Running has really helped me to discover one of life's secrets to happiness: being flexible=a happier state of mind. I've spent most of my life being stubborn, so to learn this at 25 is a blessing both to me and all those who love me. Goal setting is absolutely necessary to keep moving forward in life. And I mean not just dreaming about and setting goals, but taking steps to make them realities...it helps me to have a much needed sense of productivity, to grow personally and professionally, plus it's fun! But I've really learned this season about the importance of being flexible with my goals and adapting to surprises rather than losing my mind because something happened that--deep breath--I DIDN'T PLAN! My injuries are perfect examples of this: they sidelined me for a while, but I adapted. When I could walk but not run, I walked. When I could run, but only slowly, I ran slowly. I finally realized that some things are out of my control....and it felt kind of good. Like I could let go of that control and the world would keep going...imagine that! Here are some upcoming running related goals. Some have adapted over the season and others are new.
1. In the spirit of being flexible, my goal for Long Beach has also adapted. Because this is my first marathon I have decided not to worry about my finishing time. My overall goal for this race is simply to finish. As long as I finish, I'll be happy because finishing is an enormous accomplishment and something I've wanted for a long time.
2. I'd like for Long Beach to be the first of many marathons and half marathons. I begin training for LA in November!
3. I'd love to try trail running. It would be great if I could find someone to tag along with for my first try...does anyone know somebody who wouldn't mind company?
Non Running Related Goals (those on my mind at the moment):
-find a K-5 teaching position. One where I can really grow, make a difference and be happy.
-learn Spanish (this is a big goal...and one I'm not doing anything about at the moment. A girl can dream, though)
I have many more, but my brain is shutting down at the moment. Did I mention I ran 20 miles this morning? More about that later, time for a nap.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Goal Setting Part 1: Old Goals
Lately I find myself thinking an awful lot about my running goals--the old goals I've met, the goals I've had to change due to injury or circumstance, my goals for the near future and those giant goals that are really more like dreams. As my first season of TNT comes to an end and my first marathon approaches, this feels like a time for reflection.
Old Goals:
Growing up I loved to visit my Auntie Kim--in my early memories of her I remember thinking she couldn't be an aunt because she must be a teenager! She was always so much more fun than I believed possible for a grown up. One of the things I love about her is her energy and zest. Here's a perfect example: my first memory of her is of watching her workout on a treadmill or some other type of exercise machine while wearing a pair of bright sweat pants and a pink sweat band while singing along to "Love Shack". Over time she became an avid runner and I wanted to be one too.
The summer I was nine she took me on a few runs with her while we visited my grandparents in Hawaii. I remember thinking that running for such a long time was a lot harder than it looked. In fact, I probably didn't even make it 1/2 a mile before I stopped to walk, but I remember her giving me some great advice. She said when it gets difficult and you want to walk, slow down instead.
Growing up I spent a lot of time trying to become a runner. I didn't have a runner's body, but I secretly hoped I might get one if I kept running long enough (I'm still waiting for that one to happen!). Looking back, I did run often and had fun doing it but I never felt like a runner. Not while running to Briggs school and back for fun (wearing Converse, of all things!), not while on my high school cross country team (placing dead last in nearly every race), not even while running in the lonely rain in Tacoma.
While thinking back on this season and how far I've come I realized that I finally feel like a runner, a goal I've been working on for 16 years. I am going to run 20 miles this Sunday. I have one black toenail and another ready to fall off. I have run two half marathons. I wake up early every Sunday and run. For a few hours. No big deal.
I remember struggling to complete a 10 mile training run at the start of the season...last Sunday I ran 16 miles, the Sunday before that a half marathon, and the one before that 18. Wow. I've made so much progress in just a short amount of time that it kinda snuck up on me. Time to set some new goals...
Up next: Goal Setting Part 2: New Goals, Revised Goals
Old Goals:
Growing up I loved to visit my Auntie Kim--in my early memories of her I remember thinking she couldn't be an aunt because she must be a teenager! She was always so much more fun than I believed possible for a grown up. One of the things I love about her is her energy and zest. Here's a perfect example: my first memory of her is of watching her workout on a treadmill or some other type of exercise machine while wearing a pair of bright sweat pants and a pink sweat band while singing along to "Love Shack". Over time she became an avid runner and I wanted to be one too.
The summer I was nine she took me on a few runs with her while we visited my grandparents in Hawaii. I remember thinking that running for such a long time was a lot harder than it looked. In fact, I probably didn't even make it 1/2 a mile before I stopped to walk, but I remember her giving me some great advice. She said when it gets difficult and you want to walk, slow down instead.
Growing up I spent a lot of time trying to become a runner. I didn't have a runner's body, but I secretly hoped I might get one if I kept running long enough (I'm still waiting for that one to happen!). Looking back, I did run often and had fun doing it but I never felt like a runner. Not while running to Briggs school and back for fun (wearing Converse, of all things!), not while on my high school cross country team (placing dead last in nearly every race), not even while running in the lonely rain in Tacoma.
