It is really hot outside! Thank goodness running is cool!

I don't mean to complain after the cold, snowy, long, horribly isolating, running limited, dog confining and horrible winter we just had....but it is really hot outside!  I would rather have the heat than the bitter cold and snow, but I am struggling to get my runs in with this weather.

I still am suffering from this upper front-tooth permanent bridge I am having installed by Dr. Bork.  Monday I went for my final impressions and this involved several impressions and cutting of my gums.  Before Dr. finished, the anesthesia was wearing  off...oh, such pain!  I went home and tried to rest after taking Advil.   Later I pushed myself to run..thinking maybe not the 8 mile, but a 2 mile run.  I drove to Vorhees and started running..my mouth was hurting but I kept running.  One mile, two miles....three miles..my teeth stopped hurting and the joy of running kicked in.  I may have been slow, but I was in my element and felt strong.  Maybe it was the increased circulation, but the pain stopped.  Five miles later I stopped; dripping wet from sweat and feeling good!

Yesterday I went to work but felt discomfort from my teeth most of the morning.  In the afternoon the pain got so bad I had to borrow Motrin from my Boss Wendy...she suggested I go home and rest.  I went home and rested, but decided to go out on the trail later to attempt my scheduled 3 mile run.  Back to Vorhees I went..one mile...two miles...three glorious miles!  I felt fabulous..whether it was my circulation or what...running was my path from pain!

Running is the coolest thing!  Running is fun, running is good for you and running can take away tooth pain!   No wonder I love to run!

Today I felt okay..no major pain.  I went to Vorhees after work and completed the 14 exercise stations on the one mile Par Course.  I felt really strong, but "buggy".  How come the bugs do not realise I have bug repellent on?   I hate..no I am repelled, by the smell of the spray, but the bugs at Vorhees are apparently attracted by the smell..go figure?

Love Bike Rides!

Okay, I planned on running 8 miles today, but this morning it was already too hot and I just did not feel like running!  So I traded my bike ride scheduled for tomorrow with my run for today.


This afternoon I loaded up my Trek bike and went to High Bridge.  I rode the 11.3 miles to Long Valley and then rode back..a total of 22.6 miles.  It was an incredible ride through Hunterdon County into Morris County.  I passed through the Ken Lockwood Gorge, through the beautiful town of Califon  and over the many bridges that cris-cross the Raritan river along the old railroad path.

The Columbia Trail

The trail was cool compared to the 90-plus temperatures on this hot July day.  What a glorious ride, on a glorious day!


Tomorrow I will run my 8 miles with my metronome...but today I had a wonderful time riding my mountain bike!

The trail passes the old train station in Califon (with Farmer's bike parked in front).

The Metronome and Cadence...ChiRunning...Tic-Toc!

Today I ran 3 miles at Vorhees State Park. I tried hard to maintain my forward leaning stance, soft knees while keeping my arms swinging back and forth from my elbows. I felt relaxed and strong at the same time. I did not use the metronome; the last time I used it another runner expressed his annoyance at the “clicking”.  I will use it tomorrow and keep the volume down; I need to work on increasing my cadence.

Tomorrow I will be running 8 miles; I am sure many runners will be pass me. After all I am a 58 year old woman who does not like to get out of first gear(as Kathy Griest reminded me).  Regardless of my "routine", I am committed to moving into second gear, then to third and eventually to fourth gear! I just need some time!

Yesterday I ran around Vorhees State Park for 70 minutes. I ran over trails with steep hills and trails that were rocky and full of roots. I had the time of my life! I know I ran at least 5 to 6 miles, but since I didn’t wear my Garmin I am not certain of the distance. But I am certain of how happy I was…running free like a child again!

Teeth

I finally got my metronome this afternoon, so it was off to Vorhees State Park to test it out.  Kathy Griest commented on how I do not like to leave first gear, but today was special...I set the metronome at 150..a good first gear pace.  I felt strong and easily made it up the hill all three times around the 1 mile trail.  I was focused, and I think I was able to hold my alignment and lean throughout the run.  But my teeth did distract me some.

I lost a tooth in the front just before graduating from Kean University in 1978.  The tooth that I lost had a root canal from 1969 and it broke off just two days before my graduation.  It was the only blight on my joy...I was only the second Social Work student at Kean to be accepted at Columbia University...and I was the second top student in the Bachelor of Social Work Program at Kean for 1978...I was so happy. 

