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!

Alas, I will try next year....

Hello,
It has been quite some time since I posted anything about my training. Let me explain why....

I struggled with a pinched nerve in my left foot. That settled down and I was pain free.

Then I hurt the hell out of my right foot. It was so bad, it was suspected that I had a stress fracture. After a nuclear diagnostic bone scan, it was decided I did not have a stress fracture. It must be a very bad case of tendinitis.

Then that cleared up and I was able to run.

Hooray!

Then the abdominal pain. This was completely unrelated to running. God only knows why now it decided to be a problem.

The abdominal pain sent me to the emergency room via ambulance. After a CT scan and fabulous pain meds, it was decided that I had a bowel obstruction that required emergency surgery.

About 27 staples and an 8" surgical incision later, it was decided that the only place I am running to is the loo.

The good news is that any funds that I have raised thus far may be transferred to the race next year. And I have every intention of running this race next year.

I ran 12 miles. That was the farthest I had gotten. And that is the most I have ever run. It felt good.

I was told by my surgeon that I am not to run until November 3. I cannot do any sort of ab work until Thanksgiving. I am counting the days.

Tomorrow is three weeks since surgery.

Sunday is the day I am supposed to be running the marathon.

There must be some reason I was not meant to run this year. But I will not give up. I will begin training the minute I can run again.

Perhaps I can train for the Thanksgiving Turkey Trot in Buffalo.

I am injured!

I suppose it had to happen. All of my good luck had to come to an end.

Okay, so I don't believe in good luck.

All of my hard work was paying off.

And then it happened.

I injured myself.

It happened three weeks ago. I was so upset I didn't blog. I know, that defeats the purpose of a blog, in many ways. I don't care. It's my blog and I'll blog or not blog if I want to. And I will bitch or not bitch if I want to. And you will read or not read if you want to. (But I would like you to continue reading.)

I thought it would be a nice change of scenery. I had several meetings on the St. Bonaventure University campus. I thought it would be nice to run on the Allegheny River Trail. This trail is so incredibly scenic - snaking its way alongside the Allegheny River. I love water and love to run near it.

I got to mile 1.5 and felt something off in my heel. At first I thought it was a muscle pull that I could run through. Um, no. I then thought I could walk it off. I walked up to the two mile marker and then turned around. Tried to run and failed. I limped the two miles back to my car.

I got in touch with our coaches and our trainer. I tried to run on it the next day and failed. Then I was to rest it. I missed the 10 mile long run.

Then I missed the 12 mile run and another 10 mile long run.

And many runs in between.

I would try to run while and would get to one mile. Sometimes, on really good days, I would get to three miles. I couldn't break the three mile barrier. I was getting frustrated.

It made me more frustrated when two different podiatrists told me they didn't think anything was wrong and that I could run on it. One thought it was a pinched nerve. Another thought I could work through it. I return to my regular podiatrist in a few weeks for a follow up. Perhaps I need new orthotics.

Perhaps I need a lobotomy.

What possessed me to think I could do this?

Of course, this isn't the kind of thinking I normally do. I am generally optimistic. But it has been three weeks since I have been able to do any sort of substantial running. Thank God I can ride my bike and do yoga so I have some sort of cross-training to count on. Because this running thing isn't working out so well.

Over the weekend I downloaded the map of the race course. I was thrilled! I will get to run by all the major monuments in DC as well as along the Potomac River. I did notice that if you haven't reached mile 19 by a certain time, you will be asked to get on the straggler bus for transport to the end of the race. I guess they have to open the road. The race pace is a 14 minute mile. I am slow, but I can do better than a 14 minute mile.

When I can run.

Now I am more determined. All of my naysaying and pessimism have been tossed away. I am going to finish this race. And I am not going to ride the straggler bus. And I am going to run through our nation's capital proud that I can run at all. And I am going to see all of the leukemia and lymphoma patients and their families cheering us on and I am going to be prompted to go a little faster so that I finish.

And I will finish.

And then yesterday I ran four miles. A small victory, to be sure, but I broke my three mile barrier.

And today I am going to my yoga class because I miss my fellow yogis. And tomorrow I am going to try to run five miles. Five pain free miles.

And then I am going to the Erie County Fair (booth number 149 in the Agricenter) to sell my lotions and lip balms and other products.

And I am going to sweat my breasts right off my chest.

I am going to go faster if it kills me....

