ONE STEP AT A TIME  

Last week I ran the Seacoast Half Marathon.  My goal was to qualify for the NYC Marathon, unlike Boston you can qualify with a half.  The 1:48 I needed was not overly challenging for me to achieve.  However, the fall is my busiest time of year with work on top of creating my new Health Coaching business I am working long hours and driving hundreds of miles a week.  I always make time for my running, no matter what.  Which means often times running in the dark in places I am unfamiliar, racing to the shower and jumping in the car to frequently drive over 100 miles to my destination.  Yes, I am a typical runner at times, getting the miles and compromising the post run stretch or pre run warm up.  Which means an extra tight me on top of already an extraordinarily inflexible body.  

Going into the Seacoast Half, my usual Achilles Tendinopathy had crept up again, typical this time of year with the driving and my negligence to stretch, in addition i had a tight hamstring on the opposing leg as I was pulling with that hamstring more to protect my Achilles.  

Going out with Julie and then Tony finding us to run along the 7:45 pace for the first 6 miles was a bit quick for me with my issues.  My ability to acknowledge my issues regarding racing the appropriate pace was non-existent.  Sadly I know better!  Consequently my hamstring pulled tight at mile 6 with 7 more to go.  My only choice slow down and be present to my form, one step at a time.  I was able to manage the pain much better this way, amazingly the next 3 miles went by fairly quickly.  I lost my ability to focus on one step at time at mile 9, as a result my hamstring pulled tighter.  Choice…stop or slow down and maintain form and focus being in the moment, one step at a time.  Again, I was able to endure without feeling more compromised.  As I pulled up to mile 12, I derailed again, as I started to think about the finish one mile away and my 1:48 time I wanted for NYC.  At the pace I was running I should be able to cross in time, but barely.  My focus became the finish I lost my ability to maintain being in the moment.  My hamstring pulled even worse, I recognized my gait was now compromised.  It was all I could do to pull up the 2 hills toward the finish.  The last 100 yards is a downhill finish I usually fly down that last hill, this time a hobble was all I could manage, yet 1:48 was the number that was posted as I crossed the finish.   

Every race and many times a difficult training run brings another opportunity to learn and grow from the experience.  In this case, being in the moment, one step at a time, I was able to endure and race with a pulled hamstring.  I let myself relax, postured my structure to support me and allowed my body to do what it could keeping my gaze focused slightly ahead of the direction I was running.  When I became derailed at the end and was unable to get back into that zone I compromised my hamstring worse.  

Secondly, at 50 years old it is more apparent to me that flawless form continues to be critical for me, now the added piece, A MUST, is that I need to improve my flexibility, mobility and strength.  I had not wanted to truly acknowledged the importance of this piece.  I will continue the path of running forever, yet the journey now must include building these other components into my training, even if it means running fewer miles when I am short on time to include this part of my training.  It’s Up to ME, to run or not to run, my new best friends, Mat, Roller and Bands.  

Photo credit:  DEAN KARNAZES lives his Ultramarathoning experiences with this motto of One Step at a Time, photo from  JESSICAJOYDURFEE@LIVE.COM

The Joy of Learning to Run as an Older Person

The following was written to Chris after she recently informed me of a new direction some of her work is taking. I would have loved such a focus group less than three years ago when I started learning to run.  Little did I know it would become my life-- and yes I am still working full time.

I definitely fit the demographic of Chris Jankins' new Baby Boomer active life focus!   You should see my FB posts related to being active!

I achieved all my running active goals this past year in spite of a stress fracture that had me in a boot cast from Dec. 2013 to March 11. I achieved my first Half Marathon on Sept. 28 in Concord and ran a 10 Miler Race leading up to it.  On Nov. 6 I get my Millennium Running Series jacket, completing 7 out of 8 races in that series. (jacket was earned if you did 6/8. The first one New Years Day, a mile, I did in my boot cast, not running of course but walking as fast as possible but I got a time and was not last!

To get back into run shape I led a very successful WeightWatchers group through C25K with the help of my friends from March 24 to Hollis Fast 5K in June.  Folks begged for another group this fall so we are doing a shortened version, we start week 3 Monday.

Wish I could be there on Monday but we run (in the dark) 6-7 PM.  Alas, Hampton still too far for me on a regular basis while I am still working. I am working with a trainer twice a month.

