May is National Runners' Month?

When I sifted through the local Sunday paper last night, I stopped at the Dick's Sporting Goods sale insert.  The front cover proclaims that May is National Runners' Month, and I'm invited to "Celebrate National Runner's Month at DICK'S SPORTING GOODS." I've called myself a runner for a while now, but I was not aware that runners have a special month.  I noticed the fashionable young runners and rows of shoes and looked inside to see what sale Dick's is holding in my honor.  I was disappointed to see that the best sale items were socks and pricey, technical wrist gadgets.  Several pairs of nearly $100 shoes were discounted by about $10.  This wouldn't lure most runners I know into the store.

Curious to know why I was not aware of a whole month dedicated to me, I Googled it.  A few other bloggers were commenting on the same thing.  They knew about this before me through TV ads.  I don't watch much TV, and when I do, I don't usually watch commercials.  Reading further I learned that Dick's invented National Runners' Month two years ago.  It is a marketing ploy to boost sales.  If Dick's can promote running and get more people moving, that is a good thing though.  Will being able to get a few dollars off running gear motivate people enough to start running?

My favorite places to buy apparel are at Nike Factory Stores and on-line through Athleta.  Sometimes I grab something fun and colorful while navigating through Super Target.  I've gone through a lot of running shoes, and of all of those, I only bought one pair at Dick's.  That's because the shoes I had been wearing were on sale, plus the store had a generous shoe coupon in the paper after Christmas. I was tickled with that purchase.  Otherwise, I buy most of my shoes from local, specialty running stores or through mail order. I go to a running store when I am looking for a new type of shoe or my shoe has been discontinued because I value the wisdom and advice of the trained staff who share my love of running.  Once I find a pair of shoes I like, I stick with it and shop around for the best prices on-line.  I don't foresee changing my habits because Dick's wants me to celebrate with them by opening my wallet.  I look forward to seeing what is ahead for the rest of the month.  If a super coupon is involved, or if I run out of Gu, I'll be there.

"Running is Play"

"That was a good one,"  I said to myself after reading the Runner's World quote of the day in my car before stepping out into the cold morning air. 

"Play not only keeps us young but also maintains our perspective about the relative seriousness of things.  Running is play, for even if we try hard to do well at it, it is a relief from everyday cares."  -- Jim Fixx, the author of The Complete Book of Running.   

I don't usually liken my running to "play," bit if ever there were a day for me to do so, today was the day.  This morning I ran my first chase run, which is a four mile (with a 4.75 option), out and back workout during which runners run the same course, but begin according to speed.  The goal is for every runner to finish at the same time.  When I contemplated my conservative, expected pace, I had a sense of dread.  What if I will be passed or left behind?   

The course was a familiar greenway near Umstead State Park.  I  ran alone down the winding path through the woods toward the lake.  When I emerged from the woods, the sunlight was bright, and mist hovered over the water.  I noted the smell of fresh baked bread coming from the condos near the water's edge.  A little farther I detected the familiar fish smell and began the short, zig-zag, uphill climb before asking an on-coming chaser if I had reached the two-mile mark.  I had passed it, but not by much.  I had not been concerned about the turn around point.  I was told that I couldn't miss it and to watch for the landmarks: the gazebo, the fence, the two- mile marker on the pavement.  I've missed a turn before in a relay race.  I should have known.  My Garmin sounded at two miles, but I hadn't identified any landmarks, and I was perplexed, so I kept going.  

On my return trip, I was caught by a man I had met for the first time at the start.  He placed third in his age group at the Boston Marathon a week ago in 80 degree heat with a time of 2:46.   I was doing my tempo run while he did a recovery run. He talked easily while I was self- conscious that my breathing was heavy, and I constantly glanced at my wrist for my pace.  We talked about Boston and its heat and how he handled it by slowing his pace.   When we passed another man, not with our chase, he called out my companion's name and congratulated him.  It seemed my companion was a running celebrity.  I have never run with someone so accomplished in this realm.  Later, I learned he holds the chase time record.   We ascended the final hill where fellow chasers awaited our return.   "That was the longest four miler," our leader called out while clicking the stop watch.  He had heard I went too far.  I was indeed the last chaser.   It was still fun, and I'll be back.  And, I will reframe future runs as play even if I'm not part of a chase through the woods.  

