Thursday, December 9, 2010

Update

Sorry that I haven't updated my blog in a while.

I raised a total of $1,875 for the Alzheimer's Association! Thank you all so much for your donations and support.

I decided to not run in the St. Jude Marathon that was this past weekend in Memphis. I actually haven't been running much since the Chicago Marathon. I was very burnt out. Seeing everyone running on Saturday has motivated me again. I might not try another marathon, but I will start back on a regular running schedule again.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Smoking Doubles Dementia Risk Later in Life

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39837972/ns/health-addictions/

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Time to be Honest

Okay, it's time to be honest. The Chicago Marathon was draining, both physically and mentally. It has taken a major emotional toll on me. I am having major motivation issues, which has resulted in only 3 short runs since Chicago. I used to be addicted to running, but now sometimes the thought of having to run is just too much for me. I don't know if this is due to being scared of failing again, or if all the running I have been doing the past few months is just catching up with me. I read a Runner's World article yesterday about a woman who changing everything she said to "I get to" instead of "I have to." I tried that this morning when my alarm went off...I thought, "I get to go running." Unfortunately, that didn't work. I ended up resetting the alarm and going back to sleep. My goal is to run this afternoon.

I still have a training schedule for the St. Jude marathon that I plan on following. I just don't know if I will be able to do it. Honestly, I have no desire to have to relive my Chicago experience. I don't know whether I should train and try to run it or decide not to run it and just run when I feel like it for however long I feel with cross training on my "off" days.

If anyone has any advice, I would greatly welcome it.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Did Not Finish

Unfortunately, I was unable to finish the Chicago Marathon on Sunday. If only the race was the Chicago 18 miler, I would have been golden.

On Sunday, I was very upset about not being able to finish. I did listen to my body though, so I know I did the right thing. The temperatures reached the mid 80s with blaring sunshine. The course alert system went from a green at the start of the race to yellow to finally red. Red indicated a high alert level which meant potentially dangerous conditions. The recommended actions for red were "slow down/observe course changes/follow event official instruction/consider stopping." After a "bubble" forming in my right ear which led to difficulties breathing, I started to worry. After seeing a lady being carried off the course in a stretcher, I really started worrying and ended up having a panic attack. I kept trying to push through, and the last few miles that I ran/walked were a complete blur. I finally pulled over at the medical tent at mile 18 to call it a day.

To be honest, I have been beating myself up for not finishing. However, I know that I would have just caused myself harm had I continued. Luckily, I have already signed up for the St. Jude Marathon in Memphis on December 4. The temperature should be much better, and I won't have to travel! I will conquer the marathon!!

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Race Day

It's here...race day. I'm at the hotel now eating breakfast and getting ready for the day. We carb loaded last night at this little Italian place. I tried to get as much sleep as possible last night, but I was tossing and turning a lot. In about 30 minutes, we are leaving the hotel and walking to the start line. I'm still very nervous!

Friday, October 8, 2010

Bundle of Nerves

I am a complete and total bundle of nerves right now. I'm having a hard time concentrating at work. I am constantly looking up more stuff on the Chicago Marathon website and the Runner's World website. I am just ready to go. If I'm feeling this way at 10am on Friday, I can't imagine how I will be feeling at 7:30am on Sunday.

Luckily, I just found this quote on Runner's World...how appropriate. "Nerves and butterflies are fine - they're a physical sign that you're mentally ready and eager. You have to get the butterflies to fly in formation, that's the trick." ~Steve Bull

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Quote for the Week

"The body does not want you to do this. As you run, it tells you to stop but the mind must be strong. You always go too far for your body. You must handle the pain with strategy...It is not age; it is not diet. It is the will to succeed."

~ Jacqueline Gareau, 1980 Boston Marathon champ

Monday, October 4, 2010

Runner Tracker

Good news! You can follow my Chicago Marathon progress from the comfort of your own home.

If you sign up for runner tracker you can receive real-time updates via text message throughout the race. Updates will be received as runners cross the start line, 10K, halfway (13.1 miles), and 30K checkpoints, as well as the finish line. To sign up for Runner Tracking, follow this link http://www.textinterface.com/pls/text/TF_BACM_DT.

My bib number is 10962.

Race Week

Wow, it is finally here...race week. Back in January, when I first had the idea of running the Chicago Marathon, October 10 seemed a lifetime away. I can not believe that it's this Sunday. Time sure does fly by!

I have been tapering these past couple of weeks. It's a very odd sensation going from 19 mile runs to 8 mile runs. The 3-4 mile runs during the week are strange as well. I know that the tapering is designed to give my legs a break so they are fresh for the run. I just worry that I am losing endurance instead.

Yesterday, the 10 day forecast for Chicago called for a few rain showers on Sunday. I just checked again...mostly sunny, a low of 55, and a high of 73. YAY!

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Recap and Upcoming

Last week, training was rolling right along. I was feeling pretty confident about my 20 mile run. That is, until the day of the run. My stomach was upset before I even started my run. I ran my first lap and had to stop several times because of my stomach. I decided I had to push on though. I was able to complete 3 laps (9.45 miles) before I just had to stop. My body was telling me no! Even though this was supposed to be THE prep run for the marathon, my spirits were not down. I ran 19 miles a couple weeks ago, and I felt pretty good afterwards. I know that I could have continued running. Even though my body let me down, mentally I was ok.

