Monday, September 20, 2010
I AM A Warrior!!
Yesterday I successfully completed the Warrior Dash. I believe it was more difficult than running a marathon. If you have the opportunity to participate in one, DO IT! It is the most difficult, yet most fun, 3+ miles of "running" that you'll ever experience. I'm going to write a race report later if I have the time.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
The Farewell Run That Wasn't
So, I have to apologize and thank 12 of you at the same time. Yesterday, I ran. I ran about 3.35 miles. I don't know the exact distance, or the exact time, since me being convinced I would never run again meant I neglected to charge my Garmin. So after 2 1/2 miles, it said a weak "so long" and shut off.
I ran because of all of you who commented on my pity-party-post. It had been 30 days since I attempted to run. My what were supposed to be final good-byes were said in my blog. I read and reread each and every one of your comments. Amazing how after months of not blogging, the 12 of you responded with kind words and words of encouragement. I also realized I wasn't the only one going through tough times with running and blogging. Most of you were in or still are in a similar situation. Yet you still write your blogs... Yet you still took the time to tell me everything's going to be ok, and that you care. You motivated me. You motivated me to get off of my sorry ass, and to go for a "final" farewell run on a beautiful 77 degrees day. It was 5 p.m., my son was at college and my wife was at work, so I had everything I needed-free time, a beautiful day, and the Farmington Canal Trail to run on. I put on my running shoes, drove the 2+ miles to the trail parking lot, parked, stretched, grabbed my mp3 player, turned it on, and was ready for the grand finale. I was hoping for as painless a run as possible, and assumed that I would be doing as much walking as running. Nothing that had happened lately would give me reason to believe that my knee wasn't going to give me hell. The pain was still noticeable, granted, not always, and walking up and down stairs, or even just walking at times, meant the sharp pain would appear on the inside part of my left knee. THE left knee that has caused me to go to two different P.T.'s the past year. THE left knee that caused me 3 months ago to join the P.T. gym with hopes of strengthening it. For three months I have gone to that gym, seen "Sweet Melissa," my former P.T., and "Gym Dame Donna", who works there and always has kind words to say. For three months I have increased my amount of weight I use, and my amount of reps. For some reason, I never quit. I never gave up. That is, until my latest post. Frustration, aggravation, jealousy, selfishness...you name it, I was feeling it. I reached out to my blogging buddies, posted my woes, and you responded. So there I was, poised to run at the beginning of the trail. I didn't want to start, because starting meant probable pain, probable pain meant I'd have to walk, and walking meant I was through (in my mind forever) running. But start I did. Slowly, to ease into running. I purposely chose songs that many of you suggested I download prior to running the NY City Marathon last November. You were and are still my motivators. As I reached my first goal, the small .31 mi. sign, I did a reality check. I was running at a 9 1/2 minute pace, slow for me, but so what?! I was running, and I was running well. I was running without pain, but I quickly pushed the thought out of my mind. I instead concentrated on my music, and my surroundings. Great music, with each song reminding me of you. Great scenery, with the trees in bloom, and a couple of pony-tailed runners passing me by on the opposite side. If you read my blog, you know I ♥ pony-tailed runners! I ran by elderly people walking hand-in-hand; by mothers pushing their children in strollers. Yes, it was a perfect time for a "last" run. As I neared the one mile mark, I still was pain free. Mile one was around 9 1/2 minutes, but to me it felt like I had only been running for 7 1/2 minutes. Nothing hurt, my breathing was good, my strides were good, and my form was good. I could see far away, down to the next street crossing, around the 1 1/2 mile mark. I decided to go for 3.25 miles, which is the distance of the Warrior Dash I'm competing in on 9/19. I figured I'd have a psychological edge if I could run that far before the "Dash." I continued on, grooving to the music, and just enjoying what was happening. As I crossed the street, I reached the halfway point of my run, and turned and headed back. I was grinning from ear to ear, and looked around, saw no one nearby, so I started singing out loud. I don't recall what I sang, nor does it matter. I was running...I was running without pain. I was enjoying the privilege of running, and I was going to make sure I enjoyed every step of it. Around the 2 1/2 mile point, as I said earlier, my Garmin stopped working. It really didn't matter. Time is only a number. A number that really doesn't matter. I'm so done worrying about my time. Yes, I charged my Garmin. Yes, I'll continue to time my runs. No, I won't worry about how "fast" or how "slow" I've run. I've also learned that it's ok not to be as fast as most of you; or that being faster than the rest of you isn't a big deal. We're all runners. We have that common bond. A bond that I never want to lose, no matter what. So in closing I'd like to once again say "Thank-you." To those of you unable to run right now, hang in there. Things WILL get better. I'm here for you, and so are all of your Followers. So, if you need to vent/whine/complain/yell/scream/say it isn't fair, please do. We care....we're here for you. As I've said before, I love all of you. Rick
