Well, this time in one week I will be at home, having run my first marathon.
Can you believe it?
Yesterday Michelle, Danielle and I drove the entire Marathon course and really got a good idea of what we will be doing next Sunday. It was exciting and a terrifying at the same time, but mostly exciting.
After being so sick for the last 10 days, I finally felt well enough to run again and joined the Roadrunners down at Venice Beach on Saturday morning for our last 8 mile run. Everyone was so excited about race day and enjoyed the last training session of a 6 month program.
I felt ok during the run, probably at about 85% in terms of energy but it felt great to stretch out my legs and really start to visualize what it will be like to run the marathon.
It was awesome driving the course will Michelle as well, the one who inspired all of this. I am sad that she won't be running with me as everything is always better when she is around. But she can't run because of her back and that is why we called the runners 'The Running Backs' because we are all well and able enough to take on a marathon. Michelle's scoliosis means that running is probably one of the worst things she could do.
Eventhough she is not running the race, she is a crucial part of the team,providing inspiration and support to all of us runners.
The next week I am on an "extreme taper" which means very little running and lots of rest. I have had a head start on most other people because that is what I have been doing for the last two weeks.
With one week to go, I want to share with you my wishes for this project for the next week:
- That Michelle feels incredibly supported and loved by her community;
- That all Running Backs have an amazing experience in the lead up to and during the marathon;
- That we raise enough money to send Michelle to Minnesota for another intensive treatment and we can buy scoliosis chair for the network; and
- That we collectively inpsire more people to take on their health in a proactive way and that communities work together to support each other to achieve their individual and collective goals.
I know a lot of people are intending to donate so please take the opportunity now to give what you can, please leave a message of encouragement on this site or on the chip in site. The money that you donate will buy extra years of life and an increased quality of life for Michelle and other patients at the Clear Institute.
Thank you to everyone for your support
Rebel
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
final countdown to marathon - feeling terrible
With ten days until the run, I am feeling very anxious and nervous. I have been sick and pretty much in bed for the last week with the worst flu I have ever had. Sinuses infected, ears blocked and sore and just as i was starting to feel better two days ago, i got conjunctivitis (pink eye = gross).
I am so exhausted, my head is still blocked and i haven't run for a week. Everyone keeps telling me that I will be fine on race day but I am really starting to get worried about how exhausted I feel and how much trainging I have missed.
I need to stay positive and upbeat for everyone else who is training hard and traveling to LA to run and I really just feel like going to sleep and not running the race.
Well, obviously my preference would be to run the race and feel great and have a great time with friends while raising heaps of money for michelle but that feels like it is slipping through my fingers at the moment.
I will just keep sleeping and trying to feel better and start focusing on race day.
I am so exhausted, my head is still blocked and i haven't run for a week. Everyone keeps telling me that I will be fine on race day but I am really starting to get worried about how exhausted I feel and how much trainging I have missed.
I need to stay positive and upbeat for everyone else who is training hard and traveling to LA to run and I really just feel like going to sleep and not running the race.
Well, obviously my preference would be to run the race and feel great and have a great time with friends while raising heaps of money for michelle but that feels like it is slipping through my fingers at the moment.
I will just keep sleeping and trying to feel better and start focusing on race day.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
20 miles done - 3 weeks until the Marathon
On Friday Danielle and I ran 20 miles. It took us about 4 hours and we covered most of LA. We ran from Santa Monica to Venice, through Mar Vista, West LA, Beverly Hills, Century City, Westwood, Brentwood and then Santa Monica back home.
I had to chuckle to myself when I ran past the Paley center in Beverly Hills and realised that I had run that far. It really is amazing how much ground you can cover when you just keep moving.
A good lesson in life also, I guess. It is amazing what you can achieve when you just kepp chipping away and taking action.
The run was great, I pulled up well and am feeling strong. My only two injuries that I am nursing are my bruised toes and a slightly tight left leg. It is amazing to see how well my body is holding up. After being so overweight and so inactive for so many years and now to experience running such a long distance is quite un-real.
I really believe that one of the main reasons why I have been so able to cope with the training so much is my diet. Being pretty much vegan (with occasional eggs and seafood) and eating all whole foods, lots of veges and lots of super foods like coconut oil, raw cacao, maca, gojis, chlorella, reishi, hemp, chia and kefir/probiotics etc. My joints are holding up well and I can attribute that to the krill oil, msm and turmeric/ginger etc that I have been taking.
Now that I have run 20 miles, I have three weeks of "Tapering" before the marathon. No big runs, nothing too strenuos, lots of sleeping and eating well and resting until race day. It seems like a long time but I trust the wisdom of the training program and am going to stick by it.
The next three weeks, I really want to focus on fundraising and making sure that everyone who wants to/ can contribute does. The goal we have set will support Michelle through her next intensive treatment in Minnesota and those two weeks of treatment will potentially decrease her curve by another 50%. If that is successful, the benefits are added years on to her life. A pretty amazing cause, I would say. The money that we raise towards the clear institute will go towards a traction chair for the network. This Chair will be able to be sent all over the US and used by different people who need it. It can be used as a second chair for people who are traveling or as an interim chair for people who can't afford their own chair yet. The freedom, health and lifestyle benefits that this chair will give will be amazing.
Thank you so much to everyone who has already donated.
To everyone else, every little bit helps, so please donate what to can to support Michelle and the rest of the team.
I had to chuckle to myself when I ran past the Paley center in Beverly Hills and realised that I had run that far. It really is amazing how much ground you can cover when you just keep moving.
A good lesson in life also, I guess. It is amazing what you can achieve when you just kepp chipping away and taking action.
The run was great, I pulled up well and am feeling strong. My only two injuries that I am nursing are my bruised toes and a slightly tight left leg. It is amazing to see how well my body is holding up. After being so overweight and so inactive for so many years and now to experience running such a long distance is quite un-real.
I really believe that one of the main reasons why I have been so able to cope with the training so much is my diet. Being pretty much vegan (with occasional eggs and seafood) and eating all whole foods, lots of veges and lots of super foods like coconut oil, raw cacao, maca, gojis, chlorella, reishi, hemp, chia and kefir/probiotics etc. My joints are holding up well and I can attribute that to the krill oil, msm and turmeric/ginger etc that I have been taking.
Now that I have run 20 miles, I have three weeks of "Tapering" before the marathon. No big runs, nothing too strenuos, lots of sleeping and eating well and resting until race day. It seems like a long time but I trust the wisdom of the training program and am going to stick by it.
