Life in the Middle Lane

Where I complain

It is officially hot as blazes in Atlanta. That means near-hell temperatures, and the sun reflecting off of any surface, except the black asphalt trails and streets that I run on—those absorb the heat, and are hot enough to cook bacon and eggs. And oh, my. Any hint of moisture in the air steams before it hits the ground. Makes me feel like a lobster in a pot.

And yet I run on.

And Whine

I have noticed that I’m a much slower runner than I was in 2007 when I ran the Race of the Cure in 35 minutes. (brushing my shoulder off) This year, I’m doing good to run those same 3.1 miles in 45 minutes or an hour.

It’s not all the weather’s fault. I’m old (relatively) and way out of racing shape. A podiatrist recently told me at a running clinic that every running step I take, I’m placing 3.5 times my weight’s worth of pressure on my feet, ankles and knees. I can’t do that math, but that’s a mighty big number.

No wonder I hurt.

Good news

I found some cheap dryfit clothes at Wal-mart. The shirt $7 and the capris were $11!!! So at least I’m cute when I sweat like a horse. The clothes also wick away the moisture and keep me cooler and lighter than cotton.



Aren't I cute in my Danskin?

I’m posing to let you know how crazy hot it was!

And my feet are hurting less (Thank you Big Peach!) or maybe my endorphins kick in fast enough that I don’t notice the pain. I’ve found some decent stretches for my tight hamstrings and calves, and I’ve stopped being embarrassed that I have to stop every now and then to stretch everything out.

And I resurrected my P90X X-Stretch DVD as a cross-training day workout.

Yay for increased flexibility.

Something I’ve re-learned

I had forgotten how much easier and nicer it is to run when I’m with a group. Having someone to talk to, or in my case, listen to, makes the runs breeze by.  For the past couple of weeks during the Team in Training group runs, I’ve found myself running with a partner or with a group. Constant chatter is very good at blocking out the pain associated with running in 98 degree heat.  Once or twice I’ve found myself saying—It’s ALREADY time for our recovery walk?

Crazy I know.

This is me after running on my least favorite course, in 90+ degree weather.

It was during this run that I increased my pace from a 2 minute run/ 2 minute walk to a 3 minute run/ 2 minute walk. Was sore for 3 days, afterward.  Danskin pants, old as dirt Gap Body cotton tank.  Somehow still able to smile and pose for the camera, ha!

I’m currently training for a marathon and raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  To help me meet my fundraising goal, consider donating on my Team in Training page. Together we can out-run blood cancers.

Since starting training, I’ve only missed one Saturday group run. It was June 5^th. I missed it because I was helping one of my best friends get married.

On June 7^th I got an email from Team in Training. It was the speaker from the kick-off party.  She was apologizing for her behavior at the June 5^th run. Apparently, she “blubbered like a baby” (her words). She was crying because she got the news that the friend that she had talked about during kick-off  had lost her fight with cancer. Now my team mate would be running in memory of, instead of in honor of.

Whenever I see racers running in honor or memory of someone, I am reminded of the two years that I volunteered with Race of the Cure in North Carolina. I was a race day volunteer, mostly I directed runners to the port-o –potties, racers to their particular starting lines, and others to whatever places they were looking for. Sometimes I would just stand around and smile, and try to be of service. It was during those times that people would ask me to help them pin their race numbers, and other tags.  Many had “in honor of” and “in memory of” tags and lists of the people they knew who were fighting or had lost their fight with cancer. Throughout the day, I found myself crying along with people I didn’t know, how could I not, when in the presence of such fighters?  And with the memories of the fallen held closely in the minds of all.

Everywhere there were beautiful bald people, recent survivors; some there to run, others there just to celebrate another day, month, year. They had their own special tag, I felt honored to pin those tags on their backs. My mother was there, both years, walking in memory of her mother who died from brest cancer when I was two.  I was so thankful to have my mommy nearby.

As an African-American, there are lots of diseases that I’m more at risk of. Heart disease, diabetes, heart attacks, strokes, and alcoholism all run rampant on both sides of my family. I’m a stickler for healthy eating and exercise. But my vigilance to these diseases are nothing in comparison to need I feel to beat the shit out of cancer—any kind of cancer.

When I found Team in Training, I wasn’t looking for a new way to fight cancer, but I must admit that knowing that the money I raised would go to cancer research, treatments, and to help families survive while their loved ones fight for their lives, totally made the whole idea of marathon training bearable. I mean, it seems that it’s the very least I could do.

I’m really, really, REALLY nervous about raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  So far I’ve raised a wooping $35 dollars. And my goal is $4,000.  But I everything in my being, even at the end of a really hard run, tells me that I’m doing the right thing.

I thank God everyday that my family is free of cancer, but I run on for a cure to help those families that aren’t so lucky.

Do you have a connection to cancer? Tell me about it in the comments

Team in Training raises money for blood cancer research.  I’ve joined their fight.  Help me meet my fundraising goal, consider donating on my Team in Training page. Together we can outrun blood cancers.

The week before I started training with Team in Training, I attended their season kick-off. There were several speakers, some talking about the training and others talking about their connection with blood cancers.  One speaker in particular touched my heart. She was about my age, tall, blond, and pretty.  She talked about the weeks leading up to her leukemia diagnosis, how tired she felt and how much pain she was in.  She was diagnosed at 25, and thankfully, she’s in remission.  She also told us about a close friend, who was also battling cancer.  Her friend was not so lucky, and was undergoing experimental treatments. The speaker asked us to pray for her friend.