I ran because of all of you who commented on my pity-party-post. It had been 30 days since I attempted to run. My what were supposed to be final good-byes were said in my blog. I read and reread each and every one of your comments. Amazing how after months of not blogging, the 12 of you responded with kind words and words of encouragement. I also realized I wasn't the only one going through tough times with running and blogging. Most of you were in or still are in a similar situation. Yet you still write your blogs... Yet you still took the time to tell me everything's going to be ok, and that you care. You motivated me. You motivated me to get off of my sorry ass, and to go for a "final" farewell run on a beautiful 77 degrees day. It was 5 p.m., my son was at college and my wife was at work, so I had everything I needed-free time, a beautiful day, and the Farmington Canal Trail to run on. I put on my running shoes, drove the 2+ miles to the trail parking lot, parked, stretched, grabbed my mp3 player, turned it on, and was ready for the grand finale. I was hoping for as painless a run as possible, and assumed that I would be doing as much walking as running. Nothing that had happened lately would give me reason to believe that my knee wasn't going to give me hell. The pain was still noticeable, granted, not always, and walking up and down stairs, or even just walking at times, meant the sharp pain would appear on the inside part of my left knee. THE left knee that has caused me to go to two different P.T.'s the past year. THE left knee that caused me 3 months ago to join the P.T. gym with hopes of strengthening it. For three months I have gone to that gym, seen "Sweet Melissa," my former P.T., and "Gym Dame Donna", who works there and always has kind words to say. For three months I have increased my amount of weight I use, and my amount of reps. For some reason, I never quit. I never gave up. That is, until my latest post. Frustration, aggravation, jealousy, selfishness...you name it, I was feeling it. I reached out to my blogging buddies, posted my woes, and you responded. So there I was, poised to run at the beginning of the trail. I didn't want to start, because starting meant probable pain, probable pain meant I'd have to walk, and walking meant I was through (in my mind forever) running. But start I did. Slowly, to ease into running. I purposely chose songs that many of you suggested I download prior to running the NY City Marathon last November. You were and are still my motivators. As I reached my first goal, the small .31 mi. sign, I did a reality check. I was running at a 9 1/2 minute pace, slow for me, but so what?! I was running, and I was running well. I was running without pain, but I quickly pushed the thought out of my mind. I instead concentrated on my music, and my surroundings. Great music, with each song reminding me of you. Great scenery, with the trees in bloom, and a couple of pony-tailed runners passing me by on the opposite side. If you read my blog, you know I ♥ pony-tailed runners! I ran by elderly people walking hand-in-hand; by mothers pushing their children in strollers. Yes, it was a perfect time for a "last" run. As I neared the one mile mark, I still was pain free. Mile one was around 9 1/2 minutes, but to me it felt like I had only been running for 7 1/2 minutes. Nothing hurt, my breathing was good, my strides were good, and my form was good. I could see far away, down to the next street crossing, around the 1 1/2 mile mark. I decided to go for 3.25 miles, which is the distance of the Warrior Dash I'm competing in on 9/19. I figured I'd have a psychological edge if I could run that far before the "Dash." I continued on, grooving to the music, and just enjoying what was happening. As I crossed the street, I reached the halfway point of my run, and turned and headed back. I was grinning from ear to ear, and looked around, saw no one nearby, so I started singing out loud. I don't recall what I sang, nor does it matter. I was running...I was running without pain. I was enjoying the privilege of running, and I was going to make sure I enjoyed every step of it. Around the 2 1/2 mile point, as I said earlier, my Garmin stopped working. It really didn't matter. Time is only a number. A number that really doesn't matter. I'm so done worrying about my time. Yes, I charged my Garmin. Yes, I'll continue to time my runs. No, I won't worry about how "fast" or how "slow" I've run. I've also learned that it's ok not to be as fast as most of you; or that being faster than the rest of you isn't a big deal. We're all runners. We have that common bond. A bond that I never want to lose, no matter what. So in closing I'd like to once again say "Thank-you." To those of you unable to run right now, hang in there. Things WILL get better. I'm here for you, and so are all of your Followers. So, if you need to vent/whine/complain/yell/scream/say it isn't fair, please do. We care....we're here for you. As I've said before, I love all of you. Rick
Sunday, September 5, 2010
I'm a Selfish Person
My running days are over, at least for now. I haven't run since August 8th. My reoccurring left knee pain has returned, and despite doing everything I'm supposed to do to remedy the situation, it continues to hurt. Running just isn't possible right now. I joined the gym where I was going for P.T. 3 months ago, and continue to work on strengthening my lower body, and now recently my upper body. I'm actually running/participating in a "Warrior Dash" on September 19th in upstate NY, 150 miles from home. That is, if my knee will cooperate. My daughter and her boyfriend are also running in it.
