Dena's **All My Reasons Why**Journal (Please Join Me!)

[RunningLilo]

May 30, 2006- No exercise, but I did decide to do a 5k on this Saturday. Agggh! I guess I will definitely find out how much I've regressed then. We just don't have any other weekends open for a 5K in June.

Oh and I did set a small goal: To have a new training place firmly decided on by Saturday. That way after the race when l feel like a runner again I can just glide right back into training!

Greater days are ahead!

 

[AmyBeth68]

Dena,

Try Mapmyrun.com, it will help you to map out new places to run and give you distances! WTG on signing up for the race...see that we're running on the same day again . I have a race on Saturday too LOL!

 

[msblrobs]

Best of luck on your 5k this weekend and for finding your running mojo again. I am happy to have stumbled upon your journal. It is very inspiring and humorous. Loved the post about the calf muscles .

 

[kimwim8]

Well now....look at you jumpin right back on that horse!!!

A race is a great idea! Take it easy & don't push yourself. But I'm sure you'll have a great time doing a run/walk combo that you're comfortable with! What a good way to get yourself movin!!!

Good luck, and check back in afterwards!!

 

[goldcupmom]

Good Luck on the 5K, Dena.

Hang in there! Life will right itself again, sometimes it just takes a while!

 

[ScoJo15]

Dena - awesome that you are doing a 5k!!! And I think its great that you set a deadline for figuring out your plan. don't worry about "starting over" or having to recoup what you lost....it's all about getting out there and doing it. Who cares if you are slower or faster, the point is that you are taking the initiative to get started and that's the most important thing.

It's awesome that you are able to post your feelings and believe me we are here to support you along the way.

have a great day and good luck in the race tomorrow!!! have fun with it!!

 

[RunningLilo]

May 31, 2006- I wore my running pants and tennis shoes to church so I would be sure to run when I got home. But somehow we ended up not going. I count just being in my running clothes again as one step closer. It's baby steps right?!?

I have chosen a training plan, I think. I found it on the John Bingham website. It is a Run-Walk plan by Coach Jenny Hadfield that she teaches for the Arizona Distance Classic 1/2. It seems really doable since the first week's long run is 3/2 for 3 miles. I should be able to do that with no problems. (I hope! ) And it puts me running the 1/2 in 4/1 intervals which I'm cool with. I just need to make sure the dates work out before I firmly decide.

 

[AmyBeth68]

Awesome progress Dena!!!! Love that you found a running plan that seems workable. That is really really important!!! You're on your way!

 

[kimwim8]

Hey Dena...congrats on narrowing your plan selection! You're gettin there!

You know what I miss???? Your reasons why!! How about one?? I know you have more in ya!! And I think they are inspirational for both you AND your loyal readers!!

You're doing great, girlie...and I'm so glad you're back!

 

[RunningLilo]

Just for My Kim...

Reason #15
15. I felt okay wearing my bathing suit in public!

We went to the Jacksonville Zoo's water park on Memorial Day, and I wore my bathing suit in PUBLIC! It's not a revealing suit by any means, but just that I had the courage to take my shirt off was amazing. This time last year I couldn't even wear shorts because I was so embarrassed by the size of my legs. I spent the entire Florida summer in jeans! It was awful.

I had one of those "Wow, I've come so far!" moments when dh looked at me at the zoo and said, "Dude, you're in your swimsuit, and I love it!" It felt really good to be comfortable in my own skin.

 

[kimwim8]

Just for My Kim...

Reason #15
15. I felt okay wearing my bathing suit in public!

... "Dude, you're in your swimsuit, and I love it!" It felt really good to be comfortable in my own skin.

OMG, Dena....That gave me chills. How AWESOME is that???

Thank you, My Dena!!

 

[RunningLilo]

June 1, 2006- No exercise at all. I stayed in the house pretty much all day. Ick! Ick! Ick! For a stay at home mom, I sure hate staying at home! Ick!

Last night was DH's first night shift at the hospital. I missed him so much when I went to bed, and can't figure out what we are going to do about running if he continues the night shift. We normally run at night. I think I'd die in the heat of the day. I'm surely no Amy.

We're going to the local running store today when DH wakes up to sign up for the 5k tomorrow. I can't wait to be immersed in the running environment again. Something about that store makes me feel so...athletic. I remember feeling completely out of place the first time I went in there. Now I can't wait to go back!

 

[RunningLilo]

Reason #16
16. Hugs are much better when you're thinner.

