Hello Long Forgotten Blog

Wow! Been almost two years since I last posted. I got past my running breakdown. I am still running, even more than two years ago. Currently, I am resting a tibial stress fracture, so had to miss running the Rocket City Marathon yesterday. I volunteered as course sentry and got to see the winner fly past me twice. He makes running look so effortless!

I have big plans for 2019! Big running plans! Going to attempt to run a marathon a month. I have them all chosen and the first 6 paid for.  It's going to be a great year. Which is awesome since 2018 has sucked! Personally speaking, not the running, well, except for the fracture.

My 2018 running goal race was Dizzy Fifties back in November. A trail 50k. I did run it with the fracture, but because of the softer surface, it didn't bother me. My original goal was 8 hours. With the fracture, I just wanted to finish under the 9 hour time limit. Finished with 10 minutes to spare! Goal achieved! I rested a week, then ran 10 miles at home, on the roads. Pain returned, Dr threatened to put me in boot. I have resisted the temptation to run, been a good girl, resting my tired shin.  Physical therapy starts next week. And, I think I shall try deep water running to keep up my aerobic stamina.

Big plans, big goals, high expectations for 2019!  Looking forward to sharing my journey with anyone out there listening.

Much Love and even More Miles,
Melissa

Running took over my life, looking for balance

I questioned for a long time if I was an actual runner.  Newsflash, if you run, you ARE a runner.  I began this journey almost 4 years ago. I started 5k training with a friend.  Went pretty well, so kept running 5k races around town.  Almost a year later, we ran our first 10k, the Cotton Row in Huntsville, AL.  Because this race attracts runners from everywhere, there is a cash prize, I felt like a real runner afterwards.  The next year I added a few half marathons and insanely signed up for the Rocket City Marathon, also in Huntsville.  This past year I ran A LOT, two marathons, and my first 50k.  I was obsessed.  Everything I did revolved around running.  My house fell apart, I stopped cooking dinners, vacations revolved around runs...it was insane!

When I ran the 50k, on New Year's Eve, no less, somewhere in the middle I decided to take 2 full weeks off from running.  I had a half marathon scheduled for January 21.  Thought, eh, it's just a half, no big deal.  Apparently, my sanity was left somewhere on the 50k course....  Fortunately, severe weather postponed the race until February.  However, that meant a 5k, 10k, and half on 3 consecutive Saturdays.  My

*mile 11 at the Grand Teton Half*

glutes and hamstrings still hated me.  No amount of yoga, foam rolling, or stretching was making them happy, 3 very painful races.

This week I have a complete breakdown, of sorts, for me anyway.  I decided to give it all up, gain lots of weight, spend all my time on the couch, eat whatever I craved.  This was my perception of "everyone" else.  So I began my mornings with donuts and fried pies, coffee, soda.  Then by 11am yesterday, I was sick. Icky, yucky sick.  Plan going well, right?!?!  I didn't wear my fitbit yesterday either, oh the freedom I felt!  I sat down at work! A true rarity.  I work in daycare, with 2 year olds, I rarely sit.  I just needed a break!

Epiphany

I began training hard last June.  All summer long, in heat, humidity, sweat, and bugs.  I never lost focus and made it to marathon #1 painfree!  7 Bridges Marathon in Chattanooga, TN. Was amazing, had a great race, took 31 minutes off my previous marathon time.  Then, well, something happened.  Was it the track speed work, which I had not done to this point?  Did I not give myself a proper recovery time, both physical and mental?  Whatever it was, I began marathon #2 eight weeks later in pain and not happy.  Granted it was really cold, but that should have helped.  I gained back 15 minutes of time, but still came in before the cutoff time. Three weeks later, yep, just 3 weeks later, I ran the 50k.  I was nervous, but excited.  I taped my hip, IT band, and calf, and wore a icy/hot patch on my back.  7 hours and 50 minutes later, I was an ultra marathoner.

Now What?!?!

I am not running at the moment.  Not wearing anything related to running.  I did wear my fitbit today.  But I have no idea how many steps I have taken, and I do not care.  I did go in and adjust my step goal, to something reasonable and achievable.  I have a race in 10 days.  But, I am going to have fun, and not stress about times, steps, or anything, just enjoy the beautiful course.  Went back to drinking water today, feels better than soda.  I am a runner, yes, but I am also a wife, mom, gaga, friend and woman.  I enjoy other things besides running, so I think I shall partake in some of them for a bit.

