post-Tecumseh

       Tecumseh is DONE. IN the BAG! And I am really, really proud of myself, surprised at myself, and kind of this feeling of detachment from myself. I know that sounds weird but it's like I am a different person for having done that. As my friend Erin says I have "earned my S". I have now done Marathon-s. And plan on doing more and even a couple of Ultras.
    Why I think long distances are actually BETTER for me? I tend to be creaky at first when I am running and it takes me awhile to warm up. Actually takes me sometimes more than 3 miles to warm up. That's why if you look at my race/running history my fastest splits are always at the end of the run. At Monumental I was doing mid-9s but after 11 miles my fastest times were mile 12 at 7:45 and I sailed into the finish line at 7:44 because that was finally when I was hitting my stride. And then I feel no pain, I am happy and enjoying myself. During Tecumseh I actually felt at the finish line I could do a few more miles. Maybe walking them but still....COULD. I am glad I didn't because I am still in some pain from it. But HEY for running 2 marathons in 6 months plus 5 half marathons, an entire trail running series and several shorter races (18 in all since September 2011) I am holding up well.
    I don't mean to harp on my age either as I see many people older than me kicking butt at the races I go to but I guess it is just in comparison with how I was at 30, even at mid-20's..I was not in good shape. And now I am older but have a good VO2Max (and thanks to AFAA know what that means), can run for miles, lift pretty heavy weights and not suffer too badly.  It used to hurt taking out the trash. My body fat was off the charts. I had the diseases of a 70 year old, heavy smoker, sleep apnea, always sick with a cold, flu, bronchitis. I had to be hospitalized for four days once for Pneumonia. I had a lump removed from my vocal chords..cancer scare...at 34. I had ulcers on my esophagus from being sick so much. I got diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at 38 and it scared me straight! Like an alcoholic with an epiphany from a bad bender I woke up. I said DAMN I am not going to die like this. Screw this!
     To see in 5 years what has changed which is everything I can not see this as me yet. It is like looking in the mirror and saying "really? seriously?ok when am i gonna wake up?" To be able to help others to wake up as well is the best thing in the world. To have a client look at me and say "You made me like exercising. I didn't think anyone could do that." it is inconceivable to me to be a role model for these young women and to think that they may look back on "heather the trainer" someday and think of how I helped them. But here I am and it feels amazing.

      This has been my mantra throughout all of this. And it has held true that yeah I have spent a lot of time in the last few years being sore, hurting here and there, wishing i did not have to do these *%^&* burpees anymore. I would look forward to my classes at the same time as i kind of dreaded them but then my muscles got stronger, i could do more, i could run instead of walk, i could do higher intensity without dying during or afterwards and so it continued. I was doing classes with good instructors who taught me a lot. I know i would not know as much about fitness without listening to them. So I was cross-training a lot which was good.
     Lately though running has pretty much been my training. I have been on a good heavy weight program now for a few months courtesy of a great strength trainer at my work but no yoga, swimming, zumba.....nothing else really but running and riding my commuter bike.
   Here I am ow-ow-ow from Tecumseh marathon and do you know what I think? Besides it being so major hard even for very seasoned runners? Looking on my training the last 6 months or more I realized I need to incorporate some other movements into my regimen. If I really want to avoid injury I need to work my body in different ways. Running uses the same muscles over and over and so my legs are getting strong, my arms are getting stronger from the weights but there are muscle groups that are not getting utilized. If I were training me with what I know now I would say honey you need some low-impact workouts that stretch, strengthen and lengthen your muscles otherwise they are going to get tighter and more rigid and you are going to have problems.

     I have been asking around about good yoga classes and I think it is time I get back into that. When I was doing a yoga class at the Y for awhile it really helped me in my other higher impact classes. It was like I would do kickboxing or boot camp but then i had the yoga to lengthen those muscles out and give me some time every week to hold these poses which strengthened me without as much soreness. I loved them too! Cross-training. I am going class hunting starting this week.
   Then i can continue to run the distance races I love! Without so much ouchy! Win, win!