These next weeks leading up to the marathon are my tapering weeks. I had a scheduled 5 mile run yesterday. I set out yesterday morning as usual. At one point during the 1st mile, I tripped over something on the sidewalk. Since it's extremely dark when I run in the AM, I had no idea what it was. Luckily, I was able to catch myself from falling. Then, 7 houses down from mine, I stumbled and completely lost my balance. I fell hard and slid across the concrete for a bit. My hands and right lower leg are scrapped up. The really bad part is my right hip/thigh that took the brunt of the fall. I was limping around all of yesterday. I had a tough time falling asleep last night, because I normally sleep on my right side. This morning, I hurt too much to attempt my 4 mile run. I'm hoping by resting it, I will be able to continue running tomorrow. It better start feeling better soon; the Chicago Marathon is right around the corner.

Here is my (hopefully) revised schedule for the week:
Monday - Strength Training (upper body)
Tuesday - 5 miles
Wednesday - Rest
Thursday - 4 miles
Friday - 5 miles
Saturday - Strength Training (upper body and abs)
Sunday - 12 miles

I received my Chicago Marathon Participant Guide in the mail Monday. I immediately sat down and read it cover to cover. I am getting excited and nervous!

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

World Alzheimer's Day

Today, September 21, is World Alzheimer's Day. Please take time today to visit www.alz.org to educate yourself on Alzheimer's.

Today Alzheimer's Disease International released a new report. Here are some startling statistics.

The total estimated worldwide costs of dementia are US$604 billion in 2010.

In 2010, there are an estimated 35.6 million people living with dementia worldwide. This number is expected to increase to 65.7 million by 2030 and 115.4 million by 2050.

If dementia care were a country, it would be the world’s 18th largest economy, ranking between Turkey and Indonesia. If it were a company, it would be the world’s largest by annual revenue exceeding Wal-Mart (US$414 billion) and Exxon Mobil (US$311 billion).

Monday, September 13, 2010

Schedule for September 13 - September 19

This week is the last week of hardcore training! After this week, the next 2.5 will have decreasing mileage. This way I will have fresh legs when I start my marathon.

Here is the schedule:

Monday - Strength Training - Upper Body (Tae-Bo like punches) and Abs (20 minute ab video)
Tuesday - 5 miles
Wednesday - 5 miles
Thursday - 5 miles
Friday - Strength Training - Upper Body (Dumbbells) and Abs
Saturday - 20 miles
Sunday - REST

Total mileage for the week: 35 miles

Quote of the week: "Even when you have gone as far as you can, and everything hurts, and you are staring at the specter of self-doubt, you can find a bit more strength deep inside you, if you look closely enough." ~ Hal Higdon

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Training Schedule for Sep 6 - 12

This week is a step back week. Yay! I need a step back after those 19 miles on Saturday. I actually took the step back week a little further by being lazy, enjoying the extended weekend, and not doing my strength training yesterday...oops.

Monday - Rest
Tuesday - 5 miles
Wednesday - 8 miles
Thursday - Strength Training (Upper Body and Abs)
Friday - 5 miles
Saturday or Sunday - 12 miles

Sunday, September 5, 2010

19 miles! WooHoo!!

Yesterday, I did it. I ran 19 miles!

I'll have to admit it; I have been struggling with motivation problems the past couple of weeks. Completing the 19 mile run yesterday has restored my motivation!

I really want to thank Mom for yesterday. She came over and sat in my front yard during my entire run. I run laps of 3.15 miles by my house. She was there with water, Gatorade, bananas, protein bars, and more importantly encouragement every time I came by. She even stood at the "finish line" to high five me after 19 miles. Knowing she was there made me HAVE to run the entire 19 miles. It was just what I needed!

Now I know that my last month of training will be productive. In 2 weeks, I have a 20 mile run. That distance was very intimidating on my training schedule until I now realize that it's only 1 mile more than my longest ever run. :)

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Schedule for August 30 - September 5

I'm sorry that the schedule is late for this week. Here it is.

Monday - Strength (Upper Body Dumbbells and Abs)
Tuesday - 3 miles
Wednesday - 5 miles
Thursday - Strength Training (Upper Body Resistance Bands and Abs)
Friday - 5 miles
Saturday - Rest
Sunday - 19 miles (Such a daunting task!)

Total mileage for the week: 32 miles

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Chuck Your Buttons for Alzheimer's

I found this site through the Mid-South Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. Check it out! They make bracelets and headbands, with all proceeds going to the Alzheimer's Association.

http://chuckyourbuttons.weebly.com/

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Quote of the Week

"You only ever grow as a human being if you're outside your comfort zone." ~ Percy Cerutty, running coach


I must really be growing as a human being, because these long runs definitely have me outside of my comfort zone!

Monday, August 23, 2010

Schedule for Aug. 23 - Aug. 29

Monday - Strength Training (Ab Work & Push Ups)
Tuesday - 5 miles
Wednesday - 8 miles
Thursday - Strength Training (Upper Body Dumbbells & Ab Work)
Friday - 5 miles
Saturday - Rest
Sunday - 18 miles

The forcast for this week looks MUCH better than the past several weeks. Here are the forcasted overnight lows for the mornings that I have scheduled runs. Hopefully, the lows are exactly while I'm running!
Tuesday: 67F
Wednesday: 69F
Friday: 62F
Sunday: 71F

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

75 Degrees with 62% Humidity

Yes, you read that right! When I checked the weather this morning, it said it was 75F with only 62% humidity. When I walked out the door, I was amazed at how easy it was to breathe. There was even a strong breeze. That was the easiest 5 miles I have run in a long time! My clothes weren't drenched when I returned home. It was amazing!

