November 30, 2012

I have enjoyed and VERY MUCH needed my running vacation... This is not to say that I have not ran at all - because I have. The runs I have done have been few and short. I am still having issues with my legs/knees - so I have not wanted to push it to hard. Tomorrow I start a new challenge (I cannot stay away from a challenge!!!) - 100K in December. I don't think I will have too much problems with this challenge... It ends up equated to = 62 miles/4 weeks = 15.5 per week = 2.22 per day.... This is very doable - even if I have to come inside and do the dreaded treadmill. So my plan is to start tomorrow - but no long runs - I want to keep them shorter maybe if my legs heal more then some longer but carefully and then there is the weather factor. It has stayed fairly mild so far but, you never know when the extreme cold and snow could break loose. So this challenge I will play by hear... Some will probably be outside and some inside. But my real concern is the knees and muscles... I really want to be able to do my goals for 2013. These goals are - do the 2013 1000 mile challenge; run the 10 mile Syttendi Mai race 100%; and run a half marathon race. Those are my plans at the moment. Hopefully my body allows me to accomplish these goals. This December 100K challenge, I will take it easier. My times have been slower lately due to the knee aspects and also running in the darkness. Yes, I have a headlamp but still it is difficult to see every divet and bump in the roads. So I think it best till we get more daylight to take it slower. The biggest factor is continuing moving. Last week was Thanksgiving holiday. We did a very unusual thing by going out to dinner. Actually it worked out very well. It was alot less work and afterwards we could go home and relax. For me it was to relax a bit before going out and do my Christmas shopping. This is the first year, that I ever started on Thanksgiving night. But I did it... I was 3rd in line at Shopko. Then continued through all the rest of the stores that I had mapped out. I was done and home in the early afternoon. Then rested, had a nice turkey dinner, and went and saw a WONDERFUL movie at the theater with Brian, my husband. So it was a good day for me. I did not get all my treasures wrapped yet (usually I do that also) but I should have that done this weekend. Then see - I just don't have to deal with anything else. Right now, my concentrations are on my fitness and also working on finishing my quilting projects. Since I am slowing down on the amount of time on running - it gives me more time for my sewing. I really enjoy my sewing plus it is very helpful and theraputic for someone with MS. Another symptom with MS is a lot of muscle stiffness/tightness/cramping/spasms... This is all muscle even the hand muscles - so my sewing helps to keep my hand muscle limber. Plus, quilting you use quite a bit of math/geometry - so this is helpful with the cognitive aspects of MS. So as you see, as I am making a present for someone I am also helping myself and my well being... I am so very HAPPY that my son will be home for Christmas!!! He will also be bringing his new girlfriend with him. That will be so wonderful that we can all be together. I am so happy that Jeremy is moving forward with his life. He has gone through some very difficult situations personally, ect... but he is perservering... See where I get my determination from - or is it the other way around??? Or is it that Irish Catholic thing that is way to imbedded in me and my children??? So I am continuing to ALWAYS MOVE FORWARD!!!!

November 21, 2012

YES, YES, YES --- I COMPLETED THE 1000 MILE CHALLENGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When I originally signed on to the challenge, I really never thought I could really do 1000 miles... Come on, that is crazy... let's think about this... I am a 50+ year old women, with Secondary Progressive MS, who just stopped using a cane a year and a half ago.... But I did do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wanted to get it done before the weather really turned and it got horribly cold. Last weekend, we did the Jingle Bell 5K in Rockford. Oh my, there were ALOT of people - that race was HUGE!!!! There were many big time runners. I was having problems with my right leg - the muscle had spasmed on me during a run a couple of days prior and it was bothering me. But I was able to do the run. I just took it easy and paced it out. I actually did an amazing amount of miles that week --- 49 miles!!!! It is good and bad... It got me closer to my goal but on the other hand - I think I over did it. I am still feeling the effects in my knees and calves... So now, that I have finished the challenge - I am going to take a BRIEF vacation from running (at least a few days). Then we will see.... Right now, I am going to enjoy my Thanksgiving holiday... This year, we are going to a resteraunt for Thanksgiving... which is so nice... no work!!!! Then after I am going to break my usual tradition of starting and finishing my Christmas shopping on the day after --- I am actually going to start Thanksgiving Day... So the store I am looking at opens at 9p - I will be in line waiting for it to open - like all the other nuts... But actually I have always enjoyed the Black Friday sales - I am able to stretch my limited Christmas budget - I have always meet very nice people in the lines and chat with them... Plus I have EVERYTHING done in one day -- I have everything very stratigically mapped out with what store opens when - what I want at that store - then I move to the next... That is the way I enjoy it... I enjoy the fun of the "hunt".... I wondering if with all my running - will it help me running through the stores????? LOL... Have a WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't eat too much and enjoy and treasure your family and friends!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

