What Will 47 Bring?

This time last year I was basking in the knowledge that I had done something new and challenging that day.  I had run a 5K.  I had run the whole way.  I had finished, and not in last place.   That day, I opened doors of which I was, and still am in a sense, totally unaware.  I was pumped up and not long after laid out that I would also run a half marathon in October 2012.

OK, that part didn't happen.  I managed to find any number of excuses  -  too hot, too humid, etc.  But I did run 3 more 5K races before the new year.  Each time I bettered myself and tried harder than before.  I almost reached my goal time of finishing in 30 minutes.

Then winter set in.   Billy bought me a treadmill so I could keep running and not have to do it in the cold and dark.  Busy season - long hours and it was tough to even stay awake night, much less train with any regularity, but I kept trying to do what I could do.

So, let me tell you about my April, 2012.  I went through one of those opened doors.  I decided in March to participate in our local Belles on Bikes event.  Cycling.  Hadn't done that in a long time, other than just to work and back, or to pick up the newspaper on Sunday mornings.  The event had four distances - 16, 30, 52 and 60 miles.  I only did the 16 miles, but I was so proud of myself!  I was only able to train on Sundays since we were still working weekends and I pushed myself and finished with a very respectable time.

Two weeks later, I ran another 5K.  First of the season.  I posted a decent time.  Not my best, but not bad considering the timing.

So, thinking I had two legs of  a triathlon, I decided to try one of those.  Now, having learned my lesson last year of speaking with no follow up, I know I have to pay my registration and make it real. Not just a dream.  If I pay for something, I will do it.  Don't want to look back next year and see that I had, once again, tossed out a declarative without giving it a whirl.

So, July 27, LSU campus, women only.  Swim 350 meters, bike 12 miles and then run 2.  The only fly in my ointment right now is finding a training place to swim, but I'm working on it.  

Also in the works, December 12, half marathon, Jackson.  I usually work in Jackson that week so maybe all I have to do is spend one more night to make that one happen.  Still looking for one that is sooner, just to keep to pushing myself.

Now, my really good news from all of this is my cholesterol finally dropped below 200 - without medication.  I had tried it for a while but stopped taking it.  My last test showed 194.  I was pretty darn proud of that number, too!  

So, ready to step through two doors this year.  Pushing myself and trying new things.  Who knows what else is out there?  I just know I need to get these things off my list before I hit 50. 

December

Day One:  Ran 35 minutes.  Covered 3.1 miles.
Day Two:  Cleaned house - about an hour and a half
Day Three: Recovery day
Day Four: Nothing - Chamber After Hours function after work
Day Five: Nothing
Day Six: Nothing - Company Christmas party after work
Day Seven: Nothing
Day Eight: Ran 43 minutes and covered 3.71 miles.
Day Nine: Cleaned house for an hour
Day Ten: Ran 35 minutes - VERY obvious I haven't exercised in a week!  Ran on a treadmill and didn't track how far I ran.
Day Eleven: Recovery day.
Day Twelve: Ran 35 minutes on the treadmill - noted 3.1 miles.
Day Thirteen: 32 minutes on an elliptical trainer.  THAT is a workout!
Day Fourteen: Nothing.  After being in hotels all week and driving 4 hours from Alabama to home I was beat.
Day Fifteen: RACE DAY! Ran 32 minutes and covered 3.12 miles!  PERSONAL BEST!!
Day Sixteen: Nothing
Day Seventeen: Nothing.  I rarely run on Mondays.
Day Eighteen: Ran 31 minutes.  Not a good night at all.  Only covered 2.55 miles.
Day Nineteen: Nothing - working an hour and half away from Natchez.  Driving back and forth every day.
Day Twenty: Nothing.  Still have the hour and half commute.
Day Twenty-one: Nothing.  Friday night and packing for the holiday!
Day Twenty-two: Rode my bike 32 minutes - covered a 3.76 miles.
Day Twenty-three: Nothing.  VERY full day of visiting family and friends!
Day Twenty-four:  Walked 40 minutes.
Day Twenty-five:  MERRY CHRISTMAS!  IT SNOWED 12 INCHES!  But the weather was really miserable all day.
Day Twenty-six:  Nothing.  Enjoyed the snow from the inside.
Day Twenty-seven:  Nothing.  Took 8 hours and two tow trucks to get back to Natchez.
Day Twenty-eight: Nothing.  Just glad to be home.
Day Twenty-nine: Ran 43 minutes.  FELT GREAT!  Covered only 3.51 miles but I enjoyed the feel of being outside again.
Day Thirty: Rode my bike for 34 minutes.  Covered 4.31 miles.
Day Thirty-one:  Nothing.  Started getting a cold yesterday.  Was miserable all day. Came home from work and crawled in bed.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  I have to say, 2012 was one of my most proud years.  I did something I never thought I could do - and then I did it 4 times!  I RAN a 5k.  RAN one!  And each time I ran, except for the one with the busted knee, I ran it about 3 minutes faster than the previous one.  I could not be more proud.  This is almost as good as when the scales at HealthQuest hit the 50 pounds lost mark.  It just goes to show you CAN do anything you set your mind, and your heart, to.  ANYTHING.  Next on my list - moving up to at least a 10k this year.  I really think I can do it.  I ran 4 miles twice in November and I think I can build back up to that and then past it.  I'd like to aim for a half marathon but I did learn this year that I have to go slowly.  I'm not a spring chicken anymore and it just takes me a little longer to progress than someone half my age but I do progress.

