As I have stated before, I love summer vacation. I feel like I am a better wife and mother because I actually have time to keep the house clean (within reason), the laundry caught up, and I cook more often. I really kind of like to cook, but just don't have enough time when we are working and busy in the evenings.
Yesterday I made lasagna, salad, garlic bread (okay, I put the frozen slices in the oven), and I made a homemade lemon 7-up cake. All three girls were here, so our family ate together at the table, tv off. Now you moms know, this scenario has the potential for disaster. The kids sometimes argue, or they don't like the meal and complain - after I have spent hours preparing it. Someone might make a huge mess. The dogs can get annoying as they bounce around the table willing one of us to drop a morsel. Last night, it was actually enjoyable. Everyone got along, even while carrying on a conversation. They all liked the food (since it was a new lasagna recipe, I really wasn't certain that it would be palatable). It was the way that family meals should be. Success.
This summer I feel like I have been somewhat of a hermit. We went to Virginia Beach for a week, and I spent several days last week at a reading conference in Indianapolis, but other than those trips, I have spent a lot of time at home, which happens to be my favorite place to be. I am working on some writing projects, which was one of my summer goals, and I have completed my deep cleaning projects. I had planned to paint our upstairs living room, but haven't gotten the motivation to start that project. I keep trying to convince myself to just jump in; I can have it finished in two days, but I hate the preparation for painting.
I have continued to run, although not as much as I should. I ran in Indy last week. My conference happened to be right across the street from where my niece Erin was working, so we met up one day and ran along the canal. It was a beautiful run, but the heat and humidity were absolutely miserable. I whined a lot. I was happy to get some exercise after sitting in class all day, but I was drenched in smelly sweat about a mile into our run. I was so thirsty that had I seen a half empty bottle of water along the route, I would have taken my chances and downed it.
My daughter goes to college in Indy, so the three girls and I stayed at her apartment (this also had the potential for disaster). The girls hung out at the pool during the day, and we spent our evenings together. One night, Bethany, Addison, and I did some workouts that Bethany can get through her cable network. We did belly dancing! I must admit, my body just doesn't move like that! My hips don't swivel. The woman who was teaching just looked sexy as she 'burned calories'. I looked like a soon-to-be-grandma attempting to belly dance. Not sexy at all. It was well worth the laughs with my girls!
Once I returned from Indy, I was determined to get back into a running routine. I awoke early Saturday morning to meet Kass and Jackie for a run. I have to share what happened before I ever got out the door. Addison and my niece Emily were asleep on the couch, and my nephew Evan was sitting there watching TV. As I was quietly grabbing my keys, I saw a dark shadow on the kitchen floor. I flipped on the light, and it was a huge, disgusting spider! HUGE! As is always my first instinct, I grabbed the first spray bottle I could find. It was Windex with vinegar - spider killer, for sure! This gets worse. As soon as I sprayed Giganto, she (yes, I know it was a she...read on) took off, and a thousand little baby spiders began to fall off her back and onto my kitchen floor! I was in pure panic mode. I kept spraying, just hoping to slow Giganto down. She worked her way into a corner, and then began to stumble. I ran to the garage for bug spray, and found only a can of OFF. Hey, I was desperate, and did not want those babies taking up residence in my kitchen cabinets. I continued to spray until I was confident that they were dead. My husband was none too happy when I awoke him with my story of the gargantuan spider and her 100,000 offspring. I insisted that he clean them up - I was not touching them. Besides, I was going to be late for my run (I was getting the heck out of there!).
We three girls ran about 4 1/2 miles that morning. I skipped Sunday. Guess what we did! We lounged on the couch all day! We watched A Time to Kill (great flick), and six, yes six, episodes of Criminal Minds. It was a great day. Monday, it was time to get another run in. It was also nearly 100 degrees. Kass, Jennifer, and I decided to brave the outdoor oven, and try to get a few miles in. We waited until 7:30 when the sun was finished beating down. We ended up running three miles, which was plenty considering there were heat advisories. Today the temperatures are more tolerable. Kass, Jackie, and I are going to run five or six miles this evening. It wasn't long ago that I was tired of cold weather and having to bundle up for runs; now I long for those temps. I have pretty much decided that I am just going to try to maintain fitness this summer, and not run races. It is just too hot. I ran a 5K a couple of weeks ago, and it was no fun at all. It was so hot that I continued to sweat when I got out of the shower. I prefer to run races in the fall. I still plan to run the Monumental Half Marathon in November, so fall Saturdays will be spent getting in long runs.
So, what to do on this July day? Whatever I want! It is summer vacation, and it isn't going to last much longer! Now get out and do something fun - you will never get this moment back!
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Aah...Summer
To say that I love the laziness of summer would be a gross understatement. Since I no longer have a girl playing softball - we put in our years at the ball field and am thrilled that Addison has no interest - we really have few obligations in early summer. I always have a laundry list of projects to be completed, like cleaning out cabinets, going through clothes, cleaning carpets, cleaning windows, and thoroughly cleaning every room in the house. I don't mind working on these tasks, and rather enjoy staying home to work, and only venturing to town when we need food or to run. I have enjoyed spending time writing, sitting on the deck, and reading. One of my goals is to read as much as I can fit in.
