I did it!

I ran the bitch!

Well, most of it.

Well, I finished as an ultramarathoner.

I am a slow runner and was allowed to start the race earlier than others with other snails like me. When asked when I expected to finish the marathon if I started at 7 a.m., I said "Tuesday."

I did find a new buddy. She runs as slowly as me. I have never run with anyone before and didn't think that I would like it. Turns out, I kinda do.

We started the race at 7 a.m. It was still dark outside. And it was chilly. I was wearing my West Side Rowing Club jacket because it is warm, lightweight, kinda waterproof, and super cool.

The route was supposed to be well-marked. Turns out it wasn't. We ran about a half mile out of the way and had to backtrack. In retrospect, we should have kept right on going, but we didn't. We turned around.

You might be thinking, when you've run 26.2 miles, what's another mile? You might need to be slapped upside the head.

It was at around mile five that we were passed by the "serious runners." These are the runners who do this for fun and do this more than once. They also wear the funny sock shoes with toes and compression socks.

And I have to tell you that I find compression socks sexy. Or is it that I find those wearing compression socks sexy? Who can say? But looking at the serious runners speed past us I am reminded that runners are hot. They have nice bodies...and I liked looking at the men and women. I wasn't going to discriminate. Equally hot in compression socks.

I don't think anyone is getting laid wearing those stupid sock sneakers, though.

Not sexy.

Also not sexy, me at about mile 26.2.

I don't know how I finished this blasted marathon, but I did. I cried when I finished because I had to walk some of it. I wanted to run all of it. Then I thought, um, you just went 26.2 and then some. I think if you walked some of it, that's okay.

I also found out that I like the chocolate goo that they were handing out at several mile markers. No idea who makes it or what's in it, but thank you for giving it to me. It helped me get through.

And so did my buddy.

BTW, we came in DFL. DFL.

But we came in.

I was also upset about finishing last. My partner asked me, "Do you know what the finisher's medal looks like for the first person to cross the finish line and for the last person to cross?"

I was dumbfounded. I thought it was a trick question. It was.

"They are exactly the same."

Right you are. They are exactly the same.

Afterward I showered. One of the best showers of my life. I told my husband to hurry his ass up because I was hungry. He tends to putter. Then I got cranky. Dude, I haven't eaten in 8 hours and I've run a marathon. If you don't feed me, I am going to eat people hanging out in the hallway.

I had to put my class online today. I couldn't walk up and down the stairs very well. Turns out a marathon really hurts.

Really hurts.

Almost There

The marathon is about a month away.

This is the first week we have had to run 5 miles each day, Monday through Thursday. It isn't too bad. And running 12 miles this weekend isn't so bad either. It is funny to me that 12 miles is no big deal. That after trying 14, 16, and 18, 12 is a breeze.

Relatively speaking.

12 miles is still a damn long way.

On a fundraising note, I have set my fundraiser for Thursday, September 16 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Weber's Grille, 13193 Broadway in Alden. Tarot card readings and Wild Mountain Organics and fun for all.

I think I may have left my feet on the sidewalk somewhere...

I had to start teaching today. I also had to spend a few days in Chicago for work.

Running in Chicago along the Lake has got to be one of the best things to do. I could see people taking advantage of the beaches. In fact, there must have been a triathlon club training because there were several folks in tri-suits swimming laps in designated areas. The fact that Chicago has designated areas to do this is pretty impressive to me. The lakeshore in wonderful. Hey, Buffalo, wanna get it together?

I was debating as to whether I would run on Saturday after class or wait until Sunday. I don't know what made me choose Saturday, but I am glad I did. I started at about 4:30 p.m. so that I could beat some of the heat, but less humidity. I ran my usual 12 mile loop which takes me to my mom's and brother's. My brother was entertaining. I swooped in (as much as a slow runner can swoop), grabbed my Gatorade, waved to the company, apologized for being rude by not hanging out, and left. I saw my husband and gave him my route and an approximate arrival time. If he didn't hear from me by 9 p.m., come find me. I may have died.

Getting to 12 miles was easy and I don't know why. I was quite surprised. I thought I might get to my house to get my third Gatorade and might say, this is enough. But I was determined to run 18 miles after my last two attempts didn't get me to my goal.

And run 18 miles I did. After I finished, I was too damn tired to jump up and down. But I did I very happy dance in my mind. In my mind, I am quite adept at dancing.

