Running on Faith

You haven’t heard from me in about two weeks but I’m still running and either I’m adjusting to the heat or it’s cooling off a bit.  I’m still running two days a week while the boys are in swim class.  One of those days, I turned into a “hill” day and I run over the pedestrian bridge that crosses Bluebonnet 9 or 10 times on each side.  Those days are not fun and I feel pretty close to throwing up when I’m done.  On the days I don’t run, I’m on the treadmill at home and I changed the program to incline intervals.  (Someone please tell me Memphis is flat……)  

This past Saturday morning we were on the road for 6:30 a.m.  My plan was 9 miles and since it was pretty foggy and cool, I thought I would be OK.  Wrong…too much hill work and running during the week, I guess.  It caught up with me around mile 6, my legs turned to lead and every step took effort.  I continued on, thanking God for keeping it overcast with a light breeze but around the 7 and ½ mile mark, I came REALLY close to walking.   But a little voice in my head said only losers stop and walk this close to the finish, it also said that a St Jude patient can’t just stop when they want too; they have to keep going.  So, I continued on, wondering how in the world I’ll be able to run 26 miles.  I’m getting worried, the training has been fairly easy up until now but I know that one day soon, it’ll be time to increase my long run mileage and I wonder when I’ll find the time and the energy.  An hour and 40 minutes later, I was done and when I say done, I mean DONE.  I made it back to our driveway and sat down (actually, collapsed may be a better word).  I did manage, with the help of Paul, to make it to our back patio where I sat for a while, drank a Powerade and thought about eating pizza.  My legs continued to ache the rest of the day and then I developed a terrible headache (I know I’m not drinking enough during my runs).  I’ve tried to work on it but I just can’t take in fluids while I’m running, it throws my stride off, messes my breathing up AND I spill it all over myself.  Paul made it all better when he took us out to eat pizza later that afternoon.  That was the BEST pizza I’ve ever had, and well deserved I might add.

Sunday morning, we were on the road with our bikes for 7:30 and planning for a 20-22 mile ride.  Great idea for Paul, bad idea for Marci.  That terrible ache in my legs returned in full force AND that light breeze I mentioned during Saturday’s run felt more like hurricane winds while I was on the bike.  Riding is hard for me, it’s getting better, but it’s still hard.  At Paul’s “request” I rode for as hard and fast as I could for a mile….well maybe a ½ mile.  It was an uphill stretch and I shifted my gears the wrong way, making it much harder to pedal.  I’m still learning…. At one point, Paul asked me if riding was easier than running.  It may be for some people, but not for me. We did finish the ride in an hour and a half and neither of crashed…although, I ran off the road once while trying to drink and ride.  Another bad idea!

While I’m training for this marathon, I’ve decided to concentrate on this event only.  I will skip the upcoming Rocketchix Triathlon here in Baton Rouge as a competitor but I plan to participate as a volunteer. 

I am Flash and I’m running on faith that there are folks out there reading my posts and considering making a donation to my team.  Thanks!    

Thank you to Flash’s Aunt Joyce and Uncle Curtis for their donation to team Running on Faith!

A big thank you to the orginal Mr & Mrs Xctmnt, Jimmy and Arnell Esch, for their generous donation to Running on Faith.

Thank you to Flash’s cousins Darlene & Stuart Alleman for their donation to Running on Faith!!

Thank you to Flash’s Godparents, Jimmy and Beverly Corkern, for their donation and support to our Running on Faith marathon team!

I’ve always proudly boasted that the heat doesn’t bother me. In fact I always said that I prefer to run in the heat more than I do the cold. Well, I used to anyway. I don’t know if it’s because I’m 40 now or if it’s the 5 extra pounds I’m carrying but the heat is getting to me. I can’t remember ever sweating as much as I have in the past weeks. Is it just me or what?

In an effort to consolidate time, Paul and I decided to use the time that Blake & Cam were in swim class at Crawfish Aquatics to get our week day runs in. Unfortunately, their class is from 5:15-6:15 in the afternoon. Do I need to tell anyone how freaking hot it is running around the Jimmy Swaggert complex at that time of the day?! I can’t speak for Paul but the most mileage I can manage is 3miles at that time of the day. This past week, Paul wasn’t able to come one afternoon so I had to run it myself. I decided it would be a good time to just concentrate on hill work (I’m not comfortable running across the street in those parking lots without Paul). So, I jogged over to the ramp that goes over Bluebonnet and I just sprinted up and down the rap about 10 times. What was I thinking?! I had sweat dripping in my eyes, my lungs were clogged with hot air and my legs were numb by the time I was done. I tried to block out the fact that Bluebonnet motorists could see me and if I fell, everyone would get a show. I did have some young men in maroon truck yelling at me. I’m not sure if they were praising my efforts or suggesting I covered up my mid-drift and go home. I chose to believe it was praise, which was just littlt boost I needed to keep going. It was a good work-out and I’ll probably do it again this week.

