A Running Mom

Photo Credit: Ecnerwal

Tip 7: Make It Pretty!

Sound too fluffy? It’s true! Plan at least one a week that is pretty. You know, one that offers eye candy. Great inspiration. Views. Perhaps a place of sentimental value. You know why? Then the run all of a sudden becomes WORTH IT! You must plan, make extra time, consider options, perhaps discuss ideas about where you will run. Not every day. Just once a week. And shazam! You’ll find yourself hankering that run. Wishing it was Saturday so you could go on that run. You may even plan a run that’s just a little challenging… a-ha!  And then you’ll have to make sure that you’re ready for the upcoming run. So you’ll plan a couple of more challenging runs in preparation of the “pretty” one. I’m telling you, it’s powerful stuff.

One of my fave all-time runs is the Brooklyn Bridge. Just experiencing that fabulous moment of crossing over the Brooklyn Bridge and all of a sudden you can’t see the whole city any longer so it kind of feels like the city swallows you whole is absolutely envigorating. I just love it.

I recently had the chance to run the Brooklyn Bridge 3 times in a row. What a feeling! I’m ready to run the NYC Marathon again after all that fabulousness! LOL. But really, it was a great inspirational moment and it made me realize that those pretty, “eye candy” runs can tip the scale for getting me committed to a better running routine. Let it tip your scale, too.

May your next run be a good one.

Rebecca

It’s clear to me.
I need to run every morning or it’s just not going to happen.

Done.

May your next run be a good one.

Rebecca

Heres to the best 14 years ever. Here’s to today. The anniversary day of the beginning of those fabulous 14 years! 

It all started on the campus of The University of Michigan with a run through campus, by Zingerman’s and the Bell Tower with my friend, Steve. It was a beautiful day. 70. Sunny. Blooms bursting all around campus. I needed clarity that day. But I got much more. It really was the best run ever. I remember thinking, my whole life has been leading me to this very moment. 

And so, today, like many big days in our lives, I’m thinking about happy times, a happy run, Big Blue and looking around the room during our big party and thinking, this is a day I won’t forget. Ever. And I’m overwhelmed by all that we’ve done over these wonderful 14 years. It’s amazing what life brings, isn’t it? It’s a happy day.

Cheers!

Do you take time to run on the most important days in your life? Like when?

May your next run be a good one.

Rebecca

wishing to run the brooklyn bridge

 

I dream of running the Brooklyn Bridge

Of revisiting its boardwalk of fun

Running ’round walkers; screaming right past;

A thrilling, and challenging run.

I miss you, old bridge, and your beauty!

I miss how you’d give me a peek

Of the city that engulfs me when

I visit to relive years in a week!

Today I ran a favorite 10K route. I saw horse farms, steep hills and interesting people. It made me miss an old 10K favorite run of mine, which I found when I ran across the Brooklyn Bridge to explore. I lost myself on that run, a new resident of NYC, and I stared like a tourist as I ran across the base of Manhattan, around The World Trade Center, The World Financial Center and I nearly tripped when I realized how clearly I could see The Statue of Liberty on this spontaneous, 10K run. It was 1990. The year I fell in love with running in New York!

Ever dream on your runs?

What’s your fave running dream or memory?

May your next run be a good one.

Rebecca

 

Did you hear? So many people have signed up to run the 2009 Pittsburgh Marathon, that for the first time ever, the number of runners is going to be capped! You know what that means. You better register NOW! My fave person is running it. So I’m taking this year off. Maybe I’ll run the relay!

What are you going to run? The Half Marathon? Will you take your kids to the Kids Marathon the day before? Are YOU planning to run the whole 26.2 miles? 

Whatever you’re doing, good for you! Here’s to the phenomenal people behind the 2009 Pittsburgh Marathon! Great job, all!

 

 

May your next run be a good one.

Rebecca

Once in a while we get the chance to really touch another person in a very positive way. I’ll always cherish my experience of helping to coach for Girls On The Run (girlsontherun.org). This organization is simply wonderful. It does this magic trick with girls who aren’t necessarily destined to go to the Olympics running. It takes these ordinary girls, prepares them to run a 5K, and sneaks in a bunch of tiny lessons in the training sessions. The girls may not realize it, but they learn a lot more than they sign up to learn. And bonus, they compete in a 5K race at the end of the program! It’s simply wonderful.