I ran 18 miles. It is the most I have ever run. It is one of my proudest moments.

Of course, I cannot move from the couch. I need to have a pair of Depends and my bed on the first floor. I iced my feet and my calves. Damn, this running kinda hurts.

But I succeeded. I am back in the game.

Twelve miles seems like a break....

Sixteen miles killed me last week. I was quite nervous approaching this week. I have trained so hard for so long it seemed cruel justice that I might have to bow out due to injury now.

I ran as posted this week thinking about all the reasons I may have had trouble. I also worked at the Erie County Fair for a friend of mine. I had to find time afterward to run. It was also hot and humid again so I had to work around that.

Turns out running at night is pretty cool. I would start running just before sunset and end up running in the dark. I did take precautions. I ran with light colored clothing and ran on the sidewalk. It was quite peaceful.

The Saturday that I was to run 12 miles was hot and humid. Enough, egads! I was able to run about 8 miles and I had to stop. I was frustrated, but thought, hell, I ran 8 miles. My foot didn't bother me. Perhaps I will finish while running, perhaps I will also have to walk. I am quite cranky that this heat and humidity will not let up. WTF?

That said, I do have to remember why I am running this marathon and training so diligently....folks struggling with blood cancers don't have the option to stop in the heat and humidity as I did. They may complain as I do, but to what end? It doesn't change the course of their treatment. In fact, studies show that a pessimistic outlook may work against you. Mind over matter.

I need to remember that...mind over matter.

Unless an injury steps in. Or unless your body is telling you it might die. Listen to your body. It usually knows what is up.

16 miles was the end of me

I am quite excited to run 16 miles. I think I can do it with no problem.

4, 5, 4, 5 Monday through Thursday. I said I wouldn't modify it, but I had to. I was working for a friend at the Erie County Fair on Thursday. It was so humid when I got out, I thought I might dies, so I said I would run 5 on Friday morning. And I did.

Bad, bad idea.

Because I run so much more slowly than others, I try to get to the Amherst Bike Path earlier so the coaches and trainers don't have to spend their Saturday morning waiting for my slow ass to finish running. I am a considerate runner, I guess.

Why I like the Amherst Bike Path at that hour:

• Turkeys feed in one of the fields. This particular Saturday there were turkeys right next to the deer.
• Deer are all over. Deer are grazing and it is peaceful and beautiful and serene.
• Blue herons abound in the creek.
• Slugs and other crawlies as well as goose poop are all over the path (I don't really like this part). It keeps the run interesting.

By about 7:30, the path is getting busier and the animals have gone. Slugs, crawlies and poop remain. All seem to get stomped and squished, not by me.

It started out as a cool morning. Then I noticed that I was sweating enough to fill a small rain barrel. WTF? It had gotten humid. I was not ready for humid! But what can you do?

I was doing well. Running slowly. Drinking Gatorade and water. Listening to my IPod which is the best thing in the world. Mile 12 my foot started to hurt. I knew exactly what it was, thank God. That damn extra bone. I had to walk mile 13 to the coaches and hitch a ride home the other three miles. I was disappointed but knew if I continued, I would risk a worse injury and might jeopardize my marathon. I am not willing to do that.

I told my sister I was upset with myself for only running 12 and walking one. I told her I felt like a failure. She told me I was a moron. That made me feel better, oddly enough.

I limped for the rest of the day and iced the hell out of the foot. Sunday came and I am typing this and able to walk. I am hoping that I can run tomorrow before working at the fair.

My husband reminded me that I ran on Friday instead of Thursday. That might have done it. No more running the day before long runs. I think that did it.

I will do yoga this afternoon. That should help loosen my body quite a bit. It should also help me feel less like a failure and more like a moron.

That's as it should be.

Only 12 miles this week for our long run...

I remember being told last year that when we get to this point in our training, the 12 mile long weekend run will be a blessing. I thought they were full of crap until this week. The idea that I just have to run 12 miles is a blessing. And my week runs smoothly (pun intended) as a result. 4, 5, 4, 5 is the Monday through Thursday run and I modify it.

I ran 14 miles on Monday, so I take Tuesday off. I run 4 miles on Wednesday and 5 on Thursday. Then I run 3 on Friday just to stick with it, worried that it might screw up the long run on Saturday.

