Michigan runner & bicyclist Cassy Stone. This was taken at the Harvest Stompede, a hilly 7-mile race through Leelanau County vineyards.
Since starting this blog two years ago, I’ve had the opportunity to meet some amazing runners, from all over. Getting to know athletes in my beautiful home state and right here in northern Michigan has been especially sweet because it’s just so fun sharing stories about getting outside and taking advantage of our gorgeous landscape–the stretches of shoreline, rolling hills, wooded trails…I count myself lucky to get to know these individuals, this tribe of like-minded people, because they inspire me. You all inspire me.
I’ve featured other Michigan runners here from time to time, like trail marathoner Heather, longtime-runner-turned-charity-fundraising-marathoner Trisha, stellar biker and writer Kandy and “aiming for 50 marathons” Tony, and I’d like to keep this up. I know I’m not the only one who gets fired up hearing other runners’ journeys. Which leads me to Cassy Stone, a 34-year-old mom of three who is rockin’ both running and biking races here in northern Michigan. Her determination and perseverance inspire me. She’s got a big heart, too. She’s the kind of person you want to be around, her energy and vibe is just that way. She’s always there to share in your excitement or offer words of encouragement–you know, the words we athletes all need to hear from time to time, whether we’re struggling with an injury or training for a big event. We appreciate hearing from someone who just gets it.
A treadmill runner, she is not. I couldn’t agree more with Cassy, who grew up in the Upper Peninsula, when she talks about why Michigan is the place to be an athlete: “We are blessed with four amazing seasons. All with their own sweet and not so sweet attributes. I have run through every kind of weather and have found joy in every single season.”
Mama to 8-year-old Isaac, 6-year-old Ali and 4-year-old Brodie, Cassy has been married for 14 years “to a gazelle like runner who makes running look like a cake walk,” she says of husband Jeb. “He runs 50-60 miles a week and just picked up biking this year. He was a runner in high school and excelled greatly at it. My fear is we will both flirt with the idea of a full marathon in the next 2 years.”
I hope you enjoy getting to know this Michigan runner as much as I have…
How long have you been running and biking? Has it been something that’s always been part of your life, or are these activities that have become more integral to your lifestyle in recent time?
I started running in the summer of 2006, when my daughter was 9 months old. I had run one 5k prior to that in the summer of 1999. (Simply to cross it off the bucket list) I started running because I was, at the time, a stay at home mom of a 3 year old and a 9 month old and I thought it was a good way for me to get out and step away for a minute and I knew the benefits physically would be rewarding. I have been running ever since. I even ran when I was pregnant with my youngest son, up until 8 weeks before I had him. I started biking in the Spring of 2010 simply as a way to rehabilitate from a running injury I had sustained in the Spring of 2009. I had a bike hung up on the garage ceiling that had been from high school and thought moving again after dealing with a pelvic stress fracture would be a good idea. I knew I wasn’t ready to put in miles on foot. So, I hopped on my bike and later signed up, blindly, for Iceman 2010. I had always been a kid who tried every sport I was interested in. It wasn’t until I was faced with the diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis at the age of 22 did I fully comprehend the importance of not taking moving and exercising for granted. As an adult you have these enormous to do lists and all kinds of responsibility. I fell in love with crossing finish lines as a way to reward myself and show my children that as an adult, it is ok to step aside from life and do something for you. Putting mom’s races on the calendar next to my children’s activities lets them know that we all take time to do what we love.
Cassy and her husband Jeb ran a snowshoe race together earlier this year.
Favorite recent run or bike ride would be….
I took up snow shoe running this winter and loved it! I have never been a treadmill runner and keep my normal schedule throughout the winter here in northern Michigan. My husband and his friend participated in the United States Snowshoe Nationals last January and I had a, “I could do that!” kind of moment. A year later, I participated in 2 snow shoe races and placed 1st and 2nd in my age group! My most favorite run is the Traverse City Track Club’s Frozen Foot Five Mile. Love the distance. Love the course. Love that it’s usually in the single digit temperatures the morning of.
I just completed the 3rd annual Mud Sweat and Beers Stout race this month. It is the first race of the season and the vibe amongst the biking community is that of such relax and “chill” atmosphere. I love the race and love that I have been riding it since its inaugural year.
Cassy, far left, running the Frozen Foot 5-miler in Traverse City.