The next three weeks, I really want to focus on fundraising and making sure that everyone who wants to/ can contribute does. The goal we have set will support Michelle through her next intensive treatment in Minnesota and those two weeks of treatment will potentially decrease her curve by another 50%. If that is successful, the benefits are added years on to her life. A pretty amazing cause, I would say. The money that we raise towards the clear institute will go towards a traction chair for the network. This Chair will be able to be sent all over the US and used by different people who need it. It can be used as a second chair for people who are traveling or as an interim chair for people who can't afford their own chair yet. The freedom, health and lifestyle benefits that this chair will give will be amazing.
Thank you so much to everyone who has already donated.
To everyone else, every little bit helps, so please donate what to can to support Michelle and the rest of the team.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
One month to the marathon - please contribute to Michelle's scoliosis treatment expenses
This time in four weeks, The Running Backs will be crossing the finish line of the LA Marathon.
We have committed to running this Marathon because we wanted to challenge ourselves and because we wanted to support Michelle by raising money for her scoliosis treatment.
We have all been inspired by her commitment to her treatment which involves two 1.5 hour sessions of exercise/traction each day, weekly trips to the chiropractor and intensive treatment at the Clear Insitute in St Cloud, Minnesota.
Already Michelle has seen amazing results from this revolutionary treatment, is feeling better and straighter and has inspired all of us by really taking on her health.
The first twelve months of the treatment is costing Michelle approximately $30,000. The costs are not covered by health insurance so she has taken on this expense herself. It is a lot of money but when you consider that the treatment is potentially adding 10 years to her life and drastically improving her quality of life, the decisiion to take this treatment on was a no-brainer.
We, the Running Backs, want to raise money to give to Michelle to go towards her treatment. By taking on the marathon and training for it, we have experienced a similar level of commitment to our health and to achieving a goal as Michelle.
We want her to know how much we love her, support her and want her to be healthy and supported.
We are all taking our own journeys to the start line, training and traveling from New York, Sydney and Brisbane to run the race.Other friends are cooking, organising support crews on the day and helping in any way they can.
My request is that you contribute financially to Michelle's treatment by clicking on the ChipIn widget on this page. Anything and everything helps. Your contribution will help the runners in the lead up to and on marathon day and will ultimately help Michelle on her journey to great health and a straight spine.
We have committed to running this Marathon because we wanted to challenge ourselves and because we wanted to support Michelle by raising money for her scoliosis treatment.
We have all been inspired by her commitment to her treatment which involves two 1.5 hour sessions of exercise/traction each day, weekly trips to the chiropractor and intensive treatment at the Clear Insitute in St Cloud, Minnesota.
Already Michelle has seen amazing results from this revolutionary treatment, is feeling better and straighter and has inspired all of us by really taking on her health.
The first twelve months of the treatment is costing Michelle approximately $30,000. The costs are not covered by health insurance so she has taken on this expense herself. It is a lot of money but when you consider that the treatment is potentially adding 10 years to her life and drastically improving her quality of life, the decisiion to take this treatment on was a no-brainer.
We, the Running Backs, want to raise money to give to Michelle to go towards her treatment. By taking on the marathon and training for it, we have experienced a similar level of commitment to our health and to achieving a goal as Michelle.
We want her to know how much we love her, support her and want her to be healthy and supported.
We are all taking our own journeys to the start line, training and traveling from New York, Sydney and Brisbane to run the race.Other friends are cooking, organising support crews on the day and helping in any way they can.
My request is that you contribute financially to Michelle's treatment by clicking on the ChipIn widget on this page. Anything and everything helps. Your contribution will help the runners in the lead up to and on marathon day and will ultimately help Michelle on her journey to great health and a straight spine.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Big set-back...time to set us up to succeed
This week my plan had me running 20 miles for the first time. I was really anxious about the run because I was sick with a cold, had not trained for over a week, had not been eating well and had not been getting enought sleep. All good reasons to be worried.
I was also excited to run 20 miles and launch myself into the final month of training before the marathon.
When we started running, I knew i was in trouble and I really really struggled for the firt 1.5 hours of the run. I couldn't breathe, I was coughing and blowing my nose, my legs felt dead and I was cursing myself the entire time for getting sick and not training properly.
Then I came good and my head cleared and I felt really strong for about another hour and a half. as we approached the third part of the run, I lost all energy. Almost instantly. I lost the group. I just couldn't keep up and then I ran around by myself for another couple of miles trying to stay close to the group but I just couldn't keep up. I turned around and walked/jogged home. Mostly walked because my jogging was slower than my walking. I was really beating myself up and upset that I had not succeeded in finishing the run. It was the first time that I hadn't completed a training run and it was the first time that I had experienced a total inability to push through what i was experiencing mentally.
It was a long and lonely walk back to the car (about 45 mins) and during the walk I kept thinking about this project and my training and what I wanted to create.
Ofcourse i couldn't run 20 miles, i had a cold and i wasn't prepared. that makes perfect sense. If i make sure i am health and well prepared and did my training then I would be able to run this.
The set-back has really allowed me to focus in on what i need to do and the energy that I need to create around me for the next four weeks. Eventhough i have done the training, completing this run is not a done deal. I really need to set myself up to succeed. Training, sleep, diet, positive attitude and learn to rely better on the support I have around me.
I want Michelle to experience the love and support that I feel for her and I her to understand the gift that she has given me by making me feel like I could do this.
If you can, please help me support Michelle in her journey by contributing to her treatment expenses.
Thanks, rebel
I was also excited to run 20 miles and launch myself into the final month of training before the marathon.
When we started running, I knew i was in trouble and I really really struggled for the firt 1.5 hours of the run. I couldn't breathe, I was coughing and blowing my nose, my legs felt dead and I was cursing myself the entire time for getting sick and not training properly.
Then I came good and my head cleared and I felt really strong for about another hour and a half. as we approached the third part of the run, I lost all energy. Almost instantly. I lost the group. I just couldn't keep up and then I ran around by myself for another couple of miles trying to stay close to the group but I just couldn't keep up. I turned around and walked/jogged home. Mostly walked because my jogging was slower than my walking. I was really beating myself up and upset that I had not succeeded in finishing the run. It was the first time that I hadn't completed a training run and it was the first time that I had experienced a total inability to push through what i was experiencing mentally.
It was a long and lonely walk back to the car (about 45 mins) and during the walk I kept thinking about this project and my training and what I wanted to create.
Ofcourse i couldn't run 20 miles, i had a cold and i wasn't prepared. that makes perfect sense. If i make sure i am health and well prepared and did my training then I would be able to run this.
The set-back has really allowed me to focus in on what i need to do and the energy that I need to create around me for the next four weeks. Eventhough i have done the training, completing this run is not a done deal. I really need to set myself up to succeed. Training, sleep, diet, positive attitude and learn to rely better on the support I have around me.
I want Michelle to experience the love and support that I feel for her and I her to understand the gift that she has given me by making me feel like I could do this.