Today I have to run three miles. And I am determined to go faster if it kills me.

I figure I can start to pick up the pace on the shorter runs. They won't hurt me.

I run the first mile in 11 minutes 45 seconds. For those keeping track, that's a record for me. Yes, it's still slow, but it's a personal best, so bite me.

I run the second mile in 12 minutes. That's pretty damn good.

The third mile in 12 minutes, 45 seconds. That means that I ran about an average of 12 minutes a mile for the three mile duration.

That's the best I've done! I am so proud of me!

Of course, when I finished, I thought I was going to have a heart attack.

But I did it!

And I also sent my checks off to be counted! Thank you again to everyone who has supported me so far!

The injuries are starting....

I call them injuries, but they are really minor problems. I had to ice my foot yesterday because I felt plantar fasciitis returning. If anyone has ever had this problem, you know you want to nip it in the bud toot sweet. It hurts like a mother........ if left unchecked.

I also have two blisters, one on each foot. I pop those, as instructed. But they still hurt.

Thank God I get to rest today. And rest I do.

Oh Boy!

Eight miles truly kicked my ass. It was such a perfect day for a run. It was cool, there was dew on the ground, and there were enough slugs/snails on the running trail to serve as a parade of sorts. A parade to remind me how pitifully slow I run.

I think there were points in the run in which it could not be said I was running. But I managed to pass all of the snails! Go me!

I also passed two dead snakes and two dead toads/frogs. Oh boy, am I on a roll!

At about the one mile to go mark, I was greeted by one of our coaches. She had been running with another group (a faster group) and wanted to come back to help me get back. We talked while I ran....

...And she walked.

That's right. I was upset when Ellen walked beside me for that brief moment. But I didn't seem to care that Katie was walking next to me. Truth be told, she was not sauntering. She was walking at a pretty good clip, as walking goes. But she was walking.

And I was so damn tired, I just wanted that last mile to end. I did pick it up for the last tenth. For some reason I always find some energy in my reserves. God only knows how.

Katie did keep reassuring me that I was doing fine. I shouldn't worry about running slowly, etc. Thank you for that!

What am I going to do when I have to run ten miles next week?

Rest Day

Thank you to my mom for supporting my cause.

And thank you for this rest day.

I am nervous about running eight miles tomorrow. The seven miles I ran last week represented the longest distance I have ever run. That will grow each week now.

Eight miles. I hope I can do it.

My first tarot card fundraising party.

Yesterday three miles was no big deal.

Today it was.

What gives?

I hope not my legs or my feet or my knees.

My good friend, Peg Schwenk, agreed to host a tarot card fundraising party for me. Thank you to Peg! It was an incredible success. I enjoy reading cards and freaking people the hell out. And I am thankful I am able to parlay that ability into money for my cause!

I also received a call from a regular Wild Mountain Organics customer. She wanted to reorder some products. When I mentioned that I was participating in a tarot card reading fundraiser, she wanted to know if I could add one more to the evening. When I said yes, she was thrilled and I added more money to my fundraising coffer! Thank you Cindy!

More support!

Thank you to Rose Carter for adding to my fundraising tally! I am getting closer and closer!

And three miles today is no big deal.

Isn't that funny. Three miles used to be my long run. Now it's no big deal.

Woo hoo!

I need my schedule back

Our flight from Kelowna was delayed because the plane was struck by lightening enroute to Kelowna. They had to inspect it.

And then we got on the same plane and flew to Calgary and then to Hamilton.

And we arrived.

2.5 hours late.

We didn't get home until 4:30 in the morning.

Needless to say, I wasn't about to get up at 7 or 8 to run. I ran when I got up.

And today was a long one. Five miles.

I have carefully marked several running options. I cannot run on the same path all the time. I need to jazz things up. Toss things about.

But my markers are things that may be temporary. For Sale signs on houses. God help me if my house markers sell before October and I don't notice the Sold signs. I might be running forever and not notice it!

Five miles did kick my ass a bit today. I managed to get through and then had to invoke my mantra "you can do anything for a mile." In fact, I think I had to "do anything for two miles."

I went through my mail and noticed that I have another supporter! Thank you to Shanon and Jeff Castiglione! You are helping me to get closer to my fundraising goal!

Packing up

People are leaving from the weekend party. We are leaving this afternoon, but not before I run three miles/five kilometers.

I made sure to get the next week's schedule before I left so that I didn't miss a day of training.

