April 13-19 Runs

[kacie tri-ing]

Congrats on breaking that personal barrier! That is awesome! I am sure that the energy from your son's birthday helped you!!!

I am not back to running yet....My hip flexor is still hurting from the HIM, but I am READY. I know from re-injuring myself some post-marathon though, that it is NOT worth it....Last week i just rode my bike whenever I felt like it, and took it really really slowly. I am going to start jumping back into the pool tonight though! Hopefully I will be back in my running shoes by the end of the week! Staying positive!

[alpinerabbit]

My cycling hols/training camp of 10 days must have absolutely wrecked me.


I walked up a hill behind my parent's house and back down the other side to get to a nice area for a bit of flat running. Sunday, I could not run more than 1-2 minutes before walking again. Today, I ran a whopping 1.5 km in one bit. Plus maybe 500 more.

Wednesday I'll try again for 5.

[OakLeaf]

I had the most amazing long run today (11.8 miles @ 10:03 overall).

The wind was fierce, 22 mph gusting to 38, straight up the peninsula. As I've been doing lately, I ran out on pavement and sidewalk and back on the beach.

Okay, half of y'all are going to think this stuff is really "out there," and the other half will probably go, "geez, isn't that how everyone does it?" As I get into the longer runs, I've been doing them more and more as a moving meditation. (I'm in good company. The Presiding Bishop of my church was featured on the back page of Runner's World a year or so ago, talking about her long runs being moving meditation. )

My Yoga teacher often says that gratitude opens all the chakras, so today I did my downwind leg as a gratitude meditation. It turned into free associations - as I'd thank someone it would remind me of someone else connected to them, so I'd thank them next, and on and on. I ran through hundreds of people who'd touched my life in some way; lots of y'all TE'rs; people and pets who are deceased, whom I was able to acknowledge just briefly enough to feel gratitude without grief; people whose overall influence on me was negative, yet who maybe taught me something valuable or put me in a place to gain something that I could thank them for; friends; family; teachers; people I hadn't thought of in years. By the time I was halfway back I just felt so happy, and it only got better and better. I kicked the last 500 meters @ 7:30 with a huge grin on my face.

When I was younger I used to meditate regularly, but I've been away from it for a very long time. So it's like I know what it's supposed to feel like, but in terms of actually getting there I'm pretty much a novice again. I was just kind of bouncing off that place where I had a roaring blinding light of grateful energy shooting out of my crown.

Then from time to time I could make a "sling" out of the energy of my three lower chakras, shoot it out of my pelvis right inside of the ASIS on either side, connect it to my hands and literally use my arm swing to drive my pelvic rotation. Energy driving the body mechanics just like it's supposed to, all the Chi Running and Yoga really, really coming together.

I just can't wait to thank my Yoga teacher in person tomorrow morning! Thank you all TE runners for the inspiration, support and advice!

[mudmucker]

Wow Oakleaf. That's a very introspective and inspiring post. Positive and contentment just oozes out of it. Very refreshing to read. I'm happy that it came together for you in such a way. Treasure those days for sure. Sounds like you've worked to link many of these various holistic aspects in your life together or at least regarding your moving meditation and it's starting to work.

I run also and I ran outside all through this winter in the ice and snow and very cold temps but I never post about it. Back in February or so you posted several times on the Chi Running book again. I finally picked up the book because of your informative posts about it. I have to say it has really helped me run pain free. I used to do Tai Chi many moons ago so the grounding and body sensing was easy for me. I had never though of putting it into running. After reading excerpts from the book and applying it to my running, it worked by the first 2 runs after. It really works and it's pretty exciting to have the power to run pain free. Thanks. Although I certainly haven't reached the point of focusing my energy to drive body mechanics to a high level yet.

[yellow]

Oak, that is a great post. These days I often find myself looking for the positive in what on the surface seems to be so negative, including relationships that I had with others years ago. Usually I don't have to dig too deep to find the positive and recognize the gratitude that is owed. Usually.

~~~~~~

OK, I have a dilemma of sorts. It's my "easy" week (I practice periodization when I'm training for something and this is a cycle down week) and I have a scaled back long run on 10 miles on Friday. It's supposed to snow 3 feet between now and Friday AM, ski season is coming to a close, the mountain is pretty much devoid of humans, and I really, really love powder skiiing. Do I go ski until I can't stand up anymore on Friday or do I forego a potentially killer powder day for a 10 mile run on (probably) muddy trails?

Life can be so hard.

[Shiraz]

Hi Ladies,
I too enjoy reading your positive post. I know I have not posted like I should but so enjoy coming back and reading your success' and challenges. It seems everyone is dealing with challenging circumstances. Our lives are more demanding than ever. Many of us have family and friends without jobs and it can be hard to stay positive with so much pulling us into negativity. But this is the times like OakLeaf said we (I)must concentrate on the positive! I am blessed with good friends, family and health! No matter how fast or slow I run I can walk out my door on my own and run!

Yellow I am excited to see you on Saturday in Salt Lake City for my half! It means so much to see a friendly face cheering me on. Last year I had a painful last 3 miles so I am hoping for a healthy and happy finish.

[Susan Otcenas]

oakleaf - thanks for sharing that with us. It sounds like it was a very powerful experience for you!

yellow - Speaking for myself... I'd go skiing. I love my training, and I'm very disciplined about it for the most part. But for me, it's important that I not feel like it's depriving me of something else I really might like to do. Otherwise, I might come to "resent" the training a little bit. I find that when I allow myself to do some other fun cross training thing from time to time, especially if it's an opportunity that won't come around very often (as in your expected amazing powder day), that I'm actually MORE energized when I resume my regular training schedule.

kacie - Hope your recovery is going well. I didn't post a comment on your race report thread, but I wanted you to know I really enjoyed reading it. How wonderful to have had your fan club right there with you!


As for me - as I mentioned on last week's thread, I had a stupid fall in my SIL's kitchen on SUnday evening and really banged up my left foot. This morning was my next scheduled run, and I had a little trepidation going into it, as I was still feeling a wee bit tender yesterday. Well, I'm VERY happy to report that I had absolutely no issues with it this morning! Whew! I had a 5 mile tempo run on the treadmill ( 1 mile @ 5.5, 3 miles @ 5.8, 1 mile @ 5.5, 0.75 mile cool down @ brisk walking pace. Total = 5.75 miles). My foot felt great. My left forearm, on the other hand, looks like someone has been beating me up. The whole underside is bruised. I know it's from the fall, but for the life of me, I can't remember it getting banged up.

Hope everyone continues to have great runs this week!

Susan