The Running Thread - 2016

[roxymama]

@LSUlakes I have read your story before and it immediately made me learn my closest contact numbers by heart. I'm sorry that you or anyone had to go through with that.

ATTQOTD:
I haven't included this really in my journal and I do not know why but I feel like I should share now.
Running started for me at a time in my life when I had been shell-shocked and knew life was too short to keep putting off things I was afraid to try. My husband had been diagnosed with cancer the year prior and we had a very young daughter. It came out of nowhere and he was "too young" in my mind for that to be happening to him and I got very scared about what could happen in the future. We were fortunate...so so so fortunate...that surgery and treatment was swift and after tons of testing he is officially "in the clear." But I still am overly cautious and fretful about it coming back. It's pretty scary. Unrelated later that year had knee surgery and could not walk (any weight, not even with crutches) for several weeks as well (felt like forever) so I had to learn to take care of my daughter and him and I couldn't be more proud of his recovery. And then I decided to start running. It was my therapy I guess. And I started journaling here and signed up for races. And then two days before my very first real 5k race that I was going to run the whole thing...my mom got diagnosed with colon cancer. We almost cancelled my trip to run my race but my parents begged me to go.
I literally would escape to run to either get away from my pain or to embrace it. Running I think kept me sane. And I wanted to be healthy at a time when I could not control anyone else's health. My husband once he was cleared for running from his doctor started C25k as well and we began going to races together. My mom had surgery and was treated and she was in the "all clear" and then a few months later she was diagnosed with completely unrelated breast cancer. It has been a battle all year. She is done with chemo and needs surgery and radiation now.
Focusing on running helps me to not focus on what I cannot control. And visiting with you folks daily is a perfect distraction. So I hope hope hope to take my mom and hubby to Tink or Princess or something and 5k with them even if we walk for my mom.
And that's my story.

 

[IamTrike]

Running a bit behind schedule today.

QOTD: What is your ultimate running goal? (running a distance you've never tried before, to qualify for Boston, something else)

ATTQOTD: My goal is to go sub 3 hours for a marathon, which would almost guarantee a spot at Boston. The goal is to do this before turning 35, I'm 32 and running out of time.

.

I'm another one in the Time Qualify for Boston and finish a 100 miler in less than 24 hours camp. I'm hoping to qualify for Boston later this year, but I've got a marathon in about 2 weeks that's going to be the litmus test to see how reasonable that it. I am hoping to break 3:30.

I have two. First, complete a 100-mile race, preferably in 24 hours or less so I can get a buckle. Two, qualify for Boston, which means I need to age 20 years and not slow down any.

I'm in the same boat. I need to take about 30 minutes of my current PR to qualify.

Speaking of which, anyone here have experience with the Marine Corp Marathon? I used to live in DC and Northern VA. Back then I wasn't a runner but was still in awe of the runners I saw. I have some local New England races I'm considering, but I'd love to do MCM. Just curious, for the more experienced runners here, how hard is it to get into the MCM? I understand the lottery process, but how big is the demand? I was looking around trying to find numbers of applicants vs. lottery spots and couldn't find anything.

Edited to add: If I complete a full this fall I suspect my goal will then become Dopey 2018 like everyone else

I think the lottery is easier to get into than NY but maybe a little harder than Chicago. I am planning on entering it this year.

ATTQOTD: ultimate running goal? I'm gonna make one after I read the ideas on here... Hadn't thought about it before. I know I like destination type races, and I know I'd like to do a special half every year.

My first marathon was in Charlestonn, SC. My family and I spent a long weekend doing all the historical tours. It was wonderful.

This year was Disney in January. Next spring, half in Williamsburg with another family history trip. Combining a race with a little local touring is fun.

Good question!

We've started doing this with a group of adult friends. We've don Disney a couple of times, but we've also done NY, Myrtle Beach, Chicago and the Outer Banks. Its always a lot of fun.

 

[Dis5150]

I got to ask, what is a hash name. I must be honest that my years living in Humboldt County had me thinking something very different. Educate me.

Having grown up in Mendocino county and then lived in Garberville for 5 years this made me laugh!

 

[LSUlakes]

First, thanks to those who have shared their stories and I look forward to reading those of others who choose to share.

I have lived a blessed life - not because I have never struggled or been in danger, but because I have managed to come out the other side each time without losing myself along the way.

