Have I mentioned lately how much I like Zumba? Nevermind that I often feel uncoordinated or that I'm often biting my lip because I'm concentrating so hard. IT'S JUST FUN!!
I've also been exposed to a lot of music that I otherwise wouldn't have ever listened to. A new addition to our routine is "Anthem" by Pitbull. Yes, the band's name is Pitbull. Classy. But it's oh so catchy.
Our routine is different from the one these people are doing, but that's the great part about Zumba.... it's super easy too choreograph your own moves. Our Zumba instructor invited us to attend a class at a club in Newport Beach. While it would be fun, my moves aren't ready for prime time. Haha!
Monday, April 25, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Could it be...
progress???
I think I'm actually becoming a runner. Well, that might be too strong of a word. But, I am making progress beyond what I really thought I could do.
Example. When I returned to the TriLaVie running club after my unfortunate injury, I was back to walking. I felt like a failure. Frustrated. It's not fun to feel like all the hard work you put in has just disappeared like *poof* over a matter of weeks.
I remember that my second week back was at Aliso Wood Canyon. The route we take includes a 1.5 mile course on asphalt before you reach the entrance to the park and actually start to make your way on trails. The route is basically all downhill going in and, ugh, all uphill going out. That first time back I walked the entire time and I didn't even make it to the entrance before it was time for me to turn around and head back. (We were training on a time basis, so your distance is how far you could get in that allotted time.) Total distance = ~2 miles
The next time we went back, I was up to adding some running intervals and I actually made it to the entrance and back. It was hard. I remember struggling on the way back and my feet had major blisters and hot spots. I think I walked most of the way back. Total distance = 3 miles
The very next week we were in Tustin. We were supposed to run on trails in Peters Canyon, but due to the recent rain (and the rain that morning), we were forced to take the paved trail along Jamboree. This path goes gradually downhill the whole way and then that same grade going back up. I started out feeling pretty good and I ended up going longer than my specified time at the halfway point. On the way back, my legs were tiiiiiiiired. They just felt fatigued and stiff. I knew I would make it back, so I walked probably the last mile and a half. A guy in our run group caught up to me and we walked the last mile together. It was a much needed pick me up. When I got home, I used runningmap.com and found that I had gone 3.5 miles. Yeah!
A few weeks later, we were back at Aliso. I was feeling pretty good and started off on my run. Keep in mind that pretty much everyone else is ahead of me and I am happy being on my own in nature. It was a really pleasant day to be out in fresh air and I was enjoying the wildflowers and birds I saw. All of the sudden I was at the park entrance. What, really? I'm still feeling good! I am actually going to go into the park! I remember going in and making it to the next, beautiful, wonderful sight that is the TLV mile marker. Total Distance = 4 miles. WOO HOO!
The week after that, we were in Irvine. Irvine has a ton of trails that are excellent for running and biking. We were supposed to do our longest run of the season, meaning that for us 5kers, we'd be doing 5 miles. Even saying that hurts. I didn't think I would make the whole distance. I remember starting my watch and taking off with everyone else. Martha had gone off on her bike to put down the TLV orange mile markers. I was plodding along and all of the sudden I spotted mile 1. What???? I had only been running 11 minutes! This would practically be a record for me! I couldn't believe I got there so fast. That set the pace for my run. But after awhile, I started wondering where mile 2 was. I was starting to panic. I passed 22 minutes... 25 minutes... where was it? Long story short, Martha had marked the first mile including the distance we had walked from the parking lot to the trail. Yes, we didn't park all that close. Hence the reason why it seemed to take FOR-EVER to get to the next one. Once there, I did my best to do my guestimation as to what another half mile was before turning around. I think I finished all 5 miles in 1:12. Not too shabby with my walk/run pace. I also didn't have as many blisters thanks to my new friend, Body Glide.
Yesterday was a bit of a discouragement. We were running along the beach in Huntington. It is totally flat. As in, absolutely, positively no grade whatsoever. That might seem enticing and nice, but it's not. You can see people, buildings off in the distance and they seem sooooo tiny.... and that's where you're going. I think I prefer to not see so far ahead. My goal that day was 4 miles. I was feeling tired, sluggish. I don't think I ran any intervals for the first mile. My legs didn't feel like they wanted to run, so I didn't push the envelope. I ran some for the next mile, turned around at marker 2, and headed back. We were supposed to have a negative split, meaning that you're faster on the second half, but I think I was at about :32 on the way out and :34 on the way back. And it was pretty hot.
But oh my gosh, why am I complaining? I did FOUR MILES! That is a big deal for me! I remember when 2 miles was hard! And even running for 30 seconds was like asking for world peace. Now when I run my intervals, I'm surprised at how fast the minutes pass. That's real progress. I think the fact that we keep pushing ourselves harder and farther makes it a bit more difficult to see the progress because it doesn't feel "easier". I don't ever finish thinking "Wow, that felt great! I think I might just keep going."
No, it's not like that. Yet.
I think I'm actually becoming a runner. Well, that might be too strong of a word. But, I am making progress beyond what I really thought I could do.
Example. When I returned to the TriLaVie running club after my unfortunate injury, I was back to walking. I felt like a failure. Frustrated. It's not fun to feel like all the hard work you put in has just disappeared like *poof* over a matter of weeks.
