Monday, October 27, 2014
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Half Marathon Eve
'Twas the night before the BAA Half and all through the house, this runner was nervous and chatting the ear off her spouse. Her clothes and supplies were all laid out with care, in hopes to avoid forgetting crucial items at 5:00am when coming downstairs. And now she is headed to nestle snug in her bed, so visions of a BAA medal can dance in her head. Merry half running to all and to all a good night!
Monday, October 6, 2014
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Lessons Learned From Achilles
In Greek mythology it is said that Achilles' mother, Thetis, dipped him in the river Styx as a child thus making him invincible, with the exception of the back of his heel by which she lowered him into the water. Guided by Apollo, Paris (in retribution for Achilles victories on the battlefield) aimed a poisoned arrow for Achilles' heel and killed him. Despite Achilles' having survived countless conflicts it was this one tiny vulnerable spot which bought down the mighty warrior. Hence we use the term Achilles Heel when referencing vulnerabilities - "my Achilles Heel is chocolate," for example. And anatomically, the tendon that connects our calf muscle to our heel bone bears Achilles' name.
Runners are not so different from Achilles. We train hard, we play hard, and we like to think we are invincible - though we are far from it. We all have our vulnerabilities and often it is the tiniest, and least expected, thing which can bring us down. I learned that lesson the hard way as of late thanks to my - you guessed it - Achilles tendon.
I was towards the end of my eleven mile long run two weekends ago when suddenly I felt a slight pain along the "spine" of my left Achilles tendon. Having never felt pain while running (beside the standard and expected pang of tired legs or the mental pain of knowing how many miles remain), I attempted to run it off. I made it through the last few miles but it was not easy. Returning home I took some advil, iced the area, and made the mistake of googling "runner achilles pain." Turns out Achilles pain and injuries are one of the top three runner ailments and while descriptions and diagnoses varied from article to article, the common takeaway was that you should stop running immediately if you experience Achilles pain.
Ummm, so you mean running that last three miles uphill wasn't a smart idea?
Ooops.
None-the-less, the pain disappeared as soon as I stopped running and I didn't feel even a hint of pain while walking the rest of that day, or on my Sunday rest day. Figuring this was a sign that the pain had been a mere irritation versus an injury, I embarked on my five mile Monday run with baited breath. The first three miles felt great and it seemed I may be in the clear. After pausing at a stoplight and starting up again, my hopes were dashed. There was the pain again - at first a slight whisper before quickly intensifying into a throbbing shout. And while I desperately wanted to pretend I could run it off, I knew better than to force it. Slowing to a walk, I gingerly made my way through the last two miles back to my office, twice attempting to run again before returning to a screeching halt due to the immediate pain.
Knowing I will be marathon training through Boston's brutal winter, I have been envisioning all the things that might bring me down in the months to come while attempting to strategize preventative solutions. Black Ice (sneaker treads). The flu (got my shot!). Two cats snuggling on my chest and making it hard to get up at 6:00am on a Saturday (yeah...I've got nothing for this one yet). But a little pain in the back of my heel? COME ON.
I took the next few days off.
Which was hard.
No, really...stop laughing...it was actually hard to rest!
Because despite the amount of times I may grumble about it, I truly and honestly love running. It clears my head, revs my energy, and floods me with those oh-so-wonderful happy endorphins. No happy endorphins = Cranky sluggish Erin.
Finally after a week of rest and some new sneakers, I headed back out on the Charles last week and since then, have logged some of my best runs yet. Pain free. Go figure.
Sometimes what seems like a setback is really just life forcing you to stop, take a breath, and prepare to surge forward.You have to look at the bigger picture and not just the moment at hand. Did I feel frustrated that I lost miles and training time as my first half-marathon quickly approaches next weekend? Yes. But did I learn a valuable lesson about taking care of myself and preventing an injury that could have sidelined me much longer or even permanently? Also yes.