However, my favorite ride is the fall classic Iceman Cometh Challenge bike race. From the time of sign up, sitting at your computer the morning of March 1 to the race on the 1st Saturday of November, the excitement is indescribable. The event turns Timber Ridge campground into a small city with its own zip code. The ride itself can never be compared to the previous year as Mother Nature waves her wand and spins her weather wheel as she wishes. Last year I pre rode Iceman 2 times before the race. I hope to ride it 3 times this year. There is no way to prepare for Iceman, but to ride Iceman. A little like childbirth, in my own opinion.
Cassy at the 2010 Ore to Shore.
What are your health and wellness goals for the year to come? Any particular races on your schedule?
My goal is to stay healthy and remember to implement more strength training. You can’t expect great results from the whole body if you aren’t keeping the whole body strong. It all moves and connects together. Since my training for the current half marathon has afforded me 6 months of gradual increase in mileage, I am hopeful to keep it up through the summer. Remembering to stretch and keep track of little aches and pains that need to be attended to are a bigger responsibility this year as well. My motto is, you wouldn’t ignore an indicator light on the dashboard of your vehicle. Don’t ignore when your body is telling you there is an issue.
The schedule will be, Bayshore Half Marathon, Glen Arbor Solstice Half Marathon, Cherry Festival 15k, Peak to Peak Mountain Bike challenge, and Iceman. There will be a few other 5k and 10k opportunities sprinkled in there.
Most if not all of the races that I am able to participate in give back in some capacity to another organization or the community. Knowing that the person in charge of organizing a race has the mind to share in the love of movement, logistics, and giving back, gives me peace. I choose to participate because I want to be there so when I know a portion of the proceeds is helping someone, I am grateful.
What have you learned from being an endurance athlete?
The biggest thing I have learned is that no matter whom you are, no matter how slow you are or where you fall at the finish line, just getting that 1st foot out the door makes you a rockstar. I am a 34 year old woman living with Multiple Sclerosis and I choose to move because I can today. You don’t get to go backwards in life. I knew once I started wrapping my brain around starting with a 5k, then a 10k, then a half marathon let alone biking 29 miles through every terrain northern Michigan woods has to offer that later on in life I can say, “I already did that!” Not, “Oh I wish I would have done that!” I have learned that pushing myself to the hardest limits imaginable can be done at 34. And I’m sure I will feel the same way at 84. Being an athlete has no requirements other than desire.
The Stone Family ~ Living the healthy, happy life!
Best advice you’ve ever received about living an active lifestyle…
The best advice I have received about living an active lifestyle would be Nike’s good old fashioned, Just do it. I move because I can.
Hey everyone, your turn!
Where do you like to run and bike in Michigan?
What do you love most about being an endurance athlete?
It All Starts Here ~ Just before the race began, in the Athlete's Village at Hopkinton...26.2 miles from the finish!
Driving more than 1,000 miles to run in the record-breaking wall of heat that was this year’s Boston Marathon was so incredibly worth the journey. Even as I endured those brutal weather conditions, I can say with absolute certainty that it was the right choice for me. Yes, there were some runners who took advantage of the deferment and will run next year instead. And I did maybe consider this option for a second. But ultimately I knew that having come so far — literally, in our silver mini-van across numerous state lines and also in my up-and-down, injury-peppered training that really began well over a year ago when I decided to train for my first marathon with the idea and hope that I would qualify for the Boston Marathon — I just had to run this race. Had to experience the Boston Marathon at this very time. And I knew I could do it, so long as I altered my expectations and listened to my body throughout the 26.2 hot, hot, hot miles.
A little over a week later, sitting here thinking about this most momentous event and all that this trip entailed — spending long stretches of time with my family, seeing great, great friends, exploring a new city — it’s all sinking in just how important this race was for me. Not just because it was the chance to run a well-known, historic race and a culmination of many, many months of training and planning and hoping. But because it was a gift to my family, to take time out from the chaos of life and to spend time really being with one another. Not entirely unlike our recent spring break, yes, but also it ended up being a very different experience. Maybe it can be distilled down to this: the power of a accomplishment. I feel so good about setting this goal and reaching it. What an accomplishment for any of us to set a specific goal and make it a reality. But I also can’t — won’t — overlook just how wonderfully powerful the support and love of family and friends plays in making our dreams come to fruition. I’m not sure I can adequately express how thankful I am for what my friends and family did for me so that I could do this…and equally as amazing is how the experience affected my family and friends. I’ve been told by Joe that being there on the streets of Boston, watching for me with our three kids, was more exciting and moving than he’d anticipated. He’s supported me at other races, but being there amid the masses of people shouting out words of encouragement to runners, holding signs and handing out ice chips and orange slices and water…it all was just so inspiring, he’s shared with me.