My heart will thank me for it.

May your 2013 be your best ever!

Day Thirty-one:  Home, in the bed, with a cold.  Happy New Year!

November

Day One:  Knee getting better, walked around downtown.
Day Two: nothing.
Day Three: Walked 35 minutes.
Day Four: Walked 67 minutes.  Cleaned the house for about an hour.  It counts!
Day Five:  Recovery day.  Also, got my knee X-rayed -  doctor says it could be cracked.
Day Six: Doctor said yesterday I wasn't ready to be working out yet.
Day Seven: nothing.
Day Eight: Still waiting on X-ray results.
Day Nine: Still waiting.
Day Ten: 5K fundraiser race for the Ellis Malone Foundation.  I wasn't supposed to run it, but I couldn't help myself and ran part of it.  It felt so good to run!  I did the run/walk in about 38 minutes  - within a minute of my first run.
Day Eleven: Worked out in the yard and cleaned house.
Day Twelve: recovery day, Billy out of town and running is hard when he's gone.  Fixed food for a friend's party tomorrow night and had a board meeting.
Day Thirteen: nothing - Billy came home today.
Day Fourteen: nothing.  Had to prepare for another board meeting tomorrow night.
Day Fifteen: Had one board meeting, a Chamber After Hours and a SW Chapter of the MSCPA meeting.  There was really no time for exercise - unless you count running from event to event!
Day Sixteen:  Friday night - family night.
Day Seventeen: Ran with Doozer, 47 minutes.  We're trying to get to 4 miles!
Day Eighteen: Walked to get the Sunday newspaper, took about 40 minutes.  Knee still doesn't bend right for riding the bike.  Then Dooze and I went out for 55 minutes.  We hit 4 miles, but we couldn't run the whole thing.  I wasn't dress correctly and we left at the height of the afternoon instead of waiting for it to cool off a little bit.
Day Nineteen: recovery day.  Two runs over the weekend was a lot for me.
Day Twenty: missed it - had a long annual meeting and then I had to take care of something after the fact.
Day Twenty-one: getting ready for Thanksgiving!
Day Twenty-two: Ran/walked for 51 minutes with Doozer.
Day Twenty-three: Worked out in the yard with Billy
Day Twenty-four: 39 minute run - closing in on 4 miles!
Day Twenty-five: Rode my bike to pick up the newspaper, worked out in the yard with Billy
Day Twenty-six: recovery day
Day Twenty-seven: missed it - very cold and wet and rainy outside.
Day Twenty-eight: I DID IT!  Doozer and I hit the 4 mile mark without stopping or walking!
Day Twenty-nine: REPEAT PERFORMANCE!  Hit 4 miles again, a little slower tonight, but it counts!
Day Thirty: family night at home.

Love, love, love that I have gotten over one of my humps!  I didn't think I would EVER break the 4 mile mark.  Now that I have, I'm convinced I can do anything!