Elementary School Running Club

On my solo ten-miler this morning, I reflected on the parental support at my daughters' elementary school.   It is outstanding!   Of my oldest daughter's class of 24 students, 16 parents chaperoned a fourth-grade field trip to the coast yesterday.  My thoughts turned to the school's running club for third through fifth graders.   The club could be a model for other schools.  If more elementary schools had a running club like ours that promotes running for fun and fitness for girls and boys, I think it could play a part in helping to combat obesity.  Kids love to run; it's natural.  Just watch them darting around at recess.  There are no rules to learn or skills to develop to be a successful participant.  

Part of my daughters' school culture is an expectation of a healthy lifestyle.  Three other examples of programs are Walk to School Wednesdays, the Family Marathon (which means participating students walk 25 miles over a few weeks and finish the last mile at school), and new this year, the Boosterthon fun run.  While I believe that more schools offering a running club could help keep kids fit, I know that many other factors play a role in the obesity epidemic.  It's a complex problem.  I counted the students in my daughter's class who have parents that run:  I know of five parents from this class who run full or half marathons.  That's 20 percent of the students who have a distance runner parent.   Other parents run shorter distances, exercise in other ways of which I am not aware, and are active in ways that I do know about; like the mom who lifts weights at least four days per week.  It helps to have active parents.  The school, running club, and parents are working in conjunction to position these kids to enjoy spending time being active for the rest of their lives.  

Last year when I volunteered with the club, one of the girls told me that when she grows up, she wants to run marathons just like her mom.   I remember how enthusiastic the girl was and how strikingly ambitious I found her to be.   My mind wandered a little more as I closed in on the last mile,  and I smiled as I imagined the track and cross-country powerhouse the new high school might be with the class of 2020.  

Fragility

My five-year-old had a bad morning, which meant I had a bad morning.  I dealt with complaining, crying, stalling and crawling just to get her out the door to school.   After I dropped her off, later than ever, I drove to the YMCA.  As I approached the door, I saw an instructor limping across the parking lot.  I struck up a conversation and learned that she hasn't been around for a while after having a routine, sports-related medical procedure that resulted in life threatening complications.  Our paths were meant to cross this morning.  

Next, I walked to the weight room, and as I picked up a towel, I noticed a member lying on the floor being attended to by staff.  The mood in the weight room was sobering.  I thought I'd had a bad morning.  The paramedics arrived, and no one left with them, so I'm guessing the person came around and did not need further care.   I reflected on the fragility of us all.  Anything could happen at any time.  When a wellness facility has thousands of members, each with different medical histories, and different fitness levels and hydration and fuel levels in their bodies, people are going to faint and/or get hurt.   I've felt faint at the Y.  That's why the staff is well trained for such emergencies.  A dear friend of mine's husband experienced sudden cardiac death at the Y in October of 2010, and two staff members revived him.  If I have a medical emergency, and am not already at a hospital, there is no place that I would rather be than at the Y.  

My mood shifted on the group run when once again we talked about gourmet cupcakes among a host of topics.   I enjoyed the fellowship and conversation while I recognized how hard I was working to keep up.   It was a great day for a run.

80 Degrees at the Boston Marathon

I qualified.  I did it.  I finished.  These are some of my new runner friend's words on Facebook describing finishing the Boston Marathon yesterday in temperatures in the 80's.  We became fast friends while churning through 800 meter repeats together on the track at dawn.   At least that's my take on it.  Except for these words, her take on her race practically shouted for joy as I read it.  I could feel her energy rising from my computer even as I pictured her collapsed into a comfy chair with her skin scorched by the sun and legs exhausted.   No one would want to set out on a 26 mile run in temperatures such as what the racers saw.  But, it was Boston.  

