Today, as I scurried between chores at home, the gym with Jim & end of the month accounting before I go to work, tonight, I was feeling the pressure. Everything has mounted up with marathon training, hospital visits, doctor visits, yard work starting, kids in college that don't drive & need shuttling to classes... I am getting WAY behind.

Jim offered to get Jillian from her early dismissal. He is driving, again. He stripped the bed & started cleaning out the refrigerator- all things on my list & things "over due". I almost started crying. It is such a relief to have him getting better- not just because you don't want to see a person suffering, but because his regained health releases me from extra work. -I don't need to monitor his insulin, give him his medication, make him & bring him his meals, etc. Now, he is self-sufficient with his health. He is even making me dinner when I get home from work. -He is picking the kids up from school & helping clean around the house, again. It is such a relief in more ways than one!

We speak frankly about his health, what we've been through & the direction we are now heading. The Bible says that "bodily training is beneficial for a little"-- but it saved Jim. Bodily training will, again, be in our regiment. I am overwhelmed, in hindsight, of the storm we are coming out of...

Tomorrow, Jim turns 53. He almost didn't turn 53. *Let the weight of that sink in* I couldn't dwell on it, before... I just had to stay busy... This has hit me, today, as he was doing "baby circles" in jest announcing "it's my birthday", tomorrow.

We are gimping back on the road to recovery... but we ARE moving in the right direction.
I will be reflecting on this, tomorrow, more than usual, as we drive to run errands & have a 53rd "trip around the sun" celebratory lunch. We have a clean slate & the future looks pretty optimistic.

 

Excitement is in the air! The Glass City Marathon is approaching! Are you wrapping up all of your plans?

 

ROOMING: Are you coming in from out of town? Need a place to stay?

HOTELS

 

EXPO DETAILS:

PACKET PICK UP- Time? Location? Hours?

PRE-RACE MEAL: Where are you planning on eating after the expo?

Restaurants Offering GCM Discounts

 

TRACKING YOUR RUNNER/RACEJOY APP:

Live Race Day Runner Tracking

 

Make sure to visit the GLASS CITY MARATHON HOMEPAGE for all of the details- parking, race routes, road closures and other race weekend details.

 

Sending you good vibes on race day!

 

 

 

 

 

I never want to demean anyone's abilities or TRY to reveal "confidential talk". I am HONEST about situations, though. As a person who wants facts & progress reports, open about feelings or lack thereof... I just appreciate honesty & learn by trial & error. If my errors or experiences help my kids to avoid problems, then I absolutely will explain ANYTHING. If my running "crash & burns" help others avoid a pitfall, I share. Should I have known better- possibly. How does a newbie "know" unless they experience it or hear about it, though?

I was gun-shy to share Jim's physical issues, this past year. I wanted to be private... but I needed support, too. We were dealing with life or death decisions & I was feeling the stress. I wanted the privacy & wanted a hug without people touching me all at the same time. So WHY do I share, now? It's not to belittle Jim. It's to bring awareness & educate people on something I knew NOTHING about, previously. Jim's recovery is slow-going & we have no one that has ever experienced this, locally. IF this terrible thing ever happens to anyone else, I hope we can offer assistance.

Why do I share info about trail running, running buddies, injuries, gear, races...? Same reason- to educate & say what works for me... what doesn't... trial period lengths, etc. Someone is going to experience the same thing. I was told: "What happens on the trail, stays on the trail..." To some extent, I understand. But what if someone else learns from your mistake? Isn't it better to share?

I do NOT mean to demean my fellow running companions. I suspect they will show me up at races. I suspect we will have good runs & bad runs. It's the nature of the human experience. I tried running with other wives & moms. It wasn't a "fit" for me. They enjoyed each other's company. I was the odd man out. I did not mean to condemn them. They apparently enjoy each other's company. So why do I share that it wasn't a "good fit for me"- condemnation? No- I share as an example. I wrote off running with others after that experience. I was wrong. The new moms I'm running with are a good fit- pace & personality-wise. There was an adjustment on MY part, mentally. There is an adjustment on their part- terrain. I wrote about "waiting for them." Did I mean to demean my new partners' abilities? Absolutely not! I'm explaining the adjustment period- physically & mentally. What they pulled off on their first visit to Oak Openings is more than I was able to do! I commend their abilities & look forward to many miles, together.

I am candid- not demeaning. I talk about blisters, boogers, wind, rain, Yak Trax, nutrition, my floppy belly... I speak about my fears, my hopes... I worry about my husband. I worry about my girls. I HOPE my husband will get stronger sooner than later. I HOPE a good future for our girls.