While thinking back on this season and how far I've come I realized that I finally feel like a runner, a goal I've been working on for 16 years. I am going to run 20 miles this Sunday. I have one black toenail and another ready to fall off. I have run two half marathons. I wake up early every Sunday and run. For a few hours. No big deal.
I remember struggling to complete a 10 mile training run at the start of the season...last Sunday I ran 16 miles, the Sunday before that a half marathon, and the one before that 18. Wow. I've made so much progress in just a short amount of time that it kinda snuck up on me. Time to set some new goals...
Up next: Goal Setting Part 2: New Goals, Revised Goals
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Inspirational!
Just saw a link about Sister Madonna Buder.
Wow. Just wow.
check out this to read more and see her talk about her running!
Wow. Just wow.
check out this to read more and see her talk about her running!
Disney Race Report
Last week I ran the Disneyland Half Marathon, a race I was beginning to believe is cursed for me. I registered for the race a few years ago, paying the hefty registration fee for the privilege of running through Disneyland while all my favorite characters cheered me on. About a week before that first race I came down with a bad case of bronchitis and was unable to run...Unfortunately, Disney does not give out refunds, even if you're sick :-(
I was so excited to register again this year--this would be MY year at Disney. I'm in the midst of marathon training, after all...what could go wrong? As we all know, my training has not exactly gone smoothly. I've encountered a few bumps along the way and am still hesitant about how my body will react to the stresses of long runs.
Long story short, out of nowhere I ended up with a major pain in my left foot. It started out as an annoyance 0n Friday afternoon, but by evening I couldn't walk comfortably on it. Saturday was worse and I spent the day resting it, icing it, and slowly testing my weight on it only to be disappointed. Sunday morning, race day, was no better. I woke up and dressed for the race with no illusions--there was a strong chance I wouldn't be able to run it. I didn't want to risk injuring myself further and compromising the marathon in October, but I had really been looking forward to Disney as something fun and as an estimate of my time for the full marathon.
I decided to try running it, but at nearly every step I knew that I could stop at any moment. The pain made it difficult to extend my toes or to push off with my foot as I ran. One mile turned into two and although I was uncomfortable, the miles just kept adding up. By the time I reached the 10 K mark (6.2 miles), I was really hurting. I stopped frequently to walk or just stand to the side. Did I want to have someone come and pick me up? Was it really that bad? No, I decided that I could at least walk the rest.
I made a stop at the medical tent at mile 9 to ice my foot and take some Tylenol. When I left that tent, I knew that I would finish the race. Not because I felt better, but because I had already made it so far. What was 4 more miles when I had already made it 9?
I crossed the finish line at 2 hours and 52 minutes and wore my medal proudly.
What I'll take away from this race is the importance of being flexible with my goals. While I had a goal to run the half in under 2:30 that goal quickly changed to simply finishing the race. I spent so much time visualizing the race and anticipating my strategy that to overhaul that pattern of thinking completely was difficult--I'm not always as flexible as I should be. While I fought back angry tears around mile 8 I came to realize I had two choices: I could be angry and upset at the unexpected and let that ruin my experience or I could rethink my goals, adapt my expectations and have fun with what I could do.
Guess what I chose?
I was so excited to register again this year--this would be MY year at Disney. I'm in the midst of marathon training, after all...what could go wrong? As we all know, my training has not exactly gone smoothly. I've encountered a few bumps along the way and am still hesitant about how my body will react to the stresses of long runs.
Long story short, out of nowhere I ended up with a major pain in my left foot. It started out as an annoyance 0n Friday afternoon, but by evening I couldn't walk comfortably on it. Saturday was worse and I spent the day resting it, icing it, and slowly testing my weight on it only to be disappointed. Sunday morning, race day, was no better. I woke up and dressed for the race with no illusions--there was a strong chance I wouldn't be able to run it. I didn't want to risk injuring myself further and compromising the marathon in October, but I had really been looking forward to Disney as something fun and as an estimate of my time for the full marathon.
I decided to try running it, but at nearly every step I knew that I could stop at any moment. The pain made it difficult to extend my toes or to push off with my foot as I ran. One mile turned into two and although I was uncomfortable, the miles just kept adding up. By the time I reached the 10 K mark (6.2 miles), I was really hurting. I stopped frequently to walk or just stand to the side. Did I want to have someone come and pick me up? Was it really that bad? No, I decided that I could at least walk the rest.
I made a stop at the medical tent at mile 9 to ice my foot and take some Tylenol. When I left that tent, I knew that I would finish the race. Not because I felt better, but because I had already made it so far. What was 4 more miles when I had already made it 9?
I crossed the finish line at 2 hours and 52 minutes and wore my medal proudly.
What I'll take away from this race is the importance of being flexible with my goals. While I had a goal to run the half in under 2:30 that goal quickly changed to simply finishing the race. I spent so much time visualizing the race and anticipating my strategy that to overhaul that pattern of thinking completely was difficult--I'm not always as flexible as I should be. While I fought back angry tears around mile 8 I came to realize I had two choices: I could be angry and upset at the unexpected and let that ruin my experience or I could rethink my goals, adapt my expectations and have fun with what I could do.
Guess what I chose?
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