I remember my little kindergarteners at church not being able to reach all the way around me when they gave me a hug. It made me so sad! But not anymore!!!

Now I can fit so much closer to dh when he hugs me. It makes us feel closer emotionally and physically. It feels great to feel "small" in his arms again!

Hugs for everyone!!!

 

[AmyBeth68]

Dena!!!!

So glad to see your "reasons" back! LOVE THEM!!!!

You inspire me girl! And I'm so excited for you running this 5K. Is it tomorrow??? I love that we will be running on the same day again! Very cool!!!!! Just remember to go out there and have FUN FUN FUN! It's your day to kick-start the running. Enjoy it and enjoy being the athlete and runner that you are!

And don't run in the heat of the day.....proves nothing....and it's probably dangerous!!!

 

[msblrobs]

Best of luck on your 5k tomorrow !!!

You too Amy !!!

Keep those reasons coming.

Loved your pics. Your dh is an absolute keeper.

 

[RoyalCinderella]

Hey, girl,
I'm a chronic lurker as well, but I read your journal and just had to chime in. I, too, ran my booty off (literally!!) in my late teens. . .and quit running altogether after a failed marathon attempt. . .at mile 15 I figured out I had the flu. 104 degree fever, the whole bit. After that day, I didn't run a step, or really exercize meaninfully for (the past) 7 years. I have the exact same fear of failure after such success that you have expressed, but about 6 months ago, I summoned up the courage to join the WISH board and walked a bit. Then, walked and jogged with WAY more walking than jogging. Now I'm going to the Y for water aerobics and walking on the TM, but am about 60 pounds heavier than I was when I was running 5Ks, 10Ks, 1/2s, and the full. I was an overweight (registered "Clydesdale" runner), even at my thinnest and everyone was always so supportive. They didn't see me as a fat girl, but as an athlete. But, oh well, because I'm about 19 down from my heaviest and life is just a journey full of ups and downs (with weight, emotions, Lane Bryant sizes, everything!). Its not about constant improvement or feeling afraid to regress a bit. Its about making the effort during the journey and about how you feel about yourself at any given moment.
You can climb back into an athlete's lifestyle. . .in just one workout! Take each day one at a time, or one week's worth of workouts at a time. . .just like your 5K distance, but these sentiments are especially true for longer distances, trust me. As you build up you must not panic that maybe you aren't in shape enough, just relax and let yourself just be.

 

[RunningLilo]

You can climb back into an athlete's lifestyle. . .in just one workout! Take each day one at a time...

You have no idea how much this rings true to me right now. Thank you so much for posting it!!! That is exactly how I viewed my 5k today. I also decided that I can't look at a training schedule all at one time. I get discouraged and think that there is no way I will be able to run 5 miles in just 3 weeks, but if I just follow it one day at a time I'm sure I'll get there with no problems. So I decided to print little squares with each day's workout on them and staple them together in a little book. That way all I can see is the top page which is that day's workout. I'm going to literally take this one day at a time! Thanks again for your post!

I Finished My 5K Today!!!

It was a doozie, but I really focused on having fun and just finishing. Since it was my first run in a month (2nd run in 2 months) I knew it was going to be hard...and it was. I was struggling much more than I did in the past, but it was also 86 degrees & humid with little shade. It definitely made me want to get back on track with training so I don't have to suffer like that again. But I was also pleasantly surprised that I finished only 2 minutes slower than my previous time. So all conditioning has not been lost!!! Yay!!! I was so scared. I definitely helped me feel more confident about starting back on my training plan on Monday.

 

[goldcupmom]

Congrats on the 5K today! AWESOME!!!

I Love your reasons! GReat motivation for us all!

Have a great week this week!

Hope the running works out with DH schedule.

 

[AmyBeth68]

Dena....SUPER JOB on your 5K!!!!! I was thinking of you as I was out there running! I'm so glad you did it!! And I think you are on the right track with your thinking...take it day by day and try not to focus too far ahead on your training plan. I know exactly what you mean....when I look ahead and see all those miles that I'll need to run it absolutely terrifies me!!!! It is more important to focus on the success of the day and enjoy the moment...regardless of the distance, or time. You're going great...keep it up!!!

 

[kimwim8]

WOOOOOO HOOOOO DENA!!!

I knew you could do it!! You have to be SO proud of yourself!! You did it!!!

What was the training plan you've decided on? I'd love to hear about it.

Oh, and love the hugging "reason". Soooooo true!!