Okay so my friend Amy, has challenged herself to blog every day for 21 days, and since my blog is a little neglected I decided to do that too. So starting today I will blog every day for 21 days, not sure about what just yet but getting there.
Shared Joy, anyone who knows me well, knows how much I enjoy/love/thrive on my friends. I love time by myself too, but my soul feels best when I’m with my friends either one on one or in a group. Either one makes my heart happy. I especially love being able to share in my friends’ joy!
This past weekend I got to have so much shared joy I thought my heart was going to burst. First on Saturday morning I met with my MIT group for a 10 mile run! Our friend Amy had 16 to do however, so she had decided to run 6 prior to the group run and then run 10 with us. Well when we arrived at MIT Amy had run 5 instead of 6 and I quickly said I would add a mile to my run to finish out her 16 with her. We had a great run, it actually felt quite easy ( I definitely wasn’t signing that tune last night however!), and the last mile was simply awesome! I got to be there as a friend I’ve come to love and treasure got a new Personal Distance Record! The smile on her face was priceless and I wouldn’t have missed it for anything in the world. I took great joy in taking her picture, in sharing in her happiness of her achieving something awesome! I can hardly wait to share the same milestone with Dana and Stacy this week and next.
I’m getting to experience the joy, excitement and the challenges of a first marathon all over again through my friends. It’s an awesome experience! I encourage any of you out there who have run a distance (5K 10K half or full marathon) to find a friend who has not and share their training with them.
The second part of my day brought me to sharing the joy of my friend Christi’s marriage. Christi is another friend who MIT brought into my life. We trained for and ran our first marathons together (holy cow 3 years ago now) and then we shared a hotel room in Chicago last year. She was speed demon but waited for me at the finish line! Along with our other roomies.
She looked simply radiant and her joy was evident! I’m so glad I was able to attend and get to share in another joyous occasion with a dear and precious friend.
In addition to the wedding joy, I got to spend time with running friends. These are my friends who have been with me through many, many miles and many laughs and tears. I’m so blessed to have them to love and be loved by.
So sharing joy- it’s privilege I treasure.
Run on Friends,
Heather
"Who says you can't run away from your problems?" Joan Beniot Samuleson
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Friday, August 5, 2011
Married to the Marathon
“You can’t flirt with the Marathon, you have to marry it.” Kristen Armstrong
I was using this quote last weekend and everyone seemed to enjoy it and have a good chuckle over it, myself included. But then I really started thinking about it, and as I am in the midst of training for my fourth marathon, I gave some serious consideration to what “Married to the Marathon” means to me
1. It means being serious about my training, and fully committed to it, no matter what. My training schedule is my training schedule and as much as possible I try to stick with it, and do it as written. Especially long runs on Saturdays -those are non-negotiable in my schedule. Even on vacation as proved in July in Virginia, 8 miles on my own, in the heat, on 1.75 mile loop that seemed endless at times, but I got out there and got it done. Of course if my body says rest, I do that too.
2. It means eating well, to quote my dear friend Katia “Food is Fuel, it is not your friend” and this is no more true than in marathon training. Fruits, vegetables, and whole foods need to be more of my diet than processed junk. I try to go with a 90/10 ratio myself. 90% great stuff, 10% a little less great.
3. It means taking rest just a seriously as training, so on non-running days on the schedule, I do not run! And I take 1-2 full days off of any activity at all. Friday nights you will find me in my PJs by about 8:30 pm and definitely in bed no later than 10 if I can help it. Yes party animal right here!
4. It means long runs are long runs and not a race! My theory on long runs is any way I can get them! (The miles that is the miles). So on Saturday mornings at MIT you will find me, happily running along in my group (I adore you all) and not worrying too much about my pace, as long as it is with reason. Thinking that every single Saturday I’m going to go out and run just the same, is not going to happen. Weather, how I feel, etc, will always affect me to some degree.
5. It means having fun on this crazy ride called marathon training! I love running (most days), and I love seeing people achieve what they thought not possible. So coffee after Saturday morning runs is a treat I treasure, my friends are blessings I adore, knowing I can do something only 1% of the population has ever done is exhilarating!
