Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse has Everything to do with Being a Superb Mom and Diehard Athlete.

For the past few days my mom has been asking me to  guest blog for her, which I am completely willing to do seeing as I was genetically engineered to be a blogger. Sure, I might rather be laying in bed surrounded by fuzzy blankets right now, but my mom is an amazing person (and a total badass), and abandoning my cozy bed to write this for her is surely the least I could do.

Recently my mother has become a “Road Warrior” for the 5/3 RiverBank Run. I personally detest running. I absolutely loathe it. Despite my extensive know-how on surviving a zombie apocalypse, I readily admit that I simply wouldn’t be able to survive because of all the running, if that tells you anything. My mom on the other hand could almost certainly out live me during a zombie apocalypse and here’s why: (despite what you may be thinking, this does have to do with running and the whole Road Warrior gig)

My mom has been hardcore from the get-go. Let’s be forthright and state that exercise in general is horrendously repulsive. Yet for some reason a few years ago, despite all the hard crap being thrown at her, my mom picked up her head and started exercising. She knew she wasn’t happy with how she looked and felt, so instead of whining about it, she got up and did something about it. It started off small, but as she continued it got more and more intense. She had all these insane workout and yoga videos that she would do while my brothers were in school and she got super into it. I would be sitting at the table attempting to do my homework and she would be in the living room huffing and puffing and grunting and giving everything her all. Sure, I got annoyed because I couldn’t wrap my mind around why someone would possibly do that to themselves (like ew) but I had to admit she was getting proper fit. She had loads of determination and never gave up. Like everyone, she had times where she just wanted to quit, to just throw the towel in. But she didn’t. And that’s what has gotten her where she is today.

As a Road Warrior she is as determined as ever! She exercises every moment she possibly can and actually enjoys the training! (if that’s even possible) She strives for success every day. She has earned everything she has and she has gone through hell and back with everything life has tossed at her and yet she holds her head high and keeps on trucking! All of these things are exactly what is needed in someone during a zombie apocalypse and I say with confidence that she could most certainly survive one. She could handle every aspect of it… especially the running!

(I would like to take this moment to appreciate how flipping rad and gorgeous my mom is. She is 41 years old, is totally fit and looks as healthy and glowing as ever! She is breathtaking and has a gnarly personality to boot. I am so happy that she is my mom as well as my friend. thanks to everyone for supporting her in all of her craziness)

Hannah is Alethea’s awesome daughter who is only awesome because of her mom, who she owes everything to. Hannah is not as badass as her mom. Hannah hates exercising yet is still in sports …like??? Hannah isn’t good at writing on blogs and she feels like this is all over the place but oh well she tried. Hannah sometimes talks in third person and it confuses people. Hannah is going to go redo her laundry because she accidentally used detergent as softener, and then she is going to go watch Parks and Recreation which is the best show ever. Leslie Knope for President 2k15. Alethea is badass and a magnificent mom. 

Here is a rare image of Hannah actually running

Rare photo of Hannah running

What’s Your Marathon?

With a certain degree of trepidation, I recently registered for the Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon on October 18, 2015.

Let me be entirely clear: Running does not come easily to me.

I am not a natural. I am not fast. Running is challenging. Running hurts. Running is downright grueling at times.

When I recall running the Gazelle Girl Half Marathon and the Fifth Third River Bank Run, there were difficulties that arose that make me ponder if it is good judgement to add another 10.7 miles to the race. I do not take the prospect lightly, though I do joke about it. (You know, runner’s math, when a runner decides that if she can run 16 miles, what’s another 10?) But realistically, running a marathon will stretch my limits enormously.

And that is precisely why I am doing it.

I do not desire a life of comfort and ease. My desire for how to spend my days is summed up well by this quote:

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming ‘Wow! What a Ride!’”

― Hunter S. Thompson

While fully grasping that participation in a marathon is not for everyone, I propose the question: “What is your marathon?”