If you can, please help me support Michelle in her journey by contributing to her treatment expenses.
Thanks, rebel
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
brag then whinge...whinge then brag
On Thursday, Danielle and I ran 18 miles through the streets of Santa Monica, Venice, Mar Vista, Marina Del Ray and Pacific Palisades.
It took us just under 3.5hours which is just on our race pace of 11 minutes per mile.
My left leg was so sore, I almost stopped about 80 times but with the support of Danielle I pushed on and made it through.
Physically I know I can do this, I just have to avoid injury and stretch.
Mentally, I know I can do this because I have amazing support around me from Michelle, to Danielle my running partner, to the other friends running the marathon and everyone else supporting us in so many different ways.
I realised last week when I was emailing the other runners is that all I seem to be doing now is bragging about my runs and whinging about the pain I am in and then bragging again. This cycle is kinda fun, and it definitely creates drama but it doesn't really honor Michelle and her treatment which is why I am doing all of this.
Michelle never complains, never ever complains about all that she has to do to keep her treatment on track. The hour and a half of exercises and sitting on her chair that she has to do every morning and every night. She never complains about having to rearrange her entire life around her treatment and her chiro appointments and having to lug her equipment everywhere.
She just gets on with the job and continues to be graceful and kind and generous to everyone around her. What an amazing gal she is. I want to be more like her. less whinging (even though it really really hurts!!!!)
The next two weeks are about speed work, intervals and hill training. I had an amazing couple of days in new york for work and drank and ate more than I should. It was my last hurrah before the race. Now time to knuckle down and start getting excited.
If you can, please sponsor me and the other running backs. All of the money goes towards Michelle's medical treatment and the Scoliosis Treatment Center in St Cloud, MN.
Every contribution is very very appreciated.
Thanks, Reb
It took us just under 3.5hours which is just on our race pace of 11 minutes per mile.
My left leg was so sore, I almost stopped about 80 times but with the support of Danielle I pushed on and made it through.
Physically I know I can do this, I just have to avoid injury and stretch.
Mentally, I know I can do this because I have amazing support around me from Michelle, to Danielle my running partner, to the other friends running the marathon and everyone else supporting us in so many different ways.
I realised last week when I was emailing the other runners is that all I seem to be doing now is bragging about my runs and whinging about the pain I am in and then bragging again. This cycle is kinda fun, and it definitely creates drama but it doesn't really honor Michelle and her treatment which is why I am doing all of this.
Michelle never complains, never ever complains about all that she has to do to keep her treatment on track. The hour and a half of exercises and sitting on her chair that she has to do every morning and every night. She never complains about having to rearrange her entire life around her treatment and her chiro appointments and having to lug her equipment everywhere.
She just gets on with the job and continues to be graceful and kind and generous to everyone around her. What an amazing gal she is. I want to be more like her. less whinging (even though it really really hurts!!!!)
The next two weeks are about speed work, intervals and hill training. I had an amazing couple of days in new york for work and drank and ate more than I should. It was my last hurrah before the race. Now time to knuckle down and start getting excited.
If you can, please sponsor me and the other running backs. All of the money goes towards Michelle's medical treatment and the Scoliosis Treatment Center in St Cloud, MN.
Every contribution is very very appreciated.
Thanks, Reb
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
If you see two delirious girls running the streets of Santa Monica tomorrow - that's us
Great news - I am going to New York this weekend for work. I am attending the G'Day USA New York Gala on Friday night and working from the NY office on Monday. All very exciting but for the fact that this means that I can not run my scheduled 18 miles with the Roadrunners in LA on Saturday morning.
18 miles by myself is a very daunting task. Just as well my faithful running partner, and fellow Running Back, Danielle has agreed to run with me.
So tomorrow afternoon we will set out for a casual 18 mile run through the streets of Santa Monica, Venice and Marina Del Mar. It should take us just under 3.5 hours.
So if you spot the two of us tomorrow on the streets, delirous and exhausted, please stop and offer us ride home, or at least a glass of water.
Will update you once we are done.
Thanks to everyone for the contributions to our cause. Michelle's treatment is going really well and it helps both of us to know that you are all in our corner. x reb
18 miles by myself is a very daunting task. Just as well my faithful running partner, and fellow Running Back, Danielle has agreed to run with me.
So tomorrow afternoon we will set out for a casual 18 mile run through the streets of Santa Monica, Venice and Marina Del Mar. It should take us just under 3.5 hours.
So if you spot the two of us tomorrow on the streets, delirous and exhausted, please stop and offer us ride home, or at least a glass of water.
Will update you once we are done.
Thanks to everyone for the contributions to our cause. Michelle's treatment is going really well and it helps both of us to know that you are all in our corner. x reb
Monday, January 24, 2011
8 weeks until the marathon...pain is weakness leaving my body, right?
I am exhausted and starting to feel the pressure of only having 8 weeks to go.
On saturday we ran 16 miles at race pace in the heat and it was hard. My left leg seized up for about an hour in the middle of the run and at the end I was totally smashed. I have realised however that i am really good at pushing through and getting an extra burst of energy at the end of the race. I hope that is true on Marathon day.
Last Friday I spent the entire day at an Asia-Pacific policy forum and didn't get to do my usual Friday routine of drinking lots of water and eating a really healthy dinner. Instead, I drank three coffees and got to bed at midnight. After the run, I had a busy day with Josh visiting for 24 hours, brunch with Josh and Zach then off to the G'Day LA gala dinner in the evening. On sunday I had another work event, an afternoon fundraiser for the Brisbane floods. So why am I telling you all of this? because I am feeling the effects of not following my usual routine big time today. The combination of not preparing properly for the run and then not giving myself time to recover has made me super sore and super tired.
I also worked out that there are only 8 weeks til the marathon which is stressing me out. I also have a massive work project that culminates in an event 2 nights after the marathon.
This is going to be a massive 8 weeks and I am going to need help to get through it.
I am committed to making this experience enjoyable and having a great time while everyone involved and not focusing too much on the sharp pains shooting up my legs!
oh and my toes are all bruised from the run. I know I am complaining a lot today but I want everyone to know that this is not easy and it is fun and it hurts and it is happening and I am excited.
It is all of those things wrapped up in one big throbbing knee soothed by an icepack.
For those of you who think I am crazy, I am. I am crazily committed to Michelle and her treatment and supporting her through her journey to straighten up her spine. It is what motivates me to keep training and to keep icing my aches and pains. She is such an inspiration to me and I would really appreciate any contribution that you can make to help support her by helping with her medical expenses. The first year will cost around $30,000 and I want to try and cover half of the expenses through this effort. I am running along with eleven others all supporting michelle. So please give what you can.