Until later,
Melissa
Be still (haha) and know that I am God

New Year's Resolutions

I realize it's the 13th of January.  Nearly half the month gone.  One of my trees is still up, we had 5.  I am just not moving real fast....maybe that's a good thing?  I looked over last year's resolutions, not all were accomplished....did not even touch my piano. The "resolutions" seem so silly now, maybe that's the point?  This year I just want to stay in God's will, worship Him more openly and freely, spend time with family, and teach my babies at daycare the love of Jesus.  All this will take time, slow, purposeful time.  "Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10  I thought this was a verse God wanted me to learn for a time, now I am believing this is my lifetime verse.

I love to reuse things in my class.  I have been collecting the lids from laundry detergent for awhile now.  Uses I have come up with:

1.  Matching/sorting colors
2.  Matching/sorting sizes
3.  Scoops
4.  Stacking
5.  Playdough cutters/imprinters
......

Have any ideas to add?





Have a wonderful winter's day!
Melissa
Be still and know that I am God.  Ps. 46:10

I Ran!....AND I loved it!

I trained, sweated, worried, doubted.....I FINISHED!

Out of 6500 runners, that was a bit overwhelming, I finished as the 774th woman.  It was really fun!  Have already run a second, thankfully much smaller, race.  My friend and I finished 49th and 50th.  Going to run early on Thanksgiving Day and a couple of days later at night through our lit up botanical gardens.  Trying to get the hubs to run with me....that may take some convincing and maybe a bribe or two.

My advice.....lace up those shoes and GET MOVING!

Am I a runner?

I have always wanted to be a runner.  I wanted to run the Boston Marathon just once in my life.  However, wanting and doing do not always co-exist.  I tried on my own, but it really is so much easier to excuse yourself from hard work.  I work with a woman who started running/walking seriously a year ago.  She invited a number of us to do some "fun runs" with her that a local business sponsors during the summer.  First, summer in the south is smotheringly hot and humid.  Second, I am no longer considered a spring chicken.  Third, did I mention summers in the south suck?!?!  I do not do well in the heat; cramps, headache, nausea.  I usually hide with the a/c from April through September.  This year, nope!  I strapped on my Sketchers in mid-July and started with a 3-mile "fun run".  And, surprise!  It was fun!  I missed the next run because of vacation bible school, as director, I kind of had to be there.  But every Thursday since I have run/walked.  Then, oh my, I decided to get into training for a 5k race in October.  Who would have thought?  Well, I did, but having someone every day encouraging me and running with me, has been a huge help.  So now, three days a week it's interval training, two days of swimming, a rest day, and a 45 minute walk day.  I have always been a all or nothing kind of girl....and this time, I am all in!

 

Annie is learning to be my running buddy!

Anastacia Noelle is heartworm free!

My precious Annie is heart worm free!  She is so happy to be able to play again!  Annie is FULL of energy, she loves to run.  The cost financially was a bit overwhelming, but I feel worth it.  She is definitely my best canine friend.  She is still afraid of just about everything, but we are working on it.  Today she did really well during a thunder storm.  We haven't done any formal training, but may start that soon.  I wrote down a list of commands that a couple of authors suggested.  She has gotten down a few, sit, out, back, leave it, let's go, get dressed.  The "get dressed" command is supposed to help me get  her harness on....she tries to help a bit too enthusiastically!  The hubs commented on how she is always in such a good mood, he was a bit jealous, I think.  :)

~Melissa

Update on Annie

Annie has been through her first heartworm treatment.  She is doing really well, not complaining too loudly about the extra time in the crate.  We spend as much time on the couch resting as we can.  I don't want her to think I have abandoned her.  She goes back on the 6th of May for the second, and hopefully final treatment.  I am encouraged by how well she has done thus far, and hopefully by June we can start getting her back to normal. 

 

My eldest child brought her new puppy by today, Annie responded really well. She usually wants to eat dogs she doesn't know. But "Vader", whose name will probably change to "Mater" because of grand #3, is small and non-threatening. Puppy tried to bark at Annie, too cute!  I was so busy playing with puppy, I forgot about my camera.