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.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Saturday, June 19, 2010
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 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.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
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!
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!
Wednesday, June 09, 2010
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.
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.
Monday, June 07, 2010
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.
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.
Thursday, June 03, 2010
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.
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.
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
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.
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