I have been dwelling upon this during the ample time myenjoyable atrocious commute offers me. Historically, I would have just ignored the pain and kept running. And historically, that would have led to a severe injury forcing me to take off much, much more time from training, and which would eventually lead me to abandon running all together for a year. Or five. Oh yeah, I suppose I should briefly mention that time in L.A. when I basically broke my ankle mid-hike but insisted on hiking down the mountain, and then refused to seek medical attention due to my stubborn nature and lack of health insurance at the time. Bad decision making at its finest. But we live and we learn, or so they say - yes?
And yet, so often we really don't learn. It took me another run before I listened to that little voice in my head telling me to stop and take care of the pain. And honestly, had I not been scared by all those articles mentioning chronic achilles injuries that could prevent me from training for or running the marathon, I probably would have kept going. Despite having learned my lesson previously (and painfully). It is just human nature and symptomatic of the age we live in. We push things until they break. We never slow down. We are always flying forward at a million miles per hour until some thing, person, or event literally forces us to stop.
As I learn more about Dana-Farber's life saving and changing research, I am reminded even further of this. So often we discuss how to treat cancer - but a big part of it is prevention as well. Taking care of yourself is the biggest way you can prevent cancer and other diseases from affecting you in your lifetime - and yet, despite knowing this, so many of us don't.We do not eat the way we should, or get enough rest. We do not see our doctors regularly or find ways to reduce the ever compounding stress in our lives. The list goes on and on. But it is crucial that we take the time to stop take care of ourselves, before something else forces us to.
None of us are invincible - that is the stuff of myths. But by investing in your health and well being, you might just come as close to it as you can.
Runners are not so different from Achilles. We train hard, we play hard, and we like to think we are invincible - though we are far from it. We all have our vulnerabilities and often it is the tiniest, and least expected, thing which can bring us down. I learned that lesson the hard way as of late thanks to my - you guessed it - Achilles tendon.
I was towards the end of my eleven mile long run two weekends ago when suddenly I felt a slight pain along the "spine" of my left Achilles tendon. Having never felt pain while running (beside the standard and expected pang of tired legs or the mental pain of knowing how many miles remain), I attempted to run it off. I made it through the last few miles but it was not easy. Returning home I took some advil, iced the area, and made the mistake of googling "runner achilles pain." Turns out Achilles pain and injuries are one of the top three runner ailments and while descriptions and diagnoses varied from article to article, the common takeaway was that you should stop running immediately if you experience Achilles pain.
Ummm, so you mean running that last three miles uphill wasn't a smart idea?
Ooops.
None-the-less, the pain disappeared as soon as I stopped running and I didn't feel even a hint of pain while walking the rest of that day, or on my Sunday rest day. Figuring this was a sign that the pain had been a mere irritation versus an injury, I embarked on my five mile Monday run with baited breath. The first three miles felt great and it seemed I may be in the clear. After pausing at a stoplight and starting up again, my hopes were dashed. There was the pain again - at first a slight whisper before quickly intensifying into a throbbing shout. And while I desperately wanted to pretend I could run it off, I knew better than to force it. Slowing to a walk, I gingerly made my way through the last two miles back to my office, twice attempting to run again before returning to a screeching halt due to the immediate pain.
Knowing I will be marathon training through Boston's brutal winter, I have been envisioning all the things that might bring me down in the months to come while attempting to strategize preventative solutions. Black Ice (sneaker treads). The flu (got my shot!). Two cats snuggling on my chest and making it hard to get up at 6:00am on a Saturday (yeah...I've got nothing for this one yet). But a little pain in the back of my heel? COME ON.
I took the next few days off.
Which was hard.
No, really...stop laughing...it was actually hard to rest!
Because despite the amount of times I may grumble about it, I truly and honestly love running. It clears my head, revs my energy, and floods me with those oh-so-wonderful happy endorphins. No happy endorphins = Cranky sluggish Erin.
Finally after a week of rest and some new sneakers, I headed back out on the Charles last week and since then, have logged some of my best runs yet. Pain free. Go figure.