For example:

• During training, I met a woman who is in her 50’s, had lost over 70 lbs, and was running her first 5k.
• There is a local team of individuals with Down syndrome who train annually for a 2.5 mile race. Many of these participants were born with congenital heart disease, thyroid disorders, and other health challenges, in addition to the low muscle tone that comes along with their extra chromosome, but the whole team successfully completed the race last year.
• There was a woman who was battling stage 4 cancer and had a fracture in her foot who completed both the Gazelle Girl Half Marathon and the Fifth Third River Bank Run.
• A friend of mine from high school had bypass surgery over the winter, and now is attempting his first miles of running to train for a triathlon.
• A woman from my church has lost over 50 pounds in the last year by faithfully following Weight Watchers and riding her bicycle.

There are many more examples, I believe you could probably recall several if you put some thought into it. Obviously my examples are all running related, but there are many other ways to stretch your horizons.

As I close out this, my last blog post as a 2015 Fifth Third River Bank Run Road Warrior, I leave you with a challenge. Find your marathon. Whether it’s a walk around the block, a mile on your bicycle, or an Ironman. Challenge yourself to expand your horizons, do more, be more and live more. Refuse to accept the status quo, rather finding the best version of you that you can become. If my experience is in any way typical, I believe that when you chose to step outside your current comfort zone and accept new challenges, you will find a life more abundant and vibrant that you could currently imagine. And when you do, drop me a line, I’d love to hear about it.

 

 

 

Go Ahead, Make My Day

I had the extraordinary experience of running the streets of Grand Rapids with about 3000 other women on April 19 for the Gazelle Girl Half Marathon.

There were many factors that contributed to the experience, making it a truly mountain top life experience. The weather cooperated, and we had sunshine and seasonably cool temperatures which were just what our bodies had become acclimated to this spring. There was the exuberance of the participants that was contagious to all. There was the fabulous charm that we received as our prize for our efforts, and how brilliant is that, a race “medal” that you can wear daily!

Of course, as a Road Warrior, there was the teach experience and the kudos of our coaches for our efforts.

I also had a phenomenal running buddy who inspired and motivated through the race.

So many elements came together to make this event memorable and life-giving.

The event could have gone on despite poor weather, had that been the case. The event would have been fabulous even had I not been part of a well-bonded team. The charm was great, but it was icing on an already great cake. The most important factor of the event, what truly made it what it was, were the volunteers.

The Gazelle Girl Half Marathon could never have happened if it weren’t for the volunteers who sacrificed their Sunday morning to support this event. There were literally hundreds of people lining the course. Whether they were handing out water or sports drinks at aid stations, handing food out at the finish, playing music for a cheer station, awakening early to set up the course, keeping our belongings safe at the bag check, or pedaling for miles on their bikes to cheer and support the runners (and so much more), the volunteers were crucial to the event, and the months of planning prior.

Yet, even more than the necessity of the volunteers, was what the volunteers themselves brought to the race. You see, running 13.1 miles is a challenge, racing 13.1 miles is a feat. There are many points during the race that a runner’s body is screaming to stop. It is sheer will that gets your body to the finish line. For me, it seemed that each time my will ran short, the volunteers would supplement me with their enthusiasm. Their energy was a sort of running life-support that kept my legs turning over and my cardiovascular system exchanging oxygen. There are so many faces I remember from the race and so many signs and high fives. Each one infused me with willpower to reach the finish line, and my goal.

It will be a whole year before the opportunity to volunteer for Gazelle Girl Half Marathon returns. However, if you have the vitality to donate to some cheeky runners, the Fifth Third River Bank Run is rapidly approaching on May 9. You could be the wind beneath the wings of a runner! At the very least, you will participate in one of the world’s premier running events as an integral part of the race. Sign up here: https://www.53riverbankrun.com/volunteer/ and make my day! (literally)

The Bottom Line

As we enter the last days of training for the Fifth Third River Bank Run, I become increasingly aware that one of the preeminent experiences in my life is winding down. As I embarked upon this Road Warrior experience, I was emerging from a prolonged and arduous time of my life that was defined by the protracted and complex illness of my son, and the resulting ailment that I had endured. I had attempted to enhance my self-care, and longed to venture out of the confinement of parenting a child who needed more than I had to offer. My expectations of the Road Warrior experience were grand, and the reality of the experience has managed to far exceed those expectations. The cohesiveness and diversity of the group has been a source of great support for all, and the coaching has surpassed any tangible value. I am a person who tends toward melancholy, even depression, yet the past 5 months have been a time of joy and pleasure that outshine all but a few other experiences in my life. While my body is overdue for a pause in heavy training, my soul dreads the loss of the experience. This photo was from our first training run.