November 16, 2012

Well, I am REALLY REALLY close to the 1000 mile mark, ONLY 38.37 miles to go... Holy cow!!! Right now, I am really trying to have it 100% completed by Thanksgiving Day!!!! Wouldn't that be something truly AWESOME!!!! When I joined this challenge - I did it mainly for "kicks", and seeing how many miles I actually do would be interesting, and if I got even close to the 1000 miles that would be pretty cool. But NOW to see that I have actually done this blows my little mind!!!! Last Saturday we had a 8K race in Winnebago IL. It was a nice race, the weather was actually warm... Considering this is NOVEMBER - I was wearing SHORTS!!! I got about 1 mile in and all of the sudden a VERY VIOLENT storm broke loose.... There was lightening EVERYWHERE and close - you could feel the little hairs on your arm stand at attention... The thunder was so loud. I just went DAMN... Oh well, maybe this is how I am going to meet my maker by getting hit by lightening... Then I thought, no - I am to low to the ground and just went for the screw it theory and just kept running.... A few people actually quit and that point but not this die hard runner... Let's get real - I was already a mile in, paid my money and damn it if I don't allow the MS to knock me down why should I allow a little rain!!!!!! So yes, I finished and actually recieved 1st place for my age division. The rest of this week, I have been really working on keeping up my miles. I have been doing pretty well. I actually figured out if I really work, I have a GREAT opportunity to have my 1000 miles in by Thanksgiving Day. That is MY goal!!!! I have been doing pretty good with that... I have even gotten in some double runs during the week which is close to 10 miles. So that really helps. But the damn MS is once again doing anything it can to beat me down.... DAMN MS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Last night I was running and about 2 miles in and all the sudden my left (weaker leg) knee felt like it wanted to fold in backwards. I did not let it happen and kept it going forward. But it did ALMOST get me to fall and drop me down like a stone. I did NOT fall and kept totally upright. I slowed down at that point and then felt like it was better and just continued on my 4.77 mile route. I continued and afterwards went to Pilates class. But still my muscles on the outside of my knee felt tight and weird. They seemed to be getting stiffer. I was planning on getting in another 4.77 miles in this morning but, with the knee still feeling stiff I decided to take a day off. Plus, I am even going to take BodyPump off tonight. We do ALOT of squats with very heavy weight. So maybe a day of rest and alternating heat/cold will help that muscle. I really do want to do the 5K race tomorrow. I tried to do it last year but, the day of the race there was a very cold, windy, rainy day. I decided that running in the COLD rain was not worth getting REALLY SICK. Plus for someone like me - getting really sick could cause my MS symptoms to really FIRE UP and take me months to get back to where I am now... So I did not chance it. This weekend - the weather is supposed to be nice -- about 50 degrees and sunny. So hopefully if I baby my knee today I will be OK. It is wierd because it only hurts or feels stiff if I move certain ways. Otherwise it feels fine... So some muscle probably spasmed on me while I was running and I forced it to stretch and strained it. I did not snap the muscle believe me - I know what that feels like and that WILL DROP YOU DOWN JUST LIKE A STONE. Plus - PAIN - OH MY GOD!!!! This year I have been so good with my injuries. They have all be EXTREMELY minor (skinned knees) but NO MAJOR ANYTHING!!!! It really makes me so DAMN mad - here I am acheiving a goal that I never thought in a MILLION YEARS I COULD ACCOMPLISH and then my body decides to mess with me... DAMN MS, DAMN MS, DAMN MS!!!!!!!!! I will NOT LET YOU WIN - NOT NOW OR EVER!!!!!! DAMN MS, DAMN MS!!!!! GO BACK TO THE BOUGHS OF HELL WHERE YOU BELONG - DAMN MS!!!!!!!! So now that I have ONLY 38.37 miles to go... I will finish it, it will happen, and I will have it done before Thanksgiving... I may have to run slower but to bad... I will NOT LET IT WIN!!!!! NEVER NEVER NEVER LET THE MS WIN.... NO MATTER WHAT IT THROWS AT YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