I was perfect for this target audience less than three years ago.  While I could not run I wrote a visual/photographic essay book about my running.  I have enough from this last year alone to do another.

I still would, as I told you, do another Chi Running workshop with you if time could ever work out.  I need to set a new goal(s) for myself. Not a marathon, but something that will allow me to improve my running form, time, hill work, intervals, and keep me in the ballpark of a 6-8 mi run distance at least once a week to keep that conditioning, improve my time for a next Half I will do sometime, and work toward maybe 20 miles sometime just to work toward something.  Have not figured the goal yet. Posture getting better but still not where I hope to get it.  Form can always need work.
​
2 weeks ago I ran a 10K with a couple of my C25K group success stories and my spouse who does not run but walks some 5ks, walked the 10K race, why I include that picture.  He is 74, I am 69, why I pushed to achieve my Half before next summer's 70! Giggle.

Kathleen

A NEAR MISS...very close call almost struck by a car while running this morning

A NEAR MISS.. very close call almost struck by a car while running this morning. My work travel has me in Hyannisport on the Cape. My 5:45 early morning run in the dark is always my best way for me to start a busy work day even away from home. Fortunately I was present to being in the moment at about 6:20AM an extremely close call with a car abruptly pulling out in front of me and narrowly missing me despite my florescent vest and headlamp. BE PRESENT and grateful for every moment you are alive as it could be your last.

THE OTHER PART OF THIS STORY.....the woman driving the car circled back around to find me. She got out of the car sobbing and apologizing for nearly hitting me. She was more shaken then I was over the incident. She went on to say her mother had just died, she hasn't slept in days and was tired and not paying attention. She repeated several times how sorry she was ...for me, the best way to respond was to hug her, tell her it was okay and to tell her I understood, yet I said try to be in a better place, and it will be okay. She nodded squeezing me tight, despite me being all sweaty from the run. I thanked her for coming back to find me and continued on.  

MY TAKEAWAY…..As runners and/or cyclists we all have our stories of “near misses”, or incidents where we are hit and injured, yet rarely does it keep us away from what fills our hearts and souls, the joy we get from running.  If we are afraid or are present to the thought of “something might happen,” then we would lead a life of fear and miss out on what all life has to offer.  Being present to fear brings more fear and inevitably the universe responds in that way.  For me, despite where I am, the time of day, the weather conditions etc. etc., I almost always respond with I am going to go out and run or cycle, it is my passion, it helps me to be more present to myself, and all the world has to offer and for me to offer it.  Certainly, at times be guarded and/or safe (headlamps and florescent clothing in the dark), but don’t miss out and make the excuse for not going out for that run, you are shortchanging yourself and possibly missing out on the opportunity to be the best person you can possibly be that day and in that moment.

PLEASE SHARE...an incident, a close call, that helped you reflect on life differently.    

Running and Friendship from afar

Submitted by Chris 

Running has created an amazing bond in only one year's time, we are sad to bid one of our running trio Jenna, who is moving to Charlotte. Yet running will keep us connected from afar, and when we do see each other again running will be the inspiration that brings us together. We met as a result of a Run/Yoga Group that was created out of Seacoast Power Yoga. A shout out and Thank you to Tara Whitney for sharing her amazing Yoga studio,Seacoast Power Yoga for our 5:45 AM Run/Yoga group. She opened her studio up to us, shared genuinely her practice and love for yoga, that I am learning to embrace.  Tara has amazing heart and soul, inspiring all to the best human beings they can possibly be and making the world a much better place as a result. We love you

Submitted by Vicki

This morning was our last group trio with Jenna Zecco and Chris Jankins when we said goodbye to Jenna. I couldn't say this to you this morning because I would've bawled all over you. You learn a lot about someone when you meet them day in and day out, same time, regardless of weather or temperature to run. We've run through a lot - life and work crises, illness and injury, the dark, the heat, training for 2 marathons and a few really awkward moments! You are an amazing woman Jenna. Thank you for your friendship - I'm a much stronger runner and a happier person for all the miles we've run together. I miss you already

Submitted by Chris

I am so fortunate to have met you both through running. We have all shared and journeyed through so much in year of running of together. Running is a test of endurance,yet isn't that what life is about a test of endurance? Running, particularly as a shared event helps us to persevere in all areas of our lives. When running is shared in community it brings more gratitude and enrichment to all our lives. Jenna you will be missed, however, we look forward to the journey to North Carolina to run and to continue sharing our amazing lives with each other from afar. Continue inspiring others with your energy and love for life

