So many things to happen in a month!
Yes, I finished the 5k in under 35 minutes.
34 minutes, 57 seconds.
Race conditions weren't ideal--40 degrees at the start of the race, the final 2/10 uphill straight into a strong wind. And a strained hip after it all.
Interestingly enough, the strained hip necessitated a trip to the doctor.
The doctor diagnosed high blood pressure.
WHAT?
So I've now had EKGs, Stress Tests, Ultrasounds of my heart, echocardiograms--and will be having an ultrasound of my renal arteries in a couple of weeks.
I'm changing my eating somewhat but haven't been able to run because of the hip.
I am not handling this graciously, gentle readers.
So please pray.
I have tried to walk when I can but miss the physical outlet of running. Walking just ain't the same. I'm praying that once my hip stops hurting completely, I can return to the running.
And some consistent medical answers would be nice, too.
Prayers, please!
RevMutha
Friday, June 5, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Achieving my fitness goal
Well, gentle readers, I've done it!
I ran the Lilac 5k course last night without stopping or dying. I ran it in 35 minutes, 50 seconds. The folks in my training class were give the opportunity to run it with one of the Medved runners who coaches us on Saturday mornings. A big number of runners participated. I was in the intermediate group. A number of people started out pretty quickly and then slowed down. I think I kept a pretty steady pace throughout the run. I sprinted at the end, which is a bit of a challenge because the course ends going up a hill. But it felt great to know that I have run the course and have done what I set out to do. Beloved step-daughter Rachel has asked me about my next fitness goal. Well, first I want to run the official 5k on May 17. There are some other 5ks that are taking place this summer that I might enter. I also want to set up a running group for General Convention in Anaheim this summer. Beyond that, I don't know! I think my goal for a while will just be running at least 3 miles 3-4 times a week. I don't know if I want to bump it up and try to do a 10k or not...I'll just see how things go.
Life is good. I'm off to Albany today for a pre General Convention Province II synod meeting. Hopefully the meeting will be inspirational. Prayers, please.
Peace,
RevMutha
I ran the Lilac 5k course last night without stopping or dying. I ran it in 35 minutes, 50 seconds. The folks in my training class were give the opportunity to run it with one of the Medved runners who coaches us on Saturday mornings. A big number of runners participated. I was in the intermediate group. A number of people started out pretty quickly and then slowed down. I think I kept a pretty steady pace throughout the run. I sprinted at the end, which is a bit of a challenge because the course ends going up a hill. But it felt great to know that I have run the course and have done what I set out to do. Beloved step-daughter Rachel has asked me about my next fitness goal. Well, first I want to run the official 5k on May 17. There are some other 5ks that are taking place this summer that I might enter. I also want to set up a running group for General Convention in Anaheim this summer. Beyond that, I don't know! I think my goal for a while will just be running at least 3 miles 3-4 times a week. I don't know if I want to bump it up and try to do a 10k or not...I'll just see how things go.
Life is good. I'm off to Albany today for a pre General Convention Province II synod meeting. Hopefully the meeting will be inspirational. Prayers, please.
Peace,
RevMutha
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Changing roles
In the past few days, God has given me some neat opportunities to change my roles and perspectives. On Wednesday evening, I found out that I didn't get a job for which I had applied and I was bummed for a number of reasons. The friends/family members who knew I had applied were great when I told them I didn't get it and have been wonderfully supportive since then. On Friday morning, I was thinking about another woman who had applied for the same job (and didn't get it) and decided to send her a text to see if she was okay. Within a short amount of time, my phone rang, and it was this woman calling to commiserate. I got to change roles from victim to care-giver because she was clearly devastated whereas I had kind of had the "Well, God must have something bigger in store for me" attitude.
I had another opportunity in running training this morning. After being told we were going to run 40 minutes straight, I was all set to start fussing and complaining. However, it turns out that I was the only one in the group with a sport watch with a chronograph on it. All of a sudden, I felt like it was my job to encourage us with things like "Y'all, we're doing great. Half-way there!" And "We're awesome! Only 15 minutes to go!" And "Wow--we're really kicking it today! 8 minutes left!" etc...So I went from complainer to encourager.
I like learning new life lessons. And I like sharing them. So, if things suck, change your role.
Peace,
RevMutha
I had another opportunity in running training this morning. After being told we were going to run 40 minutes straight, I was all set to start fussing and complaining. However, it turns out that I was the only one in the group with a sport watch with a chronograph on it. All of a sudden, I felt like it was my job to encourage us with things like "Y'all, we're doing great. Half-way there!" And "We're awesome! Only 15 minutes to go!" And "Wow--we're really kicking it today! 8 minutes left!" etc...So I went from complainer to encourager.
I like learning new life lessons. And I like sharing them. So, if things suck, change your role.