The humidity is a bitch and I am about ready to kill small children because I am so cranky because of it, but I am able to figure out how to run.

And I run 12 on Saturday. I am tired, I think, because I didn't run each day as I should have. I am determined not to modify my run next week.

I do notice on Sunday that my right foot is bothering me. I have an extra bone in my foot that acts up if it is overused. I would say that running like this is overusing it. I am quite surprised that it hasn't acted up sooner, but I am thankful it hasn't. I better shut up before I make it worse. I ice it and pamper myself. I've earned it.

When am I going to squeeze this running thing into my schedule?

This week is incredibly hectic. I have a show this weekend in Brockport. It is the first time the Brockport Arts Festival is being held in the parking lot of the college campus. I am not going to be able to run 14 miles on Saturday, as usual, because I will be trying to sell my fabulous products (wildmountainorganics). I then think that I will have to run on Sunday after a day of selling products in the pounding heat. It is not a pleasing thought.

I run my usual run for the week - 4, 5, 4, 5 Monday through Thursday. I am getting used to this, I think. I then decide that I should run the 14 miles on Monday morning rather than try to kill myself on Sunday night.

As soon as I decide this, the tension leaves. I no longer feel this ridiculous pressure to run over the weekend.

And Monday looks as though it will be fairly nice with much less humidity. Woo hoo!

But that also means that I won't have a run scheduled from Friday through the weekend. Well, I can't take three days off. It might ruin everything I have worked toward. So I decide to try to run after the show on Saturday.

Of course, after the hectic show, the last thing I want to do is run. In fact, I think I would prefer root canal surgery.

Then I run. And I run quite rapidly - well, rapidly for me. I am on fire and feeling wonderful. Perhaps there is something to running when one is exhausted. I should consider this.

I return home and feel rejuvenated. I finally have the thought that I might be able to run 14 miles. This is a daunting figure since I've run 12 and that's been my personal best. Fourteen would take me over the top and make me a runner. Of course, 12 should do that, but I am a freaking overachiever. Good news.

I have a route mapped that will take me past my mother's house. This is good since I can drop some Gatorade at her house and pick it up on my way. I figure it will take me two Gatorade's to make this trip. I will swap my empty bottle for the full bottle and be on my way.

Monday is gorgeous! The sun is out, but it's cool, and not nearly so humid. I am off at 6:30 a.m. to beat any nasty heat! And I am plodding along doing quite well. There is one road on the route that is full of uphills that makes me nervous but I do it without a problem. In fact, I wake my mother up (8:30, mom? I should say it's time to get your ass out of bed.). She asks me to sit and rest for a minute. I tell her if I do that she will have to drive me home because I won't be going anywhere. She can't believe that I have run from my house to hers. Quite frankly, neither can I.

I take off with my new Gatorade and head the 5.5 miles home from her house. It is primarily downhill so I am excited about this.

I get to the top of this small hill that always kicks my ass at the end of a long, long bike ride and that's when it hits me. Shit, you are tired and might die. But with about two miles to go, I am sure not stopping.

The signal at Three Rod Road and Broadway changes several times before I get to it. If there are no cars on Three Rod, the signal may take a while to change. It may also take me a minute to get across Broadway. I am hoping for a long signal. And then a car drives up. I wanted to beat the trunk of this car! Can't you see that you are my reprieve! I can't stop and take a break on my own, but a forced break? That's okay! Bastard!

Broadway is tough. I get to 14 miles and stop. I can go no further, but I just ran 14 miles. I think I posted it on Facebook after I came in and drank a gallon of water and bathed. What an accomplishment. I think I might actually be able to run this bitch of a marathon!

Fourteen miles is longer than halfway. I am more than halfway there. I can't believe I can do this! I am pretty proud of me!

For the love of all things holy....if this heat doesn't break...

I spoke with a good friend of mine who has run a marathon before. I joked with her that the next time (if there is a next time) I lose my mind and decide this is a good idea, I will train in the winter for a spring marathon.

She reminded me that she did just that. She trained all winter for the Disney Marathon, which takes place in January. She said that day in Disney was so hot she ended up walking part of that marathon.

I don't think she has any idea what a relief it was to hear her say that. This friend of mine is a true athlete. I look to her as an athletic role model, of sorts. If she had to walk part of the marathon, then it's okay to do that! I no longer feel this insane pressure!