And I love this bike path.

I get another early start - not 6 a.m., but 7. It is already warm outside. I find myself hoping it is still cool at home. I know our summers can be pretty horrific in terms of heat and humidity, but this was a shock. We have had an unseasonably cool/wet summer so far - I am not complaining - and coming to the furnace of BC tossed be about a bit.

I take in every portion of the bike path. The cover of cottonwood seeds that looks like fluffy snow. The sound of the water rushing down the creek to the lake. The other users of the path. The birds. The plants. I am going to miss it. But I can certainly return to visit my sister.

Three miles didn't seem too bad today. I enjoyed my time in British Columbia, but look forward to returning to my regular stomping grounds.

And then she rested.

I have never been so happy for a rest day.

I was able to enjoy the wedding festivities yesterday and enjoy the evening.

Now I am at peace and relaxing.

On a boat, in the lake.

Sweet Lord, this is early.

5:30 a.m. That's what time I got up to get ready to make my way to the Mission Creek Bike Path.

What the hell was I thinking drinking too much on Thursday night and saving this run for today?

I wasn't thinking. And therein lies my problem.

Just over 11 km is a long damn way.

Thank God for the spectacular scenery.

No one is on the path at 6 a.m. There are a few by 6:30 and even more by 7. But 6 is pretty desolate. It made me worry just a bit. I know few people in town and anyone could have been hiding in the woods or the creek (creek monster?).

People with big dogs are on the path. Big dogs that from a distance look like small bears. I had to muster all of my courage and stamina to remember what to do should I encounter a bear:

• Do I run scared and screaming hoping it will be more scared of me than I of it? No, that's not a solution.
• Do I run in a zigzag? No, I think you do that for large reptiles like crocs and gators. Although I did hear that was a misnomer. Run straight for crocs and gators. You will outrun them. You are screwed if you are in the water with them.
• Do I stand my ground and stare the bear down? Perhaps. And then I will piss all over my sweaty running shorts. Does urine attract bears? I don't know.
• Do I fall to the ground and play dead? I think this is one answer depending on the bear (Now I have to remember how to identify bears? Jesus, isn't running 11 km enough for one day?).
• Do I climb a tree? None of the trees in the area was really a climbing tree.

Of course, I go through all of this twice. Once for a large black dog. A damn ugly dog at that. And once for a large white dog. Because, you know, a polar bear got loose in the interior of BC.

But I felt prepared should I encounter a bear.

On my return from the 5.5 km mark or so, I see so many more people.

I also have an old man talk to me. I don't know why old men always want to say inappropriate things to me. He was on his bike and saw me run across one of the roads. It was my last kilometer and I was damn tired and probably looked as though I might die. He asked me if I was sweating already. Already? Dude, I've been out here over an hour and a half. Bite me!

Don't drink and run.

Since my sister is getting married tomorrow, I wanted to run this morning since I didn't think it likely that I would want to run the morning of her wedding.

She is getting married at 10 a.m. and that would mean that I have to get up at the butt-crack of dawn to run. I like running in the morning, but dawn's ass? No thanks.

Turns out when you are excited to see relatives you seldom see and there is wine (remember the Okanagan has some fabulous vineyards), you shouldn't plan to get up to run.

You shouldn't plan to get up.

So I didn't run today. I used it as my rest day, which was what it was supposed to be. But that means I have to run 7 miles (just over 11 km) tomorrow morning before the wedding.

And it means I cannot sample every local wine tonight.

Drat!

I found the best bike path/running trail!

I like that I run in the morning. I beat the heat and get my day off to a good start.

I do not like the heat.

I hate it.

Most people are surprised to hear that it is hot in parts of British Columbia. My sister lives in Kelowna which is in the Okanagan Valley. The Okanagan Valley is home to Okanagan Lake - a vast expanse of water that is quite deep. It is also alleged to be the home of Ogopogo, a Loch Ness monster type of monster. Since the lake is quite deep and large, people assume there must be a monster. Oh, and people have spotted it, I guess.

Did I neglect to mention that the Okanagan Valley is also home to many award-winning vineyards?

Does that help to explain the presence of a lake monster? Perhaps, perhaps not. You be the judge.

I am forced to run 3 miles (5 kilometers or thereabouts - when in Rome) in the middle of the afternoon. Bad idea, but what choice do I have?