As you can imagine, I love to read about running. I have read a couple of books by Kristen Armstrong (Lance's ex). I want her job! She is a writer, and usually writes about running, so her running routine is necessary for her job. That would be fabulous - not to mention it would keep me motivated to run. Yesterday I received my Women's Running magazine in the mail. I was engrossed in the book Rebirth, which was written by a friend of mine, so I had laid the mail aside, and continued reading my book. About 11:00 pm, I picked up my magazine and thumbed through it. I stopped at an article about reasons women run. As I perused the list of reasons, there it was! My reason - my name! I was quoted in a national running magazine! Woo Hoo! Here is what I read:
Running...I am running several days a week, unfortunately, many runs are in the rain. This summer has been so wet. About a week and a half ago, Jackie, Kassi, and I were out on our sacred Wednesday night run. It was sunny when we started out, but after about 3 1/2 miles, clouds began to roll in. Fast. We decided that we should head back toward Kassi's house, and just as we went that direction, the heavens opened up. Jackie wanted to go into the lobby of post office, which was about a block away, but Kassi and I wanted to get to a phone. I knew that my husband would be frantic if he didn't know where I was. I told them the I would run ahead to the hair salon where I used to work, and call for a ride, but they followed. About that time the wind kicked in, and it was blasting the rain into our exposed legs and faces. I turned toward our minister's house (what minister wouldn't provide shelter to three drenched women?). He wasn't home, but the door to the church was ajar. We went in - safe at last! I called my daughter for a ride, but in the mean time my husband and Kassi's and Jackie's dad also showed up. We made it back to Kassi's and dried off. Jackie then told us that as she was running behind us, she was screaming at us to wait for her, and we didn't. I was sprinting trying to get to safety - I knew they would make it. We had a good laugh about our adventure, and knew it would go down as one of our more memorable runs. Jackie has described it as running through hurricane-force winds. What athletes we are! Jackie, Kassi, and I grew up together in the same neighborhood, so their parents are like my second set of parents. I ran in their mom in the grocery store the next day, and she said, "You girls really need to do a better job at checking the weather before you go out to run." We are all in our forties, so the fact that our parents still have to worry about us doing something stupid is really kind of funny!
When the weather is hot, running in the rain is actually quite refreshing on occasion. This summer it is getting old. The Saturday following our run in the downpour, we three once again hit the streets. About a mile in, the rain began. We debated continuing, and decided to keep running. We were tired of being drenched while running, but all needed to get a run in. We ventured on. As opposed to our previous run, it was not windy, and the rain was not hard. We all felt good on this day. Usually one of us is kind of whiny, but the other two are not, so we can all get through the run together. On this particular rainy Saturday, we had a good 6-mile run. On top of that, Kassi had her fastest long run ever! Maybe running in the rain is good for her - dodging those puddles and the raindrops gives incentive to go faster.
Since it is almost 4:00 in the afternoon, and I am still in my pajamas, I suppose that I should wrap this up and check another task off of my list. Thanks for reading!
As you can imagine, I love to read about running. I have read a couple of books by Kristen Armstrong (Lance's ex). I want her job! She is a writer, and usually writes about running, so her running routine is necessary for her job. That would be fabulous - not to mention it would keep me motivated to run. Yesterday I received my Women's Running magazine in the mail. I was engrossed in the book Rebirth, which was written by a friend of mine, so I had laid the mail aside, and continued reading my book. About 11:00 pm, I picked up my magazine and thumbed through it. I stopped at an article about reasons women run. As I perused the list of reasons, there it was! My reason - my name! I was quoted in a national running magazine! Woo Hoo! Here is what I read:
How great is that? Since my goal is to eventually be a published writer, I figured this is a start. On the Women's Running Facebook page, they had asked readers to submit reasons for running to an email address. I did, and in return was asked more questions by the editor. I really didn't know if anything would be published.I am expecting my first grandchild in October. I can't wait until the day that she or he tells friends, "My grandma can run 13 miles. Can yours?" --Joyce Stath, 44, third grade teacher from Indiana who loves to hear shouts of "Hi, Mrs. Stath!" as she run in her hometown.
Running...I am running several days a week, unfortunately, many runs are in the rain. This summer has been so wet. About a week and a half ago, Jackie, Kassi, and I were out on our sacred Wednesday night run. It was sunny when we started out, but after about 3 1/2 miles, clouds began to roll in. Fast. We decided that we should head back toward Kassi's house, and just as we went that direction, the heavens opened up. Jackie wanted to go into the lobby of post office, which was about a block away, but Kassi and I wanted to get to a phone. I knew that my husband would be frantic if he didn't know where I was. I told them the I would run ahead to the hair salon where I used to work, and call for a ride, but they followed. About that time the wind kicked in, and it was blasting the rain into our exposed legs and faces. I turned toward our minister's house (what minister wouldn't provide shelter to three drenched women?). He wasn't home, but the door to the church was ajar. We went in - safe at last! I called my daughter for a ride, but in the mean time my husband and Kassi's and Jackie's dad also showed up. We made it back to Kassi's and dried off. Jackie then told us that as she was running behind us, she was screaming at us to wait for her, and we didn't. I was sprinting trying to get to safety - I knew they would make it. We had a good laugh about our adventure, and knew it would go down as one of our more memorable runs. Jackie has described it as running through hurricane-force winds. What athletes we are! Jackie, Kassi, and I grew up together in the same neighborhood, so their parents are like my second set of parents. I ran in their mom in the grocery store the next day, and she said, "You girls really need to do a better job at checking the weather before you go out to run." We are all in our forties, so the fact that our parents still have to worry about us doing something stupid is really kind of funny!
When the weather is hot, running in the rain is actually quite refreshing on occasion. This summer it is getting old. The Saturday following our run in the downpour, we three once again hit the streets. About a mile in, the rain began. We debated continuing, and decided to keep running. We were tired of being drenched while running, but all needed to get a run in. We ventured on. As opposed to our previous run, it was not windy, and the rain was not hard. We all felt good on this day. Usually one of us is kind of whiny, but the other two are not, so we can all get through the run together. On this particular rainy Saturday, we had a good 6-mile run. On top of that, Kassi had her fastest long run ever! Maybe running in the rain is good for her - dodging those puddles and the raindrops gives incentive to go faster.