A few things that my family and running have helped me manage:

I served in the Army (10th Mountain Division) and I worked on the 97th floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Both my military service and 9/11 changed my life. I have lost hundreds of friends.

I really don't want to get into details about either, but survivors guilt is a very real thing.

Its a crazy world we live in these days. Thank you for your service to our country.

 

[opusone]

QOTD: What rough times has running helped you through?

Some real powerful stories here. Great question, but I don't really have much of an answer.

I'm not sure about specific rough times, but in general, running has been my calming oasis throughout my entire life (in good times and in bad). I am a fairly calm person even though I always tend to challenge myself and pick stressful paths (aerospace engineering in college, U.S. Navy special operations for four years, and various forms of investment banking for the last 20 years). I credit running for always keeping me level-headed and calm.

 

[michigandergirl]

@LSUlakes Wow is all I can say. So glad you and your wife weren't hurt.

ATTQOTD: Running has helped me through a few rough times. I first started running after my first pregnancy. My oldest son was born 16 weeks premature and spent 3 long months in the NICU fighting for his life. My second pregnancy was very high risk and stressful, but fortunately my second son was born full term. About 7 days after he was born I ended up with an infection from the c-section and was hospitalized for 10 days, this time it was me fighting for my life. With both boys, I felt robbed of the normal bonding experience and suffered depression - running helped me come to terms with all that.

When the boys were 4 & 6 years old, we adopted my daughter from China, and life got crazy busy with three young kids and I stopped running for awhile. Then about 6 years ago, my Dad committed suicide and my entire world seemed to crumble from the grief, so I started running again to help cope.

As someone else mentioned, I think the running gave me something to do that I could control. It was like a physical release of all the emotion that was weighing on me, processing it and then letting it go. It gave me hope again.

 

[Mimsy Borogove]

Wow, this thread has really gotten huge! I haven't caught up on all of it, but I'm planning to go back. Post-Dopey, I was just feeling melancholy about running in general. I think because conquering my first marathon and as part of a major challenge like that was just such a high that coming down afterwards was pretty rough. I should have had another race scheduled in February to keep myself going, but I didn't. As such, my February mileage is pathetic (i.e. less than the Dopey Challenge). But I did sign up for another half marathon a few weeks ago (happening on Sunday) to motivate myself to get back into the old routine. Anyway, I have a few QOTDs to answer.

QOTD: What is the meaning behind your name?

Mine comes from the poem Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll (I love Alice in Wonderland):
'Twas brillig and the slithy toves,
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe,
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

QOTD: Ultimate running goal?

Since I already ran my first marathon as part of Dopey, I think maybe just an improvement on my pace for the half marathon, which I'm going to try and focus on in 2016. Ultimately, I'd like to run another marathon and improve my time, but I tend to set goals on a case-by-case basis. Right now I have a lot of injured friends, so I'm just grateful that I get to run at all.

QOTD: What rough times has running helped you through?

Well, this is pretty personal and I'm going to keep it very short and simple, but my husband and I can't have kids. It's been a long, LONG journey involving lots of events including an ovarian cancer scare and surgery for me (thank goodness it turned out to be OK) and a medical scare requiring surgery for my husband. Today's society is very mommy/kid-oriented so if you're a woman of a certain age and not a mom, it almost feels like you are less of a person if you don't have kids. It took me a very long time to get over that, and running was the one place where I was just ME and (barring injury) I had complete control over the situation: how far I'd go, how fast I'd go, etc. and didn't have people trying to solve things for us with "helpful" suggestions that were well-intentioned but usually resulted in hurt feelings. My mom was also diagnosed with breast cancer during this time, underwent a mastectomy/chemo/radiation and running kept me grounded while I took care of her post-op. I have a very stressful job (I work for/with engineers as a scientist) so running also helps with the stress of my workplace conditions. And as the t-shirt says, it's cheaper than therapy!

Added races:

3/06 - Mimsy Borogove - Treasure Coast Half Marathon (no goal, just training run)
6/26 - Mimsy Borogove - Her Madison Half Marathon (no time goal)
11/27 - Mimsy Borogove - Space Coast Half Marathon

Wow, reading all your stories about how running has helped you is really inspiring, and I'm also enjoying the name origins.

 

[PrincessV]

QOTD: What rough times has running helped you through?
First, I feel like it's time for a group hug!!! So many amazing, inspiring, courageous stories here.