October

Day One: nothing.  Mondays are my recovery days.
Day Two: missed it.
Day Three: missed it.  11 hour car trip to Jonesborough, Tennessee.  Not much time or energy left.
Day Four:  Took Riley on a walk in Persimmon Ridge Park.  Beautiful day to be outside!
Day Five: Storytelling festival - walking around the grounds all day.
Day Six: Storytelling festival - walking around the grounds all day.
Day Seven: Last day at the Storytelling Festival.  Cold, wet and rainy.  Spent most of the time in one tent.
Day Eight: 11 hour car trip back to Natchez.
Day Nine: Recovery day.
Day Ten: Missed it.  Billy left town and there was too much to take care of.
Day Eleven: All my time spent holding down the fort.
Day Twelve: Ran 38 minutes.
Day Thirteen: Ran 46 minutes.
Day Fourteen: Cleaned the house (it counts!) and rode my bike to pick up the Sunday newspaper.
Day Fifteen: Recovery day.
Day Sixteen: Ran 50 minutes.
Day Seventeen: Night off.
Day Eighteen: Ran 45 minutes.  Almost race day!
Day Nineteen: Billy's birthday!  We went out to eat and I got ready for tomorrow.
Day Twenty: Race Day!  3.1 miles in 35 minutes!
Day Twenty-one: Walked for 20 minutes.  I forgot to be somewhere and Billy dropped me off when we remembered and I had to walk home.
Day Twenty-two: Drove back to Natchez from Monroe and attended board meeting.  No time to run.
Day Twenty-three:  Ran 41 minutes on the hotel treadmill.
Day Twenty-four:  Missed it.  Working out of town and we worked later.
Day Twenty-five: Ran 30 minutes on the hotel treadmill.
Day Twenty-six: Nothing tonight.  Just got home after being gone all week.
Day Twenty-seven: Chili cook-off and board function.  Got some walking in between activities.
Day Twenty-eight: Face plant on the sidewalk after running, hard, for 25 minutes.  In pain and so disappointed.
Day Twenty-nine: Nothing.  Knee still doesn't bend and is swollen considerably.
Day Thirty:  Nothing.  Knee still swollen.
Day Thirty-one: Nothing.  Can maneuver some upstairs, but still not downstairs.

Injuries are the pits!  But you have to take them seriously or you'll end up doing more damage, possibly permanently.

35:24

Two of over 4,300 pairs of feet ready to run in Alexandria, Louisiana on October 20, 2012. 

My friend, Kathy, and I left Natchez at 5:30 in the morning to make the 2 hour drive.  Opening ceremonies were at 7:30.  It was dark and it was COLD!

But what a celebration we found when we got there!

The streets were packed with people!  Walkers, runners, all colors, shapes and sizes!  And all there for one purpose.  To shed light and support on breast cancer research.

We "Zumba'd" in the middle of the street to warm up.

We stretched and walked and paced.

We cheered as the promoters pumped up the crowd.

And then we lined up.

The "competitive" runners got to get in the front.  We will be competitive runners next year.  And we wiggled in not far behind them.  Just the two of us.  No pets or strollers or anything like that. 

And then the longest 30 minutes of our lives started.  We waited.  And waited, and waited.

Finally, countdown,

5....4....3....2...1 Go!

We had agreed earlier that we would each run our own race and meet up at the finish line.  And so we took off.  

I ran to my music.  Not really ordered like I would prefer, but good, fast tunes.  I started working my way through the other runners.  Some would pass me, and I'd pass others.

Before the first mile mark, there was a group of young cheerleaders on the street corner.  Probably 6th grade or junior high school.  And as I and the others ran past we heard " YOU'RE. AWESOME.  YOU'RE. AWESOME".

I admit, I had tears in my eyes at that point.  I don't know why. 

I guess because I didn't feel awesome.  The awesome ones are the ladies fighting the fight everyday.  Chemo.  Radiation.  Doctor's appointments.  Surgeries.  And still getting up every day and living their lives.

That's awesome.

But Alexandria certainly did make me feel special.  The high school band drum corp was there along with more cheerleaders as you made the final turn before the finish line.  The residents of the neighborhood through which we ran had their homes decorated and stood outside and cheered, some even passing out water.

And the finish line was festooned with pink balloons and surrounded by supporters.  The local television station even streamed the entire run live.  

