This week I joined a First Strides group this morning and I was excited to see so many wonderful women; women of all ages, shapes and sizes. Some actually have participated in First Strides before and loved it so much that they came back a second time. Now that is impressive!
I was happy to find that I had no trouble with the the 4 minute walk/1 minute run X 3, plus 5 minute warm-up and 5 minute cool-down. The track was soft and had only slight inclines. But my goodness was it cold outside...BUR-R-R-R-R! I am so glad warmer weather is coming!
Tonight I completed my 13 minute run/2 minute walk (plus warm-up and cool-down) on the treadmill. I felt very energized; it was such a stress release after an afternoon of "problems" at work.
I love running!
I don't know about anyone else, but I am so glad the sun has returned to the East Coast! I can't wait to continue on with my week 8 on the treadmill and 2 more out door run/walks(for First Strides). Life is really good!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
Tommy
Today I ran my 13 minute run/2minute walk times 2, not including my warm-up and cool-down. I felt good, I had energy. Every time I increase my running time with success I feel like I am on top of the world. But it doesn't always last.
Back on the 70's I would run while my little boy Tommy rode his bike. We would go for miles along River Road through the Ken Lockwood Gorge. He had blond hair cut in a "bowl cut"; his hair would blow back as he rode his bike. Tommy was an adventurer..he loved nature and was a very intelligent child. He was tested by the Child Study Team Psychologist and tests revealed he had an above Genius I.Q.; that was no surprise to me.
While I run, I think of those wonderful days when Tommy was young. His dog Pooh Bear would run with us too. Pooh Bear would jump in the Raritan River every once in a while to cool off. How I wish I could go back..if only for a few minutes!
Tommy died in a car accident on July 30, 2005. I miss him all the time. He had started running again just before he died. He ran and hiked through many New Jersey Parks. He often spoke of us running/hiking together. I am running again not only for me but for Tommy. I am doing what he wanted me to do...find my passion, my passion for running.
I am just starting; I have a long way to go, but every step I take feels like I won the Olympic gold medal..it may not seem like much to others, but it means a lot to me.
Back on the 70's I would run while my little boy Tommy rode his bike. We would go for miles along River Road through the Ken Lockwood Gorge. He had blond hair cut in a "bowl cut"; his hair would blow back as he rode his bike. Tommy was an adventurer..he loved nature and was a very intelligent child. He was tested by the Child Study Team Psychologist and tests revealed he had an above Genius I.Q.; that was no surprise to me.
While I run, I think of those wonderful days when Tommy was young. His dog Pooh Bear would run with us too. Pooh Bear would jump in the Raritan River every once in a while to cool off. How I wish I could go back..if only for a few minutes!
Tommy died in a car accident on July 30, 2005. I miss him all the time. He had started running again just before he died. He ran and hiked through many New Jersey Parks. He often spoke of us running/hiking together. I am running again not only for me but for Tommy. I am doing what he wanted me to do...find my passion, my passion for running.
I am just starting; I have a long way to go, but every step I take feels like I won the Olympic gold medal..it may not seem like much to others, but it means a lot to me.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
They're Back!
About 5 or 6 years ago I began to notice something about my body. My mid-section became wider and rounder and my hips and waist disappeared. My butt disappeared too, replaced by a great big triangle. Someone told me that this often happens to women when they reach menopause.
Today I completed week 7 from Runners World's Mark Will-Webber's 10 Week Beginning Running Training Plan. I feel like I have so much more energy and I am so excited that I ran 10 minutes straight (not just 9) without any problem.
Because I wanted to see if my body was changing I forced myself to look in the mirror. I am happy to announce that I have indeed located my waist and my hips. They are still in the beginning stages of formation, but they are there! I also found that my butt has returned, no longer is there a big triangle, just a big butt! I am thrilled, I feel like I just discovered a new solar system.
Dan Quayle said: "It's time for the human race to enter the solar system" (well, what do you expect from Dan Quayle?). But I would say: "This human has discovered her own solar system as she takes time to enter the race to run 30 minutes straight!".
