Back at it...kinda

I know it's been a while since I blogged but I have been busy at work and I haven't really felt like rehashing the same injury pity party stuff over again. It's tough to be hurt and not be able to do what you want. Kinda puts me in a bad mood...but I didn't bite anyone so that is a good thing. I know you can learn through adversity and it can make you stronger. I have learned through this. I definitely learned that I don't like being hurt so that means doing as the coach says LOL!

So, last Sunday I ran 3 miles at the beach. It was the first run after my 4 day layoff and I was pretty nervous. My hammy did hurt but not like it had before so I knew the layoff was a good thing. Monday was my regular off day and when I ran on Tuesday (5 miles) I wondered if I had actually been hurt...no unusual pain, except that one in the butt (and no, I'm not referring to Will) which is technically called my piriformis-I think I spelled it correctly. Needless to say I was very happy!! Coach knowing best, kept me at low mileage this week and is planning to do the same next week. My total mileage for this past week was 23.5. After next week I hope to continue with harder training in preparation for the half marathon at Disneyland over Labor Day weekend.

Be careful out there in this heat. Not a good idea to run in the heat of the day. Early morning runs are the best outdoors. I ran at Benson Park and up Aversboro Rd. Friday and Saturday. It wasn't too bad at 7:00am.

This is a picture of the cool medal I get for completing the Disney World full marathon and the Disneyland half marathon in the same calendar year. Yeah, I'm ready to go!!

Still on the DL

I am still having some issues with my hamstring when I run so I went for a sports massage on Wednesday. It helped some I think or at least it seems like it did. Coach said to not run for 4 days but I could walk every other day a couple of miles at an easy pace. I'm still doing my core work too. Today is the 3rd day in a row that I haven't run at all. I will try an easy 3 miles on Sunday at the beach, which is my favorite place to run, so I am really looking forward to that.

I am trying to stay positive and not use food as a stress reliever. I always struggle with eating and being injured and slightly depressed (well, more than slightly I guess) about it makes the struggle even harder. Many people have been encouraging me and making me laugh...this has helped keep my mind occupied with something other than the fact I haven't run for 3 days in a row...

The following post on I love to run's FB page really spoke to me: "It is difficult to train for a marathon; but it is even more difficult to not be able to train for a marathon."

My eyes are on February 18, so I need to get healthy now to begin my training soon!
Thanks for taking time to read my blog. Your comments are always welcome!

This is a picture of my family at the Angels Among Us 5K race at Duke. A few were unable to come this year. We run in memory of my daddy, Larry Robert Johnson, who died from a brain stem tumor. The end of this month marks 17 years that he has been gone. I think of Fred and Ethel aka mama and daddy everyday...

HDL, LDL and total cholesterol levels

I have been waiting since last week for my lab results to come back showing my cholesterol levels. I was particularly interested in my HDL (good) cholesterol level. In 2007, before I began Weight Watchers, my HDL number was 23. This put me at high risk for heart problems. The doctor told me it could be raised to the goal number of greater than 40 through exercise, losing weight, and possibly medicine. I began taking medicine but since my insurance did not cover it, I quickly stopped the presciption. Since then I have been doing all of the above, except the medicine. I added fish oil supplements to my diet each day this past year. Last year my number was 40 and I wasn't sure how I could exercise anymore than I was at that point but I did increase my exercise, lost a little more weight, and am HAPPY-very Happy- to report that my HDL number is 46!! It jumped 6 points in one year!! My LDL number is 96-the goal is less than 130. My total cholesterol is a 156...pretty good!!

And it all began with going to that first WW meeting and walking 10 minutes on the treadmill!

Shout out to John Adamof--he is running his 5th marathon tomorrow at Grandfather Mt. Run well my friend!!

Do What Y0U Can...

More on my hamstring issues...I didn't run until Tuesday and then only 4 miles. Okay, I know when I say "only" some of you snort and think...but, well...anyway, when one is used to running 6 or more miles at a time, 4 miles is an "only" so that's why it comes out like that sometimes...I had core class that evening and was able to do all of the exercises, except I cheated on a couple that threatened to pull on my hammy. Shh...I don't think BMack noticed. Ran 4 miles on Wednesday and could tell I was overcompensating and my gait felt very weird, which was causing my shins to hurt so I played the mental game and finally relaxed enough to run my normal gait, or close to it anyway. I think I was scared to run normally for fear I would pull it again. Today-Thursday, I felt the most normal since last week and eeked out 5 miles. I didn't want to push it too soon.

So, there are all these quotes in the weight room at school and one really stood out to me this week, "Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." John Wooden said this and it made me think that even though I am not running my normal mileage at the moment, I can still do my core work and work on that extra flab on my arms and run some low mileage. That's for now...for the future...I think, I may never qualify for Boston (Lord, please help Will if I don't cause he's gotta live with me) or run any faster than I do now (not that I'm all that fast, but I've never finished last in a race) but I can keep in shape and run consistently and enjoy it all the while.