November 2, 2012

We survived our second 10K last Sunday in Sycamore IL. It was a really nice race, extremely organized, and there were 1526 racers!!!! I was 53rd out of 64 of the women in my age catagory!!!! The fastest women in my age group was 45:14 - APSOLUTELY AMAZING!!!! My time was 1:12... It could have been better but I fell the first mile in, did NOT get hurt but about 1/2 doz runners helped me up -- VERY VERY nice!!!!! LOVED the start of the race - they shot a cannon (yes real cannon) about 6 times... scared Lisa and I to death!!! We started at the armory in Sycamore. On the whole it was fairly flat, the rough part really was coming into the park toward the end. They had speed bumps in the roadway so I had to be VERY VERY mindful of my stepping. So even with the fall.. I probably could have been down to 1:10 or so... This is better than the last 10K in Monroe but that was some serious steep hills and grades - time was 1:15. Getting closer to finishing the 1000 mile challenge I am currently at 881.85 miles since 2/14/12.... only 118.15 to go!!!!!!! I did have one "down" day this week. It was after the race and then John's class (that ALWAYS kicks my a...). But that is good!! Now I am back and feel great!!! I hope this weekend to be able to get in some fairly long runs. Maybe not a real long one but at least some 5 to 6 milers in... That will get me over the 900 mile mark and well on my way to finishing the goal.... It will be very interesting to see how many miles I can really get in before the end of the year... My next races are a 5K Jingle Bell and a 8K in Winnebago. Both of these are this month. I hope that the weather holds and it is not too horrible cold or rainy or snowy... But time will tell! This time of year is the BEST for me with running. I love that it is not so hot outside that I get SO over-heated and fatigued. Yes, I still get very hot in the cooler weather but it is so much easier on the recovery. I know that I am improving with my overall stamina and that is FANTASTIC!!!! It is difficult to go out early in the morning. It is pitch black outside and cool especially when you have a nice soft,warm bed that very very inviting... So I have been doing more evening runs because the warm bed has me in its clutches. I do like the early morning runs because it gets you all energized for the day. We celebrated Halloween this week. I did not pass out the candy. Brian, my husband, did that. I stayed AWAY from the candy and just worked on my sewing/quilting. So I stayed true to my nutrition and had my salad and a piece of vegan pumpkin pie -- yummy!!!! I have discovered a new nutritional love --- raw oatmeal... It is GREAT!!! I took it with to the race and it was perfect... You take some regular oatmeal and mix with a cup of yogurt and add some fruit pieces and let it set in the frig overnight. It is great protein and calcium. After a long and hard run, I tend to have an upset tummy. So I want to eat but really can't. So this was the PERFECT food... I could just slowly eat it and it was calming to my tummy. Everyone has to find what works for them and their bodies. I know that my nutrition has been a GIANT factor in my progression. Not just losing over 120lbs... but everything - fatigue, cognitive issues, neuropathy, and all the other WONDERFUL MS issues... I have gotten to this point through A LOT of very HARD WORK!!!! I never say never and ALWAYS willing to try... To me, to give in is like giving up... that is ALLOWING the MS to win... to HELL with that!!!!! Not going to happen on my watch --- when MS came to me it did not know what a stubborn, pain-in-the-ass, Irish-gal it was dealing with.... So just go and do it -- whatever it is ... go.....