Since it is almost 4:00 in the afternoon, and I am still in my pajamas, I suppose that I should wrap this up and check another task off of my list. Thanks for reading!
Saturday, June 11, 2011
New Turf
As you may have noticed, spring is an incredibly busy time for the Stath family. Addison plays tennis on the jr high team, and she throws for the track team, so our time at home and my time to blog is rather limited. Now that it is summer vacation, I hope to have time to write more.
This weekend, Gary, Addison, and I are in Virginia Beach visiting Gary's daughter and her family. It has been a fabulous vacation. We spent our first day hanging out by their pool; Friday we spent at the beach, and then at the Boardwalk browsing and eating. Today we were registered to run a 5K. We hadn't run a race since the half marathon in Louisville at the end of April. I hadn't run a 5K in over a year. Because it had turned so hot and humid so quickly, my running has been awful. I have been slow and whiny for the past month. We decided to run this race despite all of that, so Gary sent in our entries.
This morning, Gary, Tamara, Addison, and I took off for Virginia Wesleyen College. Tamara had not been to a race, so we were excited for her to be there. She and Addison hung out while we were out sweating. The weather was actually pretty decent. It was hot, but not unbearable. As we were pulling into the university, a slight panic attack set in. What was the cause of my anxiety? We realized that we would be running on grass. We had never run on grass. Racing on an unfamiliar surface was not on my agenda for the day. Would I twist an ankle on an uneven spot? Slip on the dew-covered grass? Run slower? My heart was pounding and my stomach churning. Why the heck did we sign up for this race? In Indiana we run on streets. One would assume that would be the norm. One would be mistaken.
As is the norm for me, we arrived well ahead of the start time. There were over 300 runners registered, so there was quite a crowd forming as we drove in. I truly had no idea what to expect at this race, but I knew that all goals were no longer applicable. This was new territory. As we lined up, I just decided to go with the flow, and see what would happen. I gave Gary a good-luck kiss, and lined up toward the front. Why start out behind? The Geico gecko got the runners to their marks (really), and we were off. I took off fast, and as I do in most races, decided just to go hard as long as I could. Who knew what was going to happen on the grass? I might crash and burn before the end of the first mile.
Once I got into a groove, I found that I really didn't mind the green stuff. It was rather cushiony for these middle-aged legs. The course wound around the college campus, and was very peaceful. I found that I was indeed able to maintain a decent pace. As I was approaching the chute, there was a little boy, probably about eight or nine years old, ahead of me. Now, sometimes my ego can get the best of me. Did I really want this little kid to beat me? Ugh. I chose to be a grown-up, and when I saw him slow down at the end, I said, "Finish strong! Keep pushing!" He took off, and he finished just before I did. As I neared the chute, I saw the timer, and I knew that my time was going to be respectable. Heck, it was going to be good! I heard Tamara and Addison yelling for me, and I pushed forward (although I really felt like puking). My time was 27:01 - about a 8:42 pace, which is awesome for me. And it was on a new turf, so it was super awesome! I ended up placing 5th out of 29 in my age group. Aah...a good day.
Gary had set a goal of running the race in 38 minutes. He rocked too! His time was 36:41 - well below his goal! He ran under a 12 minute pace, which is great!
Not only did we run well, Gary also won 3 prizes in the raffle, one of which was a $50 gift card to a great restaurant/bakery. Guess what we did after the race? We used up that gift card! We also made a second trip to the running store, and I treated myself to a new running skirt.
So now that our race is over, we can continue vacationing. This evening we went to Norfolk for the HarborFest, which was great. We saw some really cool ships, had some treats, and watched an Indigo Girls concert. Tomorrow we have a family cookout, and Monday we might head back to the beach. I love the beach. I don't really like getting in the ocean; I hate the taste of saltwater, and I don't really like tumbling in the waves. I do, however, love lying on the beach, listening to the sound of the water, and reading a good book. Oh, and I will be running the next two days, too. It is really fun to run in new places. Tamara lives in a beautiful neighborhood, so I can occupy my mind by looking at the gorgeous homes and meticulous lawns. And I can dream about winning the lottery and purchasing a second home here in Virginia Beach. One on the ocean. In Sandbridge. That's really large and has a pool. A girl can dream, can't she? Might as well dream big!
Thanks for reading...now get out and run!
This weekend, Gary, Addison, and I are in Virginia Beach visiting Gary's daughter and her family. It has been a fabulous vacation. We spent our first day hanging out by their pool; Friday we spent at the beach, and then at the Boardwalk browsing and eating. Today we were registered to run a 5K. We hadn't run a race since the half marathon in Louisville at the end of April. I hadn't run a 5K in over a year. Because it had turned so hot and humid so quickly, my running has been awful. I have been slow and whiny for the past month. We decided to run this race despite all of that, so Gary sent in our entries.
This morning, Gary, Tamara, Addison, and I took off for Virginia Wesleyen College. Tamara had not been to a race, so we were excited for her to be there. She and Addison hung out while we were out sweating. The weather was actually pretty decent. It was hot, but not unbearable. As we were pulling into the university, a slight panic attack set in. What was the cause of my anxiety? We realized that we would be running on grass. We had never run on grass. Racing on an unfamiliar surface was not on my agenda for the day. Would I twist an ankle on an uneven spot? Slip on the dew-covered grass? Run slower? My heart was pounding and my stomach churning. Why the heck did we sign up for this race? In Indiana we run on streets. One would assume that would be the norm. One would be mistaken.