I am happily married to the marathon! At least most days I am, and on those days I’m not, well my friends can remind me!
Run on Friends,
Heather
I was using this quote last weekend and everyone seemed to enjoy it and have a good chuckle over it, myself included. But then I really started thinking about it, and as I am in the midst of training for my fourth marathon, I gave some serious consideration to what “Married to the Marathon” means to me
1. It means being serious about my training, and fully committed to it, no matter what. My training schedule is my training schedule and as much as possible I try to stick with it, and do it as written. Especially long runs on Saturdays -those are non-negotiable in my schedule. Even on vacation as proved in July in Virginia, 8 miles on my own, in the heat, on 1.75 mile loop that seemed endless at times, but I got out there and got it done. Of course if my body says rest, I do that too.
2. It means eating well, to quote my dear friend Katia “Food is Fuel, it is not your friend” and this is no more true than in marathon training. Fruits, vegetables, and whole foods need to be more of my diet than processed junk. I try to go with a 90/10 ratio myself. 90% great stuff, 10% a little less great.
3. It means taking rest just a seriously as training, so on non-running days on the schedule, I do not run! And I take 1-2 full days off of any activity at all. Friday nights you will find me in my PJs by about 8:30 pm and definitely in bed no later than 10 if I can help it. Yes party animal right here!
4. It means long runs are long runs and not a race! My theory on long runs is any way I can get them! (The miles that is the miles). So on Saturday mornings at MIT you will find me, happily running along in my group (I adore you all) and not worrying too much about my pace, as long as it is with reason. Thinking that every single Saturday I’m going to go out and run just the same, is not going to happen. Weather, how I feel, etc, will always affect me to some degree.
5. It means having fun on this crazy ride called marathon training! I love running (most days), and I love seeing people achieve what they thought not possible. So coffee after Saturday morning runs is a treat I treasure, my friends are blessings I adore, knowing I can do something only 1% of the population has ever done is exhilarating!
I am happily married to the marathon! At least most days I am, and on those days I’m not, well my friends can remind me!
Run on Friends,
Heather
Friday, July 29, 2011
Long Overdue Update
Well my poor neglected blog.. I can’t believe it’s been a month since I last wrote. I need to get better about that.
So I had a pretty eventful July- filled with running, family vacation and a wedding. Here are the brief highlights:
The Month started out awesome as my friend Dana and I PRed (Personal Record) our 5K on July 4th. It was a hot day too, so proud of us! We rocked it! It was my first official run/walk race too, so that was especially great.
Then the next week it was off to Virginia for my family vacation to visit my sister, nephew and brother-in-law who moved there for my Brother-in-law’s job. It was so much fun! My brother and sister-in-law and other two nephews joined us as well. The boys enjoyed playing with each other, having two sleepovers at my sister’s apartment and seeing the ocean for the very first time. I feel incredibly blessed to have been able to experience the first time at the ocean with all 3 of my nephews! Pretty special and they loved it!
The next big event was Amy (fellow MITers) and Scott’s wedding on July 23. It was a great time! I love anytime I get to hang out with my running friends outside of running. It was a full day since I had run 8 miles that morning, but I got a nap before the festivities began. I’m blessed with all the wonderful friends I have from running! They make my life rich and my heart full.
In other running news I have fallen back in love (or at least strong like) with morning running! I used to do it two summers ago and I liked it then. But I will say the only reason I love it so much is the group of ladies I get to share the early (5:30 am) morning runs with! Dana, Amy, Stacy and I meet Monday- Thursday in Dana and Amy’s neighborhood for a run! It’s always great conversation (well once we get woke up it is) and great running too. And we have a new friend who has joined in recently as well Colleen. It is so nice to have my run DONE for the day before I get to work, and then I have the whole evening to do what I want. (Which usually involves an early bed time), but hey meet someone for dinner- you bet, go to a friends, no problem, laundry or whatever seems so much easier at 5 pm when I arrive home than trying to fit in a run and then all that other stuff after work! Loving it! Thanks ladies for your awesome company run after run!
Looking forward to an awesome August- how about you?
