Through the Calm and Through the Storm: running

Showing posts with label running. Show all posts

Friday, March 27, 2015

Random Five on Friday March 26th

1. I think we've skipped right over Spring and hit Summer. I still think it's far too cold to get in the pool, but two of my brave kids had their inaugural swim yesterday afternoon.

2. I just finished the latest baby blanket. For some reason I keep picking striped patterns to crochet. I forget how much I dislike weaving in all the loose ends that stripes create. (I wish I could share a picture, but it's a big surprise.)

3. According to HomeSchool Office, we are 78% of the way done with our school year.

4. Recently, we put our entire iTunes library (including a bunch of songs imported from CDs) on an old iPod. I set it to shuffle and put it in my car. There's just no telling what sort of song is going to come up next. I had to quickly turn down the volume when I went through the gate at the base last week. I didn't want the security forces to laugh at us listening to "Survivor" as sung by the Chipettes.

5. Last Sunday morning I completed my third half-marathon. For anyone that's keeping score, the tally now stands at Cristi -- 4, Diabetes -- 0.

If you'd like to join the Random 5 on Friday fun, you can either click on the cute birdhouse button below or visit The Pebble Pond.

Monday, December 8, 2014

Diabetes Still Didn't Win

Last Fall, I posted a #showmeyourpump picture after finishing a Sprint Triathlon.

Yesterday's Half Marathon was a rematch of sorts:

I ran a half-marathon, and diabetes tried hard to keep me from finishing. I boarded a bus to the starting line nearly two hours before race start so I carried my glucose monitor with me in a waist pack. Just moments before the race started, a quick blood sugar check showed that it had dropped to 74 -- much too low to start a run, much less a 13.1 mile run. I swallowed the first emergency gel I had with me and started running. At about a quarter of a mile into the race, there was an aid station that offered power gels. I grabbed one and held it like a security blanket for the next few miles. Thankfully, the power gel that I eventually ate about 6 miles into the run and a bunch of cups of Gatorade at the aid stations kept my glucose numbers high enough to finish the whole race.

My official race time was 2 hrs, 21 minutes, and 38 seconds. Take that Diabetes!

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Tri for Kindness {Wordless Wednesday}

Saturday, August 10, 2013

Undaunted {Blogging Through the Alphabet}

I think I've mentioned my crazy idea to run a series of three races this summer/fall. The first one was an easy 5K. I'm about three weeks away from the second one -- an eight mile course through the hills of a National Park. The third race isn't until mid-October, but it's already on my mind.

It's the "A Mountain Half-Marathon," and yes, there's a reason it's named after the mountain.

I can see the A from several places around town -- when I'm at the University hospital for Lauren's labwork, when we're on our way to Girls Chorus rehearsals, or when I'm just out shopping on that side of town.

Sometimes when I see the mountain, I think, "What in the world did I get myself into?" Other times, I look at the mountain and think, "No Big Deal. I can conquer that."

This week, I looked at A Mountain and declared myself Undaunted. I am "courageously resolute in the face of difficulty," and I will not be discouraged. (definitions from Merriam-Webster.com)

U is for Undaunted -- my contribution to this week's Blogging through the Alphabet challenge.

Friday, August 9, 2013

Random Five on Friday, August 9th

1. It's been a very busy blogging week. If you haven't seen it already, I invite you to check out my 5 Days of Picnics posts.

2. Every day when I think about my Beauty Captured post, I'm tempted to post a picture of our mountains. Do you think Miranda would mind if I only posted mountain scenes?

3. This friendly tarantula decided to spend last Saturday afternoon hanging out near our front door. After taking a quick FB poll, I dared to let it walk across my hand.

4. I had an awesome run this morning. I've been training for an eight-miler that'll be on Labor Day. The big problem isn't the eight miles -- it's the huge hills in the middle of the eight mile route. Today was a beautiful morning to be out running. We started when it was still so dark that I could clearly see the stars and ended as the sun peaked over the top of the mountains. (Note: I thought it was a pretty good run. Tim's still grumbling about the mountain at around the three-and-a-half to five-mile points. He's a good sport to even attempt the course with me, especially since he won't be around to do the official race.)

5. Lauren started making friendship bracelets recently, and she talked me into making one with a heart design for her. I felt like I was back in Junior High when I taped the embroidery thread to my jeans.

I enjoy sharing five random thoughts on Fridays. If you'd like to join the fun, you can either click on the "Random 5 on Friday" birdhouse button above or visit The Pebble Pond. I'm also linking up with Collage Friday at Homegrown Learners.