Submitted by Jenna

Just when you think you have had enough, life can hand you more… Today I completed my 4th half marathon and I'm halfway through my first marathon training. This race was challenging, lots of hills and lots of rocky dirt roads. As i was wandering these hills and enjoying the mountain view, I couldn't help but relate this to life. I would see the hill upon me and I would prepare for the climb, make it to the top and ease back into the run just in time for the next climb. We brace ourselves for the pain that we can prepare for, but sometimes just when we've had enough we realize theres another "hill" up ahead. We enjoy the in betweens and we coast along until the next challenge arises. Until i really got into running, and I mean really got into running I didn't understand it. The pain, the miles, the sweat ,the injuries, but every time I run I realize the reason... and today again like every time it hits me. Final stretch last mile, this energy comes over me and all I want to do is race!... because you have to finish strong after questioning every single mile, you are on your last one and you know whats at the end. Life is full of ups and downs, but when you succeed in handling them and get the "finish" You are the person you never thought you might be. Maybe even your own hero.

Submitted by Vicki

'I'm stronger than I think I am.' The thought streamed through my mind as I was out running today . . . 'I'm stronger than I think I am.' When I turned 30 I didn't know I was strong. I didn't know that I could be a great runner, mom, friend, wife, PA, sister . . . a great person with a beautiful soul, a strong spirit. And while I certainly have fair to mediocre moments in all of the above categories, I also have a lot of great hours, days and weeks that I'm able to string together. And I love that now, at 41 years old and (hopefully) only about halfway through my life, I know that this is the tip of the iceberg of understanding who I am and my strengths.
I love that I'm a runner, because it's while I'm out on my long runs that these random scattered thoughts that rattle around in my subconscious are allowed to take shape into a clear thought and work their way to the front of my mind, crystallizing into a clearer understanding of who I am. These fragments of thoughts and experiences fall into place and become things I know about myself. I'm stronger than I think I am. No one else can tell us these things, no one can give us an understanding of who we are and what makes us strong, what feeds us. These are for us to find and mark and celebrate. For me, the pieces come together while I'm running.

10-21-14

The intention for this blog is to inspire and create a community of runners near and afar with the theme of sharing Why we Run as a way of living life completely.  As runners, imagine if each of us contribute a story or message to share that inspires at least one person to lace up their running shoes, which in turn moves them toward creating excellence in their life.  

Your story may resonate with someone who my message might not touch. To create this rippling force of positive energy it has to generate from a variety of runners with different inspiring stories moving toward making the world a better place, one runner at a time.   

My mission is to ask runners to blog with a running story.  The story can express a moment of joy, humor or a time of despair in which the movement of running brought clarity, a sense of purpose, and/or an expression of gratitude for life.  More explicitly, it could be a means of becoming present, extinguishing the past and beginning the process of creating excellence one stride at a time.  

Or it could be simply a story of why a run enhanced the day.   Collectively we will need to share this movement to former runners, new runners and those who find the thought of running exhausting.  We were all born to run so let’s get out spread the spirit. It’s Up to Me and it’s Up to You to generate the Movement toward a Healthier, Happier Planet, one run and one runner at at time.

10-21-14

Weekly I will share something about Why it is I Run. 

So to start with Day 1, Week 1 I will share when and why I started running. 

Summer 1976….My Love for Running started in the Summer of 1976.  I was 12 years old.  Summer Olympics 1976 I was mesmerized by the performance of Bruce Jenner winning the gold in the Decathlon.   It was then that I dreamed of being an Olympian, a decathlete, ….running, hurdling, long jumping.  In 1976 the longest distance a woman could compete in was the 1500m race. I set up my own mini Decathlon in my back yard, jumping over obstacles, long jumping, and running repeats around the circle in the neighborhood. 

I competed only with myself and my stopwatch.  I never shared until now how this obsession started or why.   I was quiet child.  My father ruled the house, my mother did as she was told, was ridiculed and abused, she was left disempowered.  I was the oldest of four children.   My observation was women did as they were told, they had their place, and women (girls) were the inferior sex.  Something inside of me believed differently.   I wanted to prove to myself and my father that girls could compete too, run, jump, race, had a voice, and could contribute. 

So I continued to run.  It gave me empowerment.  And it is one of the reasons I continue to run 38 years later.