Run on Friends,
Heather
So I had a pretty eventful July- filled with running, family vacation and a wedding. Here are the brief highlights:
The Month started out awesome as my friend Dana and I PRed (Personal Record) our 5K on July 4th. It was a hot day too, so proud of us! We rocked it! It was my first official run/walk race too, so that was especially great.
Then the next week it was off to Virginia for my family vacation to visit my sister, nephew and brother-in-law who moved there for my Brother-in-law’s job. It was so much fun! My brother and sister-in-law and other two nephews joined us as well. The boys enjoyed playing with each other, having two sleepovers at my sister’s apartment and seeing the ocean for the very first time. I feel incredibly blessed to have been able to experience the first time at the ocean with all 3 of my nephews! Pretty special and they loved it!
The next big event was Amy (fellow MITers) and Scott’s wedding on July 23. It was a great time! I love anytime I get to hang out with my running friends outside of running. It was a full day since I had run 8 miles that morning, but I got a nap before the festivities began. I’m blessed with all the wonderful friends I have from running! They make my life rich and my heart full.
In other running news I have fallen back in love (or at least strong like) with morning running! I used to do it two summers ago and I liked it then. But I will say the only reason I love it so much is the group of ladies I get to share the early (5:30 am) morning runs with! Dana, Amy, Stacy and I meet Monday- Thursday in Dana and Amy’s neighborhood for a run! It’s always great conversation (well once we get woke up it is) and great running too. And we have a new friend who has joined in recently as well Colleen. It is so nice to have my run DONE for the day before I get to work, and then I have the whole evening to do what I want. (Which usually involves an early bed time), but hey meet someone for dinner- you bet, go to a friends, no problem, laundry or whatever seems so much easier at 5 pm when I arrive home than trying to fit in a run and then all that other stuff after work! Loving it! Thanks ladies for your awesome company run after run!
Looking forward to an awesome August- how about you?
Run on Friends,
Heather
Friday, June 10, 2011
Happy 10 Year Anniversary MIT!
Tomorrow is the Ten year anniversary of MIT, my running group! I can't express the way that MIT helped me change my life. I had run two half marathons on my own, before joining MIT. And once I did there was no looking back. Group runs quickly became the highlight of my week, and the friends I have made through MIT, help put the living in my life!
I tell Jeff G and Tim F all the time, how incredibly blessed I feel that Jeff started MIT and that Tim bought his Fleet Feet franchise here in Columbus Ohio. There is no doubt in my mind that I never would have attempted, let alone finished my first marathon without the coaches and friends I had at MIT. As you all know I have since gone on to run 3 more and am currently training for my 4th.
People who are not with MIT ask me all the time, why I love it so much. The simple answer to that question is because of the support! It is second to none. If you never have experinced it you really can't describe the feeling. It's friends who drove over 150 miles to come suprise me at my second marathon. It's coaches who send out those weekly e-mails with hints and encouragements. It's the planning and care that goes into each and every Saturday or Wedensday workout. And this list could go on and on.
I am blessed to be a part of this incredible group of people, who come out each and every week! They motivate, inspire and encourage me!
So Happy Anniversary to the best running group I know! And thank you a million times thank you to our coaches and founders!
Run on Friends,
Heather
I tell Jeff G and Tim F all the time, how incredibly blessed I feel that Jeff started MIT and that Tim bought his Fleet Feet franchise here in Columbus Ohio. There is no doubt in my mind that I never would have attempted, let alone finished my first marathon without the coaches and friends I had at MIT. As you all know I have since gone on to run 3 more and am currently training for my 4th.
People who are not with MIT ask me all the time, why I love it so much. The simple answer to that question is because of the support! It is second to none. If you never have experinced it you really can't describe the feeling. It's friends who drove over 150 miles to come suprise me at my second marathon. It's coaches who send out those weekly e-mails with hints and encouragements. It's the planning and care that goes into each and every Saturday or Wedensday workout. And this list could go on and on.
I am blessed to be a part of this incredible group of people, who come out each and every week! They motivate, inspire and encourage me!
So Happy Anniversary to the best running group I know! And thank you a million times thank you to our coaches and founders!
