Pooped out...Not literally!

I keep reaching around "Back" and giving the old booty a good rub. My right butt cheek sure is sore! Kinda personal but for those runners you understand it is not weird it is the nature of the beast!

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak." Isaiah 40:29

I think it was from my hills a couple days ago that hindered my long run today. As I was running Monday, I had a feeling there were too many good songs back to back on my Ipod. I was running like a rock-star.. and today I was running like I got sucker punched and dropped kicked by Bruce Lee.
I waited to do my long run because I wanted a partner so bad. SO by the time I left the house to start my run and  met back home to pick up Andy it was already 1pm and cooking out. I was removing clothing and looking for more water in the 90 degree heat.

I finished the last 5.5 miles with Andy. I was breathing a little heavy, tripping over my feet and running on empty but it was good because it kept my pace down. I even added walk breaks in there to keep my pace around a 9 minute mile and it worked. It did not remove the tiredness or the sore butt cheeks but it got me through 16 miles.

ANXIETY
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.“ (Matt. 6:34)
FRIDAY I enter my registration for BOSTON. I am so nervous. It is going to be close and I have to work all day starting at 8:30. I am trying not to freak out...I am trying to give it to GOD and not be a Indian giver and take it back. It is a work in progress...I could use some extra prayers though....That's my way of asking to not forget me in your prayers!
SATURDAY I pray I do well reading for Amamda's Wedding. It is such an honor but I am a Airhead. Only God knows how I am going to do with this one. But one good thing..I found my dress!!

RUN FOR A REMEDY: This is less than 2 weeks away. I am a hot mess here! I direct this run, it is a 5K walk/ run befitting Children's Leukemia Foundation, I am stressing out over this one! Check it out on Facebook. I would love to see some of my readers out there!

  "It has been said that our anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, but only empties today of its strength." Charles Spurgeon  

RUNDOWN:
Distance: 16.3
Pace: 9'01
Time:2:27

ANDY UPDATE!!! He went to the DR! The Dr. was "very concerned" He sent Andy to a Specialist...to be continued! 

Anita

The Run I almost missed: Lance Armstrong Mess

Today was one of THOSE days. I could not put one foot in front of the other. I could not get into the day. And I definitely was not feeling like running today.
It was such a beautiful day and I was sluggish and feeling really BLAHH.

I have a very special wedding to go to this Saturday. It is Amanda's wedding from work and she asked me to give the reading. I was honored to, I will be saying the Irish Prayer.
But I need a dress.
I hate shopping. I don't like trying on clothes, I am ultra picky and a pain in the @** when it comes to getting things to fit properly.
I don't like certain fabrics, or anything too tight, or too long or too short. I Hate things on my waist and can whine about a dozen other things I am not a fan of when it comes to shopping for clothes.
I was at the mall for a hour and LEFT. Seriously I was over it.
I was getting more tired and more frustrated. I just wanted to get home and back in my safe place.
On that express way trip home I was tense and at the cusp of a panic attack. I talked myself into relaxing and just getting home.
The closer I was to get home the comfortable in my skin I was beginning to feel. As anxiety released fatigue replaced it.
There was no desire to run on this perfect September day. That was the first and biggest RED Flag I was not feeling myself.

I did it. I took a nap. I told myself 30 minutes. but them that turned into 1 hour. I tried so hard to get up but it was like a lead weight was on top of me. I felt so guilty. "Get up, you gotta get moving Anita."
I slowly started to stir. I still had no desire to run. "Maybe I should just throw in the towel on the whole stinking day." I thought. What a waste. I was supposed to do hills today.
"Get Moving, and see how you feel." I told myself.
I took some Juice Plus chews, my thyroid pill I forgot to take, and made a cup of "Gano Coffee."

It was not right away. It took time but my feet were fitting into my Brooks and I was lacing them up to go tackle hills. 5 miles.
It was not any old 5 miles. It was 5 miles of constant hills and hell. My body started feeling weird at mile 2, it was here I realized I forgot to eat. I am seriously the most airheaded person there is. Who forgets to eat?? The same person that forgets her purse, her keys, her Dr's appointments and so so much more.

It was a challenging but victorious run. See this was another reminded to not quit. Be flexible, bendable, open minded. To think I almost missed this incredible run! This run almost never existed and it was one of the best runs that I have had in the last 3 months!

RUNDOWN:
Distance: 5.01
Time: 38
Pace: 7: 36


For many of you that have been following Lance Armstrong you may have read that he is banned from running the Chicago Marathon because of doping charges.
I have ran Chicago, I love Chicago, it was my first marathon and the very marathon that qualified me for Boston. 
But I will never run it again. 
I accept that Lance screwed up and has to face consequences. But it was in regards to his biking. And He quit fighting the charges and threw in the towel.
We all have screwed up. And it really sucks when you have owned up to your mistakes AND tried to come out of it by doing something impactful. He has helped raise money for cancer survivors through the LIVESTRONG Foundation and has made such a difference in many peoples lives having had cancer himself.

