I ran 2 miles on Sunday, October 11 in 28 minutes and 56 seconds. I know! I hardly believe it myself. That was like lightning fast. I had to double check the mileage when I got home. I thought maybe I inadvertently cheated.
Today was a different story. I set out at 11AM after the twins were in school and it was kinda muggy out. Apparently me + humidity = disaster. It was a rough start, then about a half mile in I was ok but after 1 mile I was feeling like I couldn't breathe. I continued until I hit about 1.4 miles and then I gave up.
I swear I was on the verge of having a panic attack. I just felt like the air I was breathing in had no oxygen in it. I mean, frankly, that's pretty normal when I'm running, but I figure it's a mind over matter thing and I huff and puff my way through 2 miles. Today was no dice. I could not make it. I could not force myself to believe everything was ok and I would not suffocate to death so I stopped and walked the rest of the way home. Maybe it was the humidity, maybe it was my mind freaking out. I don't know what it was except that it was hard and I hope it doesn't happen next time!
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Post Race Run 1
Dear Running Enthusiasts,
When oh when is running going to be fun and exciting and easy? When oh when am I going to look forward to it, get those mysterious endorphins and all that extra energy? Why oh why do I just want to curl up in a ball and sleep the rest of the day after a short jog? Running has failed me. I've been running for 4 months and it's not easy.
Every.
Single.
Breath.
Every.
Single.
Step.....
... is HARD! The whole time I'm out there I concentrate on drawing the deepest breath possible. But the whole time I'm out there I feel like I'm drowning.
If you have a magic tip, other than a double lung transplant, I'm all ears!
Thanks!
Love,
Tara
Seriously. Today was just as hard as the first day. I went out and pushed myself to try and get a better time. I figured since I don't plan on expanding my distance more than 3.1 miles, I might as well work on my time. I did do better than Sunday, but I didn't blow any records out of the water. I ran 2.0 miles in 30 minutes and 35 seconds. I think I've made that time before. Sometimes, rarely, it feels a teeny tiny bit effortless, but for the most part I dread going, I dread every step while I'm out there and I collapse at the finish line.
When's it supposed to get easier? When will I get increased lung function? I'm stuck at 45% for the last year and it's getting old. Boo.
When oh when is running going to be fun and exciting and easy? When oh when am I going to look forward to it, get those mysterious endorphins and all that extra energy? Why oh why do I just want to curl up in a ball and sleep the rest of the day after a short jog? Running has failed me. I've been running for 4 months and it's not easy.
Every.
Single.
Breath.
Every.
Single.
Step.....
... is HARD! The whole time I'm out there I concentrate on drawing the deepest breath possible. But the whole time I'm out there I feel like I'm drowning.
If you have a magic tip, other than a double lung transplant, I'm all ears!
Thanks!
Love,
Tara
Seriously. Today was just as hard as the first day. I went out and pushed myself to try and get a better time. I figured since I don't plan on expanding my distance more than 3.1 miles, I might as well work on my time. I did do better than Sunday, but I didn't blow any records out of the water. I ran 2.0 miles in 30 minutes and 35 seconds. I think I've made that time before. Sometimes, rarely, it feels a teeny tiny bit effortless, but for the most part I dread going, I dread every step while I'm out there and I collapse at the finish line.
When's it supposed to get easier? When will I get increased lung function? I'm stuck at 45% for the last year and it's getting old. Boo.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
5K Day!
Pictures from the event can be found HERE!
My 5K morning started out at 5:45 AM. It was a sloppy start, as I didn't hear the alarm right away, and then when I did hear it, my arm wasn't working. It was asleep from the shoulder to the elbow, so I could not move it at all! I kept trying and trying and in my fog of bewilderment I could not figure out that all I had to do was sit up and use my other arm.
I got a quick shortened treatment in. Just some xopenex and hypertonic saline with the vest for 25 minutes. After a quick change into my running clothes and a small bowl of cereal, we were out the door at 6:30AM! Tom and Abby were fast asleep in their beds while Auntie Rachel spent the night and agreed to babysit for us. It was a huge help! I'm not sure Tom and Abby would have enjoyed the 51 degree temperature or the pre-dawn hour.
While we were lined up waiting for the 5K start we bumped into Sacramento's mayor, former NBA player, Kevin Johnson. I asked him if he would take a photo with us and he obliged! Pictures from the event can be found HERE!
Our race started a few minutes late, but eventually we were off! My sister, Dani, and my college buddy, Tamiko, ran my pace with me. Part of the time they could actually walk and still keep up with my 16 minute mile pace. Tamiko would run ahead from time to time to snap photos of me during the race. I can't wait to see them.