The week is good and hot, but I manage to run the prescribed mileage for the week. I don't think I've taken a hot shower in weeks because it's too damn hot for hot water and cold just feels so good when you have sweated your nipples off of your breasts.

I even planned to start my Saturday run at 6:30 to beat more of the heat and not hold everyone up. Only ten miles. No problem, right?

Sweet Jesus and all his disciples.

I can honestly say I have never sweated through my clothes. Ever. I mean, all the way through. My shorts, my underwear, sports bra, t-shirt. In fact, I was able to wring the sweat out of my t-shirt. It was such an uncomfortable run, I don't even know what else to say.

I knew I could run the ten miles, but at one point I realized that my run is as fast as my walk and what am I doing killing myself? I joked with our walkers that I was keeping pace with them. On any other day, that would be sad. One of them mentioned that today shouldn't be about time, but about getting through the distance. Amen.

So at about mile 8, I walked. What was the difference? In fact, I think when I started to walk, I was able to pick up my pace a bit.

And I have a bone to pick with those folks who don't sweat. What the hell is wrong with you!? How is this even possible? How is it that I look as though I've been in a rainstorm and you are ready for a nice breakfast and a spot of tea? Tell me! I dislike all of you non-sweaters!

Now that I've calmed just a bit, I am ready to put this long run behind me and move to next week. Hey, that's what you have to do. Keep moving along. I've made the commitment and I intend to finish.

Twelve Miles...Can it be done?

After my ten mile debacle, I was understandably nervous. The heat broke a bit but it is still hotter than hell and more humid than anything. I sweat sitting and dread running because of the heat and humidity.

But once I am armed with my Gatorade and towel and get moving, I find my groove and love it.

I have also discovered my new favorite five mile route. There are a few rolling hills in the first 2.5 miles, which may as well be Mt. Everest to me, but then it flattens out on this quiet, quiet street. I saw deer crossing the road! I saw a baby skunk that I managed to avoid. That would certainly have sucked if I got sprayed by a damn skunk in the heat and humidity while I was running.

Saturday arrived and I was ready. It was already humid in the morning. I wasn't sure if I would get through 12, but I was certainly ready to try.

....

I have resigned myself to the fact that if I have to walk some of this marathon because I couldn't run in the heat, so be it. I was exhausted by the end. The heat and sun were killing me. I was going to run out to five and back and then out to one and back since the route from zero to one is shaded and breezy. I got as far as seven miles and talked to the coaches. Ron ran with me - or rather walked with me. It turns out that when the weather is like this, my running is the equivalent of other people's walking. And in this weather, I don't care. It bothered me last year and it bothered me in Africa. It no longer bothers me. I know that when the humidity is lower, I can actually run. I know that my body is able. That is good. But I cannot fight genetics. Nor will I even try.

The coach asked if I could run/walk the last five miles. I said I thought I could. I gave myself permission to walk for .2 miles and then run the other .8 of the mile. I did that for three more miles and called it a day because I thought I might die.

So I ran, sort of, ten miles. And I am happy with that. I will keep doing this and keep trudging along. Cancer doesn't take a break, nor will I!

WTF, with this humidity and heat?!

We were warned by the meteorologists that this week would be incredibly hot and humid. They weren't kidding! We had days when it reached in excess of 90 degrees with a heat index that made it feel over 100.

And I had to run.

Perhaps next time I should train in winter.

This week I have to figure out how to run 3, 5, 3, 3 miles from Monday through Thursday so that I can run ten miles this weekend.

Um, right.

Actually, the runs during the week weren't so bad. I discovered that if I run in the evening, it is cooler and I am able to do it. I was armed with my Gatorade and my towel. I tucked my towel into my shorts. I am sure I looked like an ass, but I didn't care. I had some running to do.

But my company, Wild Mountain Organics, was participating in a show this weekend, so my long run would have to be on Saturday. I ran three days and took Thursday off. Then I tried to run on Friday...in the morning.

STUPID!

My goal was to run out five miles and return. I got to four and thought I better turn around. I could easily add two miles at the end once I recharged at home with more Gatorade.

I turned around and ran another mile. Then I had to stop. My body was overheating! I was rather frightened, actually. I had to walk three more miles back and said, screw the other two.