 Check out these articles and TELL me what YOU think!

Lance Armstrong 1.
http://news.runnersworld.com/2012/09/07/lance-armstrong-denied-entry-to-chicago-marathon/

Anita

Passions through Pain

It was a beautiful day for a run. Cooler temps and partially cloudy made a great equation for a good run.

Even though I thought I was going to be running alone I had a glimmer of hope that Andy might want to join me.
There are certain elements that make you just HAVE to have that run. You "FEEL" the run, you heart skips a beat to go for a run, You feel like a dog with their head out of a car window you want to go and play soo bad!
Today was one of those days. And I knew Andy was going to be feeling it too!
So I was not that surprised when I saw him grab his favorite running tank and confirm my curiosity...I had a running partner!!

Things that make me want to drop everything and run:

• Watching the Olympics..the Runners
• The latest "Dicks Sports" comercial
• A rough day
• A pain free day!
• New running attire..Anything right down to socks!
• New running Music..
• Music!
• Watching another runner...I turn green!
• The advertisements in Runners World.
• Perfect running weather.

I ran 10 miles. I did the first 7 miles with Andy. We did a average of 9 minute miles with walk breaks every 11 minutes.  It was nice and steady.
I just felt so bad for Andy. I chose a different route for him to take..accidentally, one with hills...One that made his body hate me. Andy is really broken. It is something in his hips. I think he has a hernia..He doesnt have any idea what is wrong with him except that he hurting really bad. He says that when he lifts his legs to exert himself it feels like something is tearing in his hips.  He can hardly jump or make sudden movements with his torso.
BUT..he wont go to the DR!! He wants to go see Clint Verran but Andy  needs to go to his primary first. Being the nagging wife that I am I made him a appointment for Wednesday. I am not sure he will keep it but I am really hoping he does.
We have races bought and paid for that I really would like to do with him. There is an investment into his running. But in order to follow through with them he has to make an investment into HIMSELF. Ignorance is not Bliss. With Andy being a Nurse he makes the worst patient because he self diagnoses.

So for 7 miles he tried not to complain. But there were little comments scattered throughout our run he dropped. My heart was so heavy for him. He said in pain and sweat "I just want to RUN." The passion runs so deep and it is so unfair when pain wants to hijack your passion.

  "Pain is as diverse as man. One suffers as one can."

The last 3 miles after dropping Andy back at home I kicked it up a gear. My knee was aching and my ankle is still irritating me from the Down and Dirty but I needed the pain.
I needed to breath heavy and sweat bullets. I needed to do everything that ANDY wanted to do. My pain was minimal..I wanted to run hard those 3 miles for Andy.

"We must all suffer one of two things: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret or disappointment."

THE RUNDOWN:
Distance: 10.01
Pace: 8:57
Time: 1:30

WHAT MAKES YOU WANT TO RUN? WHAT GETS YOUR BLOOD MOVING AND YOUR HEART SKIPPING BEATS TO GO FOR A RUN???
As a runner I know we do not like to go to the DRS because we are afraid we are not going to be able to run. We are concerned the DR is going to take away our Passion. 
ARE YOU GOOD AT GOING TO THE DRS? CAN YOU EMPHASIZE WITH ANDY??

Anita

RUNNING Myself down.

 "Above all Else, Guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Proverbs 4:23

I grew fighting. Chaos. I grew up a disrespectful, mouthy trailer park brat. I grew up the only way I knew..To survive.
For every tear I shed my heart silently was hardening. Unaware to this defense mechanism that was secretly invading me I continued to be hurt, disappointed and abused by the very ones that I loved the most.

I would often question them "How can they say they love me and hurt me so bad?"

Here I am 25 years later with out any family around me any longer. But I am left with the effects of a hard heart.

I have a strong dislike for certain qualities traits. I am intolerant to certain behavior.
It is not popular thinking but I see Black and White in certain areas.
Some of my favorite quotes that best descibe my thinking are:

• "It is RIGHT to do RIGHT."
• Do a job big or small do it right or don't do it at ALL."
• "Whatever happens Take Responsiblity."
• Grow up- take ownership for your actions and stop blaming others

"The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit." 

Proverbs 18:21

Today on my run, I ran hard. I did some self inventory. I ran after my mistakes rather that trying to dodge them or avoid them. I do not accept them as who I am. I hate them. I hate my hard heart that responds quick and reacts abusive. I hear my voice as it vomits offense. I can see myself trying to dive to my words that have spewed out of my mouth but it is to late they have reached their victim.
I ask myself  "How do you recover." "How do I make this right?"
Pride prevents me from apology. I have to breath, calm down, and DIE to Myself. As much as it hurts to apologize it is a good reminder that the actions or words I spoke hurt someone worse.
It is Not about me. 
And so I run. I run hard. I pray fervently. I look to my enemy...often myself.. and RUN her down. 