Sometimes what seems like a setback is really just life forcing you to stop, take a breath, and prepare to surge forward.You have to look at the bigger picture and not just the moment at hand. Did I feel frustrated that I lost miles and training time as my first half-marathon quickly approaches next weekend? Yes. But did I learn a valuable lesson about taking care of myself and preventing an injury that could have sidelined me much longer or even permanently? Also yes.
I have been dwelling upon this during the ample time my
And yet, so often we really don't learn. It took me another run before I listened to that little voice in my head telling me to stop and take care of the pain. And honestly, had I not been scared by all those articles mentioning chronic achilles injuries that could prevent me from training for or running the marathon, I probably would have kept going. Despite having learned my lesson previously (and painfully). It is just human nature and symptomatic of the age we live in. We push things until they break. We never slow down. We are always flying forward at a million miles per hour until some thing, person, or event literally forces us to stop.
As I learn more about Dana-Farber's life saving and changing research, I am reminded even further of this. So often we discuss how to treat cancer - but a big part of it is prevention as well. Taking care of yourself is the biggest way you can prevent cancer and other diseases from affecting you in your lifetime - and yet, despite knowing this, so many of us don't.We do not eat the way we should, or get enough rest. We do not see our doctors regularly or find ways to reduce the ever compounding stress in our lives. The list goes on and on. But it is crucial that we take the time to stop take care of ourselves, before something else forces us to.
None of us are invincible - that is the stuff of myths. But by investing in your health and well being, you might just come as close to it as you can.
Monday, September 22, 2014
Friday, September 19, 2014
Raising the Bar of Expectations
It is finally sinking in. I am running my first marathon this April.
My only prior experience with marathons involved Mad Men and popcorn, so this is a rather tall order. The shock and initial excitement of being accepted to the team has been tempered by a full realization of the challenge I have undertaken.
And yet I am still SO excited. No, really.
Scared out of my wits? Sure am!
Unsure if I can do this? Yup.
Questioning my choices? Usually do.
But still excited? Hell yeah.
One of my running inspirations is Shalane Flanagan who, as she prepares to beat the American women's marathon record next weekend in Berlin, recently said:
Sometimes I shake my head and say, 'I don't know how I'm going to do this,' but I just put my head down and try. It's amazing, when you raise the bar of expectations, you somehow just meet it if you really are motivated.
And that is how I feel about this. The bar of expectations has been raised and I am more motivated than I have ever been. Bring on the good, the bad, the warm, the cold, and everything (and all the miles) in between!
While being motivated is great, I could NOT do any of this without the tremendous support of my family and friends (one of which you likely are if you are reading this)! Since sharing that I was accepted to the 2015 DFMC team, I have been overwhelmed by all of your kind notes of encouragement, support, and congratulations - thank you! Many of you also had questions, so here are some answers:
Why are you running?
Because of this family.
And, because of this family.
And, because cancer does not discriminate between a newborn baby or thirty-six year old Mom with young kids. It just plain sucks. So I want to do something about it and help ensure that Dana-Farber can continue its innovative research, which has consistently led to higher cure rates and advanced treatments for those bravely facing cancer.
Also, because I am healthy and I can. So many people do not have this option, for various reasons. Who am I to ignore the blessings that are my mobility and health while so many others struggle each day to maintain or reclaim their own? If there was ever a time to go after what has long been a secret goal, it is now. And so I am!
My only prior experience with marathons involved Mad Men and popcorn, so this is a rather tall order. The shock and initial excitement of being accepted to the team has been tempered by a full realization of the challenge I have undertaken.
And yet I am still SO excited. No, really.
Scared out of my wits? Sure am!
Unsure if I can do this? Yup.
Questioning my choices? Usually do.
But still excited? Hell yeah.
One of my running inspirations is Shalane Flanagan who, as she prepares to beat the American women's marathon record next weekend in Berlin, recently said:
Sometimes I shake my head and say, 'I don't know how I'm going to do this,' but I just put my head down and try. It's amazing, when you raise the bar of expectations, you somehow just meet it if you really are motivated.