Monday, August 16, 2010

Recap and Things to Come

My training was going really well last week, that is until Sunday rolled around. I went to bed early Saturday night and woke up early Sunday morning in anticipation for my 17 mile run. I ate a light breakfast, got dressed, relaxed a bit so my food could settle, stretched, and away I went. I ran the first 3 mile loop with no problem. Half a mile into my 2nd 3 mile loop it hit me; I had to stop or else I was going to throw up in someone's front yard. I walked the .5 miles back home hoping to settle my stomach. No luck. I went inside and sat around for about a half hour, but my stomach was still upset. I was devastated. I really wanted to test myself and prove that I could run 17 miles. I guess I will wait until this weekend to get there.


Schedule for this week:

Monday: Ab Work and Pushups
Tuesday: 5 miles
Wednesday: 8 miles
Thursday: 5 miles
Friday: Upper Body Dumbbells
Saturday: 17-18 miles (My original schedule calls for 18. Since I didn't run 17 yesterday, I will either run 17 or 18 depending on how I feel.)
Sunday: REST


Let me tell you something, it is HOT and HUMID in Memphis. I get up early before work to do my weekday runs. It is already in the 80s with 96% humidity. The only good thing is that the sun is not up yet. On my long weekend runs this poses a big problem. I am not a fast runner by any means, so these long runs span 3+ hours. I am not going to start running at 2:30 or 3am to get home before the sun rises at 6. These long runs are a real struggle, because by 9am the heat index has usually already hit 110. I just have to keep reminding myself that Chicago in October is going to feel WONDERFUL compared to August in Memphis!

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Exactly 2 Months to Go!

2 months from today, I will be running the Chicago Marathon. I don't know whether that is exciting or terrifying! My farthest run so far is 15 miles...I can't imagine adding 11.2 miles on to that run. I will sure try...every weekend my long runs will be the longest ever. The thought of that is pretty exhilarating.

2 weeks ago was supposed to be my first ever 30 mile week. I training according to my schedule all week. Then came Sunday. I set out to do 15 miles. By mile 10, I was exhausted. Finally, after 13 miles, my body said "STOP!" I was pretty upset, but I had to stop. Luckily, the next week (last week) was a step back week with a scheduled long run of 11 miles. I turned this into my 15 mile run.

This past Sunday, I did indeed run 15 miles. It was incredibly hard! After mile 14, I felt like death. To make matters worse, I looked up and saw a couple buzzards circling overhead. Apparently, they could also tell that I felt like death.

The challenge for this week is the 17 mile run scheduled for Sunday. I can do it!

Here is the schedule for this week:
Monday - Strength Training (Upper Body Resistance Band & Abs)
Tuesday - Rest (I had a root canal yesterday, so John is making me take a rest day today.)
Wednesday - 4 miles
Thursday - 8 miles
Friday - 4 miles
Saturday - Rest or Strength Training
Sunday - 17 miles
Total Mileage: 33 miles

Thank you all so much for all of your support. This training is tough, but I know that it's for an excellent cause and that I have great support from my family and friends.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

This week is a 30 mile week!

This morning, when I was running, I was amazed at the fact that this week will be a 30 mile week. A 30 mile week, wow! To me, this is a true milestone.

This had me thinking back to when I first started running. I mean, I ran in high school, but that didn't count. I was slow, could not run for very long, and had issues with hurdles...I was just lucky they needed people. I first really started running in July 2007. I was peer pressured into doing a half marathon. Lucky for me, the half wasn't until April 2008. This meant that the "official" training didn't start until January. I looked up a training schedule, and it started at 2 miles. I remember thinking, "2 miles. How am I ever going to run 2 miles?" I started off awful. I couldn't even run .25 miles, and I had to get to 13.1 miles. I wanted to give up right away, but peer pressure is a funny thing. My first run was some running, but mostly walking. That's how most of the beginning runs were. But I kept on pushing, and for the next 5 months I worked up to 3 miles. Then after that, I worked all the way up to 13.1 miles.

Dad was in Iraq while I was training for my half marathon. After every additional mile I added, I sent him e-mails updating him on my progress. Every additional mile was a distance I had never run before. This is from an e-mail to Dad on December 4, 2007, "WooHoo! I ran 3 miles last night! I did it without stopping once. My pace was around 11:40. Kinda slow, but I did it!"

I remember that 3 miles being a huge milestone. Then, I reached 5 miles. Wow, 5 miles...I was a real runner then. Little did I know then, the week of July 26, 2010 I would run 30 miles in 1 week. And never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that my goal for October 10, 2010 would be 26.2 miles!

It is amazing to me how far I have come in the past 3 years. It kinda makes me wonder what kind of runner I will be in July 2013. :)

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Schedule for July 26 - August 1

Monday - Rest
Tuesday - 4 miles
Wednesday - 7 miles
Thursday - Strength Training (Upper body dumbbells plus abs)
Friday - 4 miles
Saturday - Strength Training (Abs)
Sunday - 15 miles

Total mileage for the week: 30 miles

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Week of July 19

Last week, week of July 12, I completed all of my miles!

This week has not started off great. I was home sick from work yesterday because of a summer cold. This morning, I knew that I had to wait one more day to run. Below is what I hope will be my schedule for the week.

Wednesday - 4 miles
Thursday - 7 miles
Friday - 4 miles
Saturday or Sunday - 14 miles

Total mileage for the week: 29 miles

Wow, that's a lot of running!

"Part of the challenge of the marathon is pushing past what you think is physically possible. You can do more than you think you can." ~ Christine Hinton, a Maryland running coach

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Weeks of July 5 and July 12

I know, I know...I am very behind on updating my blog. I was out of town last week for the ZTA International Convention, and the last thing on my mind was updating my blog.