"None so empty as those who are full of themselves." 

Benjamin Whichcote

Rundown

Pace: 7:32

Time: 53:

Distance: 7:01

Some of my favorite qualities in a person are Honesty, Integrity, Perseverance and Hard work. 

Some qualities I struggle with in people are with are blamers, , laziness, dishonesty, intentional hurtfulness. 

(This is my struggle. I work on giving Grace and accepting people as THEY ARE not as How I want them to be.)

What are some qualities that you like or dislike in people? Where do you struggle with people? 

Anita 

Keep It Simple Thursday.

 "The language of friendship is not words but meanings."

I GOT TO RUN WITH DANIELLE TODAY!!!!

Seriously the best part of my day. Yesterday she text me and asked if I was still running out at Indian Springs. And asked if she could join me. Oh, I was so excited. I have ran Indian Springs Solo the last few times.

THE PLAN: Run easy. Add walk breaks. And do about 4 miles..I thought.
We did everything according to planned only we added a couple more miles. We ran 6 miles.
She did so good.
  Danielle was slalom skiing and came down wrong tearing her hamstring. This accident happened 1 week after she had an Epic run at Dexter Ann Arbor.. Where she ran with me and had a PR! She tore it about 75% through.
Although she is slowly starting to run again and has no pain, Danielle gets fatigued prematurely. We ran nice and easy doing 9 minute miles but incorporated walk breaks every half mile. I was so happy to run next to Danielle again. She is such a incredible runner it was like watching someone foreign to me. She looked like Danielle, She spoke like Danielle but she did not run like Danielle! Danielle still ran strong and upright. Her frame is the silhouette of an athlete and she is normally floating on the air when she runs. But today I heard something I have NEVER heard...Her feet. I never hear her run, she lands so graceful and elegant.  It was crazy to hear that left leg shuffle. My poor Danielle. I admired her even more as I watched her run with more perseverance and more discipline than ever.

In those 6 miles together I fell in love with my partner even more. To watch her tragedy not destroy her rather make her a more beautiful runner and person. This is PASSION. This is ZEAL.
Life will throw you a fast ball and sometimes it actually HITS YOU! So do you take the black eye of injury and walk away from the game with fear and defeat? Or do you take the hit, recover and get back out there? You are darn right..YOU GET BACK out THERE. If you love something so much why would you give up. Often times when you give up and there was GREATNESS right around the corner.

After our run we hopped on our bikes and rode with ease 8 miles. It was such a great day.

Keep them in gym bag, refreshing!

Long run favorite.

Some of my favorite products: What are some of yours??

I have to label my special items or they will eat them ALL!

RUNDOWN:

Distance: 6.01

Pace:10:56

Time:1:06

QUESTION: Do you run with a running partner? Do like like running with a partner or do you prefer to run SOLO?

  "Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend."

ANITA

Listening to your Inner Coach

Today they were calling for storms around 11am. I had a plan.
Drops boys off at schools at 8 and RUN!
I was going to do my long run today. Because we went out of town for Labor Day weekend my mojo has been all messed up.
I was trying to talk myself into 18 miles. I was trying to stay positive and convince myself how awesome it was going to be. That I would just run for over 2 1/2 hours letting the wind blow my hair and smile runners bliss all the way.
IT WASN"T WORKING!
Even trying to prepare myself laying out all my stuff and all the psychological crap I was feeding my mind I was freaking out!

It was a solo run. I was going to be  listening to the voices in my head.
I was going to have to Coach myself and ignore the cries of "Wimpy Nita".
The Battle between Powerful and Powerless.

**RUNNING TIP #1 IGNORED.
"If it Feels good DO NOT speed up!"
The first 8 miles felt amazing. Coach Nita said "Slow DOWN"
I did not listen.
I should have listened.
My tank was starting to drain pretty fast in the humidity around mile 10. I had to make a detour to moms house as I was about to pee my pants. I drank my coffee a tad to close to my run and my bladder was nagging me. It just stinks being a girl. 2 kids and it feels like you are going to pee your pants. But when you run to the bathroom, dropping your drawers before you have even entered  only to TINKLE...Really? What is that? I thought it was going to be like opening the flood gates and this was IT? Shoot I might as well just peed my pants, no one would have even known!
While I was there mom handed me a bottle of ice water. It tasted so refreshing. This was the first drink I had tasted on my run. It was glorious!
But I had to go before it started to rain.