Yesterday, as I was looking for race coverage, I saw the weather report and gasped.  I felt terrible for the runners. Could this have been the reason for which I did not get a spot in the race?  I know there is a reason I didn't get to make the trip.  I read that because of the extreme heat, runners could opt to defer their registration until next year.  My heart dropped.  If they defer, how can qualifiers for next year's race get a spot?  I had been so hopeful that I would get to be there next year.  I'll have to find a different goal now, I thought.   My husband tried to cheer me by stating that people would run the race.  He reasoned that he knew that once I get to Boston, nothing, and I mean nothing, would keep me from running that race.  The news later in the day that around 5,000 racers deferred left me dejected.  

This morning I read that the numbers reported yesterday were erroneous.  According to Runner's World around 500 people deferred.   I felt a glimmer of hope again.   I was proud of not only my friend,  but also the collective running community gathered in Boston.  What determination!  Re-energized and optimistic,  I went out for some speed work.  I grabbed the details of my ladder training plan, but forgot my camera -- again.  As I sped along the neighborhood trail, a women admired an unusually large tortoise.  I yelled out that I wish I had my camera, but even if I had, I wouldn't have stopped.  

Jesse Owens

Last night I watched the world premiere of "The Jesse Owens Story" at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival in Durham.  On my long run today, I pondered the film and sought to make a connection between my life and my running and his.  I concluded that would be a stretch and diminish the value of the film.  Instead, I will provide the synopsis from the program guide.  I will say this film should have wide appeal among sports enthusiasts, runners, and those who value American History and the often untold and unrecognized African-American experience.  Viewing the film footage of Owens running was a pleasure.  The story itself was both inspirational and sad.  I was ignorant of what Owens endured after earning his four gold medals. 

 "Jesse Owens was a model of technical perfection the way he ran…That was in such opposition of what African Americans were supposed to be."  Writer William Rhoden's powerful statement  opens this dynamic history of the track and field star.  Owens was discovered in junior high and quickly ascended from high school star to college sensation to national celebrity.  The 1936 Olympics in Berlin would be the pinnacle of his career -- to the dismay of Nazi Germany, Owens triumphed, winning four gold medals.  He returned a hero, only to find that achieving success at home would be more difficult than he'd imagined.

This beautiful tribute is woven from archival footage, recollections by Owens's friends and daughters, and interviews with writer and scholars like Jeremy Schaap and Harry Edwards.  In exploring Owens's legacy, the film highlights the intersections between racism and sports, and in doing so, tells us as much about the past as it does the present."   --  from the 2012 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival Program Guide

Forks over Knives

On today's pre-dawn eight miler, a running companion mentioned "The Purpose Driven Life," a book I have not read.  My purpose -- that I have figured out-- is to be the best mom I can be.  I am certain that I am supposed to be a runner, too.  The joy and energy it gives me helps me in the endeavor of being this best mom.


Last night my husband and I watched "Forks Over Knives," a documentary on food and health recommended by another runner friend.  

Today is my day to become much more serious about what foods my family and I use to fuel our bodies.   I know I sound like a broken record;  I have health food cook books and have known we should eat better.  The impetus to watch the documentary came yesterday after learning my body mass index (BMI) percentage has crept up nearly three percent.  It has been a couple of years since my last measurements.  I rationalized that a few pounds of weight gain had to be attributed to increased muscle mass.  After all, I have never run so far or fast.  Evidently, when I stopped lifting weights and ate what I wanted, I gained not only weight, but also fat.  Runner's World warns about this frequently.  I still did not see this coming.  

