Official Business first...I finished in 31.15 which I feel is a personal record. I know that our very first 5k we finished in 30.15, however the word on the street is the first race was a short course. I know that today was a full 5K and that my first two miles were between 9.30 and 9.44 each. (In the interest of being honest the first mile and half was downhill all the way.) The last mile and half was a steady incline and I slowed down, but I ran the whole way and still had enough at the end to sprint once the finish line was in site.
I will admit it, I'm proud of myself! I was not looking forward to this race for multiple reasons, but thanks to a pep talk, a pep email, and a pep text this morning I decided to turn up the music, and just go for it. I don't run alone, nor do I want to start running alone...I missed Michelle more then she will ever know, but I did enjoy just cranking my music and running however fast or slow I wanted. I was worried I would feel alone, but I didn't. This is the first race that there were spectators in their yards cheering for us and some had even set up misting stations in their yards. There were a lot of kids running and I loved watching them plot and plan and pass people.
This was a really fun race, and I will totally do it again. I'm glad to have my first "alone" race done. Now I know I can do it, and if there is a race I really want to do that Michelle can't or doesn't want to do I know I will be ok going for it alone.
5 comments:
You have every right to be proud of yourself. We all are proud of you as well. Your intestinal fortitude and tenacity has inspired me much in the same way reading your sisters blog always gives me a bit more drive and determination in my pursuits of wellness. For me, it takes such fortitude to force a workout when facing a full blown diabetic reaction. However, since you have started running I, too have returned to running. What makes it so difficult is that I have to take metformin, which drives the glycogen into all the muscles cells, brain cells, and cells of the internal organs. Without this medicine every thing shuts down. It works far better than the insulin I take. The problem is that metformin causes extreme leg cramps. The kind of cramps that wake you up screaming. Nothing seems to help. You lie there screaming thinking that this is the one that lands you in the hospital. The cramps are so intense that for days the tendons in the legs microscopically tear and every muscle in the affected leg runs a high inflammation for days. You can feel the pain where tendon attaches to the bones of the legs and hips. If you Google search metformin and leg cramps it paints a nightmare regarding leg cramps. Despite this, I have been running for the past three weeks.. By tweaking potassium and magnesium so far so good. So much so that I now have a new goal. I want to run a 5K with you some time in Aug/Sept. It would be the highlight of a lifetime to compete along your side in a 5K race. I am so inspired by the thought of running along side my daughter and finishing alongside with her. I cant even tell you how much it would mean to me. What do you think?
Dad you always amaze me with your determination regarding your health. Even if its painful or difficult you do it if it means you are maintaining your health. I would LOVE to run a 5K with you in Aug or September. Do you have a race in mind? Is there one over there you want to do? I have my eye on one here in September, it's a trail run at Ft. Steilacoom Park, the park by our house. I'm happy to make a trip over there though if there is one you want to do. Can't wait to run with you!
Jen, I would appreciate any running training tips. I am well versed in the kinesology, anatomy, physiology, and pathology involved with running. However--I do not know how runners go about train for a 5K race. Currently, I am doing a two mile run on the treadmill completing each run with the goal of 25 minutes. The leg cramps continue to start around 1.7 miles. The conditioning is not the problem. Two miles is not hard cardio wise. I use the treadmill because it is so much easier ergonomiclly. I will stay with the treadmil untill I am doing 3.5 miles at around ten minute miles. I know eventually I must hit the road. However, that is when I pick up debilitating inflamation. Although because I am not starving myself in preparing for a bodybuilding show this is much easier on me, and my diabetes. If you, or anyone you know can give me tips I will appreciate it.
Dad - I sent you three links via email...they have some great 5K training info. I also sent you a website that I use a lot and shared some info/ideas as well. Was too much for a comment, so sent it all via email.
Training update--As mentioned before, the diabetes presents some obstacles with running. The metformin causes the worse leg and foot cramps. During my sleep this morning (I am on graveyard, so sleeping is tough enough as it is) I was hit with wave after wave of intense foot cramps. So in the last 24 hours I have about 3 hours sleep. I still went to the health club and because of the foot cramps I decided to just lift weights. For the first 40 minutes each set was interrupted by severe cramps in the feet, and I was working pecs and tris. However, it seemed to level off as the work out went on. I did what I always do when faced with a diabetic set back. I got angry, which leads to a determination best described by the word tenacity. It presented a challenge to be overcome by reaching deep inside the soul in an effort to come out ahead of this disease. For three weeks I have been running 2 miles just slightly over 12 minuite miles. Today, I ran 2.5 miles in 25 seconds under the pace of 10 minute miles. How?? I always let my mind go somewhere else when running is difficult. I thought of all that my daughters have overcome in their life. I saw mnyself this sept. running alonside my daughter and crossing the finish line side by side. I fell back on Beth's blogs and was moved by what she has dealt with, and the effort to get to where she is now. When the run was over I felt like I was on top of the mountain. Diabetes presents challenges equal to a mountain, not a mole hill--but a MT.. It feels so good to draw strength from life's efforts both my girls have put forth to get to where they are today. Thank you.
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