Because I was in New Orleans and very busy with Convention, my running suffered. I was able to squeeze in a 3 mile run on Wednesday the 7th and a 6 mile run on Thursday the 8th. I did do some walking around New Orleans a couple of days, so I consider that cross training. :) I also climbed stairs, lots of them. Our events were held on either the 2nd or 3rd floor of the hotel. With 900 women, the elevators were BUSY. Luckily, my hotel room was on the 5th floor. Most days, I took the stairs up and down. I wasn't completely lazy last week, but I was nowhere near my scheduled 24 miles.

Here is the schedule for this week. The long run on Sunday was supposed to step back down to 9 miles. Since I missed the 12 miles last Sunday, I see a 12 miler in my future.

Monday - Rest (I was so exhausted from my trip, I had to rest.)
Tuesday - 3 miles
Wednesday - 3 miles
Thursday - 20 minute ab video
Friday - 6 miles
Saturday - 12 miles
Sunday - Rest or Upper Body Strength Training

I will see to it that I complete all 24 miles this week!!

On a fundraising note: I have had 4 more people send me checks. These haven't yet shown up on my fundraising thermometer. I am now up to $255. Only $2,745 more till I reach my goal.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Study identifies best tests to predict Alzheimer's

I found an article today entitled "Study identifies best test to predict Alzheimer's." I found it interesting and worth reading.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38027677/ns/technology_and_science-science/

Monday, June 28, 2010

Week of June 28

Here is the schedule for this week's training. As you'll notice, my Sunday runs are getting longer and longer.

Monday - Strength Training (Exercise DVD - Turbo Jam's Turbo Sculpt...It is a good upper and lower body strength training/sculting video.)

Tuesday - 3 miles

Wedesday - 6 miles

Thursday - Cross Training (Exercise DVD - Turbo Jam's Cardio Party...This video combines cardio and sculpting.)

Friday - 3 miles

Saturday - Rest

Sunday - 11 miles


Quote for the week: "Free your mind, and your feet will follow." ~ Kevin Nelson, The Runner's Book of Daily Inspiration

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Week of 6/21

I woke up on Monday morning stiff as a board. I guess that 9 miler on Sunday did me in. So, I decided to concentrate on stretching on Monday. On Tuesday, I ran my scheduled 3 miles. The run felt great. Afterwords, however, my left upper leg had a bit of a twinge to it. I had originally had a 5 mile run scheduled for Wednesday morning. When I woke up this morning, my leg was still a bit iffy. So, I decided to rearrange and do my strength training this morning. Hopefully, the rest of the week goes according to my rearranged schedule.

Monday - Stretching
Tuesday - 3 miles
Wednesday - Strength Training (Upper Body Dumbbells and Abs)
Thursday - 5 miles
Friday - 3 miles
Saturday - Strength Training (Upper Body Dumbbells and Abs)
Sunday - 8 miles

Total mileage for the week: 19 miles

Quote of the week: "He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life." ~ Muhammad Ali

Monday, June 21, 2010

Recap: Week of 6/14

This past week, I had to fly to Phoenix for a meeting on Tuesday afternoon. I arrived back in Memphis early Thursday morning (2am). The flight back messed up my training scheduled for Thursday (Strength Training).

Here is a recap of what I was able to do this week.

Monday - Strength Training
I did my upper body dumbbell routine and 15 minutes of ab work. My abs were extremely sore the next day.

Tuesday - 3 miles
This run went really well. Nothing beats a good early morning run.

Wednesday - 5 miles
Even though I was in Phoenix, I was able to complete my scheduled run. I ran on the hotel treadmill before my meeting.

Thursday - Rest
This day was supposed to be another strength training day, but I was unable to train due to my flight schedule.

Friday - 3 miles
This 3 mile run went even better than the one on Tuesday. I think that my pace is finally back to my pre-injury pace!

Saturday - Rest

Sunday - 9 miles
Last Sunday I waited until too late in the morning to run (8:30am). By the time I was finished the heat index was already 104. I learned my lesson! This Sunday, I hit the road at 5:30am. Regardless, I was still drenched when I returned. One thing I learned on this run is that someone in my neighborhood mows their lawn at 6:30am. Who mows their lawn that early on a Sunday?!?!? The last couple miles of this run were tough, but I made it!

Total mileage for the week: 20 miles

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Week of June 7

Sorry that I'm late getting this post up for the week. Well, this is it: the official training portion of my Chicago Marathon training has begun! That means that this weekend, I am going to write letters and e-mails to all friends and family with my marathon schedule attached asking for support in my effort to raise funds for the Alzheimer's Association. I am really hoping to reach the $3,000 mark by the marathon. Wish me luck!

Here is my schedule for the week:
Monday - Strength Training (Upper Body Dumbbells) & Stretching
Tuesday - 3 miles + 15 min Ab work
Wednesday - 5 miles
Thursday - Strength Training (Upper Body Dumbbells, Lower Body Machines, and Ab work)
Friday - 3 miles
Saturday - Rest
Sunday - 8 miles

Total mileage for the week: 19 miles

Quote of the week: "Anything is possible, but you have to believe and you have to fight." ~ Lance Armstrong

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Week of May 31

While checking news sites today, I ran across this article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37463116/ns/health-the_new_york_times/ It is about 5,000 relatives in Columbia who are afflicted with early dementia and a potential drug study aimed at stopping Alzheimer's. If you have time, it is a good read.