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Sunday, July 21, 2013

Running Buddies {Scripture and a Snapshot}

For years I primarily ran alone. Occasionally my schedule matched up with Tim's enough that we could go for a run together, but typically he ran in the mornings at work and I ran at home whenever I could find a bit of free time.

Last winter a group of ladies from our church decided to start running with the Couch 2 5K program. A whole bunch of us cheered each other on along the way and ran together in the Race for the Cure 5K in March. Some of the ladies had been training together, and a couple months ago I started joining them for early morning runs.

Even though it's awfully early in the mornings, it's a special time where we get to chat with each other while we run. We finish our run with a prayer and then head off to care for our families another day.

"Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up."

Eccesiastes 3:9-10 HCSB

I'm thankful to have friends to run with, especially friends that I know will lift me up if I have one of those falling down sorts of days.

Note: We're smiling in the picture above because we all just finished a hot 5K race through downtown. We aren't always smiling that much when we meet in the mornings -- at least not until after we've woken up and run a few miles.

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Random Five for Friday June 14th (a day late)

1. Addison made it safely home from her choir tour. She has tons of stories about all she saw in the Bay Area, everywhere they sang, and all the food she ate. She brought home two pounds of belly flops for us all to share.

2. Brennan played his last baseball game of the season on Monday night. I'm awfully proud of the way he played this season and kept a good attitude through it all.

3. Lauren had a check-up with her orthopedic surgeon Friday. Overall, everything looks pretty good. She switched casts to a slightly smaller red one, and the doctor put a loop on it so that it'll be easier to keep still. He says this style is more old-fashioned than a regular sling, but we can already tell that it's a lot easier than worrying about her arm slipping out of the sling.

4. I bought this shirt at Target the other night because I loved the saying. I can see me wearing it often.

5. I'm not sure if running is making me more fit or more crazy. Tim and I got up super-early this morning for a training run -- 8.5 miles of running/walking around the hilliest route I know of in this area. I'm pleased that we averaged slightly better than a 12 minute mile. I'm hopeful that I'll be able to run the whole way when it comes time for the race in September.

I enjoy sharing five random thoughts on Fridays, even though I'm a day late this week. If you'd like to join the fun, you can either click on the "Random 5 on Friday" button above or visit The Pebble Pond.

Sunday, June 2, 2013

K is for a 5K and the Kinesiotape that made it happen

A few months ago, one of my running buddies from church told me about the Gabe Zimmerman Triple Crown race series. I had just run my first 5K of the year, and I was up for a challenge.

The first race was a "nighttime" 5K downtown. When we left home, I wondered what in the world I was thinking when I agreed to a race in June. Since it was nearly 100 degrees, the run was a lot tougher than my normal early morning runs.

I was running without using my iPod to calculate my pace and even without keeping track of the time on my watch. In the end, I finished at just under 29 minutes on the clock -- a chip time of 28:47.

The next race should hopefully be a bit cooler, but I'm pretty sure it's not going to be any easier. On Labor Day morning, I'll be running the very hilly eight mile loop through the Saguaro National Park.

During my past runs, I've worn a small strap under my knee to help prevent (or reduce) knee pain. It worked fairly well, but the band is a bit uncomfortable when running in hot weather. This weekend, I tried using Kinesiotape to provide the support I need. It worked wonderfully, and I'll likely be using it often.

The bright blue spot of tape on my leg may prove to be quite a fashion statement this summer.

I'm linking this post to others that are on the letter K in our Blogging Through the Alphabet series. It's still not too late to join us on this round -- jump in anytime!

Saturday, March 2, 2013

No Excuses

Last October, I mentioned my "runner girl" magnet on the back of my van. At the time, I mentioned how I needed to either start running again or take off the magnet. I chose to start running.

Having the magnet doesn't make me a runner. Stepping away from the computer and putting on my tennis shoes makes me a runner.

Today I learned another lesson about being a runner.

A runner doesn't make excuses.

I've had a very busy week with a whole lot more appointments than normal. I hadn't gotten in a good run all week. (The one afternoon that I did start out to run, I was interrupted by a phone call from one of Lauren's doctors.)

I didn't have any commitments today, but I also didn't have anyone to watch Lauren while I ran. I could either sit at home on this gorgeous afternoon whining about how I couldn't run or I could figure out a plan B.

I decided to take a few running buddies with me.

No excuses.

It was a great day to be running!

I know it's a stretch, but I'm counting my "No excuses" post as my letter x for blogging through the alphabet. Some of my other friends found ideas that actually start with x, so if you're a stickler for the rules, be sure to stop by and find their blogs.