When I saw the 1 mile mark, I was thinking, "that's it?! We've only gone ONE mile?" But on we trudged. Passing some walkers, being passed by other walkers. Eventually my legs got into a groove and I ran the whole way! My right hip (bursitis) was bothering me, but it was not debilitating, so I didn't have to walk. It's probably going to be more inflamed and painful tomorrow.
For the last tenth of a mile I was able to speed up for a strong finish. Running through the crowds of people cheering me on was amazing! First I saw the twins' preschool teachers, Miss Mim and Miss Pahla. Then I was surprised to find another face in the crowd cheering me on, Linda, a respiratory therapist I met in 1984 at Cystic Fibrosis summer camp. I did run into her around town once, so I know she's local and it was great to hear her yelling my name! Then came the support group of friends. Paul was there (he finished way before me) and Laura and Jen brought signs and streamers! And lastly there were my in-laws right as I was crossing the finish line. They came out at 7:30 in the morning and stood in the freezing cold to watch me run.
What a day!
Laura, Jen, Paul and I went to Fox and Goose for a big celebratory breakfast afterwards. I came home and tried to be functional. I gave up around 1PM and retired to my room. Much to my surprise I woke up around 4:30! Boy was I wiped out from the longest week in history with 2 birthday parties planned and attended, topped off by a 5K this morning.
I ended up beating my goal by 3 seconds per mile. I was aiming for 16 minute miles, and I pulled down 15:57 per mile. My total running time was 49:26. I came in 766th out of 924 participants in the 5K and I believe I was the only one wearing an oxygen tank! Paul did much better, and even beat the former NBA player, now mayor of Sacramento, Kevin Johnson. Paul placed 96th overall and finished the race in 25:51.
My 5K morning started out at 5:45 AM. It was a sloppy start, as I didn't hear the alarm right away, and then when I did hear it, my arm wasn't working. It was asleep from the shoulder to the elbow, so I could not move it at all! I kept trying and trying and in my fog of bewilderment I could not figure out that all I had to do was sit up and use my other arm.
I got a quick shortened treatment in. Just some xopenex and hypertonic saline with the vest for 25 minutes. After a quick change into my running clothes and a small bowl of cereal, we were out the door at 6:30AM! Tom and Abby were fast asleep in their beds while Auntie Rachel spent the night and agreed to babysit for us. It was a huge help! I'm not sure Tom and Abby would have enjoyed the 51 degree temperature or the pre-dawn hour.
While we were lined up waiting for the 5K start we bumped into Sacramento's mayor, former NBA player, Kevin Johnson. I asked him if he would take a photo with us and he obliged! Pictures from the event can be found HERE!
Our race started a few minutes late, but eventually we were off! My sister, Dani, and my college buddy, Tamiko, ran my pace with me. Part of the time they could actually walk and still keep up with my 16 minute mile pace. Tamiko would run ahead from time to time to snap photos of me during the race. I can't wait to see them.
When I saw the 1 mile mark, I was thinking, "that's it?! We've only gone ONE mile?" But on we trudged. Passing some walkers, being passed by other walkers. Eventually my legs got into a groove and I ran the whole way! My right hip (bursitis) was bothering me, but it was not debilitating, so I didn't have to walk. It's probably going to be more inflamed and painful tomorrow.
For the last tenth of a mile I was able to speed up for a strong finish. Running through the crowds of people cheering me on was amazing! First I saw the twins' preschool teachers, Miss Mim and Miss Pahla. Then I was surprised to find another face in the crowd cheering me on, Linda, a respiratory therapist I met in 1984 at Cystic Fibrosis summer camp. I did run into her around town once, so I know she's local and it was great to hear her yelling my name! Then came the support group of friends. Paul was there (he finished way before me) and Laura and Jen brought signs and streamers! And lastly there were my in-laws right as I was crossing the finish line. They came out at 7:30 in the morning and stood in the freezing cold to watch me run.
What a day!
Laura, Jen, Paul and I went to Fox and Goose for a big celebratory breakfast afterwards. I came home and tried to be functional. I gave up around 1PM and retired to my room. Much to my surprise I woke up around 4:30! Boy was I wiped out from the longest week in history with 2 birthday parties planned and attended, topped off by a 5K this morning.
I ended up beating my goal by 3 seconds per mile. I was aiming for 16 minute miles, and I pulled down 15:57 per mile. My total running time was 49:26. I came in 766th out of 924 participants in the 5K and I believe I was the only one wearing an oxygen tank! Paul did much better, and even beat the former NBA player, now mayor of Sacramento, Kevin Johnson. Paul placed 96th overall and finished the race in 25:51.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Tomorrow is THE DAY!
Tomorrow is the 5K. I ran 3 times this week. I did 2 practice 5K runs in 49:21 and 50:35. Thursday was my last day to train for the 5K and I took it slow, about 1.75 miles in 28 minutes.