Ironically, I patted myself on the back two days ago while comparing what I pack in my children's lunches to what some other families pack.   I criticized the school cafeteria food along with the rack of potato chips conveniently located by the cash register.  I have much work to do in many different areas, and changing the foods we eat might be part of my purpose.  Because if I can do a better job of teaching my girls how to eat properly to fuel their bodies, that could set them up for a lifetime of good choices and a healthy lifestyle.  

Appreciation for a Three Mile Run

"Three miles is not worth my going for a run,"  I said to my husband recently, half jokingly.  Today, I would like to take those words back.  At the end of the run, I was grateful for a quick three miler.   During most training for Wrightsville, my shortest runs were five miles.  On Tuesdays, my warm up and cool down totaled three miles.  Last night I chose to get a good night of rest and purposefully slept through the 5:50AM group run.  (I e-mailed them late last night to relay that I might see them on Wednesday.)   Instead,  I planned to run five miles between getting the girls to school and volunteering in my youngest's kindergarten classroom.  When the morning rush ended, I had 30 minutes to run. 

I set out disappointed that I could not log five miles.  On the run I remembered that three mile runs helped me train for the Richmond Marathon not even two years ago.  At that time I was happy to steal 30 minutes from my day on two or three days mid week to train.   I was able to continue doing something I love even though most of those miles were on a treadmill, a machine I do not love.  That was the semester I was working in a full-time internship, commuting across the triangle area, chauffeuring my kids to activities most nights of the week, and training for a marathon.  I did it all, but not well.  Those three milers kept me going.  I never again want to loose appreciation for a good three miler.  

I Hire a Sitter Sometimes to Run

While I ran this morning with friends, I wondered how many moms hire a sitter for their kids sometimes so that they can go for a run.    My guess is not that many.   I did just that today.  Going for a long run on Saturdays is what I do.  My husband watches the kids while I run my long run for the week on most every Saturday morning.  This doesn't always work for various reasons, but it is almost routine.  To work around my kids' schedules and friends' kids' schedules, I go for early runs sometimes.  I run on Sundays sometimes.  And, yes, sometimes, I hire a sitter.  On these days I run, shower, and head back out for an afternoon of errands or shopping.  I planned to have a babysitter once so I could run a 10K with my friends when my husband was out of town.  The kids were sick that morning, so I missed the race.  My friends picked up my race shirt.  It was too big, as many are.  My husband wears it.  I don't plan to run races when I need a sitter anymore.  That day is simply not a race day for me.  I like our routine.  I used to feel guilty for leaving my husband with the kids, but I've come to recognize that this is their only real time together without me, and that can be special. 

Recognizing Limitations

On my run today I realized that I have limitations.  I've decided to keep running despite them.  I plan to run a 5K or two in May.  Coach shared with me that after the marathon and a period of rest, my body would find it almost a shock to ramp up to a quick 5K.  I heard what she said, but I didn't process it until today when my body thought I was running fast while my Garmin told me I was not.  When I decided to run the 5K's, I had a realistic time goal in mind based on recent training.  Now, I don't think it's realistic.  I will just run and not have high expectations.  This will be new for me.  

Crazy, Fast, Young Women

A friend and roommate once accused me of being a morning person.  I am not.  Fellowship is the main reason I trudged to the kitchen at 5:10AM this morning.  Today, I met up with the crazy, fast, young women running group for their 5:50AM run.  This is my name for the group.  Of the five other women I joined this morning, I am the oldest and one of the slowest.  During my most recent training, I focused on my own plan and directives from my coach and did not join them during their runs over the hills of Apex before dawn.   I ran with them in the summer and the fall, and I rejoined the group today.  I remember saying that I would never run at 5AM.  I regularly run at 6AM, and it might as well be 5AM because, in my world, that seems like an insane time to be up and at 'em.  Along my journey as a runner, I've run with a few different groups, and I am grateful for each one of them.  This group of women has pushed me to run harder, faster, longer, earlier and more hills than I ever would have on my own.  I am a better runner because of each one of them.