As is the norm for me, we arrived well ahead of the start time. There were over 300 runners registered, so there was quite a crowd forming as we drove in. I truly had no idea what to expect at this race, but I knew that all goals were no longer applicable. This was new territory. As we lined up, I just decided to go with the flow, and see what would happen. I gave Gary a good-luck kiss, and lined up toward the front. Why start out behind? The Geico gecko got the runners to their marks (really), and we were off. I took off fast, and as I do in most races, decided just to go hard as long as I could. Who knew what was going to happen on the grass? I might crash and burn before the end of the first mile.
Once I got into a groove, I found that I really didn't mind the green stuff. It was rather cushiony for these middle-aged legs. The course wound around the college campus, and was very peaceful. I found that I was indeed able to maintain a decent pace. As I was approaching the chute, there was a little boy, probably about eight or nine years old, ahead of me. Now, sometimes my ego can get the best of me. Did I really want this little kid to beat me? Ugh. I chose to be a grown-up, and when I saw him slow down at the end, I said, "Finish strong! Keep pushing!" He took off, and he finished just before I did. As I neared the chute, I saw the timer, and I knew that my time was going to be respectable. Heck, it was going to be good! I heard Tamara and Addison yelling for me, and I pushed forward (although I really felt like puking). My time was 27:01 - about a 8:42 pace, which is awesome for me. And it was on a new turf, so it was super awesome! I ended up placing 5th out of 29 in my age group. Aah...a good day.
Gary had set a goal of running the race in 38 minutes. He rocked too! His time was 36:41 - well below his goal! He ran under a 12 minute pace, which is great!
Not only did we run well, Gary also won 3 prizes in the raffle, one of which was a $50 gift card to a great restaurant/bakery. Guess what we did after the race? We used up that gift card! We also made a second trip to the running store, and I treated myself to a new running skirt.
So now that our race is over, we can continue vacationing. This evening we went to Norfolk for the HarborFest, which was great. We saw some really cool ships, had some treats, and watched an Indigo Girls concert. Tomorrow we have a family cookout, and Monday we might head back to the beach. I love the beach. I don't really like getting in the ocean; I hate the taste of saltwater, and I don't really like tumbling in the waves. I do, however, love lying on the beach, listening to the sound of the water, and reading a good book. Oh, and I will be running the next two days, too. It is really fun to run in new places. Tamara lives in a beautiful neighborhood, so I can occupy my mind by looking at the gorgeous homes and meticulous lawns. And I can dream about winning the lottery and purchasing a second home here in Virginia Beach. One on the ocean. In Sandbridge. That's really large and has a pool. A girl can dream, can't she? Might as well dream big!
Thanks for reading...now get out and run!
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Two and a Half Weeks to Go!
I haven’t blogged for a long time; I have been busy getting back into the groove of getting up and going to work every day (I had become accustomed to being home while on my six-week medical leave). I am also working on another writing project, and spring is our busiest time of the year because of Addison’s activities.
After not being able to run for six weeks after surgery, I have been running again for about four weeks. When I was sitting home recovering, and Gary and my friends were training to run the Derby Festival Marathon on April 30, I began to contemplate running the half marathon while they run the full. Afterall, why stand around waiting for them to finish when I could be out running too? I would only have six weeks to train, but I figured that even if I had to walk some, just finishing 13.1 miles three months after surgery would be quite an accomplishment. Of course, at the time I was considering this, I was still having some major pain and had absolutely no energy. I really did not know what to expect, but I knew that I wanted to know if it was a possibility. I met with my ‘running gyno’ to discuss my options. My primary surgeon was a female doctor, but the doctor who assisted her was a male, and more importantly, a runner. Because he is knowledgeable about training, I met with him before making my decision. I was four weeks post-op when I met with him.
The ‘running gyno’ was completely supportive of my running the half. He explained that I would be slower (it isn’t like I break any speed records anyway), and that there was a chance I would have to walk. He suggested that I really work on the elliptical, and continue to do yoga and walk. I had already begun to exercise two weeks after surgery, so I felt pretty good about stepping it up a notch. At the six week mark, I got the go ahead to begin running again. As soon as I returned from my appointment, I laced up my dust-covered Asics and headed out.
Since that point I have worked my way up to running nine miles. I feel that I am back to where I was before surgery; my energy has returned and I am pain-free. Well, I have those running pains like a sore back and achy legs, but no post-op pains to speak of. Last weekend, it suddenly turned ridiculously hot and humid, and I had planned to run ten miles. Wow. It was miserable. Had it been July, and my body had been gradually adapting to the insane humidity, it would have just been another summer run. Saturday, it was absolute hell. I could hardly breathe, and by the time I reached six miles, my water was gone and my stomach was churning. You know that feeling when your throat begins to constrict and you just know you are going to puke? That is how I felt as I was attempting to continue to run down Tell Street. I was trying to figure out just where I could puke that would not be obvious to passersby. Fortunately (for everyone), I chose to walk for a bit, and that feeling passed. I was determined to finish ten miles that day, which I did, but I had to walk two of those ten miles. I did not care. When I learned that the Evansville Marathon was canceled the next day due to extreme temperatures that would be dangerous for the runners, I didn’t feel quite so wimpy.