I really appreciate the support
x Rebel
On saturday we ran 16 miles at race pace in the heat and it was hard. My left leg seized up for about an hour in the middle of the run and at the end I was totally smashed. I have realised however that i am really good at pushing through and getting an extra burst of energy at the end of the race. I hope that is true on Marathon day.
Last Friday I spent the entire day at an Asia-Pacific policy forum and didn't get to do my usual Friday routine of drinking lots of water and eating a really healthy dinner. Instead, I drank three coffees and got to bed at midnight. After the run, I had a busy day with Josh visiting for 24 hours, brunch with Josh and Zach then off to the G'Day LA gala dinner in the evening. On sunday I had another work event, an afternoon fundraiser for the Brisbane floods. So why am I telling you all of this? because I am feeling the effects of not following my usual routine big time today. The combination of not preparing properly for the run and then not giving myself time to recover has made me super sore and super tired.
I also worked out that there are only 8 weeks til the marathon which is stressing me out. I also have a massive work project that culminates in an event 2 nights after the marathon.
This is going to be a massive 8 weeks and I am going to need help to get through it.
I am committed to making this experience enjoyable and having a great time while everyone involved and not focusing too much on the sharp pains shooting up my legs!
oh and my toes are all bruised from the run. I know I am complaining a lot today but I want everyone to know that this is not easy and it is fun and it hurts and it is happening and I am excited.
It is all of those things wrapped up in one big throbbing knee soothed by an icepack.
For those of you who think I am crazy, I am. I am crazily committed to Michelle and her treatment and supporting her through her journey to straighten up her spine. It is what motivates me to keep training and to keep icing my aches and pains. She is such an inspiration to me and I would really appreciate any contribution that you can make to help support her by helping with her medical expenses. The first year will cost around $30,000 and I want to try and cover half of the expenses through this effort. I am running along with eleven others all supporting michelle. So please give what you can.
I really appreciate the support
x Rebel
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
14 miles - faster faster
This week I feel like I am back in the game, with a 14 mile run on Saturday at the faster marathon pace that felt great.
I also spent quite a bit of time in the gym working on hills and interval training as it is supposed to be good training and good practice for teaching your muscles to process the flow of lactic acid. making your muscles burn and then letting them recover and then making them burn again is supposed to be great preparation for the end of the marathon when everything starts to hurt.
At the gym I also had a full body assessment, including fat pinch test and coordination test etc etc. It turns out that I have put on 8 pounds since starting to train for the marathon, but I am choosing to believe that it is all muscle. Apparently I am 25% body fat which is in the healthy range but now I am shooting for 20% which is the indicator of a fit person....
I got really frustrated because of the weight gain so started googling marathon training and weight loss and there were so many posts and articles about how it is really hard to lose weight while training for a marathon because you need the calories to fule yourself.
I guess this means my desire of losing 20 pounds while training for this race may need to be revised. That's ok. I would rather be fit and strong that hot anyway!
This training thing is getting really hard, I am always sore and always tired. I think part of the actual race will be enjoyable knowing that I can not run again for a while once the race is done.
I also spent quite a bit of time in the gym working on hills and interval training as it is supposed to be good training and good practice for teaching your muscles to process the flow of lactic acid. making your muscles burn and then letting them recover and then making them burn again is supposed to be great preparation for the end of the marathon when everything starts to hurt.
At the gym I also had a full body assessment, including fat pinch test and coordination test etc etc. It turns out that I have put on 8 pounds since starting to train for the marathon, but I am choosing to believe that it is all muscle. Apparently I am 25% body fat which is in the healthy range but now I am shooting for 20% which is the indicator of a fit person....
I got really frustrated because of the weight gain so started googling marathon training and weight loss and there were so many posts and articles about how it is really hard to lose weight while training for a marathon because you need the calories to fule yourself.
I guess this means my desire of losing 20 pounds while training for this race may need to be revised. That's ok. I would rather be fit and strong that hot anyway!
This training thing is getting really hard, I am always sore and always tired. I think part of the actual race will be enjoyable knowing that I can not run again for a while once the race is done.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
New Year, new attitude
Well it is the New Year and while I would like to say that I am bursting in to 2011, eager to take on the year and all of this running, unfortunately that is not the case.
After the 18 mile run, which felt great, i went and got sick and have had two weeks with pretty much no training. So I am a bit out of the zone with my running and the eating/drinking excesses of the holidays have me feeling below average.
I did get myself back in the gym and am feeling better. I was really apprehensive about our first training session back, which was hill training at Dodger stadium in down town but the actual run was quite good. i felt good and could take the hills pretty well. A few extra blows on the tissue and i was ok.
then on sunday, Michelle and I decided to hike Temescal Canyon and we raced up to the top of the hill in under 30 mins (usually takes about 40-45mins) and I felt great.
My body was sore afterwards and as i was resting i realized that part of the reason why i am having trouble getting motivated is that i feel like i am generating a lot of the motivation from myself. I thought that this experience would feel like more of a team experience with the other runners and yet (apart from Patty and Danielle who are doing the roadrunners with me) I feel a bit disconnected from the other runners and I am worried that they are not enjoying the experience of training for the marathon.
The next few weeks are going to be really busy with work and michelle will be busy with australia week and I want to spend more time in the gym getting stronger and pumped up to motivate all of the other runners to achieve the goals they set for themselves.
it is funny how when you are focused on yourself, you don't always have the ability to be there for others, but when you focus on others, you seem to get what you need.
After the 18 mile run, which felt great, i went and got sick and have had two weeks with pretty much no training. So I am a bit out of the zone with my running and the eating/drinking excesses of the holidays have me feeling below average.
I did get myself back in the gym and am feeling better. I was really apprehensive about our first training session back, which was hill training at Dodger stadium in down town but the actual run was quite good. i felt good and could take the hills pretty well. A few extra blows on the tissue and i was ok.
then on sunday, Michelle and I decided to hike Temescal Canyon and we raced up to the top of the hill in under 30 mins (usually takes about 40-45mins) and I felt great.
My body was sore afterwards and as i was resting i realized that part of the reason why i am having trouble getting motivated is that i feel like i am generating a lot of the motivation from myself. I thought that this experience would feel like more of a team experience with the other runners and yet (apart from Patty and Danielle who are doing the roadrunners with me) I feel a bit disconnected from the other runners and I am worried that they are not enjoying the experience of training for the marathon.
The next few weeks are going to be really busy with work and michelle will be busy with australia week and I want to spend more time in the gym getting stronger and pumped up to motivate all of the other runners to achieve the goals they set for themselves.
it is funny how when you are focused on yourself, you don't always have the ability to be there for others, but when you focus on others, you seem to get what you need.
Monday, December 20, 2010
18 miles in the rain - Action creates inspiration
18 miles in the rain.