I really HOPE my new running companions put up with me because in a short period of time they broke through "walls" that took years for me to put up, to keep feelings & "people" out. Now, they're "here". I respect them dearly... *said the guarded heart*

Something happened this weekend- a realization... an epiphany... a let down of my guard... a need met- call it what you want. I've trained & logged many miles, solo. During those years, I've exceeded my goals... I've fallen short of my goals. I've pushed myself to go out & injured myself, then shown myself mercy & gave myself time off.

I tried training with some other people in the past; but the pace was wrong or the personalities were uncomfortable; so I gave up on running with people. Lucy, my dog, could do some miles with me. Hubby would even log some miles with me; but, their pace or distance wasn't a "match". So I kept at it solo. It wasn't terrible but I got lonely, sometimes.

Recently, I considered a Spring marathon. I've only done 1/2 marathons in the Spring- usually because I'd get hurt over the winter. I saw a fellow runner posting about multiple marathons. The few times I saw her at races, we had similar times & her disposition was ALWAYS kind. I wasn't expecting "anything" but I told her my Spring contemplations. I offered to run together "sometime". I had no real intentions of her calling me out on it because she lives an hour away! She planned a visit & I planned a route on our local trails. Bonnie told me she would bring a friend. I thought: "Great! What if I don't like her? I'm just getting up the nerve to run with one person... Now I have to run with TWO?!" -In my defense, I was going by experience. I was asked by one mom to run & 2 other moms also came. All moms- a good match, right? -I left in tears.

 

Would this new plan end up being the same? "Probably!" I showed up, anyways. Sandy was chatty & a laugher when I met her. I am a nervous talker; but, I just kept quiet. I lead the group & had mixed feelings. They logged the distance on the trails but I had to stop or walk at times for them to catch up. Not really a big deal. I considered it my "good deed": a good work-out for them. I reflected that they were strong enough to finish the mileage- good for them! They were strong, just not used to trails.

 

As we met at races, I had the mentality that I've heard & been shown: "Every man for himself on race day." I didn't promise to run with anyone because I didn't know what I'd be able to do, myself. I offered a slow pace & Sandy said she "couldn't". It would be too slow. I ended up way faster than I expected-- & there was Sandy, right behind me, the whole time. Again, I thought: "She'll fall behind or pass me." She stayed pretty close, I cheered her on but didn't slow down for her. I was trying to hold myself together. At the finish line, she went to the curb, gasping. She thanked me for pacing her. (Silently: "What?") Later that same day, we had a similar 5K. I didn't think I'd have much in the tank; but, I ran a pretty fast 5K. Not far behind me was Sandy, again-- gasping-- thanking me for motivating her.

 

This weekend, I wasn't expecting much. I knew it was a "funk week" for me & I told the ladies that... They still wanted to come over for a 20 miler. I started too fast & was ahead of them; I slowed down. The other two were behind me & while I felt a twinge of guilt, I led the group. It was a straight "out & back" route. Sandy had some knee issues, we slowed & waited while she adjusted her knee support. I wasn't upset but she apologized. I fell into a pace next to her & waved her "on". She told me she didn't want to lead. I told her it was ok. (Her pace would be our pace.) We silently ran alongside each other. We weren't competing, we were running together... & for the FIRST TIME EVER, it "clicked". This is why people run together. We said a few words of encouragement to each other but mostly "were just together." THEN, I felt it- my Achilles. It had been tight for a few days & I questioned the logic of logging high mileage. It was a small nag more than a pain... until mile 16-ish. I didn't break pace; but, for the first time running, I was allowing someone to motivate me to keep going. It wasn't Marine Corps yelling. It wasn't demeaning. It was female-support. Had I been alone, I would have walked back. But I wasn't alone. I needed the encouragement & they were there. I felt emotional... grateful. I would run 20 miles with company-- not walk. When Sandy's phone told us we hit mile 20, they cheered. I was confused. How did that seem so much easier-- even during FUNK week?

 

For the first time I found myself planning on running with someone during a race. They may need me-- & I might need them. SOOOOO STRRRRAAAAAAANGE-- but such a relief-- the thought of being in a crowd, at a race, but being ALONE, is not new for me. The "My pace- My race" motto has worked for me this long...

 

Wearing my heart on my sleeve while training/racing, helping & being helped is new to me. A week prior, I was scared to do the same route, solo. I wasn't scared going with these ladies. I feel a sense of awkwardness and relief but, it feels good... & I'm running with it.

 Sandy, myself & Bonnie on our last 20 miler before the Glass City Marathon