And that is how I feel about this. The bar of expectations has been raised and I am more motivated than I have ever been. Bring on the good, the bad, the warm, the cold, and everything (and all the miles) in between!
While being motivated is great, I could NOT do any of this without the tremendous support of my family and friends (one of which you likely are if you are reading this)! Since sharing that I was accepted to the 2015 DFMC team, I have been overwhelmed by all of your kind notes of encouragement, support, and congratulations - thank you! Many of you also had questions, so here are some answers:
Why are you running?
Because of this family.
And, because of this family.
And, because cancer does not discriminate between a newborn baby or thirty-six year old Mom with young kids. It just plain sucks. So I want to do something about it and help ensure that Dana-Farber can continue its innovative research, which has consistently led to higher cure rates and advanced treatments for those bravely facing cancer.
Also, because I am healthy and I can. So many people do not have this option, for various reasons. Who am I to ignore the blessings that are my mobility and health while so many others struggle each day to maintain or reclaim their own? If there was ever a time to go after what has long been a secret goal, it is now. And so I am!
Why Boston?
My first "Marathon Monday" was shortly after we relocated to the Greater Boston area in 2012. I had no idea about the history of the marathon or this region's deep-seated love for their race. The 2012 running was historic for the abnormally high temps topping out at 89 degrees and ranking among the ten hottest days in race history.
The 2013 running was historic for far different reasons, of which you are likely well aware. Though you may not be aware that my office sits on the 26 mile point of the course. When the first bomb went off, I naively thought it may be a cannon shot or gun display in honor of Patriots Day (on which the race is ran every year). As I neared the window of our office to take in what I thought was festivities, the second bomb went off. Exactly one block from my office. The resulting moments of that day, and the week that followed, will be forever seared in my memory and heart.
The despicable acts of violence carried out on April 15, 2013 shaked my faith in humanity. But the strength, determination, love, and support of the Boston community on and since that day has helped me to see the sheer power and goodness of humanity. Hopefully in the future I can more eloquently capture my emotions about that day and what this race now means to me and to this city. But that is another post for another day. So until then - why Boston? Because there is nowhere else I would rather take on this test of endurance and celebration of human resilience than in a city that has become a shining symbol for both.
And speaking of training, tomorrow's long run calls for 12 miles so I suppose I should go plan my route...and post-run snacks...but really, my route...
My first "Marathon Monday" was shortly after we relocated to the Greater Boston area in 2012. I had no idea about the history of the marathon or this region's deep-seated love for their race. The 2012 running was historic for the abnormally high temps topping out at 89 degrees and ranking among the ten hottest days in race history.
The 2013 running was historic for far different reasons, of which you are likely well aware. Though you may not be aware that my office sits on the 26 mile point of the course. When the first bomb went off, I naively thought it may be a cannon shot or gun display in honor of Patriots Day (on which the race is ran every year). As I neared the window of our office to take in what I thought was festivities, the second bomb went off. Exactly one block from my office. The resulting moments of that day, and the week that followed, will be forever seared in my memory and heart.
The despicable acts of violence carried out on April 15, 2013 shaked my faith in humanity. But the strength, determination, love, and support of the Boston community on and since that day has helped me to see the sheer power and goodness of humanity. Hopefully in the future I can more eloquently capture my emotions about that day and what this race now means to me and to this city. But that is another post for another day. So until then - why Boston? Because there is nowhere else I would rather take on this test of endurance and celebration of human resilience than in a city that has become a shining symbol for both.
Are you already training?
Umm, sort of? I am in the midst of training for the Boston Half Marathon which I am running on October 12th. Which is half the marathon distance, hence the title. Only half. 13.1 miles. And I need to build up to 26.2 miles. Oh goodness, what I have done. Is it hot in here? I am starting to sweat a bit. And my stomach hurts. I think maybe I misread the marathon distance and thought it was 16.2. That is still a lot of miles. Ahhhh. What have I gotten myself into? Googling "marathon distance." Hmmm, wait- it burns HOW many calories? Googling "how many cookies can you eat after a marathon." Okay. Feeling a little better. I think I can do this guys...