The Derby Mini is just over two weeks away. I have written before about the ‘good Joyce’ that sits on one shoulder, and the ‘rotten Joyce’ that sits on the other. The ‘good Joyce’ runs regularly without complaint, tries to use common sense, drinks plenty of water, and avoids junk food; the ‘rotten Joyce’ sits on the couch, is obsessive compulsive about things that don’t really matter, drinks Diet Mountain Dew by the liter, and can justify eating a candy bar or Nutty bar at any time. They have been sparring over this mini marathon. ‘Good Joyce’ knows that she is not in the best of shape, and that just finishing this mini is an accomplishment in itself. She knows to just follow the training plan, and let whatever happens be acceptable. The ‘rotten Joyce’? She’s been looking at last year’s times. She keeps thinking about how she could manage to beat her time from the Evansville Half Marathon in October (the one she trained for for months and had not had surgery prior to running). She does not want to walk. Not one bit. The question is will common sense win out on April 30? I just can’t answer that tonight. One example of a time when ‘rotten Joyce’ won the battle was a 10K (6.2 miles) that I ran last summer. It was July. It is very hot and humid in this area in July. I wanted to have a decent time in that particular race, so rather than get water during the run, I took great pleasure in passing the people who were smart enough to slow down and get water. Fortunately, I did maintain a good pace, and I did not dehydrate.
I am really excited about running this race. I do hope it goes well for all of us who will be running that day. I look forward to lining up with 15,000 other runners (although I do tend to panic in crowded situations, so I could possibly hyperventilate – or cry), and I look forward to crossing that finish line two hours and twelve minutes later. Okay, maybe two hours and thirty minutes later. Just as much as I look forward to my crossing the finish line, I cannot wait to cheer for Gary, Kim, Tony, and Jennifer as they complete their marathon! 26.2 miles. If I weren’t recovering from major surgery, I am sure that I would be running the full with my husband and friends. Ha! Ha! That is a complete lie. Although I am super proud of them and their dedication, I have no desire to run that far. Ever. But I can say that the only reason I am just running the mini is that I didn’t have enough time to train for the full.
Get up and get moving!
After not being able to run for six weeks after surgery, I have been running again for about four weeks. When I was sitting home recovering, and Gary and my friends were training to run the Derby Festival Marathon on April 30, I began to contemplate running the half marathon while they run the full. Afterall, why stand around waiting for them to finish when I could be out running too? I would only have six weeks to train, but I figured that even if I had to walk some, just finishing 13.1 miles three months after surgery would be quite an accomplishment. Of course, at the time I was considering this, I was still having some major pain and had absolutely no energy. I really did not know what to expect, but I knew that I wanted to know if it was a possibility. I met with my ‘running gyno’ to discuss my options. My primary surgeon was a female doctor, but the doctor who assisted her was a male, and more importantly, a runner. Because he is knowledgeable about training, I met with him before making my decision. I was four weeks post-op when I met with him.
The ‘running gyno’ was completely supportive of my running the half. He explained that I would be slower (it isn’t like I break any speed records anyway), and that there was a chance I would have to walk. He suggested that I really work on the elliptical, and continue to do yoga and walk. I had already begun to exercise two weeks after surgery, so I felt pretty good about stepping it up a notch. At the six week mark, I got the go ahead to begin running again. As soon as I returned from my appointment, I laced up my dust-covered Asics and headed out.
Since that point I have worked my way up to running nine miles. I feel that I am back to where I was before surgery; my energy has returned and I am pain-free. Well, I have those running pains like a sore back and achy legs, but no post-op pains to speak of. Last weekend, it suddenly turned ridiculously hot and humid, and I had planned to run ten miles. Wow. It was miserable. Had it been July, and my body had been gradually adapting to the insane humidity, it would have just been another summer run. Saturday, it was absolute hell. I could hardly breathe, and by the time I reached six miles, my water was gone and my stomach was churning. You know that feeling when your throat begins to constrict and you just know you are going to puke? That is how I felt as I was attempting to continue to run down Tell Street. I was trying to figure out just where I could puke that would not be obvious to passersby. Fortunately (for everyone), I chose to walk for a bit, and that feeling passed. I was determined to finish ten miles that day, which I did, but I had to walk two of those ten miles. I did not care. When I learned that the Evansville Marathon was canceled the next day due to extreme temperatures that would be dangerous for the runners, I didn’t feel quite so wimpy.
The Derby Mini is just over two weeks away. I have written before about the ‘good Joyce’ that sits on one shoulder, and the ‘rotten Joyce’ that sits on the other. The ‘good Joyce’ runs regularly without complaint, tries to use common sense, drinks plenty of water, and avoids junk food; the ‘rotten Joyce’ sits on the couch, is obsessive compulsive about things that don’t really matter, drinks Diet Mountain Dew by the liter, and can justify eating a candy bar or Nutty bar at any time. They have been sparring over this mini marathon. ‘Good Joyce’ knows that she is not in the best of shape, and that just finishing this mini is an accomplishment in itself. She knows to just follow the training plan, and let whatever happens be acceptable. The ‘rotten Joyce’? She’s been looking at last year’s times. She keeps thinking about how she could manage to beat her time from the Evansville Half Marathon in October (the one she trained for for months and had not had surgery prior to running). She does not want to walk. Not one bit. The question is will common sense win out on April 30? I just can’t answer that tonight. One example of a time when ‘rotten Joyce’ won the battle was a 10K (6.2 miles) that I ran last summer. It was July. It is very hot and humid in this area in July. I wanted to have a decent time in that particular race, so rather than get water during the run, I took great pleasure in passing the people who were smart enough to slow down and get water. Fortunately, I did maintain a good pace, and I did not dehydrate.
