puert Rico

2011-01-25T11:47:00.000-08:00

As we were waiting to leave Boston it looked like this.

When we landed in Aguadilla it looked like this.

Matt did a ton of this.

I did a ton of this.

And I squeezed in a few of these. (wishing it was truly a photo of me :))

Physically I am feeling well! The transfer from New Hampshire weather to the Caribbean climate made my runs feel a bit sluggish. I didn't pack my hydration belt so I kept my miles short and my pace turtle like. It was wonderful to have a week off from chemo, but I'm back at it this morning. I'm hoping to meet up with some friends this weekend and try to get a long run in, but I am going to wait a few days and see how my body reacts to the drug reintroduction. My husband and I had a lot of time to talk about my upcoming races. He REALLY wants me to strictly walk the Hampton Half. He thinks that if I go into it with the mind set that I will run slow and walk when needed, I'll end up pushing myself and running the whole thing. Truth be told, he is probably right. I'm not very good at holding back in the midst of a race, and I really do need to protect my reserves while going through treatment. I'm going to have to chew on this for a few days.

1°

2011-01-17T11:30:00.000-08:00

Yes that is 1 degree! But it was a beautiful and bright sunny 1° which helped keep me, and some new running buddies, plugging along on our 5.5 hilly run. I am so used to running alone that having company made the time and miles seemingly fly by! I definitely need to explore this more. The women I ran with today are naturally slower paced than I am, so my chemo haze didn't hinder their run and make me feel like I was holding them back. It was really nice, I had such a good time.

Reality

2011-01-15T18:14:00.000-08:00

I just noticed that I only have four weeks before my next half marathon. And while I never planed on racing it I was hoping to at least jog it. My last long run outside went well, I mean I felt well, but I was slow and only ran 9 miles at a 10:20 pace. To give you perspective; My normal race pace is 8:49 and my normal train pace is 9:30. So ya the chemo is screwing with my race plans. I guess that now that I have a two week break from chemo, I can gently try to recapture some of my endurance and not think or worry about speed. I'm gonna be slow; I have to let it go. But, I can still finish the race and feel accomplished.
New Goal= Make it over the finish line and not look at the time.

The Cast

2011-01-14T20:11:00.000-08:00

Matt my husband of almost 18 years (pictured here with son#2) my rock, my friend and the brunt of much of my frustration. Also the cause of much of my frustration, but I'll keep him. He supports my running goals and pushes me to research ways to stay healthy. He is an excellent provider, an avid surfer and makes me laugh constantly.

Sam (16) son #1. My athlete, my button pusher, my harshest critic and my biggest fan. This boy keeps me on my toes and has since the day he was born. His honor and sportsmanship fill me with pride and when he picks me up and twirls me around in a bear hug my heart sings.

Annie (15) daughter #1. My sensitive artist, bleeding heart, care taker and talented actress. My joy and ease. I half jokingly say that Annie was put in this world to make my life easier. Her generosity is infectious and her intellect is great.

Harrison (11) son#2. My boy scout, adventurer, ruff and tumble sweet hearted boy. Constantly making me gifts and writing me letters. This boy is adorably quirky with a great sense of humor. Harry is a ham with the mind of a scientist.

Lily (9) daughter#2. My spitfire. Born so early weighing only 4 pounds this little one loves sports and adventure. She is the only girl on her all boy football team and wouldn't have it any other way. She holds her own, stands her ground and doesn't like the word "no." She has contagious energy and is the child most likely to say "Mom why don't you go for a run?"

The roads are paved

2011-01-14T18:28:00.000-08:00

And I am done with chemotherapy treatment for two weeks! The docs are letting me take next week off so my man and I can take a short getaway to Puerto Rico. I'm not sure if I will do much running there, but I will definitely do tons of surfing. I figure my conditioning won't take too much of a hit.
This week was particularly brutal leaving me with two days of nausea and lethargy, but I am feeling much better today and plan to go for a short run outside tomorrow. The roads are paved and the temps are looking to be above 35. Whoop!

Blustery Running

2011-01-12T09:19:00.000-08:00

First run of 2011

2011-01-09T15:29:00.000-08:00

Well I did it! This morning I strapped on my Garmin, bundled up for the 20 degree weather and ran six miles outside. This was my first outdoor run of the year and it felt great. I was slow (10min mile) but I finished with a clear head and much needed perspective.
I also did a little online shopping today and purchased The Runner's Field Manual: A Tactical (and Practical) Survival Guide by Mark Remy. I'm hoping it will give me a bit of insight into some aspects of running that confuse me. I'll update after I read it.
Chemotherapy is going well. Even though they upped my methotrexate levels, my body seems to be getting used to it. I have a good amount of energy and much less nausea. Hooray!

