After running 2 marathons, I know what that runners high is...you get it after 15 or 16 miles and you start thinking "huh, that isn't so bad, I feel great". Then you get to 21 or 22 and its a different story and you start thinking "why does anyone do this?", "this sucks", "I think I am going to die. Right now". This feeling is awful, but the runners high you get early is an amazing feeling - I have learned being the nerd that I am, that this high is a rush of endorphins...so it is kinda like a drug. So sweet, I guess I'm not drug free - sorry D.A.R.E.
But there is this other high that I think is less Physiological - and its a runners "hi". I became especially aware of it this morning while I was on a quick 6 mile run. After running over 30 miles earlier this week, this "quick six" was painful - and I had a couple bouts of "this sucks" and "I think I am going to die", etc. However, Saturday morning is a runners haven. So many runners - especially today. 50 degrees, sunny, calm and quiet. So soothing. I passed 6 or 7 runners this morning, 4 of them said "hi", gave a little smile and wave, or even said a "beautiful morning for a run, huh?". I find that these other runners are what keeps me going. Seeing them, and having them acknowledge me is almost like a little high - I always pick up my pace a little bit - and all the pain I was feeling is relieved for a little while. A high from a hi.
Yesterday on a 10 miler - I passed a lady as I was running up a steep, long hill. She said "Keep it up, this ones a killer". I smiled and laughed - then an hour later when I was running down it she was running up it - "killer." she said - and I told her "it's good for you". Love it. Wednesday on an 8 miler and 60-70 year old man passed me 3 or 4 times on his bike "wow girl, how far are you going?" When I told him 8 he laughed and just said "Good for you! I'm glad you are out here!". Love it. They give you a reason to be out there - they make you feel good when you may be feeling awful.
Further on that, I can't stand the runners I pass that look at the ground and don't bother to smile, say hi, or even acknowledge that I am there, running on the same road. I know they see me, they move over so we don't crash into each other. We are all runners - we are out there, we are friends of the road - say hello, make me feel like you enjoy being out there - that way I can enjoy it as well. I even go so far as to waving at the guy running on the other side of the 4 lane highway*. Makes me feel good, makes him feel good. Maybe I'm addicted to the hi. Maybe I need the hi to get me through the run.
Someday I am hoping that one of these runners I say hi to will say "I see you running a lot, what are you training for? Want to run with me?" Maybe this will be how I make running friends. Until that day happens, I'm going to keep waving, and try to make everyone believe that I am having a great time, and that my body doesn't feel like it got ran over by a tractor. But hey, I'm a runner. We are stupid. We run when it hurts. We like it went hurts. We never stop. We...or maybe just I...get a high from the hi's. So keep them coming!
*Note to readers/mothers, there is a sidewalk and I am only running on this 4 lane highway for .2 miles - danger factor minimal
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
RunnersWorld
I'm afraid my title to this blog is quite misleading in that Winston Salem, NC is in fact NOT RunnersWorld. In the 4 months I have been living here, I have ran with another person once. I also (and I will blame this on the lack of running partners, the lack of running routes, and the extreme NC humidity that sat in the air in August and September) have reduced my miles since I have moved here significantly.....to about 15 a week. Kind of a difference from 40. I'd even go so far to say that this is a statistically significant difference since I'm a nerd and choose to apply everything to stats when I get a chance.
I have run 2 marathons. I am crazy. I am about to sign up for another one in March. I am insane. I currently run 15 miles a week. I suck. I am not prepared. This post will serve as motivation - a mantra if you will, that I will get back into it...even if it means I have to run alone. I even ran 7 miles today through Tropical Storm Ike, it was pouring, it was cold, it was windy, it was lunch time - I felt like a real runner again. It was amazing. Tomorrow we will continue the running. Jerry told me that if you do something for 17 days it becomes a routine. Somehow I doubt that I will get into a routine if I run for 17 straight daya, I may just want to stop running all together. Forever. I'll shoot for 2.
When I was living in Dayton (God's Country), I had friends among friends to run with - all my same pace. I even had one particular friend, we will call her my iPod since she served as mine for the 2 years I ran with her at Dayton, she was wonderful. 6 miles, 8 miles, 20 miles, she was there, chatting my ear off. We knew everything about each other and we were matched step for step. My iPod moved to Philly. I moved to Winston Salem. I miss my iPod. So much, I have actually considered buying my own iPod, the ones that play music. However, those don't listen when I want to complain my legs are moving, or that I am so hung over, or that I had a bad day, etc. My old iPod that left me did that. Where can I get a new one of those?
I have run 2 marathons. I am crazy. I am about to sign up for another one in March. I am insane. I currently run 15 miles a week. I suck. I am not prepared. This post will serve as motivation - a mantra if you will, that I will get back into it...even if it means I have to run alone. I even ran 7 miles today through Tropical Storm Ike, it was pouring, it was cold, it was windy, it was lunch time - I felt like a real runner again. It was amazing. Tomorrow we will continue the running. Jerry told me that if you do something for 17 days it becomes a routine. Somehow I doubt that I will get into a routine if I run for 17 straight daya, I may just want to stop running all together. Forever. I'll shoot for 2.