As I approached the finish line, I could see the official time clock.  From my angle, all I could see was the last three numbers - basically the seconds and the second number of the minutes.  I could see a 5.  Well, I thought, that must be a 45.  I felt like I'd been running slower than normal.  I usually run with Doozer and without him to set the pace, I was sure I'd been lagging.  

Imagine my shock and surprise to see it was a 35!  

Almost 3 full minutes faster than my last race.  Such a proud accomplishment! 

It was Kathy's first run.  She finished in about the same time as I did on my first one - 38 minutes and change.  I waited for her at the finish line and cheered as she crossed over.

We had our bananas and water and grabbed our freebies and recovered.  Then started the two hour journey back home.  On our drive, we were already planning what we'd do differently next year.

I like running for causes.  I'm learning to love running in general, but knowing that I'm helping someone while doing something good for me, makes it all a no brainer.

Now, my goal every time is just to finish.  If I can do better than the last one, then so much the better.  My only competition is me.

And that always makes me a winner.

Why I Run

This Saturday is a Susan G. Komen breast cancer run. I am really looking forward to it, and for a lot of different reasons.

First off, I believe Susan G. Komen for the Cure does, and supports, good work. And I want to know that if I ever need them, I can benefit from that work. And that, hopefully, the funds I'm helping to raise now will go towards even better treatments, diagnostics, and prevention.

If I remember my family history correctly, my grandmother was a breast cancer survivor. She survived it twice, as a matter of fact. And since she passed away in 1980, you know that when she received her diagnoses, it was at a time when the word Cancer carried much more ominous tones.

Not that cancer is any walk in the park now, but not all types of cancers carry the same Death Sentence toll that they used to. Many have good diagnostic tests that can catch cancers early, and early detection often leads to more treatment options and better results.

In my own case, because of the family history, I started getting my mammograms at age 35. A couple of years ago, they saw something. So we tested again. It wasn't there anymore. So I went to a different doctor for another opinion. Some people thought I should just leave well enough alone and if the spot wasn't there anymore just be glad and just move on. I'm not wired that way. The spot had been there the year before as well. I needed to know for sure.

I'm proactive.

I'm also one of the lucky ones. Turns out I just have a sensitivity to caffeine and that was making me "lumpy". All I had to do was a couple more tests and drop my morning coffee for 6 months and all was better. Some of my friends, and friends of friends, are not so lucky. Some are younger than me. A friend had her own double mastectomy less than a year ago. And how many people do I pass every day on the street, or have lunch with in Kiwanis, or sit next to at a show that have dealt with breast or other cancers?

Too many.

Billy and I recently went back to the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee. On Sunday afternoon they have a longer session and have probably 7 or 8 tellers come in and do 10 to 15 minute stories. Well, one of the ladies we'd heard a couple of times over the festival came in and did a "bit" about exercises you could do to get ready for your annual mammogram. "Grab two metal bookends, place them in the freezer, then have a total stranger come over and slam them together with you in the middle." And so on, and so on. All of the ladies in the audience were rolling with laughter. The next teller even found a way to incorporate her story into his story and eventually everyone in the tent was laughing so hard we were crying! But as we left and got back to our car Billy turned and looked at me and asked "Is is really that bad?". "Worse" I replied. And then I explained to him, in great detail, what it is like to get a mammogram. And how grateful I am to only have to get once a year.

It is because people before me ran in races like the ones going on all over the country this month that we have the technology we have. And I run so that my niece, Brett, and my younger second cousins, Caroline, Brittany, Savannah, Adi, Natalie, Ashley, Lily Beth and Mary Mason, and all their friends and the ones I can't even think of right now (it's always a mistake for me to try to name people because I forget folks, but never intentionally) may benefit from even more advancements 20 and 30 years from now.

It is for them that I run.

I continue to hope that I'll never need it.