New Goals

2011-01-04T13:57:00.000-08:00

May 7-Big Lake Half Marathon
November 6-Manchester Marathon
Man it feels good to have some racing to look forward to. Even if I have to walk them, I love seeing them on the calendar.

The scoop

2010-12-30T10:47:00.000-08:00

It is comforting that I can jump on the treadmill and run for an hour. During these times of questioning my body, and it's health, the maintenance of my endurance is a life saver. It keeps me feeling strong and sound.
The fact that my runs are slow and indoors is a bit disheartening, but the benefits of my past training far outweigh my self inflicted disappointments. I am grateful to my core and when I come out of this chemo haze next spring it's nice to know I wont be beginning my training from the very scratch.
In the meantime me and my treadmill are becoming very god friends.

I need a new goal

2010-12-04T12:03:00.000-08:00

I'm having a really hard time reminding myself of my recent accomplishments. You see, just after I finished my second Half, I found out that I have to undergo Chemotherapy. I guess, in the back of my mind there was a very real seed of hope that attaining my running goals would push my sarcoidosis into remission. It didn't. And I have to stay focused on the fact that this doesn't make me a failure.

So, while I plan on continuing to run, I won't be training for my first full marathon. I'm sad. I need a new goal where running is concerned, a maintenance plan or something to tide me through the next few months. Maybe to keep a 20 mile week base or run a few 5k's...I don't know.....

It's also really bugging me that all of the doctors involved in my care seem to think that runners are crazy. Ughhhhhhh!

Second Half Marathon Done!

2010-11-14T12:17:00.000-08:00

WooooooHoooooo!!!!!

1:53:53

8:41 mile

place div/tot  div   gun time  chip time  pace    age s  race number

341   40/188   F4049  1:54:11   1:53:53    8:42    43 F   602

nervous

2010-11-13T05:56:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is my second half marathon and I, per my trainers instructions, have done nothing this past week except a slow 3 mile run. Is my body really conditioned enough to race another 13.1 miles only a week after my first with so little training in between? I am feeling so sluggish......and a bit chubby ;)

Any thought or words of encouragement?

Manchester City Half Marathon

2010-11-07T11:58:00.000-08:00

My first Half Marathon!

It went like this:

G Age St Guntime Tagtime Pace Div/Tot Gen/Tot

F  43      1:56:41       1:55:42   8:50    29/143     117/507

First

2010-11-06T17:56:00.001-07:00

Tomorrow morning I will get up at 5:45am and do my little ritual to get myself ready for my very fist half marathon.

SO nervous.

Details to follow.

I'm back updated

2010-10-07T19:21:00.000-07:00

I've been nursing a sore foot which I believe is a simple inflamed cyst pressing on some nerves as it only hurts when my laces are tied tightly and I run over 7 miles. That said, I have promised myself to never run through pain without the advice of a sports medicine doctor. So for the last 10 days I have been waiting for my appointment which is tomorrow morning.

I went on the V boards for input and got some really snarky answers. This was my first introduction to a bit of snobby running elitism and it hurt my feelings.

Are hurt feelings aloud in running or are we supposed to be too tough?

UPDATE:

I saw the Podiatric Sports Medicine doctor this morning. He looked at the bumps on my feet, had me walk and jog both barefoot and with my running shoes on, and asked questions about my training. The bumps are NOT cysts, they are anterior tibial fibromas. Basically benign lesions that (on one foot) are causing a bit of tendonitis. No big deal at all. Ice and moleskin.

He felt that structurally my feet/legs look great and does not think I should change shoes. In fact, with the addition of a little moleskin, he thinks I have chosen the correct brand and fit for my feet.

Updated Again:

They are sarcoid lesions. I saw the specialist who monitors my sarcoidosis and he confirmed what I had been praying wasn't the fact. We are discussing treatment options, but I don't need to stop running.

on surf and 17 years

2010-09-20T12:39:00.000-07:00

My husband and I celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary this past weekend. And while we have a pretty outstanding relationship, I have spent almost two decades living the life of a surf widow. I have learned that if there are surf-able waves anywhere within a 200 mile radius my needs and desires are secondary to my husbands stoke.