I am really excited about running this race. I do hope it goes well for all of us who will be running that day. I look forward to lining up with 15,000 other runners (although I do tend to panic in crowded situations, so I could possibly hyperventilate – or cry), and I look forward to crossing that finish line two hours and twelve minutes later. Okay, maybe two hours and thirty minutes later. Just as much as I look forward to my crossing the finish line, I cannot wait to cheer for Gary, Kim, Tony, and Jennifer as they complete their marathon! 26.2 miles. If I weren’t recovering from major surgery, I am sure that I would be running the full with my husband and friends. Ha! Ha! That is a complete lie. Although I am super proud of them and their dedication, I have no desire to run that far. Ever. But I can say that the only reason I am just running the mini is that I didn’t have enough time to train for the full.
Get up and get moving!
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
I'm Back!!
Woo! Hoo! Yippee! I am so excited! Today I had my six-week post-up appointment, and I was released to run! It was a gorgeous day: sunny and about 57 degrees. As my daughter and I drove home from Evansville, I could hardly stand the wait. I wasn’t certain what my body would do, but I could not wait to lace up my brand-spanking-new Asics, put on my running shorts and a t-shirt, and hit the streets. I need a new battery for my Garmin, but I didn’t get one because I did not think I would care about pace, and could guess my distance. And since it was my first time back out, I didn’t think I would be going far anyway.
Guess what! I have a training app on my Droid phone that I hadn’t used yet. I decided to try it out. It works like a GPS Garmin, so I got it ready, and put it in my little pink pouch that goes on my arm. Then I began to run. The first mile was tough, but it always is. I have to say that I was thrilled to hit that one mile mark. I kept going. It felt awesome! It was not easy; my breathing was labored; I was running. These legs had not run in six weeks and two days. I got to the two-mile mark, and decided I at least wanted to run three, but then I reached three, and thought I could surely make it one more mile. I was tired, but it was a good tired. Nothing hurt! I ventured on, probably with a goofy grin on my face. I had no idea what my pace was; I felt like I was running in mud and moving rather slow. I finally rounded the final corner and my car was in sight. I was going to do it! As soon as I stopped, I took out my phone to analyze what I had accomplished. My miles…4.34!!! My pace: 9.42! I know that for professional (or even just good) runners, that is not fast. For this soon-to-be grandma on her first run after surgery, it was smokin’! It was faster than I had been running before surgery. I was beyond thrilled. Still out of breath, I phoned my husband. I could not wait to share my joy. He was impressed. Then I had to call my running buds, Kassi and Jackie. Since I made it over four miles, I am ready to join them this weekend for a run. My goal is to run six miles. If I can do that, I will be on track for the half marathon that is six weeks from Saturday.
As I walked a few laps at the high school track, I texted two more of my running friends. I also posted my run on Facebook when I returned home. Was I proud? Heck, yes! I can’t wait to get out again. It is great to feel like my life is returning. Spring is my favorite time of the year to run. We are busy with our daughter’s sports, but I always manage to work in my runs so that I can watch as the world emerges from the gray of winter. Every run is a bit more colorful, and a little warmer.
Now get out there and enjoy the weather!
Guess what! I have a training app on my Droid phone that I hadn’t used yet. I decided to try it out. It works like a GPS Garmin, so I got it ready, and put it in my little pink pouch that goes on my arm. Then I began to run. The first mile was tough, but it always is. I have to say that I was thrilled to hit that one mile mark. I kept going. It felt awesome! It was not easy; my breathing was labored; I was running. These legs had not run in six weeks and two days. I got to the two-mile mark, and decided I at least wanted to run three, but then I reached three, and thought I could surely make it one more mile. I was tired, but it was a good tired. Nothing hurt! I ventured on, probably with a goofy grin on my face. I had no idea what my pace was; I felt like I was running in mud and moving rather slow. I finally rounded the final corner and my car was in sight. I was going to do it! As soon as I stopped, I took out my phone to analyze what I had accomplished. My miles…4.34!!! My pace: 9.42! I know that for professional (or even just good) runners, that is not fast. For this soon-to-be grandma on her first run after surgery, it was smokin’! It was faster than I had been running before surgery. I was beyond thrilled. Still out of breath, I phoned my husband. I could not wait to share my joy. He was impressed. Then I had to call my running buds, Kassi and Jackie. Since I made it over four miles, I am ready to join them this weekend for a run. My goal is to run six miles. If I can do that, I will be on track for the half marathon that is six weeks from Saturday.
As I walked a few laps at the high school track, I texted two more of my running friends. I also posted my run on Facebook when I returned home. Was I proud? Heck, yes! I can’t wait to get out again. It is great to feel like my life is returning. Spring is my favorite time of the year to run. We are busy with our daughter’s sports, but I always manage to work in my runs so that I can watch as the world emerges from the gray of winter. Every run is a bit more colorful, and a little warmer.
Now get out there and enjoy the weather!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Recovery Part 2
I am already 15 days post-op! It is amazing the progress that I have made in the last week. Just this morning I did 10 minutes on the elliptical (slow), 300 punches on the punching bag, and my TurboJam low impact workout without weights. It felt awesome to sweat! I went for my 2 week check-up yesterday, and though I cannot run, I can exercise. My doctor said if it hurts, don't do it. Great advice! None of the workout I did this morning hurt. It was actually very invigorating.
Once I finished with my exercise, I straightened the kitchen area, scrubbed a bathroom, dusted my bedroom, and scrubbed the hardwood floors in my living room. Other than a walk and fixing dinner, that is all the physical activity for the day. I can also feel a nap in my near future!
When the nurse came to get me yesterday, she asked if I was only 2 weeks post-op. When I told her that I was, she seemed surprised. She said that most women were still pretty sore and not getting around very well at that point. I was getting around just fine, dressed in regular clothes (as opposed to pajamas or sweats), my hair was fixed, and I had on make-up. My doctor said that my being in good shape and having a positive attitude had really helped my recovery. I couldn't agree more! I still get really tired, and it seems to hit very suddenly, but overall I feel pretty terrific!