Three and a half hours of running and being rained on constantly.
And actually, it was good. I felt strong and I think the extra stimulation of having to watch where I was stepping and trying to avoid pot-holes and trying to keep warm actually made the run go faster.
I got home from the run and felt great. Not overly exhausted or sore.
With Christmas a few days away I am very grateful to myself for the gift of running and for the experience of committing to something and just doing it.
I had a chat with a friend who said that they were jealous of how inspired I was about running for Michelle and if they could just get inspired that would take something on.
Inspiration is great. But what I am learning is that inspiration often comes after action and not the other way around. I was not inspired to run in the rain. Not at all. But I had a commitment and so I did it. The inpiration came at about mile 16 of 18 when i could experience myself running easily and knowing that I was building towards creating something amazing for Michelle and everyone else involved in this project.
The inspiration for me comes when I choose to inspire others and often for me, that means taking action before I feel inspired.
Either way, it is the commitment followed by the action that has me sitting here smiling and knowing that I have run 18 miles and there are still three months to marathon day.
Here is a quote that my friend Alicia puts on the end of her emails. I love it:
"The irony of commitment is that it’s deeply liberating — in work, in play, in love. The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around as rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life." - Anne Morriss
Three and a half hours of running and being rained on constantly.
And actually, it was good. I felt strong and I think the extra stimulation of having to watch where I was stepping and trying to avoid pot-holes and trying to keep warm actually made the run go faster.
I got home from the run and felt great. Not overly exhausted or sore.
With Christmas a few days away I am very grateful to myself for the gift of running and for the experience of committing to something and just doing it.
I had a chat with a friend who said that they were jealous of how inspired I was about running for Michelle and if they could just get inspired that would take something on.
Inspiration is great. But what I am learning is that inspiration often comes after action and not the other way around. I was not inspired to run in the rain. Not at all. But I had a commitment and so I did it. The inpiration came at about mile 16 of 18 when i could experience myself running easily and knowing that I was building towards creating something amazing for Michelle and everyone else involved in this project.
The inspiration for me comes when I choose to inspire others and often for me, that means taking action before I feel inspired.
Either way, it is the commitment followed by the action that has me sitting here smiling and knowing that I have run 18 miles and there are still three months to marathon day.
Here is a quote that my friend Alicia puts on the end of her emails. I love it:
"The irony of commitment is that it’s deeply liberating — in work, in play, in love. The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around as rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life." - Anne Morriss
Friday, December 10, 2010
16 miles - we did it our way
This Saturday we are scheduled to run 16 miles. I couldn't join the Roadrunners because Michelle and I are doing the Communications: Power to Create Course at Landmark.
Danielle, my trusty running partner agreed to to run with me on Thursday night so that I had someone to run with and it was so great.
We set off at about 3:30 and ran down Rose, along Main St, up Abbot Kinney, down Washngton, along Pacific to Marina Del Ray, back along speedway and the beack up the Santa Monica Pier, then to the end of Palisades park, up Adealiade to 7th and then up San Vincente to 26th, across 26th, down Montana and then right along 4th back home.
Now if you don't live in LA, what that means is that we ran across four suburbs and ran just under 30kms. It was such a great run, we talked the entire way and both felt really good. The last 10 minutes for me was a bit tough but the motivation of being home soon carried me through.
After the run we ordered dinner and I absolutely crashed. I felt like I was slipping in to a coma and I couldn't eat or even talk. soooo tired.
I went to be at about 10pm and it took my hours to fall asleep. I was so pumped and proud of myself for completing the run and my mind was racing. My body on the other hand so was sooo tired. I got so frustrated that I couldn't fall asleep that I started crying out of sheer exhaustion.
It is funny how emotional you get when you are that tired and when you push your body to new limits. Good emotional detox.
Thanks so much to the ever intrepid and committed Danielle for running with me
x x
Danielle, my trusty running partner agreed to to run with me on Thursday night so that I had someone to run with and it was so great.
We set off at about 3:30 and ran down Rose, along Main St, up Abbot Kinney, down Washngton, along Pacific to Marina Del Ray, back along speedway and the beack up the Santa Monica Pier, then to the end of Palisades park, up Adealiade to 7th and then up San Vincente to 26th, across 26th, down Montana and then right along 4th back home.
Now if you don't live in LA, what that means is that we ran across four suburbs and ran just under 30kms. It was such a great run, we talked the entire way and both felt really good. The last 10 minutes for me was a bit tough but the motivation of being home soon carried me through.
After the run we ordered dinner and I absolutely crashed. I felt like I was slipping in to a coma and I couldn't eat or even talk. soooo tired.
I went to be at about 10pm and it took my hours to fall asleep. I was so pumped and proud of myself for completing the run and my mind was racing. My body on the other hand so was sooo tired. I got so frustrated that I couldn't fall asleep that I started crying out of sheer exhaustion.
It is funny how emotional you get when you are that tired and when you push your body to new limits. Good emotional detox.
Thanks so much to the ever intrepid and committed Danielle for running with me
x x
Monday, December 6, 2010
Recovery Week - 8 miles (puh-lease)
It's funny to think how quickly I have been able to get to the mindset that 8 miles is an easy week.
I remember the first few runs of 3 and 4 miles where I was so stressed and wanted to go to bed early and was really worried that I wouldn't be able to keep up with the group.
This week was a Recovery Week, so we dropped back to 8 miles. I spent the week so relaxed and looking forward to the run. The change in perception and experience in just a few shorts weeks is awesome.
The run was easy and recovery went well.
During the run, I got to thinking abouth the idea of a recovery week, or a moment to take stock and consolidate what you have achieved.
Michelle and I have been so bust over the last few months with courses and her treatment and work and training and socialising and everything that we love to do. We both love being busy and squeesing the most out of our time. And I love it.
I also enjoy those times when I can just chill and relax and 'recover'
I'm going to build some more of that time in to our weeks. i want to plan recovery before we need it. It just makes sense.
I remember the first few runs of 3 and 4 miles where I was so stressed and wanted to go to bed early and was really worried that I wouldn't be able to keep up with the group.
This week was a Recovery Week, so we dropped back to 8 miles. I spent the week so relaxed and looking forward to the run. The change in perception and experience in just a few shorts weeks is awesome.
The run was easy and recovery went well.
During the run, I got to thinking abouth the idea of a recovery week, or a moment to take stock and consolidate what you have achieved.
Michelle and I have been so bust over the last few months with courses and her treatment and work and training and socialising and everything that we love to do. We both love being busy and squeesing the most out of our time. And I love it.
I also enjoy those times when I can just chill and relax and 'recover'
I'm going to build some more of that time in to our weeks. i want to plan recovery before we need it. It just makes sense.