This is why I started running. Ha! Now we have two passions to dodge before we have some serious one on one.

Speaking of running. I had my long run of 7 miles yesterday. I felt great and still do....mhhh maybe it's time to kick it up a notch?

Why do I get fat?

2010-09-13T07:42:00.000-07:00

Every time I up my mileage I up my waistline! Logically I know that I am hungrier and make more satisfying yet higher caloric food choices. I also rationalize away the extra cookie with excuses like "I ran 10 miles today so I deserve it."

But dang it I am really really hungry. No joke starving. all. the. time.

long slow photo day

2010-09-09T19:12:00.000-07:00

Realistically the whole idea of taking photos at every run was a bit overwhelming. Plus, I kept forgetting my camera. So I figured that since I actually use my hydration belt on my long training days, AND I am supposed to run slowly I could both pack my camera (in said belt) and use it without hindering my performance. Thanks Johann for the suggestion!

The day started out perfectly cloudy and cool as I parked my car at a nearby field.

I then started the .5 mile downs being very careful to stay light on my toes to protect my knees

I passed by some beautiful foliage and came upon some nice and easy flats followed by a winding dirt road surrounding a little pond.

Then, at last, just as it started to rain I came back around to the long hill up to my car.

A wonderful day and a joyous run!

Heat

2010-09-03T07:45:00.000-07:00

We have had record breaking temps here in New England for the past week. The air quality has been very poor and the local news has been overflowing with warnings to keep out of the sun. Usually, in the midst of training, I would ignore all of the hype....not this time. I tried to run my scheduled 5 miles on Tuesday and ended up walking the last few. I was having bad stomach issues and had zero energy so I took the cue from my body and slowed down.

The good news is today, in the wake of hurricane Earl, the temps have dropped and the air feels crisp and clean. Off I go!

training plans

2010-08-27T19:18:00.000-07:00

I started one of Hal Higdons training plans this week. Its definitely on the easy side so far, but in a few weeks I know I will be feeling the challenge. I still haven't had time to figure out my garmond completely, but like the training plan I'm sure it will unfold in time.

My oldest son re tore some ligaments in his knee during football practice. My poor boy is off the field and back in PT for the season........bummer.

In other exciting news I am going to start bringing a camera on most of my runs. There is something so satisfying about the creativity of photography mixed with the physicality of running. I also think the mixture of the two will help me stay in the moment and worry less about my performance. Any trick to keep this old dog from over training is a good one! Now I just figure out how to lug my Nikon D80 around....... hmmm

The verdict is heavy and so is my home

2010-08-23T08:29:00.000-07:00

So The garmon is heavy. Heavy as in; all I could think about during my last run was this huge weightiness on my left wrist. I am hoping (i think) that I will get used to it's bulk. The verdict is still out.

My children have returned to school and the weight of silence in my home is deafening. I miss my kids! Since the oldest became school age our summers have been filled with so many adventures and even more lazy lounging. I hate the structure of alarm clocks, lunch making, bus getting , after school shuffling and all the other tasks which make life...well, life. I have thought of home schooling more then once, but I eventually admit to myself that my daydreaming stems from pure laziness, not improved education.

On the up side, I should have more time for some photography (tho my favorite subjects will be off learning instead of posing for me) and most importantly running! Now here is where I must begin to remind myself that just because I have a free 4 hour block of time, does not mean that I should run for 4 hours. Moderation moderation moderation.

The Garmin

2010-08-18T20:13:00.000-07:00

I did it, I bought the 305 and OMG is that mother funker huge! I spend this afternoon getting to know it and will take it on my first run tomorrow. I'm scared because the thing comes with way to many information options.

Then why did i buy it you ask? I'm sick of mapping my distances before or after a run and god forbid I want to alter to a shorter or longer run. My Nike device worked great until I started training with two pairs of shoes and I could only sync with one at a time and I got all confused and frustrated.

My deepest hope is that I can head out tomorrow and just go as far and long as I want to and when I get home the garmin will tell me how well i did on hills and flats and distance.

Hmmmm I'll let you know,

starting back

2010-08-16T16:35:00.000-07:00

Planning an easy 3 miles tomorrow. I have the doc's OK and, most importantly, my body feels good. I'll let you know how it goes.

on toughing it out and grief

2010-08-12T06:12:00.000-07:00

I had a beautiful five miler on Monday, and an even more spectacular 6 miler on Wednesday. I felt strong and healthy.

Then yesterday evening as I watched my youngest daughter at football practice I started experiencing two very different, yet equally overwhelming, sensations.