So yeah. Physical training is only one component of any sort of training. Much of it is mental and not to be underestimated. I am constantly mentally training (myself to be motivated and run vs. eating cookies). After the half marathon, I will maintain my base mileage and mental motivation until our official marathon training begins in early December. The 18 week training plans we will follow have been designed by team advisor and 1976 Boston marathon winner Jack Fultz, and I am deeply grateful to have Jack's leadership and guidance on this journey. Our team will also have monthly meetings and group long runs starting in November, which will be an exciting element of training and also give me the chance to meet some new running friends as well.
So yeah. Physical training is only one component of any sort of training. Much of it is mental and not to be underestimated. I am constantly mentally training (myself to be motivated and run vs. eating cookies). After the half marathon, I will maintain my base mileage and mental motivation until our official marathon training begins in early December. The 18 week training plans we will follow have been designed by team advisor and 1976 Boston marathon winner Jack Fultz, and I am deeply grateful to have Jack's leadership and guidance on this journey. Our team will also have monthly meetings and group long runs starting in November, which will be an exciting element of training and also give me the chance to meet some new running friends as well.
And speaking of training, tomorrow's long run calls for 12 miles so I suppose I should go plan my route...and post-run snacks...but really, my route...
This pretty much sums it up...
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Right on Hereford, Left on Boylston
I got a spot on the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge Team!!!!
I am running the Boston Marathon!!!!
Ahhhh!!!!!!!
These are the thoughts that keep rotating through my mind in the hours since receiving the news that I have been selected for the 2015 DFMC team. This girl who could not run a mile in high school will be running 26.2 of 'em come this April.
I could not be more excited. Or terrified (but the good kind).
An ambitious running goal should be met with an equally ambitious fundraising goal, and my goal is to raise $10,000 before I take that right on Hereford and left on Boylston (which refers to the last two turns on the marathon course). 100% of the funds raised by the DFMC supports the Claudia Adams Barr Program in Innovative Basic Cancer Research. Since 1987, the Barr program has allowed talented and passionate doctors and investigators to pursue innovative research which has forever changed and shaped the approach to cancer care and treatment, not only at Dana-Farber but beyond. This crucial funding helps us all race towards the Ultimate Finish Line: A World Without Cancer.
While gifts of any amount are appreciated and vital, I am encouraging people to donate $26.20 in honor of the marathon distance.
You can also "sponsor a mile" for $126.20 and I have kicked things off by sponsoring the last two-tenths of a mile (as I imagine that after 26 miles that last little bit will certainly feel much longer).
There is a reason this is called the marathon challenge. Because it is a challenge, in every sense of the term. But it is one which I am looking forward to tackling and I know with a lot of hard work, I can do this! I will be sharing every step of my journey from Hopkinton to Boston right here, and thank you to those of you already cheering me on and to my amazing husband Dave for urging me to apply.
T-Minus 217 days. I've got some running to do!
While gifts of any amount are appreciated and vital, I am encouraging people to donate $26.20 in honor of the marathon distance.
You can also "sponsor a mile" for $126.20 and I have kicked things off by sponsoring the last two-tenths of a mile (as I imagine that after 26 miles that last little bit will certainly feel much longer).
There is a reason this is called the marathon challenge. Because it is a challenge, in every sense of the term. But it is one which I am looking forward to tackling and I know with a lot of hard work, I can do this! I will be sharing every step of my journey from Hopkinton to Boston right here, and thank you to those of you already cheering me on and to my amazing husband Dave for urging me to apply.
T-Minus 217 days. I've got some running to do!
Runners are directed to take a right on Hereford and Left on Boylston,
before heading past my office (at the 26 mile mark) and then to the finish line!
How long is 26.2 miles exactly? This long.
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