Peace,
RevMutha
Personal Best
Okay. I've been kind of lame about posting. Sorry for that. I noticed that I did great in January, pretty good in February and March, and not so great in April. I'll work on it.
This morning, I achieved a personal best. I went to running training with my group. Our directions for today were to run 3-4 miles. Now y'all may remember that my goal at the beginning of all this was to be able to run 3 miles without stopping or dying. When it was time to run, the coach asked us how far we wanted to go. I said I was fine with three miles. Another woman said she thought she could go 4. The gentleman in the group said 3.25 was the farthest he'd gone so far. So the coach said that he wanted us to run 40 minutes without stopping and that that would probably be about 3.5 miles. I have never run 40 minutes without stopping. I have run 30 minutes without stopping and here I was being asked to run 33% longer than my longest running time. No music, no tv--just other people and God's creation on a beautiful Saturday morning. So I said "Here's the deal. I will commit to this. But I'm pretty sure that I'll be complaining bitterly for the last 15 minutes." My running buddies laughed.
I did it.
I ran 40 minutes without stopping.
Probably at least 3.5 miles.
I feel GOOD!
Peace,
RevMutha
This morning, I achieved a personal best. I went to running training with my group. Our directions for today were to run 3-4 miles. Now y'all may remember that my goal at the beginning of all this was to be able to run 3 miles without stopping or dying. When it was time to run, the coach asked us how far we wanted to go. I said I was fine with three miles. Another woman said she thought she could go 4. The gentleman in the group said 3.25 was the farthest he'd gone so far. So the coach said that he wanted us to run 40 minutes without stopping and that that would probably be about 3.5 miles. I have never run 40 minutes without stopping. I have run 30 minutes without stopping and here I was being asked to run 33% longer than my longest running time. No music, no tv--just other people and God's creation on a beautiful Saturday morning. So I said "Here's the deal. I will commit to this. But I'm pretty sure that I'll be complaining bitterly for the last 15 minutes." My running buddies laughed.
I did it.
I ran 40 minutes without stopping.
Probably at least 3.5 miles.
I feel GOOD!
Peace,
RevMutha
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Running with the club
Every Saturday morning, runners from the running training group (and anyone else who wants to join) meet at the running store and train together. I got back in town last night and decided to get up early and join the running training group. While I was gone, I did run in LA (beautiful run along the boardwalk from Venice Beach into Santa Monica) and also in San Antonio (hilly neighborhood my folks live in!) We ran between 2 1/2 and 3 miles this morning and it was tough but it felt great. The race is 3 weeks from tomorrow so it's time to get serious about the training! (Not that I haven't been serious, mind you.)
I'll keep y'all updated this week!
I'll be running Monday, Wednesday, Thursday night, Friday (easy run) and next Saturday (with the group.) I'm about to go back to the store to get them to check my shoes and feet because I'm getting some blisters and I want to see if it's the fit of my shoes or something else...I'm also going to get a watch so I can do splits and pacing and other official running type timing stuff--I'm truly just throwing around words here to impress y'all. "Stuff" is such a technical term...
MOST SPECIAL SHOUT OUT!!
Happy Birthday to my amazing step-daughter, Rachel. Rachel is one of my sheroes. She embraces challenges, sets difficult goals for herself (and achieves them), she is beautiful, smart, loving, funny, tolerant, forgiving, compassionate, and the list goes on and on. I owe her so much. Times haven't always been easy in our household but Rachel has helped us weather many storms together. One of the things I admire most about her is her thoughtfulness. Rachel doesn't forget to sent cards on birthdays, holidays, etc. I'm horrible about this and she loves me anyway. I have had lots to learn about parenting and, bless her heart, Rachel had to be the test ground. I screwed up a lot and she loves me anyway. She is an amazing big sister and just darn fun to be around. So Rachel, here's to you. I love you, I'm proud of you, and I'm so glad you'll be with me as I complete my first 5k! You get the credit for being my inspiration. Keep doing what you're doing. Trust your instincts. And be your best self!
I'll keep y'all updated this week!
I'll be running Monday, Wednesday, Thursday night, Friday (easy run) and next Saturday (with the group.) I'm about to go back to the store to get them to check my shoes and feet because I'm getting some blisters and I want to see if it's the fit of my shoes or something else...I'm also going to get a watch so I can do splits and pacing and other official running type timing stuff--I'm truly just throwing around words here to impress y'all. "Stuff" is such a technical term...
MOST SPECIAL SHOUT OUT!!