Today I completed week 7 from Runners World's Mark Will-Webber's 10 Week Beginning Running Training Plan. I feel like I have so much more energy and I am so excited that I ran 10 minutes straight (not just 9) without any problem.
Because I wanted to see if my body was changing I forced myself to look in the mirror. I am happy to announce that I have indeed located my waist and my hips. They are still in the beginning stages of formation, but they are there! I also found that my butt has returned, no longer is there a big triangle, just a big butt! I am thrilled, I feel like I just discovered a new solar system.
Dan Quayle said: "It's time for the human race to enter the solar system" (well, what do you expect from Dan Quayle?). But I would say: "This human has discovered her own solar system as she takes time to enter the race to run 30 minutes straight!".
Friday, March 26, 2010
Yoga
This morning I ran my 9 min run, 1 min walk X 2, plus a 10 min run (okay at the end it was supposed to be a 9 min run and 1 min walk, but I got carried away). I also did a warm-up and cool-down.
Tonight I did 30 minutes of yoga. It was so relaxing. I almost didn't do yoga; I felt so wired from my day at work. But I know that yoga is not just an "exercise", it helps to calm both my body and my mind. For me yoga is very healing.
Today I also signed up to participate in a First Strides Women's Beginning Running Group. I feel I need to be with other women as I begin to get back running. I also think the group will be a support as I try to transfer my running from the treadmill to the pavement.
Tonight I did 30 minutes of yoga. It was so relaxing. I almost didn't do yoga; I felt so wired from my day at work. But I know that yoga is not just an "exercise", it helps to calm both my body and my mind. For me yoga is very healing.
Today I also signed up to participate in a First Strides Women's Beginning Running Group. I feel I need to be with other women as I begin to get back running. I also think the group will be a support as I try to transfer my running from the treadmill to the pavement.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Tired, but motivated
I did my 9 minute run/1 minute walk X 3, plus my warm-up and cool-down. I made it, but I was so tired. I am not sure why. I wanted to stop after 20 minutes, but I kept going,then at 30 minutes I kept running for another minute. I felt as though I was in a double-bind, I wanted to run, but I didn't want to run. I was tired but I really felt motivated to run.
Today I couldn't take a lunch break at work. I had so much work to do that I just pushed myself to get all my tasks completed. I didn't feel as though I had energy because I was tired, but I had motivation.
As tired as my body felt, I had no trouble talking. I did a lot of talking today, I talked about this and that and talked some more. I made more phone calls today than I usually make in a week. I am soft-spoken, more an observer than an active participant, but I was not an observer today; my tongue was wagging!
Tonight I came home, put the dogs outside, brought them inside, fed them, put my dinner in the steamer and then went for a 30 + walk at the park, it was great! I still felt a little tired, but I had the motivation to walk.
I am glad tomorrow is one of my "rest days".
Konrad Adenauer said "All parts of the human body get tired eventually - except the tongue". That is a perfect description of me today, my body was tired but my tongue was full of energy. Thank god for motivation!
Today I couldn't take a lunch break at work. I had so much work to do that I just pushed myself to get all my tasks completed. I didn't feel as though I had energy because I was tired, but I had motivation.
As tired as my body felt, I had no trouble talking. I did a lot of talking today, I talked about this and that and talked some more. I made more phone calls today than I usually make in a week. I am soft-spoken, more an observer than an active participant, but I was not an observer today; my tongue was wagging!
Tonight I came home, put the dogs outside, brought them inside, fed them, put my dinner in the steamer and then went for a 30 + walk at the park, it was great! I still felt a little tired, but I had the motivation to walk.
I am glad tomorrow is one of my "rest days".
Konrad Adenauer said "All parts of the human body get tired eventually - except the tongue". That is a perfect description of me today, my body was tired but my tongue was full of energy. Thank god for motivation!
Monday, March 22, 2010
Memory
Today is a a rainy Monday, March 22, 2010. I began my week 7 of the Runners World "First Steps" schedule by Mark Will-Weber: 9 minutes run with 1 minute walk X 3 , equaling 30 minutes.