October 26, 2012

This morning was WONDERFUL!!! It was cool and clear - perfect for running!!! This week has not been my best running week in terms of mileage. Either the weather has been uncooperative or I have been just too fatigued. Oh, well.... Right now, I feel like I am back to my full game!!!! HEY!!!! Over the last weekend, I got in some nice longer runs. It felt good!!! I even did one run that was over 10 miles (not by much because nature was calling). But I am getting closer and closer to my 1000 miles... To date, I am at 866.56 miles --- only 133.44 to go by the end of the year!!!!!!! So even with the weather starting to get more "iffy" I think I can still make my 1000 miles... This weekend I cannot run any long runs since I have a 10K on Sunday. So tomorrow, I plan to do maybe about 5 or so. Then the following weekend, if weather allows, I can knock out some longer miles. I have to admit it is getting harder and harder to get up in the early morning to go running. The weather is cooler, the bed is warm and plus it is dark outside. Right now, it is getting light about the time I return to the gym about 6:30am or so. That will all be changing VERY SOON as we change the clocks back an hour. But my headlamp is working out GREAT!!!! It works just perfect! Between my reflective vest and my headlamp if a car doesn't see me - then they really have issues!!!! LOL!!!! I am not out there to look like a "fashion plate" - I just dress appropriate for the weather and try to be safe. I hope we have a warmer winter this year so that I can continue running outside as much as possible. I am AMAZED this year of HOW MUCH I have improved!!! When I first started coming to the gym, now mind you - I had built myself up tremendously and it took me about 5 YEARS to get to the point that I could even handle walking on the treadmill --- PLUS ACTUALLY wear athletic shoes due to the HORRIBLE neuropathy in my feet!!!! Last year, with my first year of running - I could only run in the morning when my energy level was at its highest. Now, I have NO problems with running in the evening after a FULL day of work. It is AMAZING how much my stamina has improved. Do I still have fatigue issues --- YES -- but so much better. I have some days where everything I do is VERY labor intensive - other days not a problem... It is very odd... Right now, I know I am coming off a fatigue time and it is wonderful... I always feel good not just physically but psychologically too. I do understand where many people with MS have depression issues. It is so VERY VERY HARD when you don't know from day to day where your energy level or the pain level or the cognitive issues or.... is going to be. But it is not only the energy level but everything is affected... Maybe you do not have the energy to even talk with other people let alone due something that demands high energy. So it is really hard!!!! I know this week I was doing well then Tuesday's exercise was EXTREMELY demanding and took me some time to recoop. But that is OK.... I can ALWAYS recoop - if I need a rest day or two - so be it... It took me a long time to get to that realization but I have. I really don't like to let my exercise go any longer than two days... Then I don't feel very good about myself. So this morning after not having a really GOOD run since Tuesday - was WONDERFUL!!!! Even though, I did go to exercise classes and run on the treadmill on Thursday --- it is not the same... I just feel better afterwards, I feel more energetic and more alert. So this weekend, I am SO LOOKING forward to my second 10K run... I know that this one is on flatter ground than the race in Monroe, WI (that was a HARD RUN). So if I can do that - this one is NOT a problem!!!!! We will see how my time stacks against that run!!??? It will be interesting!!! It is really difficult for me to run really fast because then my legs get all out of sequence and then I have greater tendance for falling. This is why I think I like the distance running. It pushes and strengthens my endurance plus makes me overall physically stronger. Plus, you do more of a pace run - so that I can tell my muscles we are running the same pace - then they do not have the sudden change that really causes the nerves to sometimes mis-fire. These are all great things!!! Right now, the sun is shining and I hope that it continues through the weekend for the race. Yes - ALWAYS MOVE FORWARD!!!!!!!!