The temporary "flipper" from 1978 lasted 10+ years..well beyond my years at college.  I had the "flipper" replaced with a "permanent bridge" in 1989.  A couple months ago the "permanent bridge" fell out..Dr. Bork (my dentist) glued it back in..then it fell out again, so Dr. Bork cemented it back in (it was apparent it was not going to stay in forever..something needed to be done about it).  This morning I went to Dr. Bork and he began my new journey to another "permanent bridge".  This one involved drilling through the enamel of two teeth and inserting a "temporary bridge"..next week a final impression will be made (after my teeth have a chance to "settle").  Three to four weeks later I will have my new "permanent bridge". 

I ran at Vorhees this afternoon, in the hot humid weather..with the Novocaine decreasing...the discomfort...the aching...the bad bite coming into my consciousness.  How horrid...but then I thought that maybe as a result of my pain I will cut back on my eating and finally lose the last 25 pounds!  So when Dr. Bork called me tonight to see how I was...I didn't call back.  I need to face my "pain"..adjust my food intake  while justing my bite.

Tomorrow is my 5 mile day...metronome will be set at 160...teeth grimacing and beautiful (yes, they look beautiful...very natural), I will align, lean, move my elbows and Chi-run effortlessly (hopefully!).

Smiles are very important!

ChiRunning...finally!

Two years ago I scheduled a one week retreat at Kripalu in Sockbridge, Mass for cross country skiing.  Well, I was unable to go due to issues with my mother so I cancelled, but not in time to get a refund.  The cost of my retreat would be held on account at Kripalu. 

In February 2009 I started the Mark Webber beginner running program on the treadmill.  Around the same time I read my first article about Danny Dreyer and his ChiRunning program.  As an avid user of acupuncture, I was intrigued.  The Kripalu catalogue listed a retreat for ChiRunning in the summer of 2009 so I used the money I had there on account to schedule the ChiRunning retreat.  Unfortunately I had to cancel that retreat and then another retreat for ChiRunning.  The money continued to be held on account at Kripalu minus $150.00(each cancellation cost $50.00).

Last month I saw that Kathy Greist, a Master Instructor for ChiRunning, was holding a retreat from July 1-4, 2011.  I registered, praying I would not have to cancel again.


On July 1, 2011 I arrived at Kripalu.  You could not have asked for a more beautiful day; the sun was shining and the temperature was in the high 70's..just perfect!

Kripalu driveway

My room at Kripalu.

The view from my room.

Beautiful!

One of the gardens.

I have a lot more to learn about ChiRunning, but I am so excited about what I have accomplished so far.  By aligning my body in a forward lean while relaxing my knees, ankles, shoulders and arms, I can move freely and effortlessly...no pain and hopefully no injuries. 

My teacher, Kathy Griest, was incredible.  Her assistants Ann Margaret, Mike I and Mike II were awesome too!  I ordered my metronome and have myChiRunning book and ChiRunning DVD to refer to as I continue on in my training.  I have not been so excited about anything like this in a long time.

So, I will see where this new chapter leads me.  I believe that without our Chi...our life force..moving freely through our bodies we are not complete.  After my son Tommy died I had friends telling me to take this medication or that medication...I had a friend who is a Psychiatrist prescribe a pill that actually made my symptoms worse.  For the first time in my life I experienced anxiety..anxiety is not "nervousness", it is a debilitating state of panic!  I would try to sleep at night and start to think about Tommy...even if he was 31 at the time of his death, he was still my little boy..I needed to know where he was...I would grab the sheets...panicking...scared...I felt like I was falling into an abyss...the feeling was paralyzing.  I could not sleep, read, listen to music....I  could not rest.  Then my friend Anita mentioned how she found acupuncture to be extremely helpful. I decided to give acupuncture a try; thank god I did!   During my first acupuncture treatment I felt the energy flowing again in my body; Tommy's death had left me a broken woman and part of me was gone forever from this life.  Acupuncture repaired the broken areas...I felt alive again. I believe in an after-life and knew Tommy continued to exist, but he was not in the present and I felt as though I had no arms, no legs.  Acupuncture gave me a sense of wholeness.  I still grieve, that will never change, but I know that I will strive to live each day to the fullest, life goes on and Tommy would want me to continue in this wonderful journey of life.

Happy ChiRunner!

I feel a wonderful sense of wholeness.....a freedom of motion from ChiRunning...like I am a child again; a happy child full of joy!