I was disappointed that I only ran five miles, walked three and abandoned the last two, but it was better than nothing. Or was it? We shall see.

I am very nervous about trying to run 12 next weekend. Egads!

This heat was oppressive! I am lucky I managed to run at all.

And it is only July. What does August bring?

Ooops, Monday...

My friend was in town this week. We went to Toronto on Monday and I missed my three mile run. I was going to add a mile to each of the next days, but decided against it. I don't want to get hurt. I should be okay.

Training went well this week. I love this! I ache and am tired when I am finished, but I am injury free (knock on wood) and enjoy getting out, listening to music and running.

Now I am trying to pay attention to my diet as well. I notice that when I eat like crap, I feel like crap, and my run isn't as good. Summer is the perfect time to concentrate on eating well with all the fresh fruit and vegetables available. And our garden is looking good. We have lettuce and radishes. Yummy!

Even without my three mile Monday run, I am able to muscle through the Saturday eight mile run. I take my bottle of Gatorade with me. I like to sip as I run. The trainer comments that I don't need to bring my own drink because they provide it, but I need it before and after the three mile mark. I need to hydrate and replenish!

Since we were to run eight miles, our run consisted of an out and back to the four mile mark. See how clever we are to figure that out? At mile three, we have beverages and encouragement. And when I had three miles left, I said, hey, only three miles to go.

And I meant it. Only three miles to go and I felt good. Ron, a former Team In Training member and current mentor, was on the run with us. He was encouraging. I told him to try yoga because it helps and he kept encouraging me telling me that no matter how fast I was running, I was still out there making a difference. Sometimes that's all you need.

And Shiela is one of our more seasoned runners. I think she is in her 70's and ran her first marathon when she was in her 60's. She is often on the trail with us. She inspires me. If she can do it, so can I.

I told Ron that my mantra becomes, you can do anything for a mile. He liked that I was able to break it up into smaller increments. He thought that would help.

So far so good.

And I've run eight miles! Woo hoo!

What happens when you follow the schedule?

I am following the schedule to a tee. I will not add/delete miles. I am determined to do this. It also helps that I am actually liking all this running. I thought I would be someone who would get bored because I need to jazz up my workout routine. I didn't think I could run five days a week and be fine with that.

I do toss yoga into the mix. That has helped immeasurably. Each Friday and Sunday I will toss in my Ashtanga yoga practice to maintain my flexibility. This seemed to help last year when I was injured, and I am determined to get through the training injury free so I need to take care of myself.

I am nervous about running seven miles today since I figuratively fell on my face last week trying to run six. But I ran the entire program this week - 2.5, 4.5, 2.5, 3 miles Monday through Thursday - so I should be fine.

And I was. I couldn't believe it! I was exhausted when I was finished, don't get me wrong, but I felt awesome. I was able to run seven without much trouble. And the walkers did not pace me!

I then went to visit my friend who has a cottage on Lake Erie. The water was cold enough to offer incredible relief for my aching legs. I did the run, but I rued the run.

Follow the schedule

Turns out there is a reason they have a schedule. You will not be able to complete the long runs, nor the marathon, if you don't follow the schedule. That two weeks in Africa messed up my training. And this week, recovering from the trip itself and the traveling home, messed everything up. Running six miles should not have been the issue it was.

I ran to the three mile mark with our group. I thought I might die getting to three. My body was screaming for me to stop. I told it (okay, sorta told it) that if it got to mile four, I could walk the last two miles.

It did and I did.

Then I was passed in the last stretch by the two folks training to WALK the marathon.

And I said I would stick to the schedule and make the long runs from now on.

Hey, whatever motivates.

I have returned from Africa!

I returned yesterday from Africa. I thought I might run last night, but after traveling for nearly two days, that didn't seem like a good idea. I haven't run since last week. In fact, it's been a week. And I've only had one long run. I feel behind.

The weather is certainly cooperating with me. It is chilly and I love it! I am not sweating before I've even left my house. Thank the Lord!

I have to run 2 miles today and am ready for it. Looking at my schedule for the week, I realize I should run 4 tomorrow, 2.5 on Wednesday and then 3 on Thursday. Having not run the correct schedule yet, I think I need to modify the workout. I choose to run 2 today, 3 tomorrow, 2 on Wednesday and 3 on Thursday.