October 19, 2012

Well this week has not been to great with running. I have NOT run the past couple of days due to the rain. I know that I could have ran inside on the treadmill. I actually did do that on Sunday because I needed to run and the weather has not been too cooperative. Well, it is getting to be that time of year.... I am up to 835.49 miles to date. So I am trying to finish the 1000 by 12/31... So I have 164.51 to go... Basically 11 weeks... 14.96 miles per week. Last week I did over 18 miles and so far this week I have done 14.31 miles. I hope to really push that number this weekend... It is supposed to be dry so I should be able to get in some longer runs. I did sign up for the 10K in Sycamore on Oct 28th. This will be my second 10K race of the season. It is good for me to get in more longer distance races. I am also looking at doing at 8K race in Winnebago on November 10th. I need to really focus on keeping my mileage up. The later part of this week has been really hard - between the rain and my shoulder is still giving me grief. I have not been sleeping well (I never sleep that great due to the neuropathy and spasms in my legs/feet) but the aching pain in my shoulder has really been bothering me.... This weekend is suppose to be good - cool and sunny. I want to get some long runs. Then it would help to knock off some mileage - that would be great!!!! I also know that I have been more fatigued lately. I did get my thyroid med increased so that should help - it will also help with the energy level. My thyroid levels became low as a side effect from the Avonex (interferon injectable I use for my MS). So my thyroid levels have to be monitored. I did have a nice evening run with my running buddy Lisa the other day. It is the first time we have ever ran together. She is much faster than I am. But we did the 4.77 miles at a good pace. I asked her afterwards if I was aweful slow for her. She said that, no - that I had a nice even pace and was not too slow. That made me feel good that I was not extensively holding her back. It was good for me to run with another person. It just makes me more accountable for my pace/time. Hopefully, we can do it again sometime! I do not talk when I run. I HAVE TO STAY FOCUSED 100000% of the time on my running. It is when my mind wanders just a little bit that is when I fall. I have to stay very mindful of my stepping and make sure that lift up my feet and do not drag my foot. I also have to make sure that BOTH legs are stepping. I know this sounds wierd but, sometimes I unconsciencely think I am stepping out on my leg and my leg has not moved. So I am stepping on nothing and down I go... It is really really wierd. So I HAVE to make sure that BOTH legs are stepping out - many times I feel like I am exagerating my steps but that is what I have to do. As I run I get more fatigued and as I get more fatigued the nerves that tell the muscles to move are getting more and more over worked. Now you have to think my nerves are damaged so it is like you having damaged wiring in your house and at first just turning on a simple lamp. That goes OK... Now to that same wiring you plug in your refrigerator - now you would probably have issues... It may spark or only work part of the time or just catch fire.... It is a HUGE gamble... For me it is the same thing... EVERY time I run it is a gamble... My legs may not work properly and then I fall or sometimes they feel so DAMN heavy like I have cement shoes on or I feel like I have rocks in my shoes or I feel like I have SUPER TIGHT compression tights on --- all these feelings of the "fire" from the damaged nerves. I always have to plan a big run on days that I do not have any pressing engagements. Sometimes after I rest for a couple of hours I am ready and do a bunch of activities. Other times I am really fatigued for the rest of the day --- I never know how it is going to play out. This weekend the only things I have planned is running and sewing. If it is nice and I have energy it would be GREAT to get in a nice bike ride. We will see how it goes. That is the thing with MS that is SO VERY FRUSTRATING - the unpredictability. You don't know how you are going to feel after some activities. Sometimes after a very stressfull activity it may even take a couple of days for the fatigue to HIT. But when it hits - IT HITS!!!! Overall - my fatigue level is 100000% better!!!! It used to be after working and then exercise class - I could not even talk with ANYONE... That is how horribly exhausted I was. Even the energy of talking was enough to literally kill me... I still get fatigued but have not been that low of energy in a LONG LONG time.... So tonight is BodyPump (weight lifting exercise routine class) then home and rest...

October 12, 2012

Last weekend was WONDERFUL!!!! I did get to spend some time with my baby while he was home for a VERY short bit. Anytime was GREAT!!! I also was able to meet his girlfriend - she is very sweet!!! I do wish I got the opportunity to spend more time with them but they had various activities and so did I... But we were together at the BIG bonfire party!!! The party was GREAT!!! SO MANY people all having a very nice time. Jake (one of the kid's friend's) put on a WONDERFUL fireworks display... He does an awesome job!!!! I surprisingly very active even with doing the race in the morning. I had a 5K in Orangeville on the Jane Addams trail. That race is usually a fast race since the trail is flat. The only obstacles for me this year was that there were a few places where there was some wet leaves down that was slick and there were also some spots where the limestone was very loose. So I did slow down at these points - I am still recovering from the shoulder sprain and do not need to fall and get a new injury. My time this year=33.19; time last year = 34.12; so almost a minute faster... I was hoping to be at 30 -- maybe next year! The other great thing is that I am closing in on the 1000 miles. To date I am at 818.18 miles -- only 181.82 to go!!!!!!! I have been doing alot of evening runs this week. I think part of it is the fatigue issue and the other part is that it is darker and colder in the morning and the nice warm bed is very very comfortable!!!! But this morning I did get myself up and get in a decent run!!! Hopefully, this weekend I can pull off a longer run. Whether it is 14 miles, I don't know... We will see....