Monday, November 29, 2010
14 miles - I'm back baby!
After last week's run I have spent the last few days pretty certain that I go back down to a slower group. I have been anxious all week and haven't done much running. All I have done all week is stretch and roll around on the foam roller, rolling out the knot in my right leg.
That thing hurts, I made myself cry a couple of times as I rolled away the knot.
Even up to 5 minutes before we ran, I was going to go back to the slower group but at the last minute I decided to stick with Danielle and run with group 8.
It was amazing. I felt so great the entire run, we did a pace of 11:38 mins per mile for 14 miles and I came home and felt great.
At the end of the run, the pace leader was taking us through our stretches and she asked the group who thought that 14 miles was easier than the 13 miles the week before. Alomost 75% of the 40 people in my group raised their hands.
Amazing. She reminded us that our experience will vary with each run and may not necessarily be incrememental. She said that the first time that she took on training for a marathon, she had a terrible run at 9 miles and thought for sure that that meant that 9 miles was her limit. Then she kept going and has now run 20 plus marathons.
I like the freedom in knowing that each experience does not necessarily lead to the next and I can put behind a bad experience as nothing more than that. It doesn't have to mean anything.
And if I do want it to mean something, then I can decide what it means. Last week was bad because I hadn't been stretching. Creating that meaning allows me to use that experience in a positive way.
So now I am in Group 8 and I am here to stay!
That thing hurts, I made myself cry a couple of times as I rolled away the knot.
Even up to 5 minutes before we ran, I was going to go back to the slower group but at the last minute I decided to stick with Danielle and run with group 8.
It was amazing. I felt so great the entire run, we did a pace of 11:38 mins per mile for 14 miles and I came home and felt great.
At the end of the run, the pace leader was taking us through our stretches and she asked the group who thought that 14 miles was easier than the 13 miles the week before. Alomost 75% of the 40 people in my group raised their hands.
Amazing. She reminded us that our experience will vary with each run and may not necessarily be incrememental. She said that the first time that she took on training for a marathon, she had a terrible run at 9 miles and thought for sure that that meant that 9 miles was her limit. Then she kept going and has now run 20 plus marathons.
I like the freedom in knowing that each experience does not necessarily lead to the next and I can put behind a bad experience as nothing more than that. It doesn't have to mean anything.
And if I do want it to mean something, then I can decide what it means. Last week was bad because I hadn't been stretching. Creating that meaning allows me to use that experience in a positive way.
So now I am in Group 8 and I am here to stay!
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Worst experience of my life
I ran 13.2 miles today. My first half marathon and it was horrible. It hurt, I wanted to give up soo much and so many times during the run and I almost cried about 6 times.
Why was it so bad? because I was a knuckle for the week leading up to the run. My right leg (hamstring) had been really tight and I did nothing about it. Then I went up to a faster running group and after about 20mins my right leg just started throbbing with pain. It felt like I had a dead leg. I spent the entire run worrying that I was injuring myself and considering stopping but I am glad that I didn't. I had Danielle by my side and I stuck it out and I completed my first half Marathon and I learnt a very very valuable lesson. Stretch and don't ignore stuff with the hope that it will go away.
Lesson learned. 14 miles, here I come!
Why was it so bad? because I was a knuckle for the week leading up to the run. My right leg (hamstring) had been really tight and I did nothing about it. Then I went up to a faster running group and after about 20mins my right leg just started throbbing with pain. It felt like I had a dead leg. I spent the entire run worrying that I was injuring myself and considering stopping but I am glad that I didn't. I had Danielle by my side and I stuck it out and I completed my first half Marathon and I learnt a very very valuable lesson. Stretch and don't ignore stuff with the hope that it will go away.
Lesson learned. 14 miles, here I come!
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Punctuation and a new chapter
This Saturday I ran 12.4 miles which is around 20kms. As I was running with my group, I noticed all of the little 'punctuation points' along the course.
The first turn, the first water station, a traffic crossing, a random homeless person cheering us on. At every one of these points my mind was quickly jolted out of running mode and brought back in to the moment. I enjoyed the moments of punctuation as I went through my run and I realised that I also quite enjoy the punctuation points I have established in my daily routine.
Walk clancy, have a coffee, check my emails..all of these little rituals that break up the rest of my time. They aren't milestones or achievements, they don't mean anything, they are just breaks and just moments in the day.
The power of a break or a change of topic to help move forward when I get stuck or start rambling in an area is awesome. When I feel like an issue is exhausted or that I am waffling on without moving forward, I simple need to punctuate my thoughts and take a new action.
I feel like in my marathon journey, I am turning a new page and beginning a new chapter. This could be the part of the story when it gets hard and it hurts and I am not sure that I am going to be able to achieve my goal.
Until now, this story has been all about setting the goal, gathering the team and getting excited by the possibility of what we are all creating.
That chapter lasted until the 11th mile of my run last Saturday.
At mile 12 my entire right leg cramped up and really really hurt, I kept running but I was kinda limping and I really had to push myself. I was on the verge of tears with pain for the last 10 minutes of my run.
It really hurt and I knew that it was because I hadn't been stretching and looking after myself as well as I should have. I had been feeling tight in my hamstring all week and I have had a couple of weeks of not eating very well. I knew what was happening.
As the pain in my leg increased I started thinking about what would happen if this happened on race day? what if i couldn't do it, maybe i should stop now because what if i am about to get injured? maybe I'm not built to run a marathon...
I finished the run, came home and iced. I was sore all saturday and sunday, hobbling around, feeling sorry for myself and really tight. I kept thinking about how terrible the next few months would be if this is how I was going to feel every week, if this story was going to be about me painfully limping to the finish line.
That is what the story was going to be right up until yesterday (monday) when I went and got a massage with kevin, a muscly chinese shiatsu and reiki master.
When I was with him I remembered all of the amazing achievements I have already made with my body over the last few years, all of the weight I have lost and increased health and vitality I have gained. I have learnt alot about performance and using nutrients to fuel my body and the results have been great. I live with a qualified yoga instructor and health guru - I have all the tools I need.
So the next chapter is not going to be about pain and me enduring this journey, it is going to be about me taking all of the steps outside of my running that I can to help my body get ready for the race: Yoga, cross-training, vegan whole-food diet with lots of superfoods, chinese herbs and lots of rest. I know this works and I know that I haven't been as dedicated to my diet and wholistic health lately as I would usually be. I now know that cheating and cutting corners doesn't work.
So game on, I am punctuating my training and my journey and starting the next chapter..pain is just weakness leaving my body and now I am building towards peak performance.
The first turn, the first water station, a traffic crossing, a random homeless person cheering us on. At every one of these points my mind was quickly jolted out of running mode and brought back in to the moment. I enjoyed the moments of punctuation as I went through my run and I realised that I also quite enjoy the punctuation points I have established in my daily routine.