Happy Birthday to my amazing step-daughter, Rachel. Rachel is one of my sheroes. She embraces challenges, sets difficult goals for herself (and achieves them), she is beautiful, smart, loving, funny, tolerant, forgiving, compassionate, and the list goes on and on. I owe her so much. Times haven't always been easy in our household but Rachel has helped us weather many storms together. One of the things I admire most about her is her thoughtfulness. Rachel doesn't forget to sent cards on birthdays, holidays, etc. I'm horrible about this and she loves me anyway. I have had lots to learn about parenting and, bless her heart, Rachel had to be the test ground. I screwed up a lot and she loves me anyway. She is an amazing big sister and just darn fun to be around. So Rachel, here's to you. I love you, I'm proud of you, and I'm so glad you'll be with me as I complete my first 5k! You get the credit for being my inspiration. Keep doing what you're doing. Trust your instincts. And be your best self!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Saturday, Monday, Wednesday
Yep, gentle readers, I ran all these days. Now Saturday was very tough on account of I was bushed. Maxed out. Close to exhausted. Ready to be done. And I still had to get through an Easter Vigil (love that Exsultet but it's lots of chanting! And Eucharistic Prayer D!) and a Sunday morning Easter mass. So Saturday was more of a run with periods of walking. But Monday and Wednesday were straight running through. The amazing Rachel gave me some good advice about starting slow, gradually increasing my speed, and then doing some intervals where I push up the speed for 30 seconds or a minute. I found that I like running faster for about two or three minutes and then decreasing the speed...My goal is to be running 3 miles in 30 minutes and now I'm at about 2.75 miles but I still have a little over 4 weeks until the 5k. And since Rachel will be here to be my pace person, I know I'll be fine.
Off to LA tomorrow to preach and preside at a U2charist with a Bono impersonator. Then I go from there to Texas to spend some much needed time with my folks and the little reds. I'm ready for some heat! And grateful that my parents have a treadmill in their house because running in the Texas sun might be worse than running in Palau.
More from the West Coast!
Peace,
RevMutha
Off to LA tomorrow to preach and preside at a U2charist with a Bono impersonator. Then I go from there to Texas to spend some much needed time with my folks and the little reds. I'm ready for some heat! And grateful that my parents have a treadmill in their house because running in the Texas sun might be worse than running in Palau.
More from the West Coast!
Peace,
RevMutha
Friday, April 10, 2009
Good Friday's Run
I ran first thing this morning (well, after drinking some coffee, drinking some water, and eating half of a power bar.)
I didn't go as fast as I did on Wednesday--I think I actually tried to start out too fast instead of starting slower and gradually increasing and then slowing back down. So when I run tomorrow morning, that's what I plan to do--7 to 8 minutes at a slower pace, 15 to 16 minutes at a faster pace, and then 7 to 8 minutes at a slower pace. We'll see how it goes. I still ran 2.5 miles. I tried not to look at the time on the treadmill so often and I think that helped. If the weather cooperates, I'll run outside in the morning.
Today is my baby girl's 9th birthday! I didn't plan so well in terms of timing my chirren's births--one 2 weeks after Christmas and one that usually falls in/around Holy Week and Easter. That combined with a husband's birthday on April 6. The thing is, I'm not all that good with remembering birthdays anyway. I try to let folks know on a fairly consistent basis that I love them and try to do little things for them year round cause doing big birthday parties isn't so much my thing...That said, we have never yet not had a big birthday party for our daughters. Tonight younger daughter will have 18 school friends over for a pizza/swimming party and then 8 young ladies will spend the night and go with us to see the "Hannah Montana" movie tomorrow. Thank God for an associate priest who's willing to take the evening service for me tonight. I'll join him for the Vigil tomorrow night. But this certainly makes for a long(er) weekend!
Prayers, please.
Peace,
RevMutha
I didn't go as fast as I did on Wednesday--I think I actually tried to start out too fast instead of starting slower and gradually increasing and then slowing back down. So when I run tomorrow morning, that's what I plan to do--7 to 8 minutes at a slower pace, 15 to 16 minutes at a faster pace, and then 7 to 8 minutes at a slower pace. We'll see how it goes. I still ran 2.5 miles. I tried not to look at the time on the treadmill so often and I think that helped. If the weather cooperates, I'll run outside in the morning.
Today is my baby girl's 9th birthday! I didn't plan so well in terms of timing my chirren's births--one 2 weeks after Christmas and one that usually falls in/around Holy Week and Easter. That combined with a husband's birthday on April 6. The thing is, I'm not all that good with remembering birthdays anyway. I try to let folks know on a fairly consistent basis that I love them and try to do little things for them year round cause doing big birthday parties isn't so much my thing...That said, we have never yet not had a big birthday party for our daughters. Tonight younger daughter will have 18 school friends over for a pizza/swimming party and then 8 young ladies will spend the night and go with us to see the "Hannah Montana" movie tomorrow. Thank God for an associate priest who's willing to take the evening service for me tonight. I'll join him for the Vigil tomorrow night. But this certainly makes for a long(er) weekend!
Prayers, please.
Peace,
RevMutha
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