The FUNderwear Run

So here’s to you, my Road Warrior clan. Thanks for the memories.

NOTE:   When you click on the link below, you will be leaving the Fifth Third River Bank Run website.  Linked web pages are not under the control of Fifth Third, its affiliates or subsidiaries.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onzL0EM1pKY&list=RDonzL0EM1pKY#t=240

13.1 Miles of Redemption

In 2011 I “ran” the Foster Swift Half Marathon in Grand Rapids. Ran is in quotes, I should say “completed”. I walked. A lot. It was grueling. It was a flop of the race, and my pace was 13:40 minute miles.

It was my second race and first half marathon. I had been pretty well prepared, I had run several 10 milers and a single 13 mile run in preparation, so for all intents and purposes it should have been a decent race. However, the odds had stacked against me. My son, Benjamin, who was fighting leukemia at the time, had shared a stomach bug with me that gave me the “out both ends” on 3 different days that week. My husband had been out of town, and while sick I was caring for my son who was also sick. So I started the race exhausted and dehydrated. I had to take Immodium to ensure that I wouldn’t have an accident. Add to that a stumble in a pothole early in the race and the mental strain of running in a crowd when I normally ran solo and the race was a nightmare. I finished, but it was ugly.

As part of the preparation for the Fifth Third River Bank Run, the Road Warriors are also participating in a few other races. One of the races the ladies will be running is the Gazelle Girl Half Marathon, on April 19. Obviously, this is super exciting, yet I have been terrified. I think I’ve had half marathon block. I’ve felt like the distance was doomed, and worse, that my racing career was doomed.

These preparatory races have done quite a bit to boost my racing confidence. The team has been built up during these races, and we have supported each other unconditionally. I don’t consider myself a sentimental person, (when one has fought Guillain Barre Syndrome and had a child fighting cancer, there’s not a whole lot of room in a day for unnecessary tears) but the support of my team could move me to tears.

Recently the Gazelle Girl Half Marathon had a meet up in which participants could do a preview run and complete the full Gazelle Girl course. It was with enormous gratitude that I opted to participate in this opportunity to run the course before the race.

I was able to complete the course in just over 11 minute miles, without any mishaps. While I had underdressed for the cold morning and bitter wind, that was the only downfall of the day, which, all things considered, was fairly simple to overcome. I had been plagued by self-doubt in the moments and days before the run. My mind reviewing worst case scenarios like a series of vines on youtube.

It wasn’t until I was walking back to my car that I allowed myself to believe that I’ve got this.

I’ve got this. I’m not a doomed racer, the half marathon isn’t a doomed distance for me. This pre-race run gave me the lift I need to put my running into high gear in the home stretch of this Road Warrior gig. I am enough. I am strong. I am capable. I will crush this thing!

When Your Hero Becomes Your Mentor

After my first Hump Day Hills and Hops run in January, I wrote about the thrill of being cheered on in a run by my childhood hero, Greg Meyer. I wasn’t sure that anything could be the exhilaration of having Greg Meyer coach me and cheer me on while running.

Well imagine that, another Road Warrior experience has trumped the Hills and Hops experience.

At a recent Make-A-Wish event, I was going to tell my story as a Guillain Barre Survivor and Wish Mom, and Greg was there to give running tips and lead any participants on a run.

Only there was a catch. Only one participant showed.

While I felt bad for the poor turnout for Make-A-Wish, the evening made for a mountain top life experience for me.

With only one person to hear the presentation, we scraped the plan and just went out for a run. That’s right, it was one Make-A-Wish employee, one event participant, Greg Meyer and me, out for little spin around downtown GR.