My husband and I were talking about recovery. Many well-meaning friends have said, "Don 't push yourself!" That completely goes against everything that I have worked for the past two years. As a runner, I am constantly pushing myself. I push beyond the pain and exhaustion. I have used the mantra that if it were easy, everyone would run. It is very difficult to turn that 'push yourself' attitude off. Thus far, pushing myself within reason has paid off. I have read on websites about hysterectomies that I should stay in my pajamas and try to look bad so that the family doesn't think I am recovered. Really? Getting dressed and making myself look better made ME feel better! My family is intelligent enough to know that I am still limited in what I can do.
I know that I have to use common sense when planning my days. I still cannot carry anything heavy, and I know that I can hit that wall pretty quickly when out and about. I wouldn't take any long car rides yet, nor would I fill a day with activity. If I am busy all morning, I have to plan time for an afternoon nap. I still have 3 1/2 weeks of leave time from work. I know that going back to 26 eight and nine year olds will make me tired, but I feel that I will have given myself adequate time to heal. Right now, there is no way I could make it through a school day. I want to be able to give those kiddos the best me I can - they deserve it!
So far, so good! I hope that I can report even more improvements next time!
Once I finished with my exercise, I straightened the kitchen area, scrubbed a bathroom, dusted my bedroom, and scrubbed the hardwood floors in my living room. Other than a walk and fixing dinner, that is all the physical activity for the day. I can also feel a nap in my near future!
When the nurse came to get me yesterday, she asked if I was only 2 weeks post-op. When I told her that I was, she seemed surprised. She said that most women were still pretty sore and not getting around very well at that point. I was getting around just fine, dressed in regular clothes (as opposed to pajamas or sweats), my hair was fixed, and I had on make-up. My doctor said that my being in good shape and having a positive attitude had really helped my recovery. I couldn't agree more! I still get really tired, and it seems to hit very suddenly, but overall I feel pretty terrific!
My husband and I were talking about recovery. Many well-meaning friends have said, "Don 't push yourself!" That completely goes against everything that I have worked for the past two years. As a runner, I am constantly pushing myself. I push beyond the pain and exhaustion. I have used the mantra that if it were easy, everyone would run. It is very difficult to turn that 'push yourself' attitude off. Thus far, pushing myself within reason has paid off. I have read on websites about hysterectomies that I should stay in my pajamas and try to look bad so that the family doesn't think I am recovered. Really? Getting dressed and making myself look better made ME feel better! My family is intelligent enough to know that I am still limited in what I can do.
I know that I have to use common sense when planning my days. I still cannot carry anything heavy, and I know that I can hit that wall pretty quickly when out and about. I wouldn't take any long car rides yet, nor would I fill a day with activity. If I am busy all morning, I have to plan time for an afternoon nap. I still have 3 1/2 weeks of leave time from work. I know that going back to 26 eight and nine year olds will make me tired, but I feel that I will have given myself adequate time to heal. Right now, there is no way I could make it through a school day. I want to be able to give those kiddos the best me I can - they deserve it!
So far, so good! I hope that I can report even more improvements next time!
Monday, February 7, 2011
A Different Kind of Recovery!
Today I am 6 days post-hysterectomy. I am feeling pretty awesome! It has been amazing how each day I feel so much better. I am still moving a bit slowly, but I am moving. Here is the run-down:
When I found out in December that I would need a hysterectomy, my first inclination was that I might as well go ahead and stop running since I was practically going to have to start over anyway. Then upon reading about the surgery, I found that I needed to be in tip-top shape, so I ran. I actually ran more the month before surgery than I had during the fall. My friends and I ran through snow and sleet and bitter temps. We ran morning runs, evening runs, and afternoon runs. Last Monday, my friend Kassi and I ran my final run together - a 5-mile presurgery run. I felt that I was in the best shape that I could be at the time. I had my classroom ready for a long-term substitute, my house was clean, my laundry was done; I was ready!
My husband and I headed for the Women's Hospital early Tuesday morning. I wasn't as nervous as I thought I would be. I felt confident in my doctors, and I knew that after a time of discomfort, I would be on the road to feeling much better. I had never had any type of surgery, so I didn't know exactly what to expect. One of my doctors - who happens to be a triathlete - came in to see me and answer last-minute questions before they walked me to the surgery room. I told him that my other doctor had said no running for six weeks, and I wanted to know what he thought. He agreed with the six weeks, but said that I could probably do the elliptical after two weeks! We have an elliptical, so that was good news. He said that would help me keep the running motion going.
Fast forward three hours, and I was being rolled into my room, a room that looked like a very nice hotel room! I slept pretty much all that afternoon and evening, but not much during the night. The nurses were in and out all night. My husband stayed with me, which made me feel much better. Though I wasn't really coherent, just knowing he was nearby was very comforting. I had been told that I would only be in the hospital 23 hours, and in the middle of that night, I couldn't even imagine going home that next morning. I hadn't even left my bed! Once the nurses got me up, and I was able to shower, improvements came quickly. I was not able to pee on my own, so if I wanted to go home I was going to have to self-cath. I wanted to go home. I had the same trouble after giving birth to my first daughter, so this didn't really upset me too much; it was just inconvenient. Around 11 that morning, we were in the car headed home.
