I completed the Winnebago IL 8k Turkey Trot on Saturday in 59:21. The weather was MUCH better than last year. It was raining (a cold rain) prior to the race and after the race it really came down hard. I was really ready to bag this race but, my friend Renae talked me into it. It was only fair since, I had talked her into to signing up for the race in the beginning. We even had a GREAT turnout for the race from the Pecatonica crowd!!! That was really nice!!!! I ran the race with my usual pacing being cautious of the wet pavement and any debris/leaves on the roadway. That can be very dangerous and cause me to fall. So I just made sure I stayed in my groove. About halfway the wind was picking up and it did start misting... I was seeing visions of last year's race with the lightening and hail. So I did pick up my pace a bit. But it never did anything more than a fine mist. Soon after the race, the skies broke loose and it really came down. It was REALLY nice to have such a large Pecatonica group at the race!!!!
It has been hard to get outside and run because of the nasty weather we have been having. That is the way this time of year is. It is very precarious. I have tried to get out on the weekends as much as possible. Yesterday, I did go and sign up at Byron High School to run the track. It is not too far away and it is an alternative for the winter than just doing the machines. That way I can at least get some distance in even though I am just going around and around (yes, becoming a hamster).
I might be looking at doing one more race.... another Turkey Trot 5K in Freeport on Thanksgiving morning. This is a benefit for the food pantry. This is TOTALLY depending on the weather. If it is not good weather - definitely NOT doing this.
Otherwise, this is the time I year that I start cracking the whip on my Christmas sewing projects. I have one fairly well completed and LOTS MORE to do.... The weather also keeps me inside more so it actually helps to force me to work inside. I do a lot of sewing. It is actually a two-fold benefit. With MS, one issue (of many) is the numbness of your extremities. So my hands and feet are CONSTANTLY numb and they get very stiff. The sewing helps to keep my hands/fingers nimble. So it is very good muscular exercise for my hands. I sometimes have quite a bit of issues with my hands and small motor movements. One time, I went to vote. As you know, you have to sign when you go there. The official looked at my signature and compared it to the one on file. TOTALLY DIFFERENT!!!!! The official was ACTUALLY NOT going to let me vote. Even though I had picture ID, etc... The only thing that saved me was the wonder of a small town - a couple of the other officials there knew me and could vouch for who I was. Those are some of the weird but, true issues that people with MS have to deal with on a constant basis. Sometimes, you never know when your body is going to head you in a different direction. You have to roll with it.... That is why I keep running.... I am working on keeping my mobility as long as possible. Maybe I will have it forever, maybe not... But I am going to keep working at it. I have noticed that this year, my race times have slowed down. But I am still running. The other positive thing is that I am running longer distances. That is really where I am trying to focus my training.
So as ALWAYS AND FOREVER --- FORWARD!!!!
I completed the Winnebago IL 8k Turkey Trot on Saturday in 59:21. The weather was MUCH better than last year. It was raining (a cold rain) prior to the race and after the race it really came down hard. I was really ready to bag this race but, my friend Renae talked me into it. It was only fair since, I had talked her into to signing up for the race in the beginning. We even had a GREAT turnout for the race from the Pecatonica crowd!!! That was really nice!!!! I ran the race with my usual pacing being cautious of the wet pavement and any debris/leaves on the roadway. That can be very dangerous and cause me to fall. So I just made sure I stayed in my groove. About halfway the wind was picking up and it did start misting... I was seeing visions of last year's race with the lightening and hail. So I did pick up my pace a bit. But it never did anything more than a fine mist. Soon after the race, the skies broke loose and it really came down. It was REALLY nice to have such a large Pecatonica group at the race!!!!
It has been hard to get outside and run because of the nasty weather we have been having. That is the way this time of year is. It is very precarious. I have tried to get out on the weekends as much as possible. Yesterday, I did go and sign up at Byron High School to run the track. It is not too far away and it is an alternative for the winter than just doing the machines. That way I can at least get some distance in even though I am just going around and around (yes, becoming a hamster).
I might be looking at doing one more race.... another Turkey Trot 5K in Freeport on Thanksgiving morning. This is a benefit for the food pantry. This is TOTALLY depending on the weather. If it is not good weather - definitely NOT doing this.
Otherwise, this is the time I year that I start cracking the whip on my Christmas sewing projects. I have one fairly well completed and LOTS MORE to do.... The weather also keeps me inside more so it actually helps to force me to work inside. I do a lot of sewing. It is actually a two-fold benefit. With MS, one issue (of many) is the numbness of your extremities. So my hands and feet are CONSTANTLY numb and they get very stiff. The sewing helps to keep my hands/fingers nimble. So it is very good muscular exercise for my hands. I sometimes have quite a bit of issues with my hands and small motor movements. One time, I went to vote. As you know, you have to sign when you go there. The official looked at my signature and compared it to the one on file. TOTALLY DIFFERENT!!!!! The official was ACTUALLY NOT going to let me vote. Even though I had picture ID, etc... The only thing that saved me was the wonder of a small town - a couple of the other officials there knew me and could vouch for who I was. Those are some of the weird but, true issues that people with MS have to deal with on a constant basis. Sometimes, you never know when your body is going to head you in a different direction. You have to roll with it.... That is why I keep running.... I am working on keeping my mobility as long as possible. Maybe I will have it forever, maybe not... But I am going to keep working at it. I have noticed that this year, my race times have slowed down. But I am still running. The other positive thing is that I am running longer distances. That is really where I am trying to focus my training.
So as ALWAYS AND FOREVER --- FORWARD!!!!