Training:
Last week's training went really well. The total mileage for last week was 22 miles. I ran 9 miles on Sunday. That is the first time since my injury. The last mile was tough, but I made it!

This week's schedule:
Monday - Rest
Tuesday - 5 miles
Wednesday - Strength (Upper Body Dumbbells and Abs)
Thursday - 5 miles
Friday - 6 miles
Weekend - Rest (John and I will be celebrating our anniversary, so I have the weekend off from training.)


Quote of the Week: "Whether you believe you can or believe you can't, you're probably right." - Henry Ford

Monday, May 24, 2010

Week of 5/24

Last week's training went really well. I felt like I was in heaven on Wednesday's run. It was a cool morning, the birds were chirping, the smell of honeysuckle filled the air, the breeze was blowing, and airplanes were taking off overhead! Sunday's run on the other hand was not heaven. I went out with the intent to run either 7 or 8 miles. The temperature was in the 70s when I started, too bad the humidity was at 93%. That was the sweatiest run ever! The last 2 miles were tough to take. So, I went from heaven to hell in one week. You have to love Memphis weather!

My mom, brother, and I are heading up to Chicago this weekend on a recon mission. We have to figure out the lay of the land before the marathon in October. I have a 9 mile run planned for Sunday morning. I will get to run along Lake Michigan. I can't wait!

Here is the schedule for the week:

Monday: Strength Training (Upper Body Dumbbells and Abs)
Tuesday: 5 mile run
Wednesday: 3 mile run + Abs
Thursday: 5 mile run
Friday: Strength Training (Upper Body Dumbbells, Lower Body Weight Machines, and Abs)
Saturday: Rest
Sunday: 9 mile run along Lake Michigan


Alzheimer's Statistic: According to a new report from the Alzheimer's Association, Changing the Trajectory of Alzheimer's Disease: A National Imperative, in the absence of disease-modifying treatments, the cumulative costs of care for people with Alzheimer's from 2010 to 2050 will exceed $20 trillion (in today's dollars).

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Week of 5/17

There are only a couple more weeks left of training my body to run again after my injury. On June 7, I will be starting the "official" marathon training that I must follow to a T.

Here is my schedule for this week.

Monday - 3 miles
Tuesday - Rest
Wednesday - 5 miles
Thursday - Strength Training (Upper Body Dumbbells and Abs)
Friday - 5 miles
Saturday - Strength Training (Complete Body Exercise DVD)
Sunday - 7 or 8 miles

Over the weekend, I was reading Runner's World and came across an interesting statistic. "A recent runnersworld.com poll revealed that 66 percent of respondents had suffered an injury in 2009." After reading this, I realized that I am not the first person to have to take a break from running due to injury, and I will also not be the last.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Week of 5/10

Last week, I didn't follow my schedule very well due to being busy and traveling. So far this week, I am right on track.

Here is the schedule for this week:

Monday: Upper Body Strength Training
Tuesday: 4 miles
Wednesday: Upper Body Strength Training + Abs
Thursday: 4 miles
Friday: 6 miles
Saturday & Sunday: Rest


Quote of the Week: "If you run, you are a runner. It doesn't matter how fast or how far. It doesn't matter if today is your first day or if you've been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run." ~ John Bingham


The Alzheimer's Association sent me a link to this article. I thought I would share it. http://healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=638559

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Week of May 3 - May 9

Last week's runs went pretty well. I am going to continue the 3 miles runs during the week and up my mileage for the weekend. Hopefully after a couple more weeks of this, I will be ready for the official marathon training.

Here is the schedule for this week.

Monday - Rest
Tuesday - 3 miles
Wednesday - Strength Training (Upper Body and Abs)
Thursday - 3 miles
Friday - Strength Training (Upper Body and Abs)
Saturday - Cross Training (Turbo Jam Cardio Party Exercise DVD)
Sunday - 6 miles

Quote of the week: "You feel good while you're running and you feel even better when you're finished." ~ Fred Lebow, founder of the New York City Marathon

Thursday, April 29, 2010

10 Signs of Alzheimer's

10 warning signs of Alzheimer's:

1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life
One of the most common signs of Alzheimer's is memory loss, especially forgetting recently learned information. Others include forgetting important dates or events; asking for the same information over and over; relying on memory aides (e.g., reminder notes or electronic devices) or family members for things they used to handle on their own.
What's a typical age-related change? Sometimes forgetting names or appointments, but remembering them later.

2. Challenges in planning or solving problems
ome people may experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. They may have trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills. They may have difficulty concentrating and take much longer to do things than they did before.
What's a typical age-related change? Making occasional errors when balancing a checkbook.

3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure
People with Alzheimer's often find it hard to complete daily tasks. Sometimes, people may have trouble driving to a familiar location, managing a budget at work or remembering the rules of a favorite game.
What's a typical age-related change? Occasionally needing help to use the settings on a microwave or to record a television show.

4. Confusion with time or place
People with Alzheimer's can lose track of dates, seasons and the passage of time. They may have trouble understanding something if it is not happening immediately. Sometimes they may forget where they are or how they got there.
What's a typical age-related change? Getting confused about the day of the week but figuring it out later.

5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
For some people, having vision problems is a sign of Alzheimer's. They may have difficulty reading, judging distance and determining color or contrast. In terms of perception, they may pass a mirror and think someone else is in the room. They may not realize they are the person in the mirror.
What's a typical age-related change? Vision changes related to cataracts.

