May 31, 2013

Well, made it through the first 5K race of the season last Saturday - Pecatonica Library 5K. They had changed the route a bit so we were "off road" during some of the transitions between road and the Pec Praire Path. This for me is EXTREMELY hard!!! I am good at "locking into gear" but changes of pavement or conditions are really tough. But I was able to not only maintain upright but also to improve my time from last year a bit. Last year, I was 33.23 mins. This year ---- 33 mins EVEN... I know not that whopping improvement that you thought it would be. But considering all the breaks in surface and being off road - this to me was VERY GOOD!!! I did not place in my age group but that is OK... I know I did my best and actually improved not only with my time but having the balance to keep running despite the rough surface area!!!! I was actually very pleased!!!!!!! So now what is next.... I am not sure... I have not signed up for any new races. I really do want to get back to working on increasing my distance. It has been tough this week due to the fact that it has been rainy and EXTREMELY humid. The humidity just kills me. I cannot do any distance in that at all. I run about 2-3 miles and I am ready to bag it in... So I am praying for a cooler days this summer so I can work on my distance. I am really hoping that if not this weekend - next I can get in a nice LONG run... I really want to increase to over that 12.25/12.5 mile mark.... All I can do is keep trying.... As always --- FORWARD... ALWAYS FORWARD!!!!!

May 20, 2013

Yes, here I am with the coveted 10 mile Syttende Mai 2013 race shirt!!!! Saturday was GREAT weather... not too cold or hot. It did start heating up for me toward the end. But this year, NO TREMORS AND RAN IT 100%!!!! My time was 2:06; last year 2:14. So I improved but, last year I did walk some. But I was pleased with the overall. I was running at a nice even/steady pace. That is what I intended so that I could just keep everything on a nice even keel. When I got into town I passed the intersection with the police officer where my arm started tremoring last year but this year... I no tremors just kept going... Then I continued through downtown and turned the corner to head toward the park. At this point, it is downhill. I kept saying, outloud and pretty loud.... "keep it together"... I was working on my stepping. I was getting pretty fatigued and it was getting warmer. I was reminding myself to keep watching my footing so I did not tumble down the hill. That would have been a bitch - here you are just a few yards from the finish line after 10 miles and you roll down the hill. I was passing people walking on the sidewalk - I know they heard me continuing to say this mantra and probably thought I was a loon... but too bad. With MS, at anytime, but especially when your body is stressed the mis-stepping can be more frequent. So at this point, (probably only to me) I feel like I am really taking very deliberate and higher stepping so I don't have the damn foot dragging. That would have sent me tumbling right down that hill. So saying the little mantra - kept me focused on my stepping. When I went through the finish, I was telling them I cannot stop and will be back with their chip. They already knew that I had MS and had to wind myself down to stop. It was really nice that I saw my daughter was there at the finish line. I really appreciate the support of my family and friends - it really touches me very deeply!!!! After I was able to stop off for that WONDERFUL shower then (OH YEAH) -- off to the bakery. Yes, I sat there and TOTALLY enjoyed my lefse and coffee!!!! Then off to the all the various Syttende Mai activities. It was a good day! The next day, I was up early getting everything together so that we could drive back to Stoughton for more fun!!! Now, I have to start preparing for this Saturday's race -- Pecatonica's 5K. Then back to working on my distance. I have to starting working UP MORE MILEAGE -- getting ready for the 1/2 marathon in September. I will work on planning a new route that takes me about 15 miles. I will do this about once a week or so... just to be accustomed to the mileage. I will have to do this REALLY early in the morning to beat any heat. The heat just tears down something quick... That is going to be my biggest hurdle with the training aspect... But I WANT THAT 1/2 MARATHON!!! I WANT IT BAD!!!!! Look - I did the 10 mile -- 100%!!! That was my goal - time is not that important. I know that I will not and never will be good at speed. The MS does not allow that... It is too hard to keep everything moving properly... But keeping a steady pace - this I can handle... Plus, to have the 10 mile and the 1/2 marathon accomplished BEFORE I officially become a Nana.... At least my grandson can say, that his Nana did these things. Plus, hopefully, I can continue running and doing the distance races... Maybe even someday... my grandchildren and I will be in a distance race together... Now, wouldn't that be AWESOME!!!! You never know.... I might be 5 hours behind them but - at least running it... That is my dream --- NEVER NEVER LET GO OF YOUR DREAMS.... ARE THEY OUTRAGEOUS... MAYBE BUT WHO CARES.... Hey - only 8 years ago when I was walking with my cane and/or walker and BARELY able to make it to the end of my block and back (my block is 3 house - I am in the middle... Tell me about it... Dreams can come true... how... you have to REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY want it... I had to change my nutrition and exercise - DRASTICALLY... But look - I am in the best health of my life... I look at what I am accomplishing.... Yes - with Secondary Progressive MS.... It is possible!!!!!! So NEVER NEVER give up... DON'T LET MS WIN... MS is a monster - never let it win!!!! So ALWAYS AND FOREVER; MOVE FORWARD AND NEVER STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

May 16, 2013

It is count down time for the Syttendi Mai 10 mile run! It will be this Saturday - so ONLY 2 days to go!!!! I am INCREDIBLY excited!!! The weather is not going to be so HORRIBLY hot this year. Last year, it was well in the 90's when I finished. This year, they are even talking some rain. The rain would be OK - it helps to cool you down. I have NO PROBLEMS with that at all!!!! My main nemasis is the HEAT!!!! That really works on my MS symptoms and they just go nuts. But this is going to be MY YEAR!!!! I have made that determination. I have ran the course once and did great. Took it at a nice pace and had no problems. In fact, I was quite a bit faster than what I ran it last year. But speed is not my thing -- just to go nice and steady and run 100% - that is ALL I ask!!! I was disappointed that I did not run last weekend. I did not run AT ALL!!!! I know very strange. But the weather was crappy and I had a really busy week at work that just drained my energy down to the sub-basement. That is how it goes... Maybe by taking it easy this week and no big strainous runs - that will help me. Last night, I did get out and run a very short one. It felt good! I am just really being very protective of my energy level. I can not have it go down that low - I will never make it through the run. Then the rest of the summer I will start training for my 1/2 marathon in September. Yes, right now I am running 12 1/4 miles --- but I need to bring it up to over 13. So I will make a new route to up the mileage. I have my PRIZE all set for after the run. After my shower - directly to Fosdahl's Bakery for lefse and coffee.... YUMMMMMMMMY!!!~! Then the various Norwegian activities --- then lunch - hummus wrap and corn on the cob, more Norwegian activities then dinner veggie bratwaurst, corn on the cob, and some tofuti ice cream for dessert.... I know what I want... YUMMMMMMMY!!!!! What really does you in is about 1/4 mile before the finish line you pass the bakery.... The smells - OH MY -- it is a KILLER.... I think they should have the race END at the bakery. Just think of the money they would make!!!! Today I will not be able to get outside and run due to work committments. Tomorrow I will probably do a SHORT run and bodypump... but nothing to terribly hard... Then... it will be time to go!!! As ALWAYS AND FOREVER -- ALWAYS MOVING FORWARD!!!!!!