The evening was beautiful and sunny, and we were running at a conversation pace, so it was easy to pick Greg’s mind and glean some great tips and stories. I got to hear the bittersweet story of a courageous new runner, and new friend of mine named Anne, and the Make-A-Wish staff had enough cheese and fruit for numerous people, which made the day complete.

In the last 50 yards, I took a significant lead, and low and behold, this slow poke beat Greg Meyer in a run…….well, only being silly, but still.

I have to wonder what the people on the cars on the freeway who were passing me on the way home thought. There I was, alone in my car, with an ear to ear permagrin.

I am reasonably certain that having played the difficult hand that life has dealt me for so many years has made the simple pleasures sweeter than I ever could have imagined. I got to run with my hero, and it was every bit as completely awesome as I ever would have dreamed.

 

 

Running For Wishes

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We all develop friendships amongst people with whom we share a commonality. We become friends with our coworkers, neighbors, and those who have walked similar paths.

One path that I have walked has brought me many friends for life. These friends share a very specific commonality. We all have kids who have, or have had cancer.

Let that sink in a minute. I have many friends whose children have cancer. These families daily face chemo pills and injections, MRI’s, biopsies, surgeries, blood transfusions and more.

These friendships have a bittersweet character. We have endured similar heartache, and walked a horrifying path; both together, and separately. There is something we share for which most others feel compassion, but simply cannot fully understand. This is a powerful and rich community, whose members would never have chosen to join.

It is because of this that I am running to grant wishes.

When our son, Benjamin, was diagnosed with leukemia, the knowledge that he would be receiving a trip to Walt Disney World from Make-A-Wish was a sliver of hope that we clung onto during the most difficult days of treatment. The memories of the trip are a bright spot during a terribly dark time in the life of our family. Because of what Make-A-Wish has meant to our family I treasure the opportunity to raise money for the organization and provide a wish for another child and family.

When I started fundraising, I set a goal of $5,000, which is the very low end estimate of what it would cost to grant a wish, but realistically, a wish costs more like $8,000-$10,000. At this point in fundraising, my total is over $3,600. While I realize that this is an enormous amount of money, I long to raise at least $5,000, if not $8,000, and have the knowledge that the efforts of my family and friends has provided one full wish for a child with a life-threatening illness.

If you are one of the generous people who have already donated to this fundraiser, please accept my gratitude. Your heart of kindness and generosity is touching to me. If you haven’t yet given, I ask you to consider a donation of any amount. I know that times are tough, but even a small donation can make a big difference.

Speaking of small donations, I received a call from my older son, Alex’s teacher last week. One of Ben’s parapros had the idea of starting a “penny war” in which each child in the schools that my two boys attend are encouraged to scrounge up pennies and bring them into school for the fundraiser. Alex’s teacher took this idea and made it happen. The two schools will be collecting pennies for a fundraiser to donate to Make-A-Wish. Pennies. The expected total of this fundraiser is expected to exceed $2,000. In PENNIES.

Small change can make big change. If I may I’d like to ask you to grab your pennies and join in with these kids to donate to Make-A-Wish.

 

Goals

If you spend enough time with runners, you start hearing us talk about goals, PR’s and our next race. It seems we’re always looking for the next big thing…..or a whole list of them, as the case may be.

As a runner, my nemesis has been the 10 minute mile. It has loomed over me like a beast which I have yet to slay….until the FUNderwear run.

I am still recovering from a pretty serious case of the crud, so today wasn’t an ideal day for a race in some ways. Yet with temperatures above freezing before the 10 am start time, and glorious sunshine on the downtown course, it wasn’t hard to run well, and though I didn’t push as hard as I could have, I got my first race time under 10 minute miles. What a glorious achievement that is!

Alas, still more and bigger goals loom in my mind. I have sort of a goal soup swimming in my head as I bask in the glory of my easy PR, so I decided to lay out the goals in chronological order.