I ask at our hotel if there is a marked path or something nearby. The clerk is more than happy to direct me to the Mission Creek Bike Path. The bike path is a 16 km (8 km out and 8 back) packed dirt/stone trail that winds next to Mission Creek. It is well-maintained and beautiful! I feel connected to nature running on this trail.

Not only do I see birds of all sorts, but I see plants and insects that I don't regularly see at home, if at all. The trail does have its share of users. I can see people running, walking, and biking. People have kids and dogs.

And it also abuts some of the best scenery I have seen in ages. I can see past the creek to the mountains in the distance. Jutting up from the landscape, they motivate me to push harder to get to the 2.5 km mark. I almost don't want to turn around. Almost.

I do my share of sweating. That's nothing new. But I do make a note that I want to run in the morning. The morning. It is much too warm in the middle of the day.

Thank God for the shade of the trees along the banks of the river. Rarely was I in the open sun.

We leave today. I hope I keep up.

We leave this evening for Hamilton, Ontario. We are spending the night in order to catch a very early flight to Kelowna, British Columbia. My sister is getting married and we are going.

My run this morning reminds me that I am doing this for an incredible cause. I received an email that reminds me exactly what this means to people. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society frequently sends inspirational emails to motivate us. Many come at just the right time.

This is from that email:

Elli Wolpe, herself a cancer survivor, became part of the LLS family when her husband David was diagnosed with follicular non-Hodgkin lymphoma. She is now one of our Team In Training® (TNT) participants. Here is a portion of her speech from the San Diego Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Pasta Party.

I remember reading once that when people tell the story of an event that changed their lives, they often begin with the words: "It was a day that started just like any other day..." The same is true for us.

It was a day that started just like any other day when I got a follow up call after my annual exam. I was 31 and a new mother. And I had cancer. It changed my life forever. But I was one of the lucky ones, it was caught early and I survived.

It was a day like any other day when my husband, David, had a grand mal seizure. We learned it was caused by a brain tumor that was removed in a 10-hour surgery. But he was one of the lucky ones. It was benign and he survived.

It was a day like any other day when, just two a half years later, David found a swollen lymph node that led to the diagnosis of follicular non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Luckily, the chemo worked and he went into remission. But being in remission is not the same thing as being cured. In January, he got the last of his Rituxan®, a monoclonal antibody that was developed in part by funding from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Now we play the waiting game. Because incurable means it's coming back. Only we don't know when. All we know is that it will be on a day just like any other day...

Your support for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society matters - to my husband, my daughter, myself... You are changing the world for people like us.

Thank you to everyone who supports me!

I think I have died

I have no idea what on Earth happened today.

No idea.

At mile 2.5, I almost walked. WALKED! I haven't had to walk yet. Why today?

I made myself get through the last two miles. Yes, today my mantra became, 'you can do anything for two miles.'

Actually, that is being family friendly. My mantra was actually, 'WTF? Why is this kicking your ass? You pansy, get your freaking ass moving and get it over with.'

Then I said I could do anything for a mile.

I did not go to yoga today. I thought I should take a break from two workouts on Tuesdays since it took nearly all day to run 4.5 miles (not that dire, but it felt like it).

And my back is bothering me tonight.

I think I may also be nervous because I am going out of town on Thursday morning and my running schedule is going to get screwed up.

My sister is getting married in British Columbia and we are leaving at the crack of dawn on Thursday. I won't be able to run on Thursday until the afternoon. I am not sure about this.

And I have to convert to kilometers. Jesus. Thank God I know how to do that!

And I have to run my long run along the lake in Kelowna. That will be tough. (That's sarcasm.) We will see how it goes.

I do plan to take my computer to have access to things so I should update the blog. Stay tuned.

Another week

This is week four.

I cannot believe I have trained for three weeks and am into week four.

Mileage is increasing, slowly.

Today I had to run 2.5 miles and it felt pretty good. Nothing too unusual.

I am worried about tomorrow. 4.5 miles. I have done 4, 5, and 6 before so 4.5 should be no big deal.

I am not sure why I worry so much.

I did buy a copy of Runner's World. Apparently, I am a runner. I should know what other runners know.

Sarah Palin was in this issue (July or August). And I had just read about her resigning her position as Governor of Alaska. I am guessing she needs more time to run. And by run, I mean on the mean streets of Wasilla, not run for office and such.

Or so I hope.

But life is never that easy.