When I helped coach, there was a little girl with a ton of running potential. But she was not a part of a bigger group of girls, like many of the other girls that year. So when she came to practice, she ran alone. She made a friend or two but didn’t really bond with them right away. Soon I found her running with me. At first I felt a bit concerned. But after a couple of weeks, I realized that her home life didn’t offer her many opportunities to have one-on-one time with an adult. So for her, it might be special to have me focussing all of my attention on her. I ran with all of the girls, of course. But I will say, I paid special attention to her. Let’s call her Addy.

As the final weeks went by, Addy’s running ability began to shine. She had a natural gait; a relaxed stride; long legs. Running came to her so naturally and easily, that soon she began to really outrun the other girls. But then she’d stop. So I’d catch her. I’d ask her what’s up? And then she started to smart talk. It took me by surprise.

Another week went by and I couldn’t figure out what was going on. I tried to hang near her and the other girls to figure it out, but nothing made sense. All of a sudden, this little girl who I thought I was really “reaching” was lashing out at me! Whaddup with that?

The second day of that next week, I caught the end of a conversation with Addy and another girl about a few things unrelated to running and I heard the kernal of truth: Addy wasn’t doing well in school. She was struggling. Her parents weren’t always their on time to pick her up. And the kids were teasing her. It made me absolutely crazy.

So, I started running with Addy again, but stayed with her longer. She made a few wise cracks, but I pretended to miss them. The other girls didn’t like how I focussed so much time with her. I still ran with everyone, but I purposefully tried to focus on Addy. And they could tell. I started to think hard about how I spoke to all of the girls to make sure they didn’t get angry with Addy. But I also wanted to keep Addy running. I wanted her to pass all of those other girls.

I stuck with Addy during some critical laps where she wanted to walk. I walked with her. She would regain her breath and I’d suggest we pass one of the girls in sight. And so we did. I laughed when she said that it wasn’t helping her to stop so much. I knew she was right, but didn’t expect her to figure that out!

With race day, one week away, the girls ran the whole distance. Addy told me she was certain that she wouldn’t make it. I told her I knew she wouldn’t make it if she kept thinking like that. And then I looked at her and reminded how hard she had worked. That this distance is actually the same distance that she ran the prior week. And that she was strong enough to make it. We smiled at each other. And she took off.

A couple of times I joined her to see if we could pass some of the other girls. She took off and left me in her dust! It was simply amazing to me. And yes, she beat that little tribe. 

We never spoke about the details of the teasing or her home life or about any specific issues she felt she needed help in addressing. So I cannot say that our running together created a whole new chapter in her life. 

But I can tell you that Addy gave me a huge hug at then end of the race. She said, with tears, that she really was going to miss me. And I said I’d miss her too. But I said, that both of us became stronger together and that I’d always remember that! And we laughed.

Girls On The Run Rocks! If you have a girl, or know one, check it out. She might just become a little stronger because of you!

May your next run be a good one.

Rebecca

girlsontherun.org

If you’re like me, planning a run can sometimes become a dreaded chore. A mental feat. Which hills to include? How many? What’s the perfect distance to build strength but not overdue? Do I really want to commit to this run?

Here are 5 tips on how to plan your next run. I promise it’ll help!

1. Distance - If you run 3 days a week, then you probably want to plan for two light runs and one challenging one. If you’re all about increasing distance, then add 2 miles to your most comfortable distance for your challenging run. For example, if you have been running 4-milers for weeks and it’s a distance you’re comfortable with, perhaps you ought to consider running a 6-miler one day in the next week to help build endurance and strength. 

2. Terrain - Sometimes I like to add a few hills to a run instead of miles. This seems to mix up my training and offer my muscles the chance to really get a workout. Other days I minimize the hills as much as possible to give me a chance to work on speed. As is true when thinking about distance, whatever is most comfortable is fine for most runs per week. The best approach is to add a little zing to your running routine with some hills, some flat striding miles or simply a different route altogether to for a little something new!

3. Speed - It’s good to plan ahead the general “pace” of your runs. If you just start plodding along each day with no clue of how fast you’ll run that day, you’ll probably end up enjoying the run enough for having run it. But you won’t have gained that added satisfaction of knowing you set out to do something and then actually did it! That’s the bomb. Consider giving yourself a rough pace for the run you’re planning. If you have no idea what that pace might be, then wait and time yourself over the next 6 runs. See what your average time is to run various distances. See if you run a little faster after a break. And figure out what your “comfortable” pace is and what pace you might achieve if you’re trying to run a little faster. With this backdrop you’ll be able to plan to finish in a general timeframe, will have a better handle on how you’re running as you are in the midst of a good run, and you’ll be able to begin to identify ways of shaving off time.