I honestly have to say that I don't read your blogs anymore. For now it's too painful. It's too painful for me to read how much fun all of you are having running, how well you're doing, and the races you've completed and are training for while I can't run. Selfish, yes. But I'm being honest. I miss each and every one of you, I really do. Some of you are friends with me on Facebook, so at least we know how each other is doing, and I appreciate that. So, my plans are this. Go to my doctor, have him send me for an MRI, and then depending on the results of the MRI, decide what my future holds for running. There's an annual race tomorrow, Labor Day, that's 12.4 miles. A co-worker is running it. It's going to be a perfect day: 75 degrees. I've run in it every year. This year I'll be home feeling sorry for myself instead. This sucks. I want to run...I want to blog about my running, and most importantly I want to stop being so selfish and stubborn and read your blogs and comment on them. OK, I'm done. PLEASE let me know if you're running in any races in the Connecticut area (NY, Mass., etc.) in the upcoming months. I do want to support you. I do want to be sociable. I do want to read your blogs and comment on them. Time heals all wounds. I will be back. I WILL run again. You can count on it. Thanks for allowing me to vent. I love you all....
I honestly have to say that I don't read your blogs anymore. For now it's too painful. It's too painful for me to read how much fun all of you are having running, how well you're doing, and the races you've completed and are training for while I can't run. Selfish, yes. But I'm being honest. I miss each and every one of you, I really do. Some of you are friends with me on Facebook, so at least we know how each other is doing, and I appreciate that. So, my plans are this. Go to my doctor, have him send me for an MRI, and then depending on the results of the MRI, decide what my future holds for running. There's an annual race tomorrow, Labor Day, that's 12.4 miles. A co-worker is running it. It's going to be a perfect day: 75 degrees. I've run in it every year. This year I'll be home feeling sorry for myself instead. This sucks. I want to run...I want to blog about my running, and most importantly I want to stop being so selfish and stubborn and read your blogs and comment on them. OK, I'm done. PLEASE let me know if you're running in any races in the Connecticut area (NY, Mass., etc.) in the upcoming months. I do want to support you. I do want to be sociable. I do want to read your blogs and comment on them. Time heals all wounds. I will be back. I WILL run again. You can count on it. Thanks for allowing me to vent. I love you all....
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Yes, I'm Alive!
Yes, I've missed all of you. LOTS to talk about, but of course there's not enough time now. If you're ever curious about what I'm up to, find me on Facebook. Rick Held
Sunday, May 30, 2010
"Hello" Again!
Farmington Canal Linear Park trail 71 degrees. 5 miles; Splits: 8:54; 8:58; 8:56; 8:56; 8:50 44:34; 8:54 per mile pace.
Thank-you to the 6 of you who commented on my short post yesterday. You're all nuts! :-)
Yesterday I ran. Yesterday I remembered what a gift it is to be able to run. Yesterday I appreciated the fact I can run; can enjoy running on a beautiful spring day, on a scenic trail, with lots of people enjoying the day and being active. Yesterday's "music" while I ran was the sounds of nature and people talking.