Run on Friends,
Heather
Thursday, June 2, 2011
National Running Day and Speed work
Yesterday was National Running Day- a whole day devoted to one of the biggest passions in my life. I love running, for one beause it's so simply- a pair of shoes, clothes and the road is all you need. Of course sharing running with friends is great as well, both kinds of running- alone and with groups give me different perpectives and workouts. Running really has changed my life, in some awesome ways! I'm so blessed my our running group here in Columbus Marathoners in Training (MIT), I never, ever would have run a marathon without them.
So last night in celebration of National Running Day, it was the first speed workout of the season. Speed work is hard work, you always work a little (or a lot) harder than your Marathon pace. Each week is different and Jeff works so hard to mix up our workouts and give us great ones each week.
This week was mile repeats, our prescribed pace was 11:42 for the mile, but we did our first one at 10:42 (oops?) and the second one at 11:21, so faster than prescribed, maybe this means a faster marathon. We shall see! It was great to have company since some friends are trying speedwork and they run my pace! Yipee!
It was a great night for a run, much less humid.
I enjoyed my celebration of National Running Day! I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate!! Hope all my running friends had a great National Running Day as well! Looking forward to another celebration at MIT on Saturday!
Run on Friends,
Heather
So last night in celebration of National Running Day, it was the first speed workout of the season. Speed work is hard work, you always work a little (or a lot) harder than your Marathon pace. Each week is different and Jeff works so hard to mix up our workouts and give us great ones each week.
This week was mile repeats, our prescribed pace was 11:42 for the mile, but we did our first one at 10:42 (oops?) and the second one at 11:21, so faster than prescribed, maybe this means a faster marathon. We shall see! It was great to have company since some friends are trying speedwork and they run my pace! Yipee!
It was a great night for a run, much less humid.
I enjoyed my celebration of National Running Day! I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate!! Hope all my running friends had a great National Running Day as well! Looking forward to another celebration at MIT on Saturday!
Run on Friends,
Heather
Thursday, May 26, 2011
First Run of the Season and other randomness
On Saturday (May 21) we had our very first run of the MIT season! It was great! So many people (the spring/summer session is always huge), and so many new people too, which always makes me smile. We have an awesome running community here in Columbus Ohio.
I am training with a new group this season the run/walk group. This group is based upon the Jeff Galloway training method of taking short, brisk walk "breaks" throughout the mileage starting at the very beginning. The theory being it gives your muscles a short rest from constant running and allows them to work in a different way. I am excited to try it out- I have walked in every marathon I've ever done to some extent, so I figure why not get the benefit from the very beginning.
Also as an added bonus my good friend Dana is the coach and is training for her first marathon, Marine Corps so we are going to train together and run the race together. I am very much looking forward to sharing the miles with her this summer! Running has given me so many wonderful friends! I truly am blessed to have them in my life- more than I can say!
After the MIT run I came home and waited for my parents to arrive. They do not live far from me (about 2 hours), but this visit they decided to stay overnight on Saturday. We had a very nice weekend hanging out, going to church, and shopping. The largest purchase was I selected new carpet for my living/dinning area in my condo. I have needed new carpet for a while so I am excited to get it installed next week!! I will attempt to take and post pictures.
I am very much looking forward to a long weekend!
I am training with a new group this season the run/walk group. This group is based upon the Jeff Galloway training method of taking short, brisk walk "breaks" throughout the mileage starting at the very beginning. The theory being it gives your muscles a short rest from constant running and allows them to work in a different way. I am excited to try it out- I have walked in every marathon I've ever done to some extent, so I figure why not get the benefit from the very beginning.
Also as an added bonus my good friend Dana is the coach and is training for her first marathon, Marine Corps so we are going to train together and run the race together. I am very much looking forward to sharing the miles with her this summer! Running has given me so many wonderful friends! I truly am blessed to have them in my life- more than I can say!
After the MIT run I came home and waited for my parents to arrive. They do not live far from me (about 2 hours), but this visit they decided to stay overnight on Saturday. We had a very nice weekend hanging out, going to church, and shopping. The largest purchase was I selected new carpet for my living/dinning area in my condo. I have needed new carpet for a while so I am excited to get it installed next week!! I will attempt to take and post pictures.