1. We have another 5k on March 28. My goal for that race is 9:30 miles. This 5k goal that has been coveted since I started running, and I really think that if I race wisely I can nail it.
2. This goal is 3 pronged. I want to finish a half marathon, 25k, and marathon in 2015. I have the Gazelle Girl Half Marathon in April, and the Fifth Third River Bank Run in May, so I will be 2/3 the way to my goal before the year is halfway done. Once I recover from the 25k, it will be time to look into a marathon training plan, most likely with RunGR, and set my sights specifically on that goal.
3. Long term goals: these are not yet gelled, but include finishing an ultramarathon, developing swimming skills to complete a triathlon, and getting down to 9 minute miles overall for a 10k race pace.

The incredible confidence, self-esteem, and sense of well-being that come from accomplishing these self-imposed goals is life-changing. I view myself differently (and better) than I ever have before. While I know that I would have continued running, run the Fifth Third River Bank Run, and made goals no matter what; I stand without a doubt that my participation in the Road Warrior team, along with my exceptional coaches and teammates, have contributed enormously to the runner I am becoming. I have a profound sense of gratitude for this opportunity, and am thrilled and delighted to see the dividends already adding up.

Who On Earth Runs More Than 10 Miles?!

Saturday morning is our training long run. Though I have completed several long runs, any run over 10 miles is simply a lot to wrap my mind around. Seriously, how does a person just walk outside, start running, and keep going for over 10 miles?

On Friday I anticipate the upcoming long run all day long. My mental preparation looks something like this:

“Yep, tomorrow is long run day, you have SO got this.

Oh dear lord, who I am kidding, nobody in her right mind runs 12 miles, it’s ridiculous.

Quit that self, you’ve got this, you’ve done it before.

Yeah, but remember that run, I swear you almost died.

You felt like you were going to die, but you did it, you pushed through, and about 10 minutes after you walked back into the house you felt like a million bucks; after all, what’s the worst that can happen?

Oh, you had to bring that up, didn’t you. Massive diarrhea on a public training run, that’s the worst that can happen.

Well, actually that’s not the worst, you could blow out a knee, have a heart attack….wait…..

Exactly.

You get the picture. The long run is as much mental as physical. There is something in my head that rejects the feasibility of running 10 miles, and anything over that is unfathomable.

“Start by doing what is necessary; then do what is possible; and suddenly you’re doing the impossible.”

– Saint Francis of Assisi

There is plenty of time for self-talk on the run itself as well:

Woohoo, 3 mile aid station!

3 miles. 3………miles. Oh my, we’re only 3 miles into this.

Just get a drink and keep going, you’re feeling great.

You do know you aren’t even a third of the way done, right?

(fast forward to mile 11)

You’re almost there.

You’re almost dead.

No, seriously. You’ve got this, you’re in the home stretch, the last mile.

Another.freaking.mile. It might was well be a million.

Come on, rally up.

Every single part of me hurts.

No pain, no gain, dig deeper.

I did, that was called miles 9-10. I AM DYING HERE, DO YOU HEAR ME?!

*great song comes on the playlist*

Maybe I DO HAVE THIS.

It is magical. A high. Overwhelming. Every.single.time.

REST

Is a four letter word.

Right now I am in a season of rest, and it’s not my thing. Last week was Hills and Hops running night, and if you have read this post you know I was bummed to miss out.

However, I am rather fond of these windbags that serve to facilitate oxygen to my body, so rest it is. I have been to the doctor, and the only thing that will improve my condition is time.

On the day of this writing, it is sunny and gorgeous out and I would love nothing more than to throw on my yak tracks or show shoes and get outside with my sweet dog.

Knowing that won’t be happening yet, I have had to find other ways to fill my time. Using the 1-2 hours that I would normally spend running and just curling up in a ball and pouting instead seemed entirely reasonable to me.

But I haven’t gotten this far in training by crying over spilled milk, so rather I have taken some time to catch up on things that I don’t always have time to do.

Shopping at my favorite second hand store.

Making and eating a fabulous vegetable bean soup in bone broth.

And actually sitting down and reading a book.

I am earnestly trying to be patient and make the best of the situation, as you can see. Yet I cannot wait to be back out on the streets, soaking in some early spring (albeit chilly) sunshine and getting my miles in! In the meantime, if all else fails, I can always catch up on laundry.