The first was pride. My 9 year old daughter loves football. She also wants to play it. And although there are no "girl" football teams, she, with the backing of anti discrimination statutes, joined the boys team as the only girl player. She is pictured in green and as you can see is holding her own against the occasional taunts and raised eyebrows of her team mates. She is pushing through, my Lily is. She knows that the sweet rewards of respect and camaraderie will come sooner the harder she tries. She takes my breath away.

The second sensation was of the physical kind. During the two hour practice I started getting the chills. My chest began to ache and the gradual, yet steady, pain in my neck made it so by the end I could not turn my head. I got myself and Lily safely home, turned the care and feeding of my children over to my husband, and went to bed. By midnight my temperature was 103.7, and I knew I was having a sarcoid flare up.

I won't be running for a week or so while I recover and the depression is starting to close in. There is a great article in this months runners world magazine about the grief process runners go through while injured or sick. I will be studying it.

If anyone reads this post can you suggest any other reading? Ask around please?

Forgot my watch

2010-08-08T17:46:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I went for that long run that I have been putting off. We were at our lake house and while the family swam and played I took off to put in my 9 miles.

I laced my shoes, put on my shorts, stretched, grabbed my sunglasses, and last but not least went to put my watch on....NO WATCH. Whoops I forgot it at home.

For about five minutes I seriously considered bagging my run. I am currently using the Nike+ chip system, and I could not imagine not having this run logged on the beautiful graph on my computer.

Alas I came to my senses, took a quick look at the time, and set out on a route that I knew was 4.5 miles out and 4.5 back.

It was liberating! Kind of like the picture above of my son being thrown through the air. I knew I would land safely home, but the whole way I just went with the flow without looking at my pace, time or much else really. Just the world as it unfolded around me.

5k

2010-08-03T08:51:00.000-07:00

28:41

8:58

Another good race for me! Now I just need to start getting those long runs in. I am having the best summer of my life with all of this sunshine and outdoor play with the kids, and I don't want to complain, but a few cloudy days would help me get my distance in.

Mood

2010-08-02T13:50:00.000-07:00

I took a few days off then went for a easy five miles today. My pace was good and my knee felt fine. More importantly, my slight melancholy has completely disappeared. I have known forever how closely intertwined my mood and my running are. Still, it always shocks me a bit when I realize a cranky morning has turned into a brilliant afternoon altered only by a bit of exertion.

My kids often say "mom I think you need to go for a run." I know what they really mean is "mom your in a really nasty mood. Go fix it!"

I hope this is a good thing. I mean I hope they are learning the importance of healthy coping mechanisms, and not, that there mom is just a tad loony. At least there not learning to tell their mom it's time for her happy meds or even worse making her a cocktail!

Suggesting a run doesn't seem so bad given the alternatives :)

Listening

2010-07-30T19:37:00.000-07:00

I was supposed to run 10 miles, but I threw in the towel at 4. I felt great except for a very tiny nagging in my right knee. I don't think it is fracture related as it didn't hurt during my foot strike. It feels more like a tendon issue.

Either way, I am going to take it easy for a few days and keep my vow of not running through any knee pain.

I want to be running when I'm eighty years old so I gotta take care of the goods now!

Trail run Mt. Magor

2010-07-30T01:26:00.000-07:00

This is my uphill trail run/climb. It is up to the top of a beautiful mountain that overlooks Lake Winnipesaukee. I get a head start then meet my family at the summit for a picnic lunch.

Though inspiring, I think I need to get a long flat run under my belt today and the temps look to only be in the low eighties

Woot!

I'm going for 10 miles , but will stop if my knee starts feeling funky.

Wish me luck.

I need it!

Where I run

2010-07-29T16:51:00.001-07:00

These are a few pictures from my long hilly route. Rambling roads along an educational farm filled with fields of horses, fenced off gardens and most importantly, shady trees.

Much better

2010-07-27T19:59:00.000-07:00

I am back home in hilly New Hampshire after being in flat Connecticut for a few weeks. And while I often complain about the hills in these parts, I think my body has grown quite fond of them; as today I ran a 10k in 55:55. That 9 minute pace is a good time for me during the summer heat. I'ts good to be home.

Illness

2010-07-25T07:50:00.000-07:00

Boy the word Illness means so much more to me than the average girl. Sure I get my fair share of the normal bugs like head colds and stomach viruses; the latter of which i am ailing from right this minute.