4. Setting - It’s a personal thing, I know, but for me, what’s going on around me, has everything to do with how I enjoy a run. The treadmill for me is jail. Track running bores me. And I loathe any course that sends me out and back. Ugh. It’s worth every minute it takes to figure out what I’m going to see on my run. I’ll even go for a drive to find an area new and interesting. Then I look it up on “Map My Run” http://tinyurl.com/db449j, and try out paths I’ve never run before. I love to just mix it up. It always pays off. Running different neighborhoods, parks, parts of the country, and even old places I’ve lived before, offers an intimate perspective on any of those places. Perhaps it might help you enjoy running even more. It’s a must for me.

5. Sound - Whether I run with someone I adore, find funny, who tells great stories, or my iPod, I always plan what’s going to be entertaining me during a run. It’s a must. 

What are your strategies for making your running excersions extra special? Share them with me! I’d love to give them a try.

May your next run be a good one.

Rebecca

After only running a couple of times this past week, I had planned for a really good run this weekend. My fave person to run with was away, so I asked a couple of people to run with me in his place. Just in case they changed their minds, I  chose the perfect songs and made this incredible play list to keep my company. I was ready for a great run no matter what.

Of course, both people bailed (it was a snowy morning after all). Better, I left my ipod at home. Brilliant. What would I use to keep me plugging along since I was feeling a tad sluggish?

I decided to pick off people and pass them as I ran. At first it was easy. Lots of people were walking dogs. Or really jogging slowly. And then I saw her: The lady in the Crazy Hat. She wore black running pants, a black shirt and a black vest. On her head she wore a black hat with orange spikes that spanned the middle of the back of her head to the front. Like a mohawk. I had seen her take off as I entered the bathroom for my last chance trip to the loo, but she had been out of sight until now, since the path was curvy. Now it straightened out. She was running pretty fast, I thought. I felt certain I wouldn’t be able to pass her. But I set my sights on catching her.

In little increments, I gained on her. We had covered about 3 miles when I found myself within a distance to catch her. I even started to think I might be able to pass her. Then she stopped! So I decided to stride and pass her quickly. I was about 25 yards away, uphill, when she decided to run again. Are you kidding me?

I had to settle into a slower pace to catch my breath.

The distance between us was starting to increase. I had about 3/4 of a mile left in my run, so I decided to try and catch her again. I slowly increased my pace and could tell I was gaining on her. Even though I felt tired, I continued. I could see that the spikes were actually orange and yellow, as I drew closer. Crazy Hat.

15 yards away, and she stopped again!

I flew passed her but felt so short-changed. How disappointing not to be able to pass her on my own! Lady in the Crazy Hat!

Of course, I am grateful for having tried to hard to catch her. I remained focused and unaware of how quickly I was running. I came close to running my race pace!

Crazy, I know. But it ended up being a really fun run.

May your next run be a good one.

Rebecca

Running in my neighborhood is a bear. Four repeat paths. Only 1.5 miles around. Hills. Steep hills. But, on the other hand, if you need to get a quick, tough run in, it can be the perfect route. This weekend I used this boring run for my “better-than-nothing-day-after-my-birthday-run.” I sprinted a few yards here and there. And I felt fabulous when I finished. Here’s a picture of the final few yards, downhill, in my hood:

Send me pictures of your “better-than-nothing” run. How far do you go? Do you include hills? Inspire me!

May your next run be a good one.

Rebecca

I’ll never forget the day the doctors told me they wanted to induce me on birthday. I had to wonder, “How fun is it going to be to have a baby… to be induced and have a baby… on my birthday? How fun will it be in years to come for the child? For me? Should I even be thinking about the ‘fun,’ when I’m not being induced for the fun, but, hello, the safety of the delivery? Guilt. Guilt. Guilt.” I asked the doctors if there were any other days before or after? And they pointed out how important it was that we did not wait much longer, and that the doctor we all preferred was only available on February 7. So it seemed the best date all around. Well that did it. Of course I would be induced on my birthday.

So the night before, February 6th, I was going about a million things, getting ready to have our third child, when I started to feel contractions. Regularly. All through the night. By the time I got to the hospital, they were strong and consistent. Bada-bing-bada-boom, I had gone into labor on my own on my birthday! Can you stand it? Yes, it was the best birthday ever. But I must admit, every birthday with Abby becomes more fun. It’s truly special and a blessing.

Happy Birthday, Abby! Now, when do we get to go for our first birthday run together? That will, no doubt, be a truly great run.

May your next run be a good one.

Rebecca