I was starting to whine.
"UGH, its so stinking hot. My whole face is sweating and stinging."
"How much longer? How much farther? AM I there YET?
"What's that? A new Pain? Great!"
"Hmm, Haven't felt that before, it feels like a giant turd hanging from my tail bone, I wonder what that means?"

The the Inner Coach interupts.
"Shut up and RUN."
"Take a drink, eat a chomp, and relax."

That sounded like a plan. I had stopped at home and gotten my water bottle filled with ice water. I can not even explain how that cold crisp water tasted as I swallowed it. It was like water given to me from heaven. It tasted like water from the Garden of Eden. I felt my tank slowly filling again...for a few moments.

Then the voices start creepy up again...
"I ran to darn fast the first half, I gotta walk."
"Is my ankle numb? Is that normal"
"This Sucks. I hate long runs."

The Inner Coach barks back.
"Yup, You took off too fast, So walk. Give yourself 1 minute walk breaks every 11 minutes."
"Pick up YOUR FEET..Your shuffling."
"Slow Down. Relax. Breath."
"Your almost there. Maintain."
"It doesn't have to look pretty, it just has to get DONE."

And with that I listened to to the Inner Coach. Failure was not an Option. There was no short cuts out there today. There was no one to cheat but myself.

TODAY'S MISTAKES.

• I took off to fast and bottomed out at the end.
• I did not hydrate properly last night so I felt fatigued faster on my run.
• With the humidity I should have drank sooner that I did. I was behind the gun with hydration and it took its toll on me.
• I ran altogether to FAST. Long RUNs should be ran 1 minute SLOWER than marathon pace. 

Ultimately, I listened to my Inner Coach. But there were still those nagging voices of pride and pouty that were heard also.
I am Thankful for those that prayed for me on my run.  With all the mistakes I made it is a wonder I finished. With sweat dripping in my eyes, random aches and pains throughout the run and overall fatigue God worked a miracle in my run...Because of Prayers.

My favorite Recovery Drink! Lowfat high protien and full of YUM!

THE RUNDOWN:

Distance: 18.01

Time: 2:37

Pace: 8:44

QUESTION: Ryan Hall dropped out of the Marathon for the Olympics at mile 10 with hamstring pain. Many people were upset because they believe he should not have ran it. People thought that if he knew he was injured he should not have ran it and let someone else have that spot. WHAT DO YOU THINK? DO YOU THINK HE SHOULD NOT HAVE RAN???



Anita

Running in Sand. Farewell

 Family Vacations can be made out to be like pink butterflies and fluffy blue skies. But you should know me by now, I try not to paint pictures that are not true. Yes. we had a great time but when it went south is went ugly. We are not one of those cute families that never bicker, who have kids that hold each others hands and compliment each other with love and affirmation. I wish. 

My BOYS : My Life

 "The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another's desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together." - Erma Bombeck

We get along with nit picking, instigating, aggravating and teasing one another. We love each other but we are tough on each other. Yes, there are many smiles and lots of laughs on vacation but we also deal with that other crap too! That's just how we roll. Keeping it real.

Unfortunately, Andy brought his shoes but did not do any running. He is pretty messed up from the CRIM.
So all my runs were solo.

This morning was my last run at Silver Lake. I was exhausted getting up. The past 4 days of physical activities have taken its toll on my body. Every day has been jammed with sun, sand, bikes, dunes, swimming, go carting, Frisbee and the list goes on. I just had to give my farewell run to the Dunes.

It was a easy 3 miler. Simple with smiles and running towards the sun and sand one last time.

Rather than running towards the lighthouse I chose to run towards the sand dunes. This run was going to be short. I was lucky to be able to get in 3 miles. It is just a little over a mile to the Dunes State Park so I headed there and thought I would just add miles if I needed to.

That mile was under my feet in what seemed liked minutes. Suddenly I was looking at this sandy mountain. I pondered  "Should I run up there... with my shoes on? I will be getting sand out of my shoes for the next 3 months."YES!
Running with my shoes on is a totally different experience. I missed the sand between my toes and the nakedness of my feet in the elements but my BROOKS were loving the experience. They were thanking me!

THE RunDown:
Distance:3.01
Pace: 10:42
Time:33
I did a lot of stopping and going. I was not in a hurry. HURRY?? To leave all this?? Noo way. 

I have been thinking about getting some feed back from you all. I want to try and get some discussion going. Sometimes we have questions we want to ask and sometimes we are curious about things and want to know what people think about our thoughts. 

QUESTION??? What is your favorite Distance to RACE? Are you a 5k-er, 10k-er 13.1 or do you like the Marathon?? 

The most popular race is the Half Marathon. Is that Your Favorite?? I really like the Half...But I had a Great marathon in the spring..So good I am signed up to do it again in the Fall!

Anita