 

July, August and September

So, anyone been wondering where those months went? Me too! I swear, I looked up and it was October. So, I must have been busy, huh. Well, yes I was. Too much to list it all here like I had been doing, but I will share. First, July was the hottest month on record, ever. So the running slowed up considerably. I can't take the humidity with my asthma. Not a good combination. But I did exercise. As a matter of fact, I burned up 4,180 calories in the month of July alone. August saw another 6,300 burn up, with only 3,300 in September. So, not sedentary! The biggest issue was consistency. I could run some nights, but I'd have to wait until 8 or 8:30 (still light outside) and that isn't good for sleeping, and sometimes it would still be way too humid to make it a good run. But running wasn't all. Mom, Andrea, Brett and I had a wonderful long weekend in Chicago where we walked the Miracle Mile many times over - usually carrying packages! In August, Billy and I took our annual trip to New York City where we walked mile after mile after mile. Sometimes even on purpose! September, the weather change made me a little under the weather so I didn't make much progress on anything. But I didn't lose any ground either so I was proud of myself. So, what did I miss? The half-marathon I wanted to do this past weekend in Mandeville. I'm not even quite up to 4 miles yet so 13.1 was out of this question. This time. It is still on my list and there are some in November, December and January that I might actually be able to make. The training programs, which I'm working, just not progressing quickly, are all well within that timeframe. So, my dream didn't die, it just got pushed back a little. And that happens to all of us from time to time. I am running in another 5K this weekend and again in November. I find that I have to have a goal. Once the half-marathon wasn't feasible, I filled in two more. They may not be pushing my limits right now, but they are pushing me to get out there and keep moving. Hopefully my absence from the blog didn't slow YOU down! And I will get back to regular reporting since it makes me feel better and helps keep me accountable. You know us CPAs, all about being accountable. So, I hope everyone had a fantastic summer and a great start to fall! It is starting to really feel nice outside and I'm going to do all I can to enjoy it!

June

Day One: nothing today.
Day Two: got my run on! 35 minutes, broke the 13/mile pace.
Day Three: 45 minutes walk/run. Way too humid!
Day Four: 45 minute walk/run.
Day Five: hit the streets again! 45 minutes walk/run in the heat.
Day Six: 50 minute walk/run
Day Seven: still hot, but I got my 45 minutes in!
Day Eight: missed it. Work got in the way.
Day Nine: 45 minute walk/run
Day Ten: got my 45 minutes out on the streets
Day Eleven: missed it
Day Twelve: missed it - work is ratcheting up!
Day Thirteen: 35 minutes walk/run
Day Fourteen: missed it
Day Fifteen: missed it
Day Sixteen: got in a double! Did my run and then took Doozer for a walk
Day Seventeen: 35 minute walk/run
Day Eighteen: missed it
Day Nineteen: missed it
Day Twenty: missed it
Day Twenty-one: missed it
Day Twenty-two: missed it
Day Twenty-three: missed it
Day Twenty-four: 45 minute walk/run. Humid, but good to be out there
Day Twenty-five: missed it
Day Twenty-six: missed it
Day Twenty-seven: missed it
Day Twenty-eight: missed if
Day Twenty-nine: missed it
Day Thirty: me and The Dooze hit the bricks! I have missed it!

So, June was not my best month. The weather is brutally, and dangerously, hot. Way too humid! And work was brutal. Busy season hours in a traditionally non- busy season month. Too much stress. Odd thing is, I know that exercise would be helpful for my stress, but when I take the time to exercise I stress that I should be, or need to be, working. June 30 deadlines are a pain! But I met them. Hopefully things will smooth out and I can get back to normal.