And, while usually I can recover in a day or two from these pesky little sicknesses, the same does not hold true when I get a flare up of Sarcoidosis.

Sarcoidosis (or as I simply call it sarcoid) is an autoimmune disease which I was diagnosed with in 2001. Although, looking back, I can see that it reared it's ugly head much earlier in my life through multiple miscarriages and unusual lumps, bumps and fevers. Sarcoid has left me with eight scars from eight different lymph node biopsies taken from my neck, underarm, groin, chest wall, breast, thymus, uterus (full hysterectomy) and removal of my gallbladder.

Each and every time the docs believed that I had cancer (lymphoma to be exact) and told me that the surgeries must be done to acquire a correct diagnosis. The surgeries would probably still be happening, leaving me empty of all internal tissue, had I not been recommended to a brilliant pulminologist at The Dana Farber Institute. Upon examining all of my biopsies, said brilliant doc found little cells called noncaziating granulomas. The finding of these granulomas combined with my high fevers and painfully engorged lymph nodes gave me a positive diagnosis of sarcoid.

I was and am delighted to have a diagnosis! I am followed closely by my doc, and have learned some great holistic remedies to keep the flare ups at bay. And if my prophylactic lifestyle doesn't keep the sarcoid away, I can always go to (my personal last last last resort) steroids. So far the roids have shrunk down the really dangerous lumps like those in my lungs, heart, and eyes and I feel blessed that I have this option.

That said, what I really really feel blessed about is my ability to run!!!! It totally sucks when a flare up keeps me down for a few weeks, but I always know that through steady training I have conditioned myself well enough to jump back into running. Sure it may take me awhile to rebuild pace and endurance, but my core is intact and for that I am eternally grateful.

Running might just save my life.

sweating through six

2010-07-24T08:20:00.000-07:00

Yesterday sucked! Granted it was 94 degrees with 100 humidity, but sheesh my pace stayed at 10:48.....the whole six mile run (or should I say shuffle?) I literally could not get my limbs to move any faster.

I did bring some Gu Brew and it helped a bit with my stamina. I could have run a few more miles at this turtle pace, but I certainly wasn't going to get any faster.

I'm wondering if anyone else experiences such decrease in pace during the really hot summer days. Any tips and/or advice ass kicking would be appreciated!

Rain

2010-07-19T07:07:00.000-07:00

I'm in Connecticut visiting my mom and awaiting the arrival of my nephew. By arrival I mean birth. My sister, Heather, is due any minute and I will be with her coaching her along as the little guy makes his way into this crazy world. This will be my second time as her birth coach and the coolness of that is beyond words.

I have given birth four times myself. I've also been pregnant five other times which resulted in miscarriage........but that's for another post.

So, it's raining here now and off I am about to go-a-running. Running in the rain ahhhhh one of my all time favorite things to do. Unless it's cold (which it's not. 82dg as I write) then I hate it.

Hi I'm Judy and I run

2010-07-18T08:08:00.000-07:00

So, last year (2009) I trained for the New Hampshire Seacoast Half Marathon. I over trained and ended up with stress fractures on both of my tibial plateaus. I have been running forever, yet never in moderation.

I am now old.....forty three to be exact, and things just aren't holding up the way they used to. I am finding I need to stretch (gasp!) and limit my long runs, and not run through any pain, and really pay big bucks for supportive running shoes.....yada yada yada.

Sigh, such is my journey and the reason for this blog. I'd love to meet other runners. Like me. Ya know old, with children.

So welcome!

Ran Run Running

Year in review

Manchester City Marathon

Witch Way to 5k 2011

Post Spring Training

more race photos

The race that made a wish come true

Last run before taper

Finding Bliss

8 miles in Maui

I'm back

Remission!!!

Outside

Favorite Quotes Friday

What keeps me going

Favorite Quotes Friday

At the risk of sounding like a medical journal...

88° in Puert Rico

1°

Reality

The Cast

The roads are paved

Blustery Running

First run of 2011

New Goals

The scoop

I need a new goal

Second Half Marathon Done!

nervous

Manchester City Half Marathon

First

I'm back *updated*

on surf and 17 years

Why do I get fat?

long slow photo day

Heat

training plans

The verdict is heavy and so is my home

The Garmin

starting back

on toughing it out and grief

Forgot my watch

5k

Mood

Listening

Trail run Mt. Magor

Where I run

Much better

Illness

sweating through six

Rain

Hi I'm Judy and I run

I'm back updated