We decided to get our long run done on Saturday morning and we wisely agreed to get up at 6:00 in the morning to get an early start. It was a little cooler and I thought I would be able to see the sun rise while enjoying an early morning run. Wrong! The sun didn’t just rise, it exploded into the sky and radiated heat, even at 6:30 in the morning. My thoughts drifted off again, I guess my brain knows that need that I need that mental diversion to complete my task, and I thought about how Paul and I both lost adult extended family members to cancer in the last two weeks. It’s hard to see an adult battle cancer even when they’re older and have lived long happy lives and had many wonderful experiences. I can’t imagine a child going through that when they haven’t had a chance to experience all the good that life has to offer. And I certainly can’t imagine watching a child go through that. That made the heat I was dealing with seem small in comparison.

I am Flash and I am running on faith that I will lose at least 10 pounds while training for this event, I am running on faith that I can complete the full 26 miles of this marathon and most importantly, I am running on faith that I will be able to raise the money that I said I could raise for St Jude Hospital. Please help me, I can get the training miles in on my own but I can’t raise the money by myself.

Thanks.

There’s not much to talk about.  I wasn’t able to run during the week at all, either from working late or because of Blake and Cam’s swim class at Crawfish Aquatics.  Saturday morning, Camren participated in BREC’s Rocketkid Rookies Triathlon in Baton Rouge.  BREC does a great job with this event and it’s great to see parents introducing their kids to the sport of triathlon.  Camren volunteered to compete in the triathlon and he did a great job.  He has a big heart and likes to have fun.  I truly believe he enjoys doing triathlons and the only thing he worries about is that he finishes and that he has fun.  As a parent, you can’t ask for better for that.  My 7 year old nephew Tristen also competed in the triathlon.  I don’t think he enjoyed the event at all, triathlon is not his sport.  It is my wish that they both stick with it though.  Years after they’re done with the baseball, basketball and football, the sport of running and triathlon will still be there for the average person to participate in and enjoy with their friends and family.

 

Saturday afternoon and evening, we spent a GREAT evening with some friends.  It’s always nice to relax and talk with friends that face the same challenges with working, raising a family, setting goals and training for an event.  Of course, we stayed out too late knowing we had a long run to face on Sunday morning.

 

So….Sunday morning, we slept too late and didn’t hit the pavement until 8:30.  When I opened the door to the side porch, the full force of heat hit me and I think it was 150 degrees.  We decided that we might not make the full 8 miles we planned; it was getting too hot and too late.  Somewhere around the 2 mile mark, I realized I didn’t have my water bottle….oh darn.  I did adjust to the heat but I knew I would need to get some fluids somehow.  As I finished every half mile, my motto was, “oh well, at least that’s behind me.”  I said that to myself 14 times that morning!  As I approached my in-law’s house, I was hoping they’d see Paul and I out there and bring us a bottle of water.  No doubt about it, Paul and I are spoiled and very, very lucky to have family on our run route!  And yes….there was an ice cold bottle of water sitting in their mailbox.  Thank you!!!!!  I think Paul managed to run up their driveway, grab a bottle and put it out for me.  Either way, it was very much appreciated.  An hour and a half later (for me anyway, I’m not sure what Paul’s time was) we were back in our driveway and we managed to get 7 ¼ miles in.  Good enough for me.  And yes, Paul did try the ice buckets again for his legs.  I planned to capture the moment his feet entered the water on camera and share it with the world but I quickly changed my mind when he looked at me.  He said it’s like a brain freeze in our feet.  He dared me so I tried it…..YIKES!   Timbeaux is right, Tequila and loud music would help pass the time!

 

 

I don’t have much to report for this week.  Paul and I did get a 4 mile run on Wednesday evening (6/3/09) while the boys were out at the movies with some friends.  Rather than run in the neighborhood across the street like we normally do, we decided to run down McCullough Road, which is a pretty busy road @ 5:00 in the afternoon.  I didn’t get to daydream much on this run, I spent 50 minutes dodging cars.  How many couples can say they used free time away from their kids to run?  And really, why in the world would they want to?!

 

Saturday morning, we got up to ride our normal 20 miles but we didn’t make a wise decision.  We knew that we didn’t have an extra tube and if one of us had a flat, we were done.  Well we didn’t make it very far, I had a flat 5 miles into the ride but Blake and Paul couldn’t hear me because the traffic was too loud.  I had to just pull over to the side and wait until they noticed that I had fallen off the pace.  I knew Paul would eventually notice, he’s very good about checking to make sure we’re there.  They noticed and came back.  Rather then try to finish the ride, Paul left Blake and I together (we found a safe place out of the way) and he rode his bike back to the house to get his truck.  Oh well, at least Paul managed to get a 10 mile ride out of it.