I must say I think I did very well..I said "think" because after the second round of running I realized that I stopped running at the 20 minute mark, not the 19. I didn't remember to stop at 19 minutes and ran 10 minutes instead of 9. I was surprised at my self...how could I forget the sequence? I thought that maybe I was at the beginning stages of Senility...after all as Jonathan Swift said, "observation is an old man's memory". Maybe I forgot the sequence,...but I did "observe" something was not right...right?
Well, at least I made it through the 30 minutes (not including the warm up and cool down).
Memory is a tricky thing. My husband Tom died June 9, 2008 on what would have been our 35th wedding anniversary. The first time we were married way too young, had a wonderful son named Tommy and divorced. All this happened in the course of 4 years. After our Tommy died in a car accident, we reunited. I had always felt that I was "right" and Tom was "wrong" so I blamed Tom for our failed marriage. I loved him; that never changed over the years. I loved him from the moment I saw him in a Dance Club on South Side Easton when I was 19 years old. Drinking age was 21 then so my "older" friends fixed me up to look older so I could get into the club. I will never forget the first time I saw Tom. He was muscular, tan and seemed at ease with himself. The girls immediately swirled around him. He had curly brown hair, golden eyes and a cute mustache. He wore a patterned brown polyester shirt with brown polyester pants. He was gorgeous. As I looked over at him my one friend leaned over and said.."that is Tom, he is a baseball player courted by the Minor Leagues...but stay away from him he is a playboy". I was disappointed, but since he didn't seem to notice me I just shrugged it off.
Later that night I went to the cigarette machine and as I was trying to decide what brand I wanted (yes I smoked back then) I realized that Tom was leaning against the cigarette machine. I tried to ignore him. He said "I saw you walk over here and I just wanted to come over and introduce myself. I am Tom and I think you are the prettiest girl in this place..in fact I think you might be the prettiest girl I have ever seen". I immediately thought that he was a con artist..my father had warned me about guys with "lines". So I replied" My name is Noel and I think you should get your eyes checked because I think you need glasses", and I went back to my seat. As the evening wore on I noticed Tom never danced. I danced as often as I was asked (which was often). Finally Tom asked me to dance and I soon found out why he didn't dance often..he made the most awkward movements with his arms flailing and his body gyrating in the most disturbing way. I figured he must have liked me after all if he was willing to put himself through all that humiliation. We soon began dating (after he asked my dad if he could "court" me) and I was head over heals in love. We married 7 months later.
When Tom and I started talking after Tommy's death I realized that my memory was extremely selective. I remembered what I wanted to remember and "forgot" the rest. When we talked I found out that I was not the victim...I was as much to blame as Tom for the failure of our first marriage. Why hadn't we talked like this all those years ago? I wasted so much time being a victim. It was the most healing and empowering experience of my life; a true gift. I was in control and life was good (as good as it could be without Tommy).
I will always be grateful that we had those "second marriage" years where we were partners. He was a wonderful husband and a wonderful grandfather to our grandson Alex. It was a great time.
Running has the ability to make us appreciate our strengths..to realize our potential. I am not willing to let negative thinking weigh me down..that I am "too old" or "too chubby". Maybe I "forgot" to stop running at 19 minutes instead of 20, but I made it through and I am happy! I feel energized and optimistic about life. I feel in control.
When I think of my walk thought he beautiful Ken Lockwood Gorge yesterday I think of Henry David Thoreau's quote "Alas, how little does the memory of these human inhabitants enhance the beauty of the landscape". Life is beautiful; past, present and future. Life is what we make of it.
I must say I think I did very well..I said "think" because after the second round of running I realized that I stopped running at the 20 minute mark, not the 19. I didn't remember to stop at 19 minutes and ran 10 minutes instead of 9. I was surprised at my self...how could I forget the sequence? I thought that maybe I was at the beginning stages of Senility...after all as Jonathan Swift said, "observation is an old man's memory". Maybe I forgot the sequence,...but I did "observe" something was not right...right?
Well, at least I made it through the 30 minutes (not including the warm up and cool down).
