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Running for a Cause

December 19, 2011 by Leave a Comment

I set a new PR (personal record) earlier this month. I broke the 40 minute barrier! I ran the Wiggin’ Winter Dash in 39.30.

My brother-in-law asked me to join him in this race for juvenile diabetes research; he was recently diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.

We did not run together. He’s faster than me for one and I’m still trying to build my endurance back up after my pregnancy-induced running hiatus.

I did a combination of running and walking and I fully expected to cross the finish line in my usual 45 minutes.

But when I rounded the street corner to the final stretch, I could see that the time clock was still in the 30s. I couldn’t believe it! I sprinted for the finish line.

It was exhilarating! Not just because of the new PR but because I felt like I did something good for myself (exercise) and for the kids we were racing for (raising money for research).

This is one of the reasons I like running – I could care less about the medals. The three races I participated in this fall were all for a cause.

On Thanksgiving, I participated in my second Turkey Trot (photo above). The race supports the Way Station, a not-for-profit mental health organization. I love this event because its so family-oriented and non-competitive.

There were nearly 3000 participants this year, many of them parents running with their children or pushing their babies in strollers. There were also lots of people on the sidewalks cheering everyone on. My clock time was 45.24, chip time 42.58.

Earlier in November, I ran the Red Run for the American Red Cross. My time was 46.56. Thankfully, I’m improving. Now I just need to keep up the running through the winter months. The spring 5K season will be here soon.

Why do you run?

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Lacing Up for the Red Cross

October 19, 2011 by Leave a Comment

It’s been seven months since my last 5K and I walked that one. Its been longer since I actually ran.

I’ve been a little busy.

You know…having a baby.

But now my little buddle of joy is almost three months old and its time to get back out on the road. And what better reason than to help raise money for the Red Cross.

So, I assigned up for The Red Run on November 5 <— that’s in less than three weeks people! I haven’t run in months (see above).

I’ll probably end up walking more than running but who cares. I’m supporting a friend and a good cause and getting back in my running shoes.

If you’re in Frederick, you should join me. I’ll be in the one in red (actually, all participants have been asked to wear red).

Got any advice for my first post-baby 5K?

Disclaimer: My race registration was waived in exchange for blogging about this event. These opinions are my own. I’m happy to help out the Red Cross and have donated my time and money in the past to their organization. Here’s a post I wrote about helping tornado victims.

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From Running to Prenatal Yoga

April 27, 2011 by Leave a Comment

I miss running. Its been months.

I scaled back my running in December when the morning sickness kicked in but kept training for Francie’s 5K in March. My plan was to walk/run it with a friend but ended up walking it with my husband instead because my hip wasn’t in the game. I wanted to run so badly but I’m glad I didn’t. Walking that 3.1 miles totally kicked my you know what. I slept a lot the next day.

And then, on the Monday following, I received news that forced me to shelve my running shoes for the rest of my pregnancy.

Following my ultrasound at 18 weeks, the doctors discovered that my placenta is low-lying. That means its potentially in the way of a natural delivery. So no more strenuous activity and lots of fingers crossed that it moves out of the way as the baby grows.

I asked my doctor if prenatal yoga was ok – I was looking for a physical activity to help with the stress and the aches & pains – and got the green light. I took a prenatal yoga class during the second and third trimesters of my first pregnancy but opted to try a DVD at home this time.

I ordered Element: Prenatal & Postnatal Yoga from Amazon and loved it the second I pushed play. The workout was hard at first because my muscles were so stiff but afterwards I felt like my body breathed a sigh of relief, as if it had been waiting for me to practice yoga again. I felt pretty Zen the rest of the day.

The exercises were simple and familiar; after one or two more viewings I could probably do them with my eyes closed. The instructor’s voice was soothing, which was very important to me – I’ll stop using an exercise video if the instructor is annoying. There was a lot of emphasis on breathing, which I needed, connecting with the baby, which I also needed, and gratitude for the 30 minutes of doing something for yourself. And the bonus? There’s a 30-minute postnatal workout for six weeks after delivery. I’m hoping that will help me squeeze into my bridesmaid dress come October.

Earlier this month, I virtually watched many of my friends compete in the Cakes for a Cause Cupcake 5K. It was the first 5K I ran last year and I was hoping to participate  again this year. It was bittersweet reading their race times on Facebook and seeing the photos. There’s also next year, though, and, for now, I’ve got my yoga.

What’s your favorite yoga DVD?

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These Shoes Were Made for Running

February 13, 2011 by 1 Comment

These are my running shoes. They’ve been hanging out with the dust bunnies in my closet for over a month now. I know they miss the pavement – I miss the pavement – but here they are, getting no action.

It would be easy to blame the weather. Temps under 40, gusty winds, inches of snow on the sidewalks where they usually roam.

But, truth be told, the weather is only half the problem. You see, I’ve just been so darn tired, I haven’t felt like lacing them up. And the nausea. Don’t get me started on the nausea. Who wants to run when you feel like you might lose your lunch along the way?

Fortunately, like the Groundhog, I’m looking forward to an early spring. I’m 14 weeks into my second 40 week journey to motherhood and starting to feel like myself again.

Yes, my friends, I’m expecting!

So, while the weather has made running a challenge, the real challenge has been the first trimester. I’m hoping to continue running at a modified pace through my second trimester and then start training again after the baby is born for a 5K in the fall. This is my hope.

We’ll see how the belly holds up.

Any running advice for this mommy-to-be?

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Couch to 5K Week 7

December 31, 2010 by 1 Comment

It took forever but I finally completed week 7 of the couch to 5k program.

2 more weeks to go.

On this New Year’s Eve, I’m disappointed that I didn’t meet my goal of finishing the program by year end and I’m disappointed that I didn’t run a complete 5K in 2010 (by that I mean running it from start to finish without walking).

I ran out of time.

I blame it on a late start to training this go around. I blame it on the weather – I don’t run in rain, snow, wind or extreme temps. I blame it on the mojo I lost when I no longer had a race to train for. I blame it on me.

The training has gotten harder. The intervals are gone, replaced by a brief warm-up walk and then all run. Sometimes I can do it. Sometimes I have to walk. Sometimes its a mental challenge. Sometimes its a physical challenge. Sometimes its both.

But in my disappointments and challenges, there are also accomplishments that I didn’t imagine this time last year. I set out to run one race and I participated in four. And my times got better with each race. When I first started this program in January, I could barely run for 60 seconds. Today, I can easily run one mile and, on a good day, I can manage two miles in 25-30 minutes. And I fell in love with this sport, which is saying a lot coming from this non-athlete.

So, for 2011, I resolve to finish this program. And I will run a complete 5K. My goal is to run the Turkey Trot in under 40 minutes (35 would be great but I’ll settle for somewhere in the 30s). And I’m making my family participate with me (but shhh, they don’t know that yet).

How’s your running going? What races are you training for?

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