I am strong!

"There are only two options regarding commitment: you're either in or you're out. There's no such thing as life in between." - Unknown

One down and 22 to go...the first week of my new program is done. A grand total of 43km. Today, week two begins with a 16km run and I'm feeling motivated. All week, as I was eating lentil soup and filling up on healthy snacks, I would jokingly remind my husband that "I am an athlete". The truth is, I want to take this round a little more seriously, training and fueling like the "athlete" that I want to be. Not the older asthmatic woman who is injury-prone and needs to take it easy athlete, but the healthy and strong woman who is willing to work hard athlete. Big difference...and it's all in my own mind! 

It's so easy to let our mind go in the wrong direction, convinced by ourselves and others that it is the TRUTH. Yet, we all know how important our perceptions are in fashioning our reality. It's a vicious circle that leads to the famous "self-fulfilling prophecy". Here is one of mine (but not for long):

"My asthma is very severe and requires a lot of meds. My doctor tells me that I will always need these meds and that I may eventually need more. So I'm quite sick and it definitely affects my lung capacity and my ability to run too fast."

I honestly believed that this thought running through my mind was realistic (the truth). Being a psychologist, it is my job to help clients view life more realistically and in a less depressing or anxiety-provoking way. So, I truly believed that in general my thoughts were mostly realistic. There was just one problem. If I thought something was realistic (for example, I'm sick - and it affects my lungs), then I believed it. I don't think that I let it restrict me too much, but I definitely considered it. 

For some reason, something clicked while I was reading another book on healing. I can choose to believe  that I am completely healthy. No, I will not stop taking my medication, but I will stop thinking about myself as someone with health problems. In fact, I've stopped already. 

I am healthy and that means I expect my body to adapt well to this increase in mileage and pace!

Cheers!

Do you have any beliefs that may be restricting you?

   

First run of my new program - Check!

"Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible."

St. Francis of Assisi

Today was the first run on my new training program. It started with a 14km long slow distance. Well, that's not exactly how it went. You see, my daughter started running this year and she has caught the bug. So now, she has a part time job working for a running store called, "La maison de la course" where she also leads a running 101 clinic. I'm so proud of her! So this morning, I wanted to go shopping for winter running clothes and I decided to go with my daughter and join one of the running groups at the store. The longest run that was going close to my pace was an 8km distance group, so I joined them. Usually, when I do my Sunday runs, I use a 10/1 ratio. However, this morning, my run was non-stop and at a steady run pace...it also included two solid hills. It was a beautiful day and I truly enjoyed running with the group, but I was 6km short for the day.

I then went shopping and my daughter asked me to wait for her and we could run 6km together after her work. So this evening, when she came home, my son joined us and the three of us went for a run. How lucky am I to get to run with two of my kids :)

So once again, the run was at a steady pace and non-stop. This means that today I ran a total of 14km, as per my program! That's it, I've taken the first necessary step towards my goal.

Have a great week everyone!

Cheers!

Starting this Sunday - Byebye comfort zone ;)

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.
Neale Donald Walsch

I agree that life is more exciting when we dare to step outside our comfort zone, but I can't say I've ever enjoyed taking those first steps. Although I've never regretted it, ever! 

Mostly, when I've stepped outside my comfort zone, it was to do something that scared me (such as teach a class for the first time or fly in a small plane). But, once it was over, it was over! I then felt super proud and glad I'd said yes. However, this time, the outer zone I'm planning on stepping into is one that requires enduring some degree of pain. I've been there a few times and it's not something I've gotten used to. I don't particularly enjoy pushing myself too hard. It's kind of nice to just run at a comfortable pace and enjoy the scenery.  BUT...

When I signed off after running my marathon in September 2011, I remember specifically writing that I wasn't looking to run faster. I wanted to enjoy running and stay injury free...and I did. Now, after a year, I do want to try and run faster...but, I'm a little scared. Yet, I get it that if I step out regularly, eventually, my comfort zone will be a little bigger...and that's the whole point! I'm motivated and ready to give it my all!

So I'm scared excited to start my new program this coming Sunday and my first long run is 14km. :)

Thanks for welcoming me back blogger friends...I really appreciate it!!

Cheers!

How often do you step outside your comfort zone? 

I'm back with a new goal!



"You are the person who has to decide. Whether you'll do it or toss it aside; you are the person who makes up your mind. Whether you'll lead or will linger behind. Whether you'll try for the goal that's afar. Or just be contented to stay where you are." Edgar A. Guest

 

 

A fun run with family!

 

Since last September, when I ran my first marathon, I have continued to run races and have been enjoying a wonderfully long injury-free stretch! I am so grateful...really, really grateful (please don't think I'm tempting you, injury gods).