I am very much looking forward to a long weekend!
Friday, May 13, 2011
New Training Session- New Blog Use
Holy Cow it's been forever since I've posted a blog entry! Almost a year.
Recently I have been inspired by my friend Sara and her blog (it really is great you should check it out!), to get my own blog more active. So here we go! I'm going to try to post something at least once per week about running mostly but probably with some other things thrown in there as well.
I recently completed my 6th half marathon, the Flying Pig in Cincinnati- what fun! It was a great race, well organized, tons of crowd support and you just can't beat the theme! Pigs and pink everywhere! In fact I wore a pink sparkle skirt for the race, along with several of my "sole sisters". The race was a little rainy and a LOT hilly, so it wasn't a personal best time, but I was proud of finishing strong and running the second half of the race faster than the first!
Then the following weekend (May 7th) I was privelaged to pace a group for the Cap City Quarter Marathon (6.55 miles). In 2006 I ran this half marathon as my very first half marathon and that was the race that started it all for me- so it seemed appropriate to go back and lead a pace group and give back just a little bit to the running community to has and continues to give so much to me.
I had fun and had many people come up and thank me aftewards and tell me they were watching my sign for pace. Many of my Marthoner in Training (MIT) friends ran the half, and for some of them it was their very first half! In additon many, many friends (far too many to name here less I leave anyone out) ran personal best times! In fact many ran what I call "Rock Star" times and paces! Go MIT!
So that concluded my winter season with MIT! This weekend Sara, Jessica, and Bill (all MIT friends) will be running their very first marathons in Pittsburg (Sara) and Cleveland ( Jessica and Bill). I know they are all going to do awesome, and I can't wait to welcome them into the marathon club!
Next week I will begin a brand new season with MIT and will train through the summer for the Marine Corps Marathon on October 30! Many MIT friends including some of my favorite sole sisters are going to run it as well! It's going to be a fun summer of training (well mostly fun), of course it will be hard work but in the words of my favorite running author Kristen Armstrong.. "We don't run because it's easy, we run because it's real."
Looking forward to posting more as the summer progresses, maybe I'll even get all fancy and post a picture from time to time too!
Run on friends,
Heather
Recently I have been inspired by my friend Sara and her blog (it really is great you should check it out!), to get my own blog more active. So here we go! I'm going to try to post something at least once per week about running mostly but probably with some other things thrown in there as well.
I recently completed my 6th half marathon, the Flying Pig in Cincinnati- what fun! It was a great race, well organized, tons of crowd support and you just can't beat the theme! Pigs and pink everywhere! In fact I wore a pink sparkle skirt for the race, along with several of my "sole sisters". The race was a little rainy and a LOT hilly, so it wasn't a personal best time, but I was proud of finishing strong and running the second half of the race faster than the first!
Then the following weekend (May 7th) I was privelaged to pace a group for the Cap City Quarter Marathon (6.55 miles). In 2006 I ran this half marathon as my very first half marathon and that was the race that started it all for me- so it seemed appropriate to go back and lead a pace group and give back just a little bit to the running community to has and continues to give so much to me.
I had fun and had many people come up and thank me aftewards and tell me they were watching my sign for pace. Many of my Marthoner in Training (MIT) friends ran the half, and for some of them it was their very first half! In additon many, many friends (far too many to name here less I leave anyone out) ran personal best times! In fact many ran what I call "Rock Star" times and paces! Go MIT!
So that concluded my winter season with MIT! This weekend Sara, Jessica, and Bill (all MIT friends) will be running their very first marathons in Pittsburg (Sara) and Cleveland ( Jessica and Bill). I know they are all going to do awesome, and I can't wait to welcome them into the marathon club!
Next week I will begin a brand new season with MIT and will train through the summer for the Marine Corps Marathon on October 30! Many MIT friends including some of my favorite sole sisters are going to run it as well! It's going to be a fun summer of training (well mostly fun), of course it will be hard work but in the words of my favorite running author Kristen Armstrong.. "We don't run because it's easy, we run because it's real."
Looking forward to posting more as the summer progresses, maybe I'll even get all fancy and post a picture from time to time too!
Run on friends,
Heather
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