As the speaker left the podium and walked down the aisle by me. I took a close look at her face. She didn’t look like any cancer patient I’d ever seen. She had great hair, and appeared to be at a normal weight. In fact, I likely wouldn’t have pegged her as a cancer survivor out of a line up.

Not only is she a cancer survivor, she a half-marathoner.  She’s pushing herself this season, and running the Nike full in honor of her friend. And she’s fast! Whenever I’m in the back of the pack, complaining about the hills or the heat, I remember her struggle and push on. I’m totally in awe of her.

I’m currently training for a marathon and raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  To help me meet my goal, consider donating on my Team in Training page. Together we can out-run blood cancers.

Running has been hard the past couple of weeks! Daily temperatures has been in the mid-80’s. The humidity has been something awful, even after it rains, the air is thick and hard to suck in. The GF started her summer semester at school and I’ve been left to do my weekday runs by myself.  And worst of all, my feet have hurt.

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying “Buying running shoes doesn’t make you a runner. Going for a run, makes you a runner.” I want to kick whoever said that in the face. Yeah, going for a run without proper shoes makes you a runner. A runner with hurt arches and shin splints. Ouch!

I started my marathon training running with shoes that are two summer old;  shoes that I wore around campus in graduate school.  Shoes that I wanted to get my money’s worth in, since they were $100 shoes.

Unfortunately, running shoes have a shelf life of 500 miles.  And while I haven’t run consistently over the past two years, I’ve totally past the 500 mile marker.  And much as I’d rather put that $100 towards meeting my 4k goal, last week I realized that I wouldn’t be able to run another week in those shoes.. After a painful 2.4 mile run last Thursday, I’d had enough. It was time for new shoes.

I bought them last Friday. Here they are.

And since my trainers have a saying, “cotton is rotten”, I traded in my cotton Gap Body lounge pants for some Nike dryfit shorts. Check out my  legs in these! And speaking of my gorgeous gams, nothing is worse that chubby thighs rubbing together. So I picked up some anti-chafing cream.  (Hhhmmmm, doesn’t that sound sexy?!)  It’s in the top of the box.

This is me after giving the shoes a test drive on Saturday.

Note the post-run red Gatorade!

The new shoes felt great during the run, but soon after that picture was taking, my left foot started to cramp and hurt. I took the new shoes back on Memorial Day.  Apparently I have extremely low arches. Big Peaches fitted me with new shoes, and they feel great so far!

On to week four!

I’m currently training for a marathon and raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  To help me meet my goal, consider donating on my Team in Training page.

This was me on Saturday after I completed a three mile run.

You may be asking yourself why I’m telling you about this particular run….

This run was special. It was special because it’s the first group run I’ve been on in a long time, I met some really amazing new people and because….wait for it….wait for it…. WAIT FOR IT!!!!…….

Curious, yet?

I’m running a marathon in October.

GASP! Shock! WTF, Monica?  I know, I wasn’t expecting that either. It just kinda happened.

A few months ago I walked into a running shoe store, just to window shop and ended up having a conversation with the shop owner about different running groups in the area.  I missed running and wanted to find some people to run with a few times a week.  He gave a few names of groups none of which I contacted, and I promptly lost the list.

About a month ago, I clicked a link on something. I don’t know it if was twitter, email, facebook, or something else, but I landed on this site.  I was intrigued because with them because they have weekly group runs and they train runners for big (ie. long) races! It was exactly what I was looking for.

I went to an informational meeting to find out more about this organization.  I found out that Team in Training raises tons of money for the Lymphoma and Leukema Society by training athletes for marathons, triathlons and cycling races.  Their formula?  They train you to run, you raise money for the cause.

They showed me a list of races happening later this year and asked me to pick which one I wanted to run. They introduced me to some of the coaches and captains that I would be working with if I decided to join their group. Everyone was awesome and encouraging and I started to get carried away on the wave of their NICENESS.

But WAIT.

This wasn’t a casual thing where I could show up or not. They train serious MARATHONERS! And Holy crap, I’d have to raise money? I was thisclose to throwing up deuces and heading for the door. It all just seemed so hard and I’d have to make a commitment.

But the people were just so freaking awesome! After to talking to them individually and in groups, everyone really had me thinking that I could raise a boatload of money and run a freaking marathon! So I signed up. Color me carried away.

Last Saturday I had my first group training session. I ran 3 miles. Guess what? I didn’t die, and I met a group of great people.

It was great. So great that I ran 2 miles, 3 times this week.

I’d like you and the rest of the internet to be involved in all my super marathon action! I crave your encouragement and support. My fundraising minimum is $3900 but I hate the oddness of that number and want to raise $4000 dollars.

I know. Holy Crap.

But I keep trying to think about it in terms of 400 people giving me $10 each. I think all of us can swing that, right? And if it wierds you out to think about giving me money, you aren’t giving me money. You are helping to cure CANCER. And that’s a big fucking deal.

Here’s a link to the secure site where you can give me donations. And I would really love it if you could give me a donation (even a tiny one).  If I can’t raise the money, I can’t continue my training. And I really, really want to run a marathon. And hello, cure cancer in the process.

So click the link, make a donation and pass the link on to someone else in your social network. I appreciate your support!  And I will keep you updated.

Thanks, bunches.