There is not a soul on the road as I take one of my usual routes. And I do not need an escort. I may run all by myself! Of course, I had to run out to get a new IPod Shuffle since mine stopped working while I was in Uganda, but I am ready to go.

There are no hecklers. I am in the clear and free of any and all distractions. I also realize why I truly enjoy running. I am able to look around and appreciate my neighborhood. This is so much more important having returned from Africa. I see beautiful houses on my tree-lined street. I also see well manicured lawns and lawns that have grass longer than it should be. I also see fabulous flower gardens and gardens that could use a good weeding. Of course, my garden could use a good weeding.

I listen to my wonderful music and take in the scenery and solitude. Two miles passed in no time.

Ah, running!

Day Five

Godfrey is still sick and I need to run today. I couldn’t yesterday because we couldn’t find him and I could not run with Gerald again. Today, Lindsay, one of the leaders of our group, finds a student for me. She just ran a bit with him and she promised me that he didn’t talk. Sold - you’re hired!

Lindsay also offered to run along for a minute or so to get some pictures for this blog and my fundraising Web site. I agree because I want people to see Africa and me running here. In addition to my escort, Charles, I have about 10 other kids wanting to run as well as another student, Lauren. Lauren ran in high school, so she is quite fast and quite good. After my pictures have been taken, Lauren and I run. Today is 15 minutes our and 15 back. No hills. Several students from the school run with me out of town. Town doesn’t seem so bad today. Either people are getting used to me or they just don’t care. I also think it was a holiday. Perhaps people were doing other things. I don’t know.

Turns out, Charles and his buddies do indeed talk.

“Professor, are you tired?”

“Yes, I am.”

“We should stop.”

“No, I am training. I run when I am tired. That’s what happens.”

A few minutes later…..

“Professor, are you tired?”

“Yes.”

“We should turn around, then.”

“No, I have 4 more minutes before I turn.”

Then we turn. And it continues.

“Professor, are you tired?”

Sweet Jesus, seriously? “Yes.”

Then my escort finds a bicycle and starts riding around me, behind me, in front of me, and then disappears. I am left with Sahid who has borrowed Lindsay’s IPod. He is quiet, running with me enjoying the music. I like him. He gives me space and is quiet. He should run with me again.

Today was incredibly difficult. It was so beastly hot and running in the early evening didn’t help. There were a few times I thought I might not be able to run this relatively short distance. I felt like a wimp. I also didn’t like the constant questions. But I had to say to myself, cancer doesn’t take a day off. If I had leukemia or lymphoma, could I just say, today is much to hot to have cancer? No. So I ran. And I finished. And I stretched. And I complained. And I showered. I felt pretty good.

Day Four

I didn’t get a chance to run this weekend even though I wanted to run on Saturday. I did play football (soccer) with the tots so I got some physical activity. I am trying to find Godfrey, my escort, and he is nowhere to be found. Instead, Young Fred (one of our hosts) asks one of the students, Gerald, to run with me. He is going to run in flip flops even though I asked him if he wanted to find some sneakers. Kids here don’t always have the option of having appropriate shoes to wear. In fact, I think many of them would prefer to be barefoot most of the time.

This should be an easy 2 mile run. I didn’t bring my schedule with me and don’t have access to the internet without wanting to kill myself (I am very impatient when it comes to inefficiency and the internet here is very inefficient. In fact, it is downright unreliable and after dealing with it for 2 years, I have decided I will not and will wait until I return to the States before I check email. People know where I am and I put the “I am in Africa” return email on my work account.). I am going by memory, which is horribly unreliable, but some is better than none. I do know the long runs so I won’t screw that up. But I am still guessing as to the distance. It will be nice to return to a marked path at home. And tree-lined streets.

Kids follow me each day as I run through town and off onto one path or another. I know there is a sizable hill on this path, but I assume that I will turn before I hit it. Oh no. And Gerald does not stop talking. I am not a talker, particularly not here. It is a struggle for me to run let alone try to carry on a conversation. And I am trying to listen to my IPod. I don’t have the volume loud enough that I can’t hear him, but I don’t want to talk!

We start to climb this hill. I am struggling and slow down considerably. Gerald starts to walk next to me, but then I think he feels bad and starts to shuffle. I don’t know which is worse. Luckily, the turn around is not too far up the hill.