When I was living in Dayton (God's Country), I had friends among friends to run with - all my same pace. I even had one particular friend, we will call her my iPod since she served as mine for the 2 years I ran with her at Dayton, she was wonderful. 6 miles, 8 miles, 20 miles, she was there, chatting my ear off. We knew everything about each other and we were matched step for step. My iPod moved to Philly. I moved to Winston Salem. I miss my iPod. So much, I have actually considered buying my own iPod, the ones that play music. However, those don't listen when I want to complain my legs are moving, or that I am so hung over, or that I had a bad day, etc. My old iPod that left me did that. Where can I get a new one of those?
Monday, November 9, 2009
Must be Monday, What a Dumb Day
So I survived my Biomechanics Presentation. Downed by "um" count to 15 um's per minute. So an improvement from 30 upm ... overall, an accomplishment.
Of course, once again, its Monday. I have 2 exams this week. One tomorrow. One Wednesday. Have I prepared for them? Depends on who you ask...if you ask Jerry*, he will say "Kenz is such a dork, of course she is prepared, shes been studying for 3 weeks". However, if you ask me....its more of a "oh my gosh, Im going to fail, Im going to get kicked out of grad school, Im never going to get married, never going to get a job, live in a box, die in a street". We call this the downward spiral that I can tend to do. While I have spent close to 3 hours of my "study time" hypothesizing this downward spiral, eating, facebooking, surfing (however, I feel I am an awful surfer, more on that in a later post), I still do not feel prepared and probably will not going into tomorrow. Besides, I have a lot better things to do tonight than study.
I have a soccer game in an hour.
I have to put dishes in my dishwasher.
Jerry is online.
My bed needs made.
I should empty the trash.
Where are my clothes for the soccer game?
So, lame excuses. However, they will probably work. I also am still recovering from a weekend of Martinsville coming to visit me in Charlotte. The brain cells are somewhere scattered around uptown Charlotte, or maybe in a cab somewhere, or god forbid a McDonald's wrapper. This makes it just as difficult to go study health and all the things I need to NOT be doing in order to live healthy and disease free. So I'm a hypocrite....like you have never met a fat doctor?
Things I should share for the day....(cuz they are just too good not to)
I started counting my calories. I'm at 700 today. I decided to leave out dinner, the 3 snickers mini bars I had at lunch, the fudgesicle I just ate, as well as the 3 packs of Mike and Ike's I stole from my office neighbor E-beth. And Im lucky she didnt catch me - shes a feisty one. I don't think Ill count calories anymore. And in case you forgot, yes I am a health and exercise specialist.
This morning I saw amazing 70 year old boobs. Lady had not worn a bra since the 60s - said she was quite a "wildflower" and then asked me if I did anything to free my soul this weekend. She walked for 8 minutes on the treadmill before complaining of shortness of breath. Surprised she wore shoes.
On that note, I just had another downward spiral that someday I may not have a job cuz I fail my tests this week, so then I cant afford a bra, and then I wont be able to walk on a treadmill for 8 minutes. Cardio notes, here I come.
*Jerry - not the real name, but the pseudo-inside joke-made up name that never fails to make me smile
Of course, once again, its Monday. I have 2 exams this week. One tomorrow. One Wednesday. Have I prepared for them? Depends on who you ask...if you ask Jerry*, he will say "Kenz is such a dork, of course she is prepared, shes been studying for 3 weeks". However, if you ask me....its more of a "oh my gosh, Im going to fail, Im going to get kicked out of grad school, Im never going to get married, never going to get a job, live in a box, die in a street". We call this the downward spiral that I can tend to do. While I have spent close to 3 hours of my "study time" hypothesizing this downward spiral, eating, facebooking, surfing (however, I feel I am an awful surfer, more on that in a later post), I still do not feel prepared and probably will not going into tomorrow. Besides, I have a lot better things to do tonight than study.
I have a soccer game in an hour.
I have to put dishes in my dishwasher.
Jerry is online.
My bed needs made.
I should empty the trash.
Where are my clothes for the soccer game?
So, lame excuses. However, they will probably work. I also am still recovering from a weekend of Martinsville coming to visit me in Charlotte. The brain cells are somewhere scattered around uptown Charlotte, or maybe in a cab somewhere, or god forbid a McDonald's wrapper. This makes it just as difficult to go study health and all the things I need to NOT be doing in order to live healthy and disease free. So I'm a hypocrite....like you have never met a fat doctor?
Things I should share for the day....(cuz they are just too good not to)
I started counting my calories. I'm at 700 today. I decided to leave out dinner, the 3 snickers mini bars I had at lunch, the fudgesicle I just ate, as well as the 3 packs of Mike and Ike's I stole from my office neighbor E-beth. And Im lucky she didnt catch me - shes a feisty one. I don't think Ill count calories anymore. And in case you forgot, yes I am a health and exercise specialist.