6. New problems with words in speaking or writing
People with Alzheimer's may have trouble following or joining a conversation. They may stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue or they may repeat themselves. They may struggle with vocabulary, have problems finding the right word or call things by the wrong name (e.g., calling a "watch" a "hand-clock").
What's a typical age-related change? Sometimes having trouble finding the right word.

7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
A person with Alzheimer's disease may put things in unusual places. They may lose things and be unable to go back over their steps to find them again. Sometimes, they may accuse others of stealing. This may occur more frequently over time.

What's a typical age-related change? Misplacing things from time to time, such as a pair of glasses or the remote control.

8. Decreased or poor judgment
People with Alzheimer's may experience changes in judgment or decision-making. For example, they may use poor judgment when dealing with money, giving large amounts to telemarketers. They may pay less attention to grooming or keeping themselves clean.
What's a typical age-related change? Making a bad decision once in a while.

9. Withdrawal from work or social activities
A person with Alzheimer's may start to remove themselves from hobbies, social activities, work projects or sports. They may have trouble keeping up with a favorite sports team or remembering how to complete a favorite hobby. They may also avoid being social because of the changes they have experienced.
What's a typical age-related change? Sometimes feeling weary of work, family and social obligations.

10. Changes in mood and personality
The mood and personalities of people with Alzheimer's can change. They can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. They may be easily upset at home, at work, with friends or in places where they are out of their comfort zone.
What's a typical age-related change? Developing very specific ways of doing things and becoming irritable when a routine is disrupted.


http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_10_signs_of_alzheimers.asp

Monday, April 26, 2010

Training Schedule for 4/26 - 5/2

I am still planning on taking it pretty easy with running this week. I need to make sure that I don't shock my legs after my 6 week break from running. Here is the schedule for this week.

Monday - Rest
Tuesday - 3 mile run + Ab Work
Wednesday - Strength Training (This will consist of upper body strength training with dumbbells. When doing upper body strength training, I work my shoulders, biceps, back, and chest.)
Thursday - 3 mile run + Ab Work
Friday - Strength Training (Upper Body + Squats and Lunges)
Saturday - Rest
Sunday - 5 mile run

Total mileage for week = 11 miles

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Good News

I received my MRI results yesterday, and everything is normal. I'm so excited! I decided to test out my leg this morning. I did my scheduled upper body strength exercise and then went outside and ran 2 miles. There was NO pain in my leg! It felt absolutely amazing to be running again. I will run 3 miles tomorrow to make sure the pain is gone. Then, next week, I will start back on a running program. Chicago Marathon, here I come!

Monday, April 19, 2010

Update

I went to the doctor a couple of weeks ago and the x-rays of my leg did not show anything. We then decided to schedule an MRI. I had the MRI done a week and a half ago...no results yet. Until I have those results, I don't know when I'll be able to run again. However, my doctor has cleared me to do elliptical/bicycle. That's a step in the right direction! I am excited that I can now do cardio again.

Here is my schedule for the week:
Monday: 50 min elliptical & 15 min ab work
Tuesday: Upper body strength training
Wednesday: 50-60 min elliptical & 15 min ab work
Thursday: Upper body strength training
Friday: 60 min elliptical & 15 min ab work

Quote of the week: "Exercise is good for your mind, body, and soul." ~ Susie Michelle Cortright

Alzheimer's statistic of the week: Almost 11 million Americans provide unpaid care for a person with Alzheimer's disease of another dementia. ~ Alzheimer's Association 2010 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Alzheimer's Statistic of the Week

Alzheimer's is the 7th leading cause of death in the United States.

www.alz.org

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Alzheimer's Statistic of the Week

Every 70 seconds someone in America develops Alzheimer's disease.

By mid-century, someone will develop Alzheimer's every 33 seconds.

Friday, March 19, 2010

Right Lower Leg

Well, I went to the doctor on Monday afternoon. Based on where the pain is, he said that it's more than likely a stress fracture. The x-rays didn't show anything yet. He said this is normal; that you can't see anything on the first x-ray. I go back in 3 weeks for more x-rays. Then, the doctor will compare them. Hopefully, the x-rays will show something then. If not (and if I'm still in pain), then I will have an MRI done. Based on those x-rays/MRI, we will discuss how long I will be sidelined. In the meantime, I am to do NO RUNNING.

I am planning on being a spectator at the Germantown Half Marathon this weekend and cheering on a couple of coworkers.

Obviously, I will probably not have many schedule/recap updates in the near future. But, I do plan on still posting a quote of the week. I will also begin posting an Alzheimer's statistic of the week.

Based on what the doctor said this week, here is my quote of the week:
"Love hurts, love scars, love wounds..." -Nazareth

Monday, March 15, 2010

Recap of Week 3/8

On Monday, I did upper body strength training and ab work. I decided to once again do my upper body exercises using dumbbells. Doing this seems to work really well for me.

Tuesday, I ran the scheduled 5 miles. My pace was 10:47. I was pretty happy about that.

Tuesday night, my legs felt sore from the past weekend’s 10 mile run. I had John rub them for me. When he was rubbing them, I noticed a very tender spot on my lower right leg. It was pretty painful when he touched down on that spot. I decided to go ahead and test it out on Wednesday to see if I was able to run.

On Wednesday, I ran the 3 miles with no problem. Afterwards, I did the lower body weight machines. While doing the calf extension machine, I noticed the soreness in the same area as the night before.

Wednesday night was awful. As my 80 pound dog was climbing into bed, he stepped on my leg…in the exact spot that had been bothering me. It was very painful. I decided to forgo my Thursday run. When I woke up on Thursday morning and got out of bed, I had difficulty putting weight on my right leg.