Once again, when I turn, the stragglers stop following me. I must run on their route home and they run with me and laugh. Then they walk the rest of the way while I turn around.

“Professor, do you have bananas in America?” Gerald asks.

“Yes.”

“Professor, do you have cows in America?”

“Yes.”

“Professor, do you have chickens in America?”

For the love of all things holy, “yes.”

“Professor, do you have goats in America?”

Please shut up, “yes.”

At this point I am ready to turn and say “shut the hell up,” but I can’t get myself to do that. Not only are the questions inane, they are driving me nuts because they are one after the other and I just want to finish my run in peace. I wish I could run without an escort. And what an escort this is. A 5’5”, 14 year-old. What help will he offer? Again, I could protect him.

I think he is taking his role a bit too seriously, also. He is running so close to me our arms touch. I try to run in front and off to the side, hoping he will run behind me, but he just runs to the side and touches again. I don’t know why I don’t have the heart to tell him to move the hell over. I think he is excited to run with the ‘professor.’

Perhaps his talking and arm nudging made me run faster. I felt pretty good after the run and thankful it is over.

Day Three

Normally our long run is on Saturday, but the weather is milder today and it is actually cooler. I decide I should probably take advantage of this. Keep in mind that cooler is still damn hot but I take what I can get. I am worried that I may not be able to run the entire 50 minutes I believe it should take me to run about 4 miles. I am still determined to do it, but I want to make sure I pay attention to the signals my body is sending me and if I start to overheat, I need to back down, walk or stop. I have my water bottle with grape Propel to help me through.

Godfrey is my escort again. I enjoy running with him because I can wear my IPod and he doesn’t talk to me. I feel rude, but at the same time grateful. I am motivated by my music and the fact that I am training in Africa because I am trying to raise money for and awareness of Leukemia and Lymphoma.

Running through town is painful. I have to keep telling myself to ignore them. They have no idea why I am doing this and I don’t think they would understand anyway. It still bothers me that I am ridiculed as being the fat white girl trying to run and not running very fast. Again, I am not trying to win the marathon; I want to finish.

We had taken this particular route earlier in the day when we went to visit the Wajinja stone - a stone that is known for its spiritual powers. Many Uganda make a pilgrimage to this stone for rituals. It is quite a cool stone and a serene environment. I would love to just hang out there by myself with a picnic basket full of wine and cheese thinking about the world and my place in it.

I had forgotten that there was a mammoth hill on this route. Either that, or I didn’t expect to reach it. Sure enough. It is at the end of my 26 minutes out, but I still have about 2 minutes to get up the beast. It is a struggle. I am sweating and panting - quite tired. I drink my water and try to control my breathing.

Then we can turn around. Going downhill is much, much better. Until a giant truck full of people drives by. They stop and yell to me and to Godfrey. I don’t know what they are saying, but it doesn’t sound nice. In fact, I am scared just a bit. The truck must have 20 people in it and I am alone with a man I could probably take if I had to. I didn’t feel safe.

Turns out they were essentially saying “run faster fat white person.” I asked Godfrey when we returned. He said that they had never seen a white person as big as me trying to run. I asked if my big he meant tall and he said no. It is getting a bit more than frustrating. I have to remind myself yet again why I am doing this and then remember that this is a completely different culture and that this is acceptable here no matter how insulting and demoralizing it would be in the U.S.

I also have to remind myself that I have another week of running in Africa and then I can return to my streets in my hometown where people aren’t going to harass me and I won’t have to run on such extreme conditions.

The truck rumbles past us after I tell Godfrey that I don’t like the truck and that it makes me nervous. He must have told them to move on because they did. Or they had their fill of mocking me.

Back in town, I am starting to feel angry and good, if that makes sense. I am almost at the end of the run. I am still doing fine. I want to pass out and die, but that’s how I usually feel, so I take that as a good sign since I didn’t want to do it sooner. The trust is in town with the same people, it seems, and they turn around. I want to scream something at them, but don’t.

I want to save my energy because I do not want Godfrey to mock me in town as he did the other day. I find a good, upbeat song on my IPod and pick up my pace. It damn near kills me, but I am determined to get through town going at a reasonable pace that should shut everyone up. And I like the challenge.

Of course, once I get out of town, I have to slow to a crawl for the last stretch. And then I am finished. I have run about 4 miles in the heat of Africa and I still feel pretty damn good. I am quite proud of myself. Go me! Perhaps I can do this after all.