As the days came and went, I began to feel somewhat normal again. I couldn't get outside because of the weather, so I was stuck pacing my house in order to get some walking in. I waited a couple of days to tackle the stairs. By Sunday (day 5 post-op), I was able to go to church! I was so excited to get out of the house and to see people! We live in the woods, so I don't even have neighbors to see while I am home. My daughter and I were also able to get outside and walk about a quarter mile. My goal is to walk a mile by Saturday, although as I write this it is once again snowing, so I don't know how much outside time I will get. I am a little fearful of walking on the treadmill because if I would lose my balance, I could do some damage. I have to keep reminding myself that I have a lot of stitches inside. I am registered to walk a 7k race with my sister on March 12. I felt that by signing up and paying an entry fee, I would have incentive to walk. I have to be able to walk 4.3 miles in 5 weeks! I am also going to have to be able to work off the calories from all of the great chocolate I have been receiving!
So, what does all of this have to do with running? I truly feel that because I am a runner and I am in good physical shape, my recovery has been much quicker and easier. Since surgery, I have not had one time when I just felt miserable. I was sore and tired, but the pain was not as intense as I had expected. Because I want desperately to run again, I will follow doctors' orders (though I can see that it is going to be difficult), and I will work hard to increase my strength and stamina. I really don't know how it will be when I try to run again. I know that it will take time to get back to where I was pre-surgery, and that will be challenging. I haven't set any running goals for the spring or summer. I will concentrate my efforts on just running, and on supporting my husband as he trains for his first marathon. I know that I have some awesome friends, and that my running friends have really been there for me. I know that when I am ready to get back to running, they will be right there ready to help me and to encourarage me when I get discouraged. There is just something special about running friends; they provide a whole different level of support and understanding.
Because I had a difficult time finding any information on runners who had this surgery, I will keep you posted on the progress. I do think that one can know too much (I wanted to read everything, but found it was making me more anxious. I finally decided that I needed to make this my own experience, and I quit reading.), but having appropriate information can also relieve a lot of anxiety.
Run on, Friends - and run some for me!
When I found out in December that I would need a hysterectomy, my first inclination was that I might as well go ahead and stop running since I was practically going to have to start over anyway. Then upon reading about the surgery, I found that I needed to be in tip-top shape, so I ran. I actually ran more the month before surgery than I had during the fall. My friends and I ran through snow and sleet and bitter temps. We ran morning runs, evening runs, and afternoon runs. Last Monday, my friend Kassi and I ran my final run together - a 5-mile presurgery run. I felt that I was in the best shape that I could be at the time. I had my classroom ready for a long-term substitute, my house was clean, my laundry was done; I was ready!
My husband and I headed for the Women's Hospital early Tuesday morning. I wasn't as nervous as I thought I would be. I felt confident in my doctors, and I knew that after a time of discomfort, I would be on the road to feeling much better. I had never had any type of surgery, so I didn't know exactly what to expect. One of my doctors - who happens to be a triathlete - came in to see me and answer last-minute questions before they walked me to the surgery room. I told him that my other doctor had said no running for six weeks, and I wanted to know what he thought. He agreed with the six weeks, but said that I could probably do the elliptical after two weeks! We have an elliptical, so that was good news. He said that would help me keep the running motion going.
Fast forward three hours, and I was being rolled into my room, a room that looked like a very nice hotel room! I slept pretty much all that afternoon and evening, but not much during the night. The nurses were in and out all night. My husband stayed with me, which made me feel much better. Though I wasn't really coherent, just knowing he was nearby was very comforting. I had been told that I would only be in the hospital 23 hours, and in the middle of that night, I couldn't even imagine going home that next morning. I hadn't even left my bed! Once the nurses got me up, and I was able to shower, improvements came quickly. I was not able to pee on my own, so if I wanted to go home I was going to have to self-cath. I wanted to go home. I had the same trouble after giving birth to my first daughter, so this didn't really upset me too much; it was just inconvenient. Around 11 that morning, we were in the car headed home.
As the days came and went, I began to feel somewhat normal again. I couldn't get outside because of the weather, so I was stuck pacing my house in order to get some walking in. I waited a couple of days to tackle the stairs. By Sunday (day 5 post-op), I was able to go to church! I was so excited to get out of the house and to see people! We live in the woods, so I don't even have neighbors to see while I am home. My daughter and I were also able to get outside and walk about a quarter mile. My goal is to walk a mile by Saturday, although as I write this it is once again snowing, so I don't know how much outside time I will get. I am a little fearful of walking on the treadmill because if I would lose my balance, I could do some damage. I have to keep reminding myself that I have a lot of stitches inside. I am registered to walk a 7k race with my sister on March 12. I felt that by signing up and paying an entry fee, I would have incentive to walk. I have to be able to walk 4.3 miles in 5 weeks! I am also going to have to be able to work off the calories from all of the great chocolate I have been receiving!
So, what does all of this have to do with running? I truly feel that because I am a runner and I am in good physical shape, my recovery has been much quicker and easier. Since surgery, I have not had one time when I just felt miserable. I was sore and tired, but the pain was not as intense as I had expected. Because I want desperately to run again, I will follow doctors' orders (though I can see that it is going to be difficult), and I will work hard to increase my strength and stamina. I really don't know how it will be when I try to run again. I know that it will take time to get back to where I was pre-surgery, and that will be challenging. I haven't set any running goals for the spring or summer. I will concentrate my efforts on just running, and on supporting my husband as he trains for his first marathon. I know that I have some awesome friends, and that my running friends have really been there for me. I know that when I am ready to get back to running, they will be right there ready to help me and to encourarage me when I get discouraged. There is just something special about running friends; they provide a whole different level of support and understanding.
Because I had a difficult time finding any information on runners who had this surgery, I will keep you posted on the progress. I do think that one can know too much (I wanted to read everything, but found it was making me more anxious. I finally decided that I needed to make this my own experience, and I quit reading.), but having appropriate information can also relieve a lot of anxiety.
Run on, Friends - and run some for me!
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