May

Day One: Ran 30 minutes. Covered over 2 miles. Had to walk to the office first to find my phone so I could track it!
Day Two: Home sick. Been feeling it coming, but hoped it would pass. I thought maybe my throat was hurting because I've been running with my mouth open.
Day Three: Miracle shot has me back on the road! Got my 30 minutes in. Also got bad news this morning - Naunie passed away overnight.
Day Four: Ran my 30 minutes this morning before heading to Carlisle. I had a good pace. I seem to run better in the mornings.
Day Five: Got my 30 minutes in tonight. Felt good after such an emotional day. Good to get all the good endorphins working.
Day Six: Break day. Drove back to Natchez after spending most of the day with Mom. I needed a rest.
Day Seven: Back on track. Ran 30 minutes. Each day I cover a little more ground.
Day Eight: A little slow, but I got my 30 minutes in. Feeling a little sluggish.
Day Nine: Making up for lost time! Ran my 30 minutes, well over 2 miles, AND came home and grabbed Doozer for a 20 minute, 1.25 mile, walk.
Day Ten: In Jackson all day. I got home at 6:30 and had dinner. It was way too close to being dark by the time I could get ready to run.
Day Eleven: Headed to Atlanta, but I ran my 30 minutes before I got on the road!
Day Twelve: Started with a run through Heather's neighborhood. Broke through the 13 minute/mile pace. And then she and I shopped and walked a lot today. Very active.
Day Thirteen: Followed up 7.5 hours in the car with a 30 minute run AND walking Doozer for another 25 minutes. Covered a lot of ground today!
Day Fourteen: Another double! Doozer hates to be left behind but I can't run with him. Lord knows the extra walking won't kill me.
Day Fifteen: Just did the 30 minute run tonight. Felt a little sluggish again so it wasn't my best work.
Day Sixteen: halfway through my run I twisted my ankle and had to walk home. Stupid curbs. But I still got in over two miles, altogether.
Day Seventeen: Resting the ankle.
Day Eighteen: Resting the ankle. And it was my birthday so I ate too much today. Trying to run would have been like slogging through mud.
Day Nineteen: ran my first 5K! What a way to start my 46th year!
Day Twenty: a well-earned day of rest! My ankle is none to pleased with my victory yesterday, giving it a break.
Day Twenty-one: got a little walk in after work. Ankle still pretty swollen, but Doozer was happy.
Day Twenty-two: tried to run, had to walk home. Ankle is not going to let me push myself any more this week. Stupid curbs.
Day Twenty-three: rest and recovery.
Day Twenty-four: rest and recovery. hate it, but we're having good family time.
Day Twenty-five: found an alternative - or remembered I should say. Billy's van is in the shop and he needed the car so I rode my bike to work, home at lunch, back to work, home at day's end. Felt good!
Day Twenty-six: worked out in the yard - staking tomatoes. Went to Bayou Country Superfest in Baton Rouge so there was a pretty good hike from the parking to the stadium and back. Ankle started swelling, though. Wore the wrong shoes.
Day Twenty-seven: got a little walking in, still taking it a little easy.
Day Twenty-eight: left out on my run this morning, realized I forgot my inhaler and the humidity was awful so I turned and ran on home. Went back out this evening. Tried to do the whole 3+ miles but I could only do a little over half. Going to have to build back up.
Day Twenty-nine: rested. realize after all this that you do have to listen to your body and give it a break and time to heal.
Day Thirty: learned I cannot outrun the rain! headed out, could see the storm clouds. 25 minutes into the 35 minute minute run (which I did run most all of this time! yea me!), the clouds opened up! I was soaked and had to take shelter until it passed, at which time I ran home and into a hot shower.
Day Thirty-one: Just walked 1.43 miles with The Dooze. I promised him a walk after my run last night and he was cheated by the rain. Billy headed to Arkansas today so running, with my "track" record didn't seem like a good idea.

All in all, a pretty darn good month!

I Did It!! Amended

Here's the postscript to last Saturday's Cancer Fun Run.

That morning, I did get up a little early. A few nerves. Couldn't eat. That kind of thing. And I wanted to get there early. Registration and packet pickup started at 7:30 and the Run was 8:30. Billy asked if he was supposed to go with me, since he wasn't ready and I was starting to bounce off the walls by 7:15. I told him he could bring his own car. (Side note: most everywhere we go together we take separate vehicles. He doesn't want to be there and I'm never ready to leave. So this was not unusual on this day.) I waited and finally decided I couldn't wait any longer so I went upstairs to tell him I was leaving. He was almost dressed since he'd decided to go with me, on the provision that I had him back home a little after 9. I had already done the math and told him at 13 minute miles that I needed about 40 minutes and then we could come home.

Which is what we did. I ran, ate a banana and drank some water, visited a minute or two with some people I knew, and we left.

At the office, we start every Monday morning with staff meeting. We go around the table and discuss anything going on that week, work out of the office, sports scores, etc. My partner is always first and he announced to the room that I had completed my first 5K that weekend. Lots of "yea"s from around the table. Then he picked up an envelope and said "But what she doesn't know, because she left too soon on Saturday, is that she won this in her age group" and he pulled out a 3rd place medal.

Could have knocked me over with a feather!

Of course then the jokes started about were there even three people in my age group (yes, my partner - pointing out that he is about 3 months younger than me - got second in our age group and a friend of ours was first).

So yes, the bar is now set high, and hard work is its own reward.

But a medal sure is cool.