Day Two

My plan wasn’t to run consecutive day, but why not? If I can, I should and will. Today a nice breeze is blowing so I think running out 15 minute and back should be fine. We decide on a different route, but it still stars and ends in town. I think that if I listen to my IPod Shuffle, it will help. I don’t speak to Godfrey when I’m running, primarily because I have a hard time running and speaking, so what will it hurt? I hate town. I am getting tired of being ridiculed. I have to keep saying to myself that I am at least doing it and doing it for a good cause otherwise I might curl up into the fetal position and go to my happy place. Not a bad place my happy place. It’s colder there. Kids follow me again giggling and running. After 15 minutes, we turn and lose our children as we did yesterday. Going through town, Godfrey falls in step behind me. I glance around and see that he is walking and looking at those in town. I am embarrassed and a bit upset. I pick up my pace as much as I can and try to get out of town. The not really neon BPS sign can’t come too soon. I stop and stretch. Then I call Godfrey on his walking. He laughs and feels a bit embarrassed himself that he was caught. It’s hard to be mad at him. He is my running partner and protector. But I want to smack him anyway.

Day One

I have no odometer to measure so I must rely on time to gauge my distance. Normally, I run two miles in 12 minutes each, but the heat here is prohibitive so I figure I will do it at 13 minutes/per mile. I am to be accompanied because a Muzungo running attracts attention. We don’t want attention. We also must vary our route each day so people in town don’t try to mug the Muzungo. That would be bad.

Evidently people don’t run as slowly as I do. I am mocked as we run through town. They yell “run faster, faster,” then cackle out a laugh as I pass. I also have a crew of students running with me as we run the 13 minutes out before we turn around. They giggle as they run close enough to my heels to trip me or to get kicked by my large Muzungo size 11 running shoes. I don’t like them behind and beside me but I don’t have the heart to deprive them of the fun of mocking me. I say it’s time to turn and they continue on their way home.

I turn to return to the school. I am hot, sticky and sweaty. Thank God I have my water with Propel in it. My saving grace. And who knew I liked grape? Once again I am mocked through town and Godfrey, the school’s headmaster assigned to ensure my safety, says something in Lugandan. It can’t be complementary. The white sign welcoming folks to BPS is my start and finish and today it is like a beacon signaling that I may stop, catch my breath and stretch. And perhaps curl in a ball and die. Day one, finished.

Corning Wineglass Marathon - October 3, 2010

I am now training for the Wine Glass Marathon in Corning, New York on October 3. Training begins on Memorial Day. I am in Uganda, Africa for the first two weeks so I must train in Africa. I work with several students with a group we founded three years ago - Embrace It Africa. We started as a way to help a small rural community in southern Uganda by offering a government-registered microloan program called the Mikwano Financial Agency, and offering support to the Bethlehem Parents School (BPS) and Orphanage. We continue to grow. For more information, visit our Web site at www.embraceitafrica.org.

Corning, NY Wine Glass Marathon

Hello! Pauline is back and running.
Pauline is still as slow as she ever was, but she doesn't care.
Pauline is not sure why she is writing in the third person and will stop now.

I am back and excited to be running again. You cannot imagine how frustrating it was not to be able to run the marathon I had worked hard for. Granted, I still had quite a distance to go to be ready for that marathon, but I was pretty proud of myself. I now no longer feel as though I might not be able to do it.

The Finger Lakes chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is not training for the Marine Corp Marathon this year so I will be training for the Corning, NY Wine Glass Marathon.

[As an aside, sometimes when I type marathon - I type marathong. Not sure why nor am I sure what that means. Draw your own conclusions.]

In keeping with the chaos that is often my life, training begins while I am in Africa. Visitors in Africa don't run recreationally, as a rule. People like me don't run unless we are being chased. Of course, I should be thankful that I run more slowly than most. My hosts might mistake it for a brisk walk and not bother worrying about me.

I will have my first two longs runs (4 and 5 miles) on Saturdays that I am in Africa. We shall see if I can do that! I plan to write for this blog while I am there, but won't be able to post until I am home. Internet is sporadic and frustrating and I don't bother with it because it causes me stress.

Check back. I have successfully recovered from my surgery and am back on the run!