It had been on and off pain from Thursday through Saturday. I decided to not do anything until Sunday. On Sunday, I had the goal of doing the whole scheduled 11 miles. Realistically, I was going to run as far as I could without pain. Unfortunately, that was only 1 mile. I was in a lot of pain!

I have a doctor’s appointment scheduled for this afternoon. Once we determine the cause of my pain, I will go from there. I was planning on running the Germantown

Monday, March 8, 2010

Training Schedule and Quote for 3/8 - 3/14

Monday - Upper Body Strength Training + 15 minutes of ab work (Like last week, I will do the exercises with dumbbells. When doing upper body work, I work on my triceps, biceps, chest, back, and shoulders.)

Tuesday – 5 miles

Wednesday - 3 miles + Lower Body Strength Training + 15 minutes of ab work (I haven’t decided whether to do the lunge/squat routine from last week or go back to the weights.)

Thursday – 5 miles

Friday – 1 hour Cross Training + 15 minutes of ab work (My cross training will consist of 30 minutes on the bicycle and 30 minutes on the elliptical machine.)

Saturday - Rest

Sunday – 11 miles

Total mileage for the week: 24 miles


Quote for the week: "You have a choice. You can throw in the towel, or you can use it to wipe the sweat off of your face." - Gatorade

Recap of Week 3/1

On Monday, I ran my long run of the weekend. It was only 6 miles because of the step back week. It went really well. I didn’t have any pain in my ankle, so the 3 days of non-running really paid off.

Tuesday, I went to Nashville for the Alzheimer's Association Day on the Hill. It went really well. There were about 100 advocates from all the chapters in TN. We were there to talk to the representatives and senators about early onset Alzheimer’s. Most were very receptive of what we had to say. Training wise, lots of walking was involved!

Wednesday, I ran 5 miles. The run went fine. Afterwards, I did 15 minutes of ab work. Once again, I did my new ab routine. Ouch, it really worked my abs.

Thursday, I ran 3 miles. For some reason, it was horrible. I had no desire to run them, but I struggled through. I found this very odd, since it was only 3 miles. After the run, I did lower body strength training. I started with traveling lunges with dumbbells, followed by squats, then a 30 second wall sit. I did this routine 3 times. It ended up equating to 25 lunges on each leg, 30 squats, and 3 30 second wall sits. On Saturday night, I could still fell it in my butt and thighs.

On Friday, I did upper body strength training. I did my normal upper body exercises, but with dumbbells instead of barbells. It is amazing how much harder the exercises were with dumbbells. With barbells, your stronger arm does more work than your weaker one. With dumbbells, they both have to do the same amount of work. I also did 15 minutes of ab work.

Saturday was my rest day.

Sunday, I ran 10 miles. It was absolutely beautiful in Memphis. It was sunny and in the 60s. I had a great run! I was very sore afterwards though.

Total mileage for the week: 24 miles

Monday, March 1, 2010

Training Schedule for 3/1 - 3/7

Monday - 6 miles
Tuesday - Cross Train (I will be in Nashville for the Alzheimer's Association Day on the Hill all day. Since I will be doing lots of walking, this will be my cross training for the week.)
Wednesday - 5 miles + 15 minutes of ab work
Thursday - 3 miles + Lower Body Strength Training (The lower body strength training this week will consist of wall sits, squats, and lunges. )
Friday - Upper Body Strength Training + 15 minutes of ab work (Usually, all of my upper body strength training is done with a barbell. This week, I will be doing the same exercises only with dumbbells instead.)
Saturday - 10 miles
Sunday - Rest

Total mileage for the week: 24 miles

Recap of Week 2/22

I was sick on Monday, so I didn't do any workout.

On Tuesday morning when I woke up, my stomach was still upset. I contemplated not working out again, but finally decided against it. I'm glad I did. I did a 5 mile run, and it went really well. For the first mile, my stomach hurt. After that, there were no problems at all.

On Wednesday, I did my 3 mile run. I wore pants to the gym, and it was miserably hot. After my run, I did lower body weights and abs. I varied my ab routine from what I have been doing the last couple of months. It is going to take a while to get used to the new routine.

On Thursday, I had a 5 mile run scheduled. I woke up that morning and hard a hard time walking. My right ankle was pretty sore. I decided to forgo the run that day. Instead, I did my strength training that had been schedule for Friday. I only did upper body weights though, because I had done abs the day before. I also decided to not do the cross training to rest my ankle. During my upper body exercises, I decided to increase the weight on my bench press. I am still sore today!

On Friday, my ankle was still a bit tender. I decided to do my run anyway. After the first 2 miles, I thought about stopping because pain also started in my knee. I ran a bit longer, and most of the pain went away. So, I finished all 5 miles. Bad idea! All the rest of the day on Friday, my ankle was throbbing. I was very glad that I would have 2 days of rest before my next run.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Training Schedule for 2/22 - 2/28 (And Quote of the Week)

The training schedule this week is going to be slightly different than the past weeks. I was sick yesterday, so I have to push my normal strength training to Friday. Also, I will be driving home from St. Louis on Sunday. Therefore, my long run will be pushed to next week, Monday. Luckily, this week is a step back week. The long run is only 6 miles (so my legs can rest); I'll be able to easily make that up next Monday.