ATTQOTD: I remember going out for a run from a very early age any time life felt too stressful. It's truly been my activity of choice for release and comfort since grade school. As a young adult, running became a formal part of my fitness routine, and I stopped thinking of it as something I did when it felt good, and thought of it more as something I had to do to stay healthy. When my then-husband of almost a decade walked out, leaving me on my own with our infant to raise, I re-found the comfort running had always brought me. I never logged mileage or pace, but I remember when I'd get on the treadmill or take out the jogging stroller multiple times a day, just to get a break and release from the stress of sudden single-parenthood and an ugly, emotionally destructive divorce.

 

[LSUlakes]

Thanks for sharing your stories everyone. It isn't always easy to think back on hard times.

Added races:

3/06 - Mimsy Borogove - Treasure Coast Half Marathon (no goal, just training run)
6/26 - Mimsy Borogove - Her Madison Half Marathon (no time goal)
11/27 - Mimsy Borogove - Space Coast Half Marathon

Got you added and good luck this weekend!

 

[bumbershoot]

Holy moly, LSU, I didn't know that.

I must be honest that my years living in Humboldt County had me thinking something very different.

I used running as a stress reliever during my boring and typical high school days. And then in college as well, but mainly I rowed (running was for Crew). Alas, while going through my first true heartbreak in my senior year of college (I lived across the hall from the cheating stinker and down the hall (upperclassman dorm) from his new girlfriend, so I was working out 3 times a day just to be GONE from where we all lived) I managed to throw myself into exercise induced asthma. Oops.

Through what turned out to be the TRULY stressful times of my life after college, I didn't run. I ate instead. Again, Oops.

Now that I'm back to running, and including yoga and even a ballet class (wow, it's been a year now for ballet! and I'm still awful!), things are a lot smoother.

 

[alexce]

Just want to thank everyone first for sharing their stories. It amazes me what running can mean to people. It's such a physical thing at first blush, but it's about your heart and mind at least as much, no?

ATTQOTD: Almost two years ago, my mom was diagnosed with diabetes, at around the same time that I dropped the denial about my own weight and how tired I was from just sitting around. Plus, here came 40. So I signed up for the Princess half, in a completely deluded moment of desperation and hope. But I committed, and I made my body work and met my goal. And now I just want to keep those feelings for as long as I can.

 

[Slogger]

Great question and responses to the QOTD.

ATTQOTD: Not a big fan of sharing personal details but you guys are part of my running family so here goes.....

About 2 years ago I went to the doctor for a checkup for an abnormal growth and ended up after months of tests and doctor visits being diagnosed with thyroid cancer. This was 2 1/2 months before the Dopey Challenge. I had just completed a marathon and ended up being very sick with infection and trip to ER the week after. Doctors decided we needed to take the thyroid out. I can be very stubborn and didn't want to ruin our family trip to Disney or miss out on Dopey. Anybody else have the stubborn gene?!!!

Contemplated trying to wait until after the trip for the surgery but family intervened . I had never broken anything or ever needed to be in a hospital before, so the build up to the operation was a little unnerving but I put on my "Disney smile" for family before they wheeled me back to the operating room and had surgery the middle of November 2014.

The doctors did a great job, removed all the bad cells when they took out my thyroid, and recovery went well. My doctor did not give me his blessing to do Dopey but he told me he would leave decision to me as long as I promised not to push too hard and listen to my body.

So here's the thing.....yes it could be defined as a rough patch in my life. But facing surgery and cancer didn't seem so bad because I promised my family that I would be okay. I promised myself that I would be fine. The icing on the cake was that I could take them all to Disney and they each ran a race with me (the first 3 days) and I completed the marathon on my own. Just the thought of being able to run and take on the challenge and share with family was all I needed to keep me going and stay positive through the surgery and recovery.

That trip will always be more special than most because I had to overcome some unusual obstacles to make it happen and will always treasure the experience that I had with my family and fellow Disney runners that weekend.

 

[DOOM1001]

Leaving tomorrow morning on my trip to Orlando for the Best Damn Race half.Not looking for any PR's on this one as I got a cold on Tuesday and I've been trying to get enough sleep and taking Emergen-C to hopefully feel better by Saturdays race,I just want to finish this one.My last race I also felt something coming on but it never came and I PR'ed the race,no such luck for this one.I was looking at the Facebook page of the race and it seems like some of the Flamingo medals didn't come out the way they were supposed to,so if after the race you get a messed up one you can then request a good one from the medal company,I can deal with that,just don't tell me I'm not getting a medal after the race,that's a major bummer.