This morning I saw amazing 70 year old boobs. Lady had not worn a bra since the 60s - said she was quite a "wildflower" and then asked me if I did anything to free my soul this weekend. She walked for 8 minutes on the treadmill before complaining of shortness of breath. Surprised she wore shoes.
On that note, I just had another downward spiral that someday I may not have a job cuz I fail my tests this week, so then I cant afford a bra, and then I wont be able to walk on a treadmill for 8 minutes. Cardio notes, here I come.
*Jerry - not the real name, but the pseudo-inside joke-made up name that never fails to make me smile
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Biomechanics Presentations
So tomorrow lies the biggest day of graduate school thus far.
It is my Biomechanics Presentation.
I have been rehearsing it over and over and over, so much that I do it in my sleep, and yet, I have no idea what Im talking about. Allow me to give a run through of what this presentation is all about....
Imagine you have this professor who is "the shit" and when I say this, I don't mean he is super cool - I mean he is the head in his field and could almost be considered a celebrity research. He is all that and more. He does this annual "Biomechanics Symposium" where all us 8 grad students choose a topic, and topic, and then have 10 minutes to talk it - and 5 minutes to answer questions. Questions that will come from and one of these 200 people we will be standing in front of presenting data we don't even fully understand. Needless to say, I'm a little nervous. Let me also stress that this presentation is worth 30% of our final grade in the class - so it is kind of a big deal.
The grade is divided into content and style. So, obviously, Ill be pulling out that Banana Republic Suit and pray he doesn't know it is last years line. That should get me my style points. As far as content.....well lets just hope that he doesn't know anything about "Soldier Load Carriage" - the genius topic I have picked based on my internship where I worked for the army and thought it would be easy based on my first hand experience. Stress on the the word thought.
I videotaped my self an hour ago giving the speech.
I said "um" 46 times. In 10 minutes. That's close to 5 um's a minute. Is it because I don't know what I'm talking about. Yup. That is pretty much why.
Oh but wait - it gets better.
The symposium goes for 2.5 hours (there is a small refreshment break in the middle - unfortunately I will be so near vomiting that refreshments will not be looking appealing). There are 8 of us presenting. And, oh, lucky me....spot number 8. The grand finale. The Last Hurrah. The end of all ends. Im going to have pit stains as large as basketballs in my BR suit by the time I'm up there. The only thing that will get me through this will be the cold beer I know that is waiting in my fridge as soon as I get home. And maybe the Wendy's conveniently placed on my ride home (after all, nothing says "you've had a hard day" quite like a spicy chicken sandwich and a frosty - especially if it is complimentary).
So, I have probably put off reviewing this presentation again too long. I've reached the end of stalling and I probably should now look into ironing my suit. And looking for some extra strength antiperspirant.
It is my Biomechanics Presentation.
I have been rehearsing it over and over and over, so much that I do it in my sleep, and yet, I have no idea what Im talking about. Allow me to give a run through of what this presentation is all about....
Imagine you have this professor who is "the shit" and when I say this, I don't mean he is super cool - I mean he is the head in his field and could almost be considered a celebrity research. He is all that and more. He does this annual "Biomechanics Symposium" where all us 8 grad students choose a topic, and topic, and then have 10 minutes to talk it - and 5 minutes to answer questions. Questions that will come from and one of these 200 people we will be standing in front of presenting data we don't even fully understand. Needless to say, I'm a little nervous. Let me also stress that this presentation is worth 30% of our final grade in the class - so it is kind of a big deal.
The grade is divided into content and style. So, obviously, Ill be pulling out that Banana Republic Suit and pray he doesn't know it is last years line. That should get me my style points. As far as content.....well lets just hope that he doesn't know anything about "Soldier Load Carriage" - the genius topic I have picked based on my internship where I worked for the army and thought it would be easy based on my first hand experience. Stress on the the word thought.
I videotaped my self an hour ago giving the speech.
I said "um" 46 times. In 10 minutes. That's close to 5 um's a minute. Is it because I don't know what I'm talking about. Yup. That is pretty much why.
Oh but wait - it gets better.
The symposium goes for 2.5 hours (there is a small refreshment break in the middle - unfortunately I will be so near vomiting that refreshments will not be looking appealing). There are 8 of us presenting. And, oh, lucky me....spot number 8. The grand finale. The Last Hurrah. The end of all ends. Im going to have pit stains as large as basketballs in my BR suit by the time I'm up there. The only thing that will get me through this will be the cold beer I know that is waiting in my fridge as soon as I get home. And maybe the Wendy's conveniently placed on my ride home (after all, nothing says "you've had a hard day" quite like a spicy chicken sandwich and a frosty - especially if it is complimentary).
So, I have probably put off reviewing this presentation again too long. I've reached the end of stalling and I probably should now look into ironing my suit. And looking for some extra strength antiperspirant.
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