Walk clancy, have a coffee, check my emails..all of these little rituals that break up the rest of my time. They aren't milestones or achievements, they don't mean anything, they are just breaks and just moments in the day.
The power of a break or a change of topic to help move forward when I get stuck or start rambling in an area is awesome. When I feel like an issue is exhausted or that I am waffling on without moving forward, I simple need to punctuate my thoughts and take a new action.
I feel like in my marathon journey, I am turning a new page and beginning a new chapter. This could be the part of the story when it gets hard and it hurts and I am not sure that I am going to be able to achieve my goal.
Until now, this story has been all about setting the goal, gathering the team and getting excited by the possibility of what we are all creating.
That chapter lasted until the 11th mile of my run last Saturday.
At mile 12 my entire right leg cramped up and really really hurt, I kept running but I was kinda limping and I really had to push myself. I was on the verge of tears with pain for the last 10 minutes of my run.
It really hurt and I knew that it was because I hadn't been stretching and looking after myself as well as I should have. I had been feeling tight in my hamstring all week and I have had a couple of weeks of not eating very well. I knew what was happening.
As the pain in my leg increased I started thinking about what would happen if this happened on race day? what if i couldn't do it, maybe i should stop now because what if i am about to get injured? maybe I'm not built to run a marathon...
I finished the run, came home and iced. I was sore all saturday and sunday, hobbling around, feeling sorry for myself and really tight. I kept thinking about how terrible the next few months would be if this is how I was going to feel every week, if this story was going to be about me painfully limping to the finish line.
That is what the story was going to be right up until yesterday (monday) when I went and got a massage with kevin, a muscly chinese shiatsu and reiki master.
When I was with him I remembered all of the amazing achievements I have already made with my body over the last few years, all of the weight I have lost and increased health and vitality I have gained. I have learnt alot about performance and using nutrients to fuel my body and the results have been great. I live with a qualified yoga instructor and health guru - I have all the tools I need.
So the next chapter is not going to be about pain and me enduring this journey, it is going to be about me taking all of the steps outside of my running that I can to help my body get ready for the race: Yoga, cross-training, vegan whole-food diet with lots of superfoods, chinese herbs and lots of rest. I know this works and I know that I haven't been as dedicated to my diet and wholistic health lately as I would usually be. I now know that cheating and cutting corners doesn't work.
So game on, I am punctuating my training and my journey and starting the next chapter..pain is just weakness leaving my body and now I am building towards peak performance.
Friday, November 12, 2010
A Dozen Runners, a Diva'thon Mix and $1000 plus
I am very excited to announce that we now have twelve runners in the Running Backs! I never really even considered that we would reach a dozen runners and I am absolutely delighted that runner number twelve is our great friend Lacy.
Michelle met Lacy in LA a year or so ago she was immediately struck by Lacy's sense of fun and joy, her infectious smile and amazing commitment to living an amazing life. When I met her, i fell in love with her in an instant.
When Lacy moved to New York a year ago, we were both sad to see her go and also really excited for her as she took on her new adventure. Having her on the team will be absolutely amazing and it is also a great way to get her to visit LA and see all of her friends who miss her.
This week, I was in New York for work and I got the chance to catch up with Lacy and she jumped at the chance to join the team and support Michelle....I always knew she would. She's just that kind'a girl. What was great is that she got to meet MG and now they can both train together in New York before flying over for the race.
In other exciting news, my greatest friend hamish (or DJ Hamish as he is known professionally) has made an hour-long Diva Marathon Mix for all of the Running Backs to listen to while we are training. Hamish has posted the note on his facebook page for everyone to listen to and download. Check it out at www.facebook.com/hamishb
I absolutely love the mix and am so touched by Hamish creating it for us. I am also very proud of Hamish for taking on his DJ career. After years of dreaming about it, he entered a competition last year in Sydney and won the right to play at Mardi Gras for thousands of people. He is so incredibly talented and pretty close to my favourite person in the world.
I love that as I am training to run my marathon in LA, I will be listening to Hamish's mix. Two people on opposite sides of the world connected by the tunes of Katy Perry!
Also, you may have noticed we have also raised more than $1000 (5% of our goal) already! This is partly due to my brother taking on this project as his own and some very very generous donations from around the world. Thank you so much to everyone for their donations. We both feel the support and are excited to reach our fundraising goal.
Please feel free to pass this blog and hamish's mix on to everyone you know and please donate what you can.
Tomorrow at training we run 12 miles - that's one third of the total goal.
Michelle met Lacy in LA a year or so ago she was immediately struck by Lacy's sense of fun and joy, her infectious smile and amazing commitment to living an amazing life. When I met her, i fell in love with her in an instant.
When Lacy moved to New York a year ago, we were both sad to see her go and also really excited for her as she took on her new adventure. Having her on the team will be absolutely amazing and it is also a great way to get her to visit LA and see all of her friends who miss her.
This week, I was in New York for work and I got the chance to catch up with Lacy and she jumped at the chance to join the team and support Michelle....I always knew she would. She's just that kind'a girl. What was great is that she got to meet MG and now they can both train together in New York before flying over for the race.
In other exciting news, my greatest friend hamish (or DJ Hamish as he is known professionally) has made an hour-long Diva Marathon Mix for all of the Running Backs to listen to while we are training. Hamish has posted the note on his facebook page for everyone to listen to and download. Check it out at www.facebook.com/hamishb
I absolutely love the mix and am so touched by Hamish creating it for us. I am also very proud of Hamish for taking on his DJ career. After years of dreaming about it, he entered a competition last year in Sydney and won the right to play at Mardi Gras for thousands of people. He is so incredibly talented and pretty close to my favourite person in the world.
I love that as I am training to run my marathon in LA, I will be listening to Hamish's mix. Two people on opposite sides of the world connected by the tunes of Katy Perry!
Also, you may have noticed we have also raised more than $1000 (5% of our goal) already! This is partly due to my brother taking on this project as his own and some very very generous donations from around the world. Thank you so much to everyone for their donations. We both feel the support and are excited to reach our fundraising goal.
Please feel free to pass this blog and hamish's mix on to everyone you know and please donate what you can.
Tomorrow at training we run 12 miles - that's one third of the total goal.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Recovery Week
This week at Roadrunners we scaled back to 8 miles and ran at a slower pace. The coaches said that it was a recovery week. We had been building steadily for six weeks and I had run 11+ miles the week before, so we needed a rest week before we continued building up our miles.
I found the run really really slow and didn't enjoy it at all. I was frustrated and just wanted to get the run done. I wanted that feeling I had had every other week of having run further than I ever had before. I also noticed that despite running fewer miles and slower, I pulled up really sore. My legs ached on Sunday morning and I felt really tight.