When we compare ourselves to others it can cause disappointment, anger, and despair. Better to focus on what we are able to do and try to improve those areas. Easy to say, hard to do.

Stay focused and consistent this week. You have to decide you are going to make a change and then do it! Today is the day to begin the run...tomorrow never comes!!
Blessings to you!!

Injuries and aches

Each day I run, something hurts...I will say, I had no unusual pains and generally, I have good runs. There have been a few times, now more than ever that I have not been able to run my normal schedule. This weekend is one of those times. Pretty sure I overdid it at the track meet on Wed night. Woke up Thursdsy morning with a sore hamstring or hammy. I waited until that evening to try and run but could only stomach that sharp pain for one mile. No running Friday and it started feeling better so I ran 5 miles on Saturday. Each step hurt, a dull hurt, but a hurt nonetheless. Bummer! I am not going to run today either and this depresses me greatly but I know if I don't let it heal, I will be really depressed when it is time for my half in September. According to Jeff Galloway, if you don't run for 1-5 days straight, you only lose about 1% of your conditioning. I am hoping this is true!
So, if you get injured or have those passing aches, take a rest day or 2. It is hard for me to take my own advice but I know it is true. Consistency is the key and a few days of no running will not erase all the training you have done! Maybe I will go for a swim?

Godiva Track Meet

Below is a picture of me and Sir Speedy...He's my runner hero, my coach, and my friend!

Tonight, Will and I went to UNC-Chapel Hill's track again. The Godiva Track Club's "fun" track meet has different race lengths each Wednesday evening. I decided to run the mile and 800 meters. Happy to say my time for both was faster than 2 weeks ago. Wahoo! It is fun to run with other people and to be on a track, especially in my zoom zoom spikes! Each race has different "heats" and you seed yourself with others of your ability. There are all ages from young children to pushing 70. It is fun to see the different runners. Some are pretty fast (well, I don't think anyone is as fast as Sir Speedy) and some are kinda slow.

As I sat there watching others compete and waiting for my turn I was so glad that these people have decided to make a change in their life and get out and exercise. Someone sent me a message today about reading my posts and wanting to get started with exercising. It made my day! That is the biggest reason I have this blog--to encourage you to make a change. Small steps at first and big results to come. So, if you have been thinking you want to get started, send me a message and I will be glad to help you out. You just gotta get off the couch!

So I'm hoping these speed workouts will be a big help with improving my time for the Myrtle Beach Marathon in February. I've already seen some improvement and feel myself getting stronger. I still struggle at times with the mental side of running but that is coming along as well.

Your comments are always welcome!


                  Me and Sir Speedy (Bobby Mack) at WCA's MOB 5K race

June 20-26 Run Recap

No matter how slow you go, you are still

lapping everybody on the couch.

This was the wall photo from "I love to run" and it is so true. I think so many don't exercise because they are not sure what to do, how to start, and afraid of failure. Remember, what I said (or go back and read my story parts 1-3) about beginning to exercise. My first entry in my training log was 10 minutes walking on the treadmill and 10 minutes on the stationary bike. You just have to get through this mental thing and as Nike says, "JUST DO IT!"

My week of training was a pretty good one-there were some mental issues I had to overcome and I'm always a little tight when I first get out of bed and then there was the issue with not enough water and the killer headache but looking back it was a pretty good one. I've been trying to average 40 miles a week for a few months now. I am currently training for a half-marathon Labor Day weekend at Disneyland. This week I ran 41 miles total. I'm happy!!

I sometimes get questions about how much I run everyday, so I thought I would list my mileage run during the week. As you will see, the mileage is different each day and there are reasons for that. I am working on my speed and just being on my feet for long periods of time. Halfs and fulls require that lol! Sometimes I will run at an easy pace and others at a faster pace. This is all designed to help me reach a certain time goal for an upcoming race. My eyes are on 3:45 on 2/18 but my next race is at Disneyland and I am excited about that too.

Anyway, part of what my coach does is to discuss my time goals and then come up with a training plan to help me meet that time. BMack does a great job with this and takes the guess work out of it for me. A good coach is the key! I just look at the week and go out and do the run/workout. Pretty simple...I am also working on strengthing my arms and getting rid of some leftover flabby areas. :) I do core work about 2-3 times a week as well.

As a funny side note because I get teased about my shoes...I wore 5 different pairs of shoes for this week's workout. Seriously...they all serve a different purpose!

So here is this past week:

Monday-rest day

Tuesday-6 miles

Wednesday-Track meet-3 miles total (you are thinking, only 3 miles but this was a hard 3 miles including the 100 meter and 400 meter)

Thursday-7 miles

Friday-7 miles

Saturday-15 miles (the last 3 miles were all mental but I won!!)

Sunday-3 miles

Total: 41 miles