Tuesday: 5 mile run
Wednesday: 3 mile run + Strength Training (Lower Body and Abs)
Thursday: 5 mile run
Friday: 50 minutes Cross Training (25 min bicycle / 25 min elliptical machine) + Strength Training (Upper Body and Abs)
Saturday: Rest
Sunday: Rest

Due to it being a step back week and the Sunday run being pushed into next week, the total mileage for this week is only 13 miles. That's going to feel so easy, especially since I ran 21 miles last week!


Quote for the week: "I can accept failure, but I can't accept not trying." ~ Michael Jordan

Monday, February 22, 2010

Recap of Week 2/15

This week went really well.

On Monday, I worked out my upper body and abs. I'm proun\d to announce that I was able to up the weights for my upper body exercises. Having great upper body strength is key, because your swinging arms can help you keep running at a good pace when you are otherwise exhausted.

All of my runs from Tuesday-Thursday went really well.

Also on Wednesday, I worked my abs and lower body. I was able to increase the weights on the lower body machines as well. The ab workout was a killer...I could still feel it when I did my ab work on Friday.

I didn't have any problems getting my cross training in on Friday, because my work trip was canceled. Friday's cross training consisted of 25 minutes on the bicycle, 25 minutes on the elliptical machine, and 15 minutes of ab work.

I woke up on Saturday feeling great, so I decided to do my long run then instead of waiting until Sunday. I actually felt so great that I ran 9 miles instead of the scheduled 8 miles. I ran the 9 miles in 1:35:47. This equates to a pace of 10:38!

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Rock Sugar Band

The other day John told me about a song that he heard the DJs talking about on Rock 103. We looked it up on YouTube. We found several songs by the band Rock Sugar. They are awesome! I bought their album, and I listened to it during my run today. It is perfect running music! Check them out: www.rocksugarband.com. Here are a couple YouTube videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKeA3-n27t8 and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpNrqxBWxQM.

All of the songs are staying on my iPod and 3 or 4 of the songs are being added to my special running playlist.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Training Schedule for 2/15 - 2/21

Here is my training schedule for Feb. 15 - Feb. 21. I will be out of town for work part of this week, so some of these will be moved around. However, I will make sure that I do every workout.

Monday - Strength Training (Uppper Body and Abs)
Tuesday - 5 miles
Wednesday - 3 miles + Strength Training (Lower Body and Abs)
Thursday - 4 miles
Friday - 50 min Cross Training + Abs (The type of cross training depends on what type of equipment is available in the hotel gym)
Saturday - Rest (If you consider a 9 hour flight test rest, then Saturday will be a rest day.)
Sunday - 8 miles

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Recap of Week 2/8

Here is a recap of the past week.

Due to the weather on Monday, the gym was closed. Therefore, I wasn't able to do my planned strength training. Instead, I went to the gym extra early on Friday to do my strength training before my cross training. It was a long workout, but it felt really good.

On Tuesday, a 5 mile run was scheduled. For some reason, this run was one of the hardest that I have ever had. The first 2 miles were just miserable. After 2 miles, I told myself that if I made it to 3 I could stop. After 3 miles, I talked myself into 4. Finally, I decided to do all 5 miles. I was very happy afterwards that I completed all 5 miles.

Wednesday, the 3 miles were no problem. For the lower body strength training, I did 5 lower body weight machines. Then, I completed 15 minutes of ab work.

Thursday's 4 miles went really well. I had a lot of energy when I was finished. I was even able to sprint the last 1/4 of a mile.

Today, I ran 7 miles. My time was 1:15:17. I was happy with my time since it was under 11 minute miles. I was struggling between 5.5 miles and 6.25 miles, but I was able to come up with enough energy to make the last .75 miles very productive.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Quote for the Week

"Running is a big question mark that's there each and every day. It asks you, 'Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today?'"
- Peter Maher, Irish-Canadian Olympian and sub-2:12 marathoner

Monday, February 8, 2010

Training Schedule for 2/8 - 2/14

Monday: Strength Training (Total Body)
Tuesday: 5 miles
Wednesday: 3 miles + Strength Training (Upper Body + Abs)
Thursday: 4 miles
Friday: Cross Train (45 min bike ride)
Saturday: Rest
Sunday: 7 miles

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Quote of the Day

"Every run is a gift. Every run is a chance to be where you want to be." - Training for Mortals by John Bingham and Jenny Hadfield

Monday, February 1, 2010

Training Schedule for Week of Feb. 1

Due to the ice on the roads yesterday, I had to be creative and modify my training schedule for this week. This morning, I ran the 5 miles I was supposed to run yesterday. The schedule for the rest of the week is:

Tuesday: Strength Training (This will consist of 45 minutes of upper body free weights and 15 minutes of ab work.)
Wednesday: 4 miles
Thursday: 2 miles + Strength Training (The strength training will consist of 15 minutes of lower body work and 15 minutes of ab work.)
Friday: 3 miles
Saturday: Cross-Training (Due to pushing cross-training back a day and having no rest day, the cross-training will be easy this week. I just plan to walk around the Pink Palace with my mom while we experience Chocolate: The Exhibition.)
Sunday: 6 miles

The total number of miles scheduled for this week is 20 miles.

It's Official

It's official! Today, I registered for the Chicago Marathon. The Chicago Marathon will be held on October 10. That gives me just a little over 8 months to prepare. In order to help me prepare, I registered for the Germantown Half Marathon on March 21.

My fundraising page for the Alzheimer's Association is up and running (no pun intended): http://memorywalk10.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=337658&lis=1&kntae337658=C607F4C22E9E4281A94B583703680A14&supId=101474907

The following are the links for the Chicago Marathon and Germantown Half Marathon:

http://www.chicagomarathon.com

http://www.germantownhalfmarathon.com/