CRAZY past week. Sunday my wife Kathy and I celebrated our 29th anniversary at Mohegan Sun casino. We had a fun time, but of course didn't win big. However, a growler of Thomas Hooker beer and good food helped ease the pain of losing money. Then another type of loss on Monday. My son called me at 9 a.m. while we were at the casino to tell me my cat "Ace" had been hit by a car and died. Ace was my best bud. He was the cat at the pound that nobody wanted. He wasn't a "lap cat," or so everyone thought. When I told the pound a couple of years ago that I wanted to adopt him, they thought I was crazy. He had scratched me the day before when I petted him for what he thought was too long a period of time. He was a cat that thought he was a dog. We would wrestle; he would lay on my lap and wake me up if I fell asleep by shoving his butt in my face. He was a big boy-16 lbs. of love. He even sounded like he said "Hello" if you dared to ignore him whenever he wanted to go out or come in. So Ace is dead...buried in our backyard. We planted some perennials in his memory, and I'm moving on. We'll probably adopt a cat named "Charlie" from the pound today. Charlie is a macho kinda guy, and another cat that nobody wants to adopt since he's not a kitten. My son's cat, Reyes (named after Jose Reyes of the Mets) will be mad. Oh well! UPDATE: We adopted Charlie Sunday night. It pays to have a co-worker who also works at the pound :-)
I've been back to see "Sweet Melissa" for physical therapy (PT) twice this past week. I'm approved for 3 more visits, and this time I WILL get my shit together by joining the gym there and strengthening my ridiculously weak left leg, and not so strong either right leg. I have had absolutely no motivation to run lately. That's not like me. The weather has been perfect for running. I used to have the excuse that my left knee was bothering me. I don't have that excuse now. It feels about 90%, and I'm confident will be 100% real soon. I joined a running group a few months ago, but out of its 200 or so members, only about 5 actually go out and run as a group. They run about 10 miles from my house, which is fine. What isn't fine is their 8 a.m. weekend runs and no scheduled weekday evening runs. So I guess in reality the free running group I joined is not really a running group at all. I have a few co-workers that have told me for the past 6 months that they either want to learn to run, or just go for a run with me. You guessed it-it hasn't happened. I've given up reminding them it's time to get their asses out and run. So running alone=less motivation for me to run. I'm registered for a half in a month. Time to get it together. So, a start. I joined a team of 14 women and 3 men and will be running next Saturday, June 5th, in the Susan G. Komen Race For the Cure. It's a 5K race and walk to raise money for breast cancer. I'm on a team called "Sonny's Girls." LOL at the team name if you want. My daughter and 2 co-workers are on the team with me. We need to raise $1500 as a team. I know a lot of you donated money to team Autism Speaks when I ran the NY City Marathon last November, but if you have a spare $5 or so that you can donate, please do. Just click on the link here.
As usual, you guys are very supportive whenever I post. As usual, I'm a week behind on blogging. I won't apologize (Thanks, Anne), but I will say once again "Thanks." Thanks for reading my blog, thanks for writing your blogs, and most importantly THANKS for supporting "Iron Mike" after I posted on May 23rd that he needs our support. Isn't it wonderful what a great support group of runners/bloggers you all are? You're 73 of my favorite friends, even though I've only met 4 of you in person. Enjoy the remainder of this weekend, and don't forget the reason we have a three day weekend: It's not about the cookouts and sales at the mall. The real meaning behind Memorial Day is to honor service men and women who died while serving our country.
Thank-you to the 6 of you who commented on my short post yesterday. You're all nuts! :-)
Yesterday I ran. Yesterday I remembered what a gift it is to be able to run. Yesterday I appreciated the fact I can run; can enjoy running on a beautiful spring day, on a scenic trail, with lots of people enjoying the day and being active. Yesterday's "music" while I ran was the sounds of nature and people talking.