It was all-around a frustrating experience.
What is interesting is that Saturday came at the end of a not-so-good week for Michelle also. She had a back adjustment on the Monday that left her with a bruised rib so she couldn't go to chiro all week. She continued her three hours of exercises at home each day with precaution and really struggled through the week to stay on track while also giving her body time to heal.
We were both tired and had one of those weeks where everything seemed harder than usual.
After the run on Saturday we were talking about how my program was on a 'recovery week' and we realised that Michelle had also been on a recovery week of sorts. Four months in to this commitment, three weeks after the massive high of the intensive treatment at St Cloud and all of these milestones passed...and now what?
Long programs and commitments are exactly that...long. And with anything that stretches over time, it is not always easy to maintain a high level of intensity and drive. Sometimes you do need to give yourself some time to rest, to recover and to get ready to go again and then you need to create your commitment everyday no matter what the circumstances.
I noticed that just as you take a break, whether by choice or not, everything can start to feel like it is falling apart. Maybe this is because you are not getting that incremental feeling of accomplishment and then it becomes easy to lose connection with your long-term goal.
So what have I learnt? I guess I have learnt that it is smart to look after yourself and factor in rest and recovery as part of my training program and see it as just as valuable as achieving a longer run each week as this is not a short-term project. In the grand scheme of things, if one week off or one week at a lower intensity prevents injury or allows me to be ready to improve more in the long run, then it works.
I must admit that I am looking forward to next week's run and I am very happy that Michelle is feeling better and back on track with her treatment. Now, having "recovered" We are both pumped up for the next phase of our programs.
I found the run really really slow and didn't enjoy it at all. I was frustrated and just wanted to get the run done. I wanted that feeling I had had every other week of having run further than I ever had before. I also noticed that despite running fewer miles and slower, I pulled up really sore. My legs ached on Sunday morning and I felt really tight.
It was all-around a frustrating experience.
What is interesting is that Saturday came at the end of a not-so-good week for Michelle also. She had a back adjustment on the Monday that left her with a bruised rib so she couldn't go to chiro all week. She continued her three hours of exercises at home each day with precaution and really struggled through the week to stay on track while also giving her body time to heal.
We were both tired and had one of those weeks where everything seemed harder than usual.
After the run on Saturday we were talking about how my program was on a 'recovery week' and we realised that Michelle had also been on a recovery week of sorts. Four months in to this commitment, three weeks after the massive high of the intensive treatment at St Cloud and all of these milestones passed...and now what?
Long programs and commitments are exactly that...long. And with anything that stretches over time, it is not always easy to maintain a high level of intensity and drive. Sometimes you do need to give yourself some time to rest, to recover and to get ready to go again and then you need to create your commitment everyday no matter what the circumstances.
I noticed that just as you take a break, whether by choice or not, everything can start to feel like it is falling apart. Maybe this is because you are not getting that incremental feeling of accomplishment and then it becomes easy to lose connection with your long-term goal.
So what have I learnt? I guess I have learnt that it is smart to look after yourself and factor in rest and recovery as part of my training program and see it as just as valuable as achieving a longer run each week as this is not a short-term project. In the grand scheme of things, if one week off or one week at a lower intensity prevents injury or allows me to be ready to improve more in the long run, then it works.
I must admit that I am looking forward to next week's run and I am very happy that Michelle is feeling better and back on track with her treatment. Now, having "recovered" We are both pumped up for the next phase of our programs.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
10..no wait...11 miles and 11 runners!
Thursday in the space of about 10 minutes, two more Running Backs joined the team. Michelle's great friend, Kirsty is flying over from Brisbane to run with us and Peter, a new friend who just moved to LA with his wife, also signed up. I can't believe we have more than ten runners on the team and I know that there are a few more about to join (you know who you are!)
This project is getting bigger and bigger and more and more fun as more people join in.
Michelle is busy pulling together the support crew and planning the best post-race party ever and we are brainstorming the best ways to support the runners - everything from playlists and snack stations along the route to massages at the after party.
On Saturday morning Synue, Danielle and I ran 11.5 miles together and it was really fun. We chatted as we ran along the beach and then up San Vincente and back. We had only intended to run 10 miles but I didn't exactly calculate the route properly so we accidentally ran 11.5.
The run was so relaxed with great conversation and I have to say, I felt great. We weren't sprinting by any means but we did keep a good pace and we only stopped for traffic lights and to do a double-take when Arnold Schwarzenegger cycled past us.
So we set out for 10 miles and ran 11 and a half. I had been aiming for 10 runners and now we have 11 and a few more possible runners about to join.
This week I learnt not to limit myself.
I'm not going to limit the number of runners on the team, I am not going to limit the amount of money we can raise and I am not going to limit myself in my training. As long as I am having fun and feeling inspired, I am going to keep aiming for more.
Fun is such an important part of this journey for me. I never want to feel trapped by the commitment that I made, I don't want to take this run too seriously. I want to keep positive and enjoy the training (even or especially when it hurts). Whenever I get tired or sore I just remember that I am doing this to support Michelle and enjoy time with my friends - and having fun at every point along the journey is the only way to achieve my aims.
This project is about fun, vitality and contribution and so far we are well on track.
This project is getting bigger and bigger and more and more fun as more people join in.
Michelle is busy pulling together the support crew and planning the best post-race party ever and we are brainstorming the best ways to support the runners - everything from playlists and snack stations along the route to massages at the after party.
On Saturday morning Synue, Danielle and I ran 11.5 miles together and it was really fun. We chatted as we ran along the beach and then up San Vincente and back. We had only intended to run 10 miles but I didn't exactly calculate the route properly so we accidentally ran 11.5.
The run was so relaxed with great conversation and I have to say, I felt great. We weren't sprinting by any means but we did keep a good pace and we only stopped for traffic lights and to do a double-take when Arnold Schwarzenegger cycled past us.
So we set out for 10 miles and ran 11 and a half. I had been aiming for 10 runners and now we have 11 and a few more possible runners about to join.
This week I learnt not to limit myself.
I'm not going to limit the number of runners on the team, I am not going to limit the amount of money we can raise and I am not going to limit myself in my training. As long as I am having fun and feeling inspired, I am going to keep aiming for more.
Fun is such an important part of this journey for me. I never want to feel trapped by the commitment that I made, I don't want to take this run too seriously. I want to keep positive and enjoy the training (even or especially when it hurts). Whenever I get tired or sore I just remember that I am doing this to support Michelle and enjoy time with my friends - and having fun at every point along the journey is the only way to achieve my aims.
This project is about fun, vitality and contribution and so far we are well on track.
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