 

For those who don't know, I started running a little over three years ago at the age of 50. The main goal initially was to improve my cardio to help with my severe asthma. I completed my first half-marathon in May 2010 in 2h21m?s (there's a point to why I'm giving you my finish time). I then went on to complete two more half-marathons that year, then again the next May (for each one of those, I had registered for the marathon, but injury prevented me from completing my training). I finally ran my first (and only so far) marathon in September 2011. Since then, I have run three more half-marathons with my last one being in September 2012 in 2h17m55s!

 

So, six half-marathons and one marathon later, my time has improved by a grand total of 3 minutes and some seconds. Now, I admit that my training program has been more of a maintenance type program. I was running 3 to 4 days a week and using time instead of kms, which means that I never had that much mileage under my belt. Still, I figured that not being injured and being able to actually get through almost all the runs in my program should have helped a little more than a 2 minute PR (last race). I guess not. I know I'm 53 and a half years old and that most people lose speed at my age, they don't improve. But, since I just started not so long ago, I thought I'd still have a bit of room to grow, right?

 

Therefore, now that my body seems to have adapted to running and is not so easily injured, I have decided that I am going to try and ease out of my comfort zone (not somewhere I especially like to visit) and try to aim for a PR. I have found this great program that is geared towards this exact goal. However, it requires me to run 5 or 6 days a week. Therefore, over the last four weeks, I have been running more often in order to prepare my body for this new program. So far, it's going well :)

 

My training program starts the week of November 18th and lasts 23 weeks. I am registered for the Scotiabank half-marathon on April 28th, 2013 in Montreal and best of all...my daughter is now a runner and will be training (not the same program) to complete her first ever half-marathon at this same race!!! I'm super excited!

 

I'm hoping that by following a more intensive program, as well as joining the gym again (giving me access to a treadmill on those icy freezing days) and encouraging me to do more core work, will allow me to reach my goal of a true half-marathon PR.

 

So, that's why I'm back...as with the marathon, I want to keep a journal of my journey towards this new goal. We'll see how it goes!

 

Cheers!

 



The End of this story.

“This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”

Winston Churchill 

I started blogging for a few reasons. A friend encouraged me to, saying that with my asthma perhaps I could help others who wanted to improve their health. Also, I thought a blog would be a great way to track my journey from running a few kilometers to a full marathon. It also ended up being extremely motivating and inspiring. The plan was to continue blogging at least until I'd reached my goal of running a marathon and I had no idea how long that could take. 

In case you're wondering. I started blogging on January 3, 2010 (I was 50 years old) having just completed my first ever 10K training run. 21 months later I completed my marathon (I am 52 years old). I had been running a grand total of 2 years and 3 months. 

Training run - January 2010

First Half-Marathon - Ottawa May 2010

Third Half-Marathon - Niagara Falls October 2010

Marathon - Montréal September 2011

  

Over the course of this blogging experience :

• I completed one 5K; two 10Ks; four half-marathons; and one marathon.
• I infected many people with the racing virus. Some directly and some through others. It is now a family affair when we go to races! :)

• The longest I went without prednisone is 143 days. Which is excellent, but I want to go longer and longer.
• After switching my blog address, I went from 191 to approximately 50 followers. Yet, I still had about the same number of comments. So, you are my real followers and I appreciate each and everyone of you! 
• This is my 209th post.
• I won some really cool things and got to review some great stuff.
• I injured my right knee; my left foot; my left groin; my right ankle; my right foot; and my left knee. My PT could have put my name on his lease I was practically paying for it at some point (Being in my 50s and corticosteroids may have had something to do with this). Thankfully, the last two injuries did not require PT and I was able to run cautiously through both. Finally, I am currently uninjured doing well!
• The above led to cross-training so, I started biking and I even got a trainer for winter (BTW, that photo is the only time I ever tried to read on the trainer...I quickly switched to TV).

• I stopped going to the gym and started strength training at home (hmmmm it's been a while...must get back to it - that may not have been the best move. To be reassessed).
• I was chosen to be part of a book on first time marathoners.
• Of course, I learned tons of stuff about running!!
• Last, but certainly not least, I became a grand-mother :) :)

There is so much more that occurred over the course of writing this blog...so much that I gained and learned. Every once in a while I would get an email from someone who was asthmatic or dealing with some other chronic illness, telling me that I inspired them. I remember googling high and low trying to find out if anyone had ever managed to wean off prednisone and I never found anything encouraging. So if I could help even one person believe in their ability to take control of their health, then I've achieved my ultimate goal. 

