On Being Sick and Unable to Run

I have had a really bad cold for several days and have not run.  But I ordered a new pair of running shoes and re-read some fitness tips that I will write here.  (If I can set a precedent of doing something to further my running even when I am sick, then it will not be discouraging but a time to use the cold and flu season for mental fitness.)

From Beyond Backpacking by Ray Jardine
422- Virtually anyone can take a dream and forge it into a goal.  As a friend confided: "Having been lazy and laid-back most of my life, I was amazed at my ability to set an objective and totally commit myself to it."
P. 423 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: "My life is spent in one long effort to escape from the commonplaces of existence."
p. 251 Top runners may cover 20 miles a day when training for competition.  Yet backpackers can consistently surpass that mileage while carrying backpacks and gaining and losing thousands of feet in elevation....(the secret) is a carefully regulated pace...for each mile, expend the least amount of energy...What is the optimum speed that will gain us the best mileage?  Or the least fatigue?  Mainly it is a matter of listening to our bodies, and striving for the optimum cardiovascular rate...Then you realize a reduction in per-mile energy expenditure.

So, it's about pacing yourself, listening to your body and training for the long haul.

Sunday Run with Wendy and Julie

Today was great!!  Julie, Wendy and I ran over a mile on the indoor track while PaPaw walked...good for all of us.  My sweet, athletic daughters, Julie and Wendy, talked about running the Dogwood Run as they paced each other.  Julie and I ran barefoot.  It felt good.  I'm looking forward to buying some five fingers so I can really train barefoot!

Wendy is moving up and out!

Today when I got to the indoor track, Wendy was going full tilt with a friend.  I did the last three laps of a mile with them at a good clip.  Then they went to do the stairs.  Wendy looked fast, fit and confident.  And this after only a short time!

Running outside again now and then

Wendy, Iz and I did a mile outside.  It was wonderful.  I'm going to water jog at the pool because I am alone again and need the structure and the help sleeping.  I had the weirdest nightmares last night.  They were about trying to save dying people.  Maybe because Mimi left us for now.  Maybe because I see so many people who need help like the Haitians.  Don't know.  Swimming, running and especially praying will help me now.

Later.  I had to get out of the house tonight.  Felt restless because sleepy from the dreams.  Thought, "Should I go see DayBreakers, a movie, or get in the pool?"  Didn't know which I'd choose till the last minute when I made the turn to the pool in the car.  I listened to Defector by Daniel Silva with my ipod in a waterproof case and water jogged an hour.  Now I feel better.  Glad I made the exercise choice again! 

Working out the Loss

Today, Saturday, Wendy, Iz and I did a mile; then I went back and ran another mile; then biked pretty hard for seven 1/2 miles.

Long Run Day

Today I ran 4 miles, one of them with Wendy and Isabelle.  It was a catharsis to push myself.  It felt good even though it was hard.  I feel like I am working out losing Mom.

Mom went to Heaven Yesterday

Well, it was probably good that Wendy, Iz and I ran before we got the news that Mom went on ahead to get her new body.  It probably helped with the shock and the stress.  It was still hard.  Today I made myself run a mile and I think it did me some good.  I didn't listen to music.  I just want to be quiet.  I was going to run a marathon in her honor when she was alive on earth but I can still run one in her memory while she lives in heaven.