 

Sunday morning, my long run morning, started out like normal, HOT!  Man, it’s getting hot earlier and earlier now.  How are we gonna get through the summer??  We changed the route again.  We ran down Joor Road, which is even busier then McCullough Road.  I’m quite sure that my mom and dad would have heart failure if they came upon me running on that road….or maybe they would be impressed that I had the courage to do it.   I enjoyed running in this new neighborhood, a change of scenery can really boost a long run.  I found myself daydreaming again but for once, it wasn’t about my job.  This past week was actually a better one and I’m so grateful for that.  I spent my time thinking about a strategy for getting through 26 miles.  A teammate has me scared now, and he knows who he is!  Here I was thinking that I would actually run for 26 miles….what was I thinking?  I have to come up with some kind of run/walk strategy.  That may sound easy for some folks but I struggle to resume running once I stop and walk.  I talked to Paul about it and he raised a few points that I really need to consider.  It never occurred to me that I would need to stop for a bathroom break along the way!  I have a simple mind….run from point A to point B, that’s all I need to know. 

 

My faithful ‘water boy’ wasn’t out on this run.  Mr Jimmy has me spoiled!  8 miles later, I’m done and Paul is waiting for me at the end of the driveway with a cold Powerade.  But the real fun started when Paul took Timbeaux’s advice and decided to soak his legs in an ice bath.  Oh my goodness, that has to be one of the funniest things I’ve heard or seen in a long time.  It was priceless and from what I heard and witnessed, it must be rather painful too!

White Knight???

 

I woke up this morning thinking about two things…it’s my last day off from work and I have to run 7 miles today.  Neither are pleasant thoughts when you wake up on Sunday morning.  Paul (Mr Xctmnt) and Blake were out on a bike ride so I would be running alone again.  I grabbed my gear and hit the road and man, it’s hot at 8:15 in the morning!  I’ve already told you that I tend to daydream while I’m running and true to my word, for the first three miles all I can think about is that my hips are hurting and I have to return to work tomorrow.  I have to find a way to find inner peace with this job and maybe I can find it while I’m running…..nah.  Somewhere around the 3.5 mile mark my focus quickly changed as I realized that while half asleep, I grabbed the wrong sports bra and I know this because I’m feeling the chafe already.  You know it’s going to be bad when it hurts hours before you get in the shower and you still have almost 4 miles left to go.  Oh well, I know I have to suck it up and deal with it. 

 

Mr Xctmnt and Blake passed me on the road on their way home and I had a feeling that Mr Xctmnt would be chasing me down.  Sure enough, I see him out on the road, running after he and Blake just finished a 30 mile ride.  I know it was hard for him but it makes me feel better knowing he’s out there too.  I made the turn down North Old Settlement, hoping I would see one of my in laws outside so I could ask for a cold bottle of water (the one I was carrying had water so hot it could boil eggs) and some Kleenex to help with the chafe that was getting much worse.  No luck, they must all be sleeping in, lucky them.  Somewhere around 6 miles, I started to feel really bad, I’m hot (not in a good way), thirsty and starting to feel lonely.  Then a vision appeared, it was a white horse with handsome knight holding his hand out…. BUT wait, he already had a fair lady.  Actually, it was a white Volkswagen Passat and it was my father in law holding out an ice cold bottle of water and my mother in law was sitting beside him smiling.  How blessed am I??  They didn’t see me but they did see Paul, and thank goodness they did.  It gave me extra kick I needed to finish my run without Paul catching me.

 

As I sit here typing this, I know three things.  1.  I am not in as good a shape as I thought, the heat is killing me and it’s not even really hot yet.   2. I have a lot of training to do to prepare for this marathon.  3.  I need to lose about 10 pounds; I can’t carry this weight for 26 miles!!!

Today, I’m 40 years old.  I woke up and laid there for a minute thinking about how I wanted to start my day…I don’t get many days off from a job I can’t stand.  I decided to go on an easy morning run in the neighborhood across the street, what better way to start the day, right?  I pulled my hair back, grabbed my lip gloss (can’t run without it), my sun glasses, my MP3, put on my shoes and hit the road.  A ¼ mile into it, I’m thinking how great I am….I’m 40, I’m in better than shape than I was when I turned 30 and I’m running!  Well, one college age girl running in hot pink, tight shorts with her thong sticking out ruined all those wonderful, self motivating thoughts.  I’ve been running in the same neighborhood for 6 years and I’ve never seen this girl before and I sure hope Mr Xctmnt doesn’t see her!  I tell myself, 20 years and two kids from now, she’ll look just like me…at least I hope so. 

 

A mile and ½ into the run, she’s still out there with me and I’m ready to quit.  How fitting that ELO’s “Don’t Let Me Down” comes on my MP3!  So, I stuck to the plan and I ran 2 ½ miles then came home and ate a Dove Dark Chocolate bar (thank you Paul) and drank a Diet Dr Pepper.  Hey, I said the reason I run is because I love dark chocolate.  Perhaps that wasn’t the best thing to do after running with Miss Hot Pants but it made me feel better!

 

What did I get for my birthday?  A few dvds, a few candles, some ferns, a magnolia tree, a shirt that says “does this shirt make my butt look fast?”, a hammock and a set of golf clubs (thank you again Paul).  And as I sit here and type this, thinking about my great day, I realize I got a hammock and golf clubs for birthday…I’m now middle aged and I’m turning into my GRANDFATHER! 

Thank you Tim for announcing to the world that my birthday was today.  So much for keeping it on the down low!