 

[Baloo in MI]

Good morning folks! We have had a lot of good answers to our QOTD this week. Todays question will likely create some lengthy responses, or will at least for me.

QOTD: What rough times has running helped you through?

Running for me is a means to focus on myself. I have a very demanding job. About 7 years ago I gave up a job I really loved and accepted a new job that meant a lot of really good opportunities for my family and a move across the country. I have never regretted the decision but regularly really miss my old work. At first I ate and sat in front of the TV to deal with my feelings. This led to a lot of weight gain and not feeling any better. But probably made me one of the more frequent users of Netflix! A few years ago I began running again and immediately found a connection to what I felt was missing. It has given me the chance to focus on myself, set goals and feel the excitement of trying to I reach those goals. I am so grateful for running and the focus it has brought to my life. It takes up time and requires sacrifice of other things but I would not trade it for anything.

 

[flvy]

Thank you everyone that shared today. I like seeing how running has helped everyone deal with different things. I'm very glad that everyone has managed to come out better and stronger people with the help of this amazing sport.

QOTD

Running has helped me work out a lot of self worth and depression related issues. Honestly since I started running this time last year I've gone through a lot of the hardest things I've ever dealt with in my adult life. That covers both my personal and professional life. 2015 just ended up being a devastating year that I'm not sure how I made it through. I actually even blamed running for a few of the interpersonal issues that happened. I didn't know why, but I always kept at the running. Through December, January, and February running became the only time in my life I had any peace or felt good about myself. At home I was lonely and upset, and then work wasn't the escape for me that it used to be because it had it's own special stress.

So, running became a major form of therapy for me. I buckled down in those three months and after my last half I realized I basically went from near zero to a half marathon in that time. Running made me face the fact that I have no support base in my life, and start to build on. It helped me start to clean out my negative relationships(even if I do still miss one or two of them), and taught me I can really push myself towards anything if I want it bad enough. I've started to work on myself a lot more outside of running, and a lot of that inner work started while on runs. I don't run with music so a lot of my runs is just me and my thoughts, and the rest is me swearing at random things (hills, my legs, drivers, anything really haha).

Beyond that I have a crappy relationship with food. I'm either over eating or under eating. All of my lower weights have been accomplished by under eating. Running has forced me to take a long hard look at my relationship with food. You can't run half or full marathons with a crappy relationship with food. You just can't fuel right if you're under eating, and over eating crap will lead you to feeling like crap. I have goals and I can't reach them if I'm not doing right by my body.

Basically running is helping me find myself, and better myself. It's helped me so much as a person, and I can't wait to see where I am at the end of the year. So many amazing things can happen in a year.

 

[Baloo in MI]

Having grown up in Mendocino county and then lived in Garberville for 5 years this made me laugh!

I worked as a California State Park Ranger for 6 years - 3 at Richardson Grove State Park and 3 more further north at Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. I spent a lot of time in Garberville! Small world.

 

[Anisum]

Good morning folks! We have had a lot of good answers to our QOTD this week. Todays question will likely create some lengthy responses, or will at least for me.

QOTD: What rough times has running helped you through?

I haven't had many really emotional experiences since I started running. Certainly nothing like many of you faced but I find running helps with my anxiety whenever I'm stressed.

 

[LSUlakes]

QOTD: What is the most expensive item have you purchased for running? The least?

ATTQOTD: Forerunner 620, kinda regret. Cheapest is a pair of gloves at an expo for $1.50.

 

[Anisum]

QOTD: What is the most expensive item have you purchased for running? The least?

Shoes. Definitely shoes are the most expensive. The least expensive item is a $1.75 for a running top on clearance at Kohls.

 

[Slogger]

. Its an amazing day all around, and then suddenly I am told to stop. At the time I had no idea why, and me and many other runners just wanted to finish the race. According to my Garmin I was at mile 25.7, so I had a 1/2 mile to go and I was just moments away from finishing. So we stood there waiting, a 100 or so at first, then 500, and then many more. At first we where told there was an explosion at the finish line, and they where trying to figure out how to get us to finish.

@LSUlakes....your story and perspective are amazing. You were right there in the middle of it. Glad you and family made it through okay.

Have you been back to Boston to either finish or try it again?