My hips are bugging me, but I don't think it's slowing me down. It's more painful a couple days after I run. I thought about taking prednisone just for the race day because it makes me feel so fantastic, but I think I have talked myself out of it. I know it's only 1 pill but the mood swings, high blood sugars and insomnia don't seem to appealing to have to deal with tomorrow. Plus I want to go all out and eat a big stinking breakfast after the 5K, and I can't eat real syrup while on prednisone because it drives my blood sugar bonkers.
Other than having to get up at the crack of dawn, I think it's actually before dawn cracks, I'm looking forward to the race. I just hope I don't piss people off by getting in their way and running too slow.
Wish me luck!
My hips are bugging me, but I don't think it's slowing me down. It's more painful a couple days after I run. I thought about taking prednisone just for the race day because it makes me feel so fantastic, but I think I have talked myself out of it. I know it's only 1 pill but the mood swings, high blood sugars and insomnia don't seem to appealing to have to deal with tomorrow. Plus I want to go all out and eat a big stinking breakfast after the 5K, and I can't eat real syrup while on prednisone because it drives my blood sugar bonkers.
Other than having to get up at the crack of dawn, I think it's actually before dawn cracks, I'm looking forward to the race. I just hope I don't piss people off by getting in their way and running too slow.
Wish me luck!
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Countdown to Cowtown T Minus 15 Days
Today I set out to run 3 miles
...and
I did it! The time was not that spectacular, nearly 50 minutes. I think I started out too fast. As I was barely a block away I checked my oxygen saturations and they were 90, on 5 liters of o2. I haven't brought my pulse ox with me in a long time, so that might be a normal dip in the beginning of the run. I slowed it down a bit and the sats plateau'd around 95 and my HR varied between 150 and 165. This is much better than the 175's I was seeing early in my training.
I'm nervous, but I think I'm ready to race! 15 days to go!
...and
I did it! The time was not that spectacular, nearly 50 minutes. I think I started out too fast. As I was barely a block away I checked my oxygen saturations and they were 90, on 5 liters of o2. I haven't brought my pulse ox with me in a long time, so that might be a normal dip in the beginning of the run. I slowed it down a bit and the sats plateau'd around 95 and my HR varied between 150 and 165. This is much better than the 175's I was seeing early in my training.
I'm nervous, but I think I'm ready to race! 15 days to go!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Countdown to Cowtown T Minus 19 Days
So as you can see from the title, I've completed my training course of 24 days of running this summer. I started in June I think. Wow, that took a long time! For the next 2 weeks I'll be trying not to catch any nasty cold viruses and keeping up with my training so I'll be ready for the big race day on October 4.
Today I set out to finally run 3.0 miles. And...... *drum roll please* I DID IT!!! Not only did I do it, I blew all my previous times out of the water. I made it 3.0 miles this morning in 47 minutes and 34 seconds. That's approximately a 16 minute mile. I haven't been able to keep that pace for the whole run yet, so I was quite proud of myself.
However, today's run was hard. My legs were ok, but I felt like every time I breathed in I was gasping for air. It wasn't a shortness of breath feeling it was just a small lung feeling. It's the feeling I get when I need to take a deeper breath than I can physically take. I feel like something is stopping short of taking a full breath. So I end up kinda panting the whole way. It's not a fun way to run. I hope it was just a fluke and it'll get easier as these next 2 weeks go on. I figure I have about 6 more trips out to practice my running before the big race. Wish me luck!
Today I set out to finally run 3.0 miles. And...... *drum roll please* I DID IT!!! Not only did I do it, I blew all my previous times out of the water. I made it 3.0 miles this morning in 47 minutes and 34 seconds. That's approximately a 16 minute mile. I haven't been able to keep that pace for the whole run yet, so I was quite proud of myself.
However, today's run was hard. My legs were ok, but I felt like every time I breathed in I was gasping for air. It wasn't a shortness of breath feeling it was just a small lung feeling. It's the feeling I get when I need to take a deeper breath than I can physically take. I feel like something is stopping short of taking a full breath. So I end up kinda panting the whole way. It's not a fun way to run. I hope it was just a fluke and it'll get easier as these next 2 weeks go on. I figure I have about 6 more trips out to practice my running before the big race. Wish me luck!
Running Day 24 of 24
On Friday the twins have a half day at school which means they go to school for the exact same amount of time, 3 hours and 31 minutes, however they have to start at 8AM. Although I was dreading getting out of bed so early, I took the opportunity to do my run after I dropped them off. I started from the school, so my route was a little messed up. I tried to guess to make it exactly 3 miles and when I got home I tracked it on a map and it was only 2.78 miles. I was so disappointed because it felt really good and relatively easy. I could have easily kept going! I managed to make it home in 50 minutes and 28 seconds. Which is another reason I thought I'd gone the full 3 miles. But instead I was running 18 minute miles. No wonder it was so easy! Ugh.
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