CRAZY past week. Sunday my wife Kathy and I celebrated our 29th anniversary at Mohegan Sun casino. We had a fun time, but of course didn't win big. However, a growler of Thomas Hooker beer and good food helped ease the pain of losing money. Then another type of loss on Monday. My son called me at 9 a.m. while we were at the casino to tell me my cat "Ace" had been hit by a car and died. Ace was my best bud. He was the cat at the pound that nobody wanted. He wasn't a "lap cat," or so everyone thought. When I told the pound a couple of years ago that I wanted to adopt him, they thought I was crazy. He had scratched me the day before when I petted him for what he thought was too long a period of time. He was a cat that thought he was a dog. We would wrestle; he would lay on my lap and wake me up if I fell asleep by shoving his butt in my face. He was a big boy-16 lbs. of love. He even sounded like he said "Hello" if you dared to ignore him whenever he wanted to go out or come in. So Ace is dead...buried in our backyard. We planted some perennials in his memory, and I'm moving on. We'll probably adopt a cat named "Charlie" from the pound today. Charlie is a macho kinda guy, and another cat that nobody wants to adopt since he's not a kitten. My son's cat, Reyes (named after Jose Reyes of the Mets) will be mad. Oh well! UPDATE: We adopted Charlie Sunday night. It pays to have a co-worker who also works at the pound :-)
I've been back to see "Sweet Melissa" for physical therapy (PT) twice this past week. I'm approved for 3 more visits, and this time I WILL get my shit together by joining the gym there and strengthening my ridiculously weak left leg, and not so strong either right leg. I have had absolutely no motivation to run lately. That's not like me. The weather has been perfect for running. I used to have the excuse that my left knee was bothering me. I don't have that excuse now. It feels about 90%, and I'm confident will be 100% real soon. I joined a running group a few months ago, but out of its 200 or so members, only about 5 actually go out and run as a group. They run about 10 miles from my house, which is fine. What isn't fine is their 8 a.m. weekend runs and no scheduled weekday evening runs. So I guess in reality the free running group I joined is not really a running group at all. I have a few co-workers that have told me for the past 6 months that they either want to learn to run, or just go for a run with me. You guessed it-it hasn't happened. I've given up reminding them it's time to get their asses out and run. So running alone=less motivation for me to run. I'm registered for a half in a month. Time to get it together. So, a start. I joined a team of 14 women and 3 men and will be running next Saturday, June 5th, in the Susan G. Komen Race For the Cure. It's a 5K race and walk to raise money for breast cancer. I'm on a team called "Sonny's Girls." LOL at the team name if you want. My daughter and 2 co-workers are on the team with me. We need to raise $1500 as a team. I know a lot of you donated money to team Autism Speaks when I ran the NY City Marathon last November, but if you have a spare $5 or so that you can donate, please do. Just click on the link here.
As usual, you guys are very supportive whenever I post. As usual, I'm a week behind on blogging. I won't apologize (Thanks, Anne), but I will say once again "Thanks." Thanks for reading my blog, thanks for writing your blogs, and most importantly THANKS for supporting "Iron Mike" after I posted on May 23rd that he needs our support. Isn't it wonderful what a great support group of runners/bloggers you all are? You're 73 of my favorite friends, even though I've only met 4 of you in person. Enjoy the remainder of this weekend, and don't forget the reason we have a three day weekend: It's not about the cookouts and sales at the mall. The real meaning behind Memorial Day is to honor service men and women who died while serving our country.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
I Need to Get My Lazy Ass Out For a Run
Please, no comments necessary (Unless you want to)! I have absolutely no motivation to run lately. What's up with that? Plus I'm a week behind with blogging. OK, I'm a visual learner, and since I posted this, now it means I HAVE TO get my lazy ass out for a run....and catch-up best I can on your blogs...and then post about how I didn't let myself down and actually did go for a run.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
PLEASE Read This, A Fellow Runner Needs Our Support
One of my Followers, 30 year old "Iron Mike," had a Transient Ischemic Attack, or a mini-stroke. As of this past Friday, he was in the hospital. His running blog only has five followers, as he's relatively new to blogging. It would be nice if all of you that follow my blog send him your "Get Well Soon" wishes via his blog. Also, please encourage your "Followers" to do the same. I'm also dedicating my next run to him, and hope that you and your Followers will also dedicate your runs to him. We as running bloggers are one large family. Let's all support "Iron Mike." Thank-you for your help. Rick
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