Memory is a tricky thing. My husband Tom died June 9, 2008 on what would have been our 35th wedding anniversary. The first time we were married way too young, had a wonderful son named Tommy and divorced. All this happened in the course of 4 years. After our Tommy died in a car accident, we reunited. I had always felt that I was "right" and Tom was "wrong" so I blamed Tom for our failed marriage. I loved him; that never changed over the years. I loved him from the moment I saw him in a Dance Club on South Side Easton when I was 19 years old. Drinking age was 21 then so my "older" friends fixed me up to look older so I could get into the club. I will never forget the first time I saw Tom. He was muscular, tan and seemed at ease with himself. The girls immediately swirled around him. He had curly brown hair, golden eyes and a cute mustache. He wore a patterned brown polyester shirt with brown polyester pants. He was gorgeous. As I looked over at him my one friend leaned over and said.."that is Tom, he is a baseball player courted by the Minor Leagues...but stay away from him he is a playboy". I was disappointed, but since he didn't seem to notice me I just shrugged it off.
Later that night I went to the cigarette machine and as I was trying to decide what brand I wanted (yes I smoked back then) I realized that Tom was leaning against the cigarette machine. I tried to ignore him. He said "I saw you walk over here and I just wanted to come over and introduce myself. I am Tom and I think you are the prettiest girl in this place..in fact I think you might be the prettiest girl I have ever seen". I immediately thought that he was a con artist..my father had warned me about guys with "lines". So I replied" My name is Noel and I think you should get your eyes checked because I think you need glasses", and I went back to my seat. As the evening wore on I noticed Tom never danced. I danced as often as I was asked (which was often). Finally Tom asked me to dance and I soon found out why he didn't dance often..he made the most awkward movements with his arms flailing and his body gyrating in the most disturbing way. I figured he must have liked me after all if he was willing to put himself through all that humiliation. We soon began dating (after he asked my dad if he could "court" me) and I was head over heals in love. We married 7 months later.
When Tom and I started talking after Tommy's death I realized that my memory was extremely selective. I remembered what I wanted to remember and "forgot" the rest. When we talked I found out that I was not the victim...I was as much to blame as Tom for the failure of our first marriage. Why hadn't we talked like this all those years ago? I wasted so much time being a victim. It was the most healing and empowering experience of my life; a true gift. I was in control and life was good (as good as it could be without Tommy).
I will always be grateful that we had those "second marriage" years where we were partners. He was a wonderful husband and a wonderful grandfather to our grandson Alex. It was a great time.
Running has the ability to make us appreciate our strengths..to realize our potential. I am not willing to let negative thinking weigh me down..that I am "too old" or "too chubby". Maybe I "forgot" to stop running at 19 minutes instead of 20, but I made it through and I am happy! I feel energized and optimistic about life. I feel in control.
When I think of my walk thought he beautiful Ken Lockwood Gorge yesterday I think of Henry David Thoreau's quote "Alas, how little does the memory of these human inhabitants enhance the beauty of the landscape". Life is beautiful; past, present and future. Life is what we make of it.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Sun
Yesterday I ran my last day of 9 minute run, 2 minute walk X 2, plus 8 minute run. Today was my day of rest.
"Today was so fun
It was not my day to run
I enjoyed the sun"
It was in the 70's yesterday and today; what a wonderful gift after this difficult winter. Even though today was my "rest" day I couldn't resist taking a 45 minute walk at the Ken Lockwood Gorge here in Hunterdon County New Jersey. It is a spectacular place...if you have ever seen the movie "A River Runs Through It", the gorge looks similar to the river in the movie .......just beautiful.
Tomorrow I start my week of 9 minute running, 1 minute walking X 3.
I think that once I translate my running from my treadmill to the trail, the Ken Lockwood Gorge will be my "rave run".
"Today was so fun
It was not my day to run
I enjoyed the sun"
It was in the 70's yesterday and today; what a wonderful gift after this difficult winter. Even though today was my "rest" day I couldn't resist taking a 45 minute walk at the Ken Lockwood Gorge here in Hunterdon County New Jersey. It is a spectacular place...if you have ever seen the movie "A River Runs Through It", the gorge looks similar to the river in the movie .......just beautiful.
Tomorrow I start my week of 9 minute running, 1 minute walking X 3.
I think that once I translate my running from my treadmill to the trail, the Ken Lockwood Gorge will be my "rave run".
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