I remember that my second week back was at Aliso Wood Canyon. The route we take includes a 1.5 mile course on asphalt before you reach the entrance to the park and actually start to make your way on trails. The route is basically all downhill going in and, ugh, all uphill going out. That first time back I walked the entire time and I didn't even make it to the entrance before it was time for me to turn around and head back. (We were training on a time basis, so your distance is how far you could get in that allotted time.) Total distance = ~2 miles
The next time we went back, I was up to adding some running intervals and I actually made it to the entrance and back. It was hard. I remember struggling on the way back and my feet had major blisters and hot spots. I think I walked most of the way back. Total distance = 3 miles
The very next week we were in Tustin. We were supposed to run on trails in Peters Canyon, but due to the recent rain (and the rain that morning), we were forced to take the paved trail along Jamboree. This path goes gradually downhill the whole way and then that same grade going back up. I started out feeling pretty good and I ended up going longer than my specified time at the halfway point. On the way back, my legs were tiiiiiiiired. They just felt fatigued and stiff. I knew I would make it back, so I walked probably the last mile and a half. A guy in our run group caught up to me and we walked the last mile together. It was a much needed pick me up. When I got home, I used runningmap.com and found that I had gone 3.5 miles. Yeah!
A few weeks later, we were back at Aliso. I was feeling pretty good and started off on my run. Keep in mind that pretty much everyone else is ahead of me and I am happy being on my own in nature. It was a really pleasant day to be out in fresh air and I was enjoying the wildflowers and birds I saw. All of the sudden I was at the park entrance. What, really? I'm still feeling good! I am actually going to go into the park! I remember going in and making it to the next, beautiful, wonderful sight that is the TLV mile marker. Total Distance = 4 miles. WOO HOO!
The week after that, we were in Irvine. Irvine has a ton of trails that are excellent for running and biking. We were supposed to do our longest run of the season, meaning that for us 5kers, we'd be doing 5 miles. Even saying that hurts. I didn't think I would make the whole distance. I remember starting my watch and taking off with everyone else. Martha had gone off on her bike to put down the TLV orange mile markers. I was plodding along and all of the sudden I spotted mile 1. What???? I had only been running 11 minutes! This would practically be a record for me! I couldn't believe I got there so fast. That set the pace for my run. But after awhile, I started wondering where mile 2 was. I was starting to panic. I passed 22 minutes... 25 minutes... where was it? Long story short, Martha had marked the first mile including the distance we had walked from the parking lot to the trail. Yes, we didn't park all that close. Hence the reason why it seemed to take FOR-EVER to get to the next one. Once there, I did my best to do my guestimation as to what another half mile was before turning around. I think I finished all 5 miles in 1:12. Not too shabby with my walk/run pace. I also didn't have as many blisters thanks to my new friend, Body Glide.
Yesterday was a bit of a discouragement. We were running along the beach in Huntington. It is totally flat. As in, absolutely, positively no grade whatsoever. That might seem enticing and nice, but it's not. You can see people, buildings off in the distance and they seem sooooo tiny.... and that's where you're going. I think I prefer to not see so far ahead. My goal that day was 4 miles. I was feeling tired, sluggish. I don't think I ran any intervals for the first mile. My legs didn't feel like they wanted to run, so I didn't push the envelope. I ran some for the next mile, turned around at marker 2, and headed back. We were supposed to have a negative split, meaning that you're faster on the second half, but I think I was at about :32 on the way out and :34 on the way back. And it was pretty hot.
But oh my gosh, why am I complaining? I did FOUR MILES! That is a big deal for me! I remember when 2 miles was hard! And even running for 30 seconds was like asking for world peace. Now when I run my intervals, I'm surprised at how fast the minutes pass. That's real progress. I think the fact that we keep pushing ourselves harder and farther makes it a bit more difficult to see the progress because it doesn't feel "easier". I don't ever finish thinking "Wow, that felt great! I think I might just keep going."
No, it's not like that. Yet.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Embracing what God gave me
This morning I did not feel like getting up to go run with the group. I really just felt like turning off my alarm and rolling over until the sun was up and the birds were chirping. I had my TV on and the Today Show was just starting. As I lay there, I heard the most heartbreaking, yet inspiring story that I've heard in a long time. There was this 13 year old girl who, due to a congenital disease, was facing major surgery on her legs. It was something that could no longer be postponed according to her doctors to maintain her overall health. The doctors said they would have to remove several inches of bone from one of her legs. In order to try to maintain her ability to walk, the doctors would do a similar operation on her healthy leg. Or, she could just have her bad leg amputated. She told her parents she chose amputation. What 13 year old can be so strong?
Prior to surgery, all the 13 year old wanted to do was play one game with her school's basketball team. Of course the coach welcomed her and she got her wish. Seeing her on the court, she was amazing. She was really good! She could dribble, run, and scored points. The only reason she wasn't on the team was because she was in pain.
On the Today Show interview, her parents said that they are on 24 hour notice for surgery. If the doctor had a cancellation, she would go in and have her leg amputated, changing her life forever. She said she was at peace with what had to be done. Thinking back to when I was 13, this would be an emotional hurdle from which there might not be a recovery. Yet, she seemed so calm.
This made me get up and out of bed. How selfish of me to think about wasting an opportunity to go out and enjoy nature and run on legs that I have full use of. Even though I'm not as fast as others or can't run as far, at least I can go out and give it a shot. That is the least I can do.
Prior to surgery, all the 13 year old wanted to do was play one game with her school's basketball team. Of course the coach welcomed her and she got her wish. Seeing her on the court, she was amazing. She was really good! She could dribble, run, and scored points. The only reason she wasn't on the team was because she was in pain.
On the Today Show interview, her parents said that they are on 24 hour notice for surgery. If the doctor had a cancellation, she would go in and have her leg amputated, changing her life forever. She said she was at peace with what had to be done. Thinking back to when I was 13, this would be an emotional hurdle from which there might not be a recovery. Yet, she seemed so calm.
This made me get up and out of bed. How selfish of me to think about wasting an opportunity to go out and enjoy nature and run on legs that I have full use of. Even though I'm not as fast as others or can't run as far, at least I can go out and give it a shot. That is the least I can do.
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