So this is the end of the beginning. The goal is to keep running for the rest of my life. Running is going well once again and I will be running a 10K with my little sister, my brother, my Super SIL, her brother, his wife...well, you get the picture...on November 5th in Oka. Other goals over the next year include some trail running and the winter Pentathlon in Québec City. Uber H is on sabbatical starting at the end of January and this seems like the perfect year to do this. The winter Pentathlon includes five winter sports and we will do them as a team (Biking; running; cross-country skiing; skating; and snowshoeing). I will do the running and skating (In another life, I used to figure skate :)). There will be other races and there are plans to go to Philadelphia in November 2012 with some members of the "Lacets rouge". 

Therefore, this will be my last post for this blog. I will have it printed into a book, which I will keep as a souvenir of my journey. I will still read your blogs and comment once in a while. Also, I will be on Daily Mile and so if you want to stay in touch, you can always connect with me there. For those of you already on DM, you know that I usually write in French, but I promise to alternate and write some of my training comments in English :) 

THANK YOU!

THANK YOU!

THANK YOU!

FOR ALL YOUR WONDERFUL FEEDBACK AND ENCOURAGING COMMENTS. MY EMAIL ADDRESS IS IN MY PROFILE, SO NEVER HESITATE TO BE IN TOUCH. PERHAPS WE CAN ORGANIZE TO MEET AT A RACE! 

THE BLOG WILL STAY UP FOR A WHILE AND I'LL BE CHECKING IN WITH YOU ALL.

CHEERS!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would like you to meet...

"A new baby is like the beginning of all things, hope, a dream of possibilities."

Author unknown

Baby Léa (pronounced Lei-a)

Les than 12 hours old

A grand-mommy in love

3 days old :)

Sleeping in grand-daddy's arms

Birth weight was 6lbs 2oz and she was 18.5 inches long...a tiny, but perfect little bundle.

Tomorrow, I will start running again, and I will be using a progressive-return-to-running program. If all goes well, I will register to run the Oka 10K on November 5th :)

Cheers!

Post-Marathon Thoughts

“Be brave. Take risks. Nothing can substitute experience.”

Paulo Coelho 

It's been almost a week and I am just as excited about my marathon and find it hard to believe that I finally DID IT. However, I am definitely still recuperating. Here are my post-marathon thoughts in point form...because that's how my brain is working today.

My very cool medal!

• When I first started running, completing a marathon was the ultimate goal. The goal that seemed impossible. A little over 2 years ago, I was 50 years old, severely asthmatic and I had never run before (actually, I didn't like running). Yet, somewhere deep inside, I believed that if I put my mind to something I could do it. As impossible as it seemed, I still wanted to try. Crossing the finish line last Sunday, was everything I hoped it would be and more. It was also very liberating...I did it and so now the pressure is off. I can enjoy running for the sake of running for a while...I love running! 
• I was exhausted on Monday and Tuesday...and quite tired the rest of the week. Even today, I ended up taking a nap in the afternoon. 
• I tried to go for a short easy run with my little sister this week, but I stopped after about 2.5K because of foot pain. Strangely, the pain on top of my right foot was worse after this short run, than after my marathon. The left knee is getting better though. Still, I'm taking the hint and will give my body a break.
• My marathon photos have arrived and I can't believe they didn't take any as I was crossing the finish line. That's the one I was most looking forward to. I was disappointed, although there are some very good ones.  
• The cool thing is that in all the photos, you can see that I was landing mid-foot...there were no heel landing photos. I am really proud of that. Here is one you've already seen and you can see my foot landing. That's at 38K.

• Will I set new goals? Of course. But, interestingly, my goals are not time goals. I do not have the urge to run faster. I didn't know I'd feel this way and perhaps it's partly because of my age, but I just can't imagine focusing on speed (at least for now). I don't feel the need to run a faster marathon...but, if I run the Marathon de Paris in 2013, I would like to run it without pain, which is likely to be faster, if only because I won't be hurting. 
• I would like to try trail running and Uber H has gotten me excited about the Québec winter pentathlon for 2012 (that's biking, running, cross-country skiing, skating and snow-shoeing). We would do it as a mixed couple and I would do the skating and running :) 
• Finally, on a non-running note, any day now my grand-daughter will be born. *Edit: She was born this morning at 6:36am...How cool that I became both a marathoner and a grandmother during the same week!! I am super excited about becoming a grandmother and I can't wait to hold her tonight :) Pics to come of course!

A great big thank you to each and every one of you for your kind words. I thought of you all as I crossed the finish line and I couldn't wait to tell you that I was finally a marathoner! THANKS!

Cheers!