Thursday, February 4, 2010

Uhuh! and the two of us...

"Since we cannot change reality, let us change the eyes which see reality."
Nikos Kazantzakis

It's all about perception really...Uhuh! First, I put away the training plan geared towards running a half in 2:15. Next, I printed out the schedule for running it in 2:30. Last week, it took me 1:30 to run 10K, so I needed to be a little more realistic. Last week, I ran my first 3K tempo run and had to take a short walk break after 1.5K in order to run at the suggested speed. I was disappointed and a little bit in pain...so I didn't enjoy my run and I was complaining about how incredibly difficult this all was gearing up to be.
Fast forward to this week and one AHA moment smarter. I ran my first 3K tempo run with the new program today and I didn't have to stop...hell I think I sprouted me some little itty bitty wings :) I "felt" like I was floating along...I was smiling and feeling so damn proud of myself. Those itty bitty wings are gonna grow bigger and stronger with time, I just know it :)
Another thing I wanted to talk about today...Uber hubby was an athlete, he played University hockey and was always the star center on his teams. Awards galore! The reason we lived in Switzerland for four years was because he coached hockey there. The reason I am mentioning all this is that when I started running, I was doing it mainly to increase my lung capacity in the hopes of one day getting off prednisone (see side bar: 80 days without prednisone tomorrow - wootwoot!). 
Strangely, it had never occured to me that running might perhaps be something that I could share with my husband. He wasn't running anymore, though about 15 years ago he ran a decent half-marathon, so I hadn't factored that in. When I started running in early September 2009, he decided to join me once a week for a run...we both enjoyed it and it quickly became an important weekly "date". He's happy to be running again and realizing that he's still got it :)...although he's more than happy to hold back so that we can run together for most of the run (he does do little extra detours once in a while :)).
Today, when he got home from school (he's a teacher) I mentioned that I was going to do a 3K tempo run and he was clearly happy to join me. Now, he is planning on doing the half-marathon with me in Ottawa in May. Running has become something not only for me, but for the two of us. How cool is that!
Cheers!

20 comments:

Beth said...

That's great news! My husband and I run races together and it has been so much fun. Well, I should say we run the same races. He is much faster, but it is wonderful to go together and he cheers for me at the end. Then we have so much to share and talk about. So glad everything is going so well. Yeah!

ajh said...

Neat story. My husband doesn't run with me but joins me for a race or two a year.

Julie said...

Hi Anne,
I think that it is awesome that your husband will run with you and that he will join you when you run your first half:) Beth and her husband are so cute...she is right, he was waiting for her at the finish line with a big smile on his face:) You and your husband look so adorable and happy...good for you:)
My husband does not run with me but I love it when he comes to my races and cheers me on! Cheers to you and your running dates:)

Shellyrm ~ just a country runner said...

Hi Anne ~ Thanks for the comment on my Soap Box post. I surely did not intend to offend or state that medications don't have a place in the treatment of many ailments. I gripe is with the medical community and the individual for not chosing to prevent things and find non-medical solutions whenever one is possible.

Having had more medical issues than I care to count, I have spent my time on medicines. But if I would have listened to my doctors 25 years ago when they told me to be happy and sit still, I'd still be sitting there instead of healthier now than ever and having run 11 marathons!

I just wish more people would question and educate them selves.

I am super glad that you did something for you! You didn't allow your asthma to make you sit out either! How powerful you must feel! Feel free to email me anytime.

Jamoosh said...

80 days - now that is a streak that should go on forever! Don't worry about your running. It's a learning experience and you seem to be taking the lessons to heart - which is a good thing. Many people don't and simply drop out.

kilax said...

I run with my husband as well (ha, when it is more than 34 degrees outside) and I love the time we get to spend together. I feel like we really bond over running! :)

Jennifer said...

That's so great running with your best bud! Good for you and keep up that fantastic training. Tempo runs, brrr...

Miglena said...

Woohoo 80 days off P! Amazing! And I am so glad to hear that you are enjoying your runs again!!!

Marlene said...

One of the things I love most about running is sharing it with hubby! It's great that you get to run together too.

Congrats on 80 days off prednisone!!!

TMB @ RACING WITH BABES said...

Congrats on 80 days!!

You are so lucky to run with your hubby. Mine just started training for his first half. We never get to run together though - he is way slower than me and if we were to run together we would have to push all three kids. Maybe when they are older ...

mommaof3ontherun said...

What a nice story!!!! That's great!

Alicia said...

As someone who just trained and ran my first marathon along with my hubby, I'll say this- running together really made us closer! What a great way to be close!

Juliana said...

That is so great that your hubby is not only supporting you in your efforts but has decided to join the club. I have been hoping that my enjoyment of running would have rubbed off on my other half but no luck so far. I am also training for the Ottawa half this year. It is one of my favourite events!!!

Teamarcia said...

That is excellent that you can share running! So happy for you!
Congrats on being off the Prednisone too!

Meg said...

I love runninig with my husband, there is nothing else like it.

Amy said...

Running on Sundays with my husband is one of the few times in the week when we have time for just the two of us. And we have done a few races together too, and he always runs my pace, even though he could go faster. It means a lot to me!

Lulah said...

Sounds like fun...I love dates with hubby. Even if we're just going out for a sub, it's nice to be with him.

Joanne said...

Wow! So lucky. My hubby used to run and now he doesn't want to know anything about it. It's all weights and gym. Come on now..at 50 plus.... running would be more beneficial but whatever.

Diana said...

Love hockey! Very cool that your husband played. I think it is awesome that you guys have found something you can do together. Way to get him moving!!!

Christina said...

You'll find running with hubby that you will get faster overall. Guys usually run faster and have to run slower to be with us. They do it because they love us. We try desperately to keep up (and often ask for them to slow down) but by doing so, we girls get faster. I had to run a tempo run by myself the other day and wished my boyfriend was there with me to push me. The thing with tempo runs is you build up to the speed for the distance and then it does get easier (as you discovered). Some days we are "on" and other days even slogging is hard work. Great job on the runs and getting hubby out there with you.