I realize this post so far is reading less of a race re-cap and more of an Oscar acceptance speech…I have grappled with how to start this post. Many times. Which is partly why I haven’t gotten to it until now. Writing simply about the race itself and my time — a humbling 5:00:52 — just wouldn’t roll out like I thought it would. Instead, I’ve found myself wanting to try to articulate how meaningful some moments in our life can be. This was one of them.
So maybe the best thing to do, since I can’t seem to express myself all that well here, is to share some great photos we captured from this race and from this trip. And I also want to share part of a note from an old friend, someone whom I rarely see or talk with but had heard I’d run the marathon and emailed me. It really meant a lot to hear this from her: I wanted you to know that I’m so proud and impressed with you. All I’m saying is that you rock…you make me want to try running.
I’ll admit, there were moments throughout this race, especially at the end, when it was really, really tough to keep going. I wanted to stop. I was too hot, kept dumping cups of water and chunks of ice on my head, and then came the leg and toe cramps that I’d never before experienced. But I kept going, even though it meant many, many walking breaks, out of sheer will. And I also kept thinking about my best girlfriends and family and friends back home rooting for me, about Joe and our kids waiting for me at mile 24. I pressed on.
We arrived in Boston the day before race day after spending several days with dear friends Jenn and Nick, who live with their two adorable kids Wyatt and Stella in Norwalk, Ct. After settling in the hotel, Emma and I hopped onto Boston’s public transportation the “T” and headed to the marathon expo at the World Trade Center.
Heading to the Boston Marathon Expo
Jenn, along with Wyatt and Stella, and her mother-in-law Nona, came up to watch the race. They stayed in a hotel in Newton, while we had a spot in Cambridge, not far from the marathon finish line.
View from our 10th floor hotel along the Charles River. It ain't cheap staying in Boston, but we loved the view and close proximity to everything
After a delicious meal Sunday night at the Cheesecake Factory in Cambridge — I ordered a yummy pasta dish — we headed back to the hotel. I actually got myself to bed by 10 and gratefully enjoyed a beautiful night’s sleep. I awoke early, even though my Wave 2 of the race didn’t start until 10:20 a.m., to dress in my lucky purple tank, black flower running skirt and Brooks Launch shoes, and catch the 20-30 minute bus ride to Hopkinton, a quaint village where the race begins.
At the Athletes' Village in Hopkinton ~ lots of bagels, energy bars, water...and one small cup of coffee for me :)
With two hours to wait until the race started, I walked around the Athletes’ Village talking with other runners, like Susie from the Porta Potty line who was running her third Boston Marathon and lived in the suburbs with her husband and two young children, and Terry, an older man who has run six Bostons and generously offered me an extra garbage bag he had in his orange marathon gear bag for me to sit on in the field next to Hopkinton High School. I also decided to take advantage of the Addidas give-away tent by having one of the volunteers there write my name down my arm in black. I also thought it wise to grab a couple of BodyGlides for the oh-so-fun inevitable inner thigh chafing to come.
Ready to do this!
Finally it was time to head toward the start line. I ended up toward the back of the throng of runners who were also part of Wave 2. I chatted with a few other runners along the way, mostly about the scorching heat — it was well into the 70s at race start — and what seemed like everyone’s plan to take it easy, not go out too fast at all and basically not even think about any kind of PR. The first several miles are in fact downhill, a fact numerous experienced Boston runners I spoke with warned me about. Take it slow, don’t fall into the trap of going out too fast.
It’s true that locals come out for this race–they’re everywhere along the race course. Kids held out their hands to be high-fived, families and sat on their porches clapping their hands and ringing cowbells, numerous people brought out hoses to spray us. Signs were everywhere. The infamous section of Wellesley College girls screaming and holding signs asking for kisses was everything I thought it would be, and when I saw one pretty brunette hold a sign that read “Kiss me! I’m a Yooper!” I ran over to her and planted one on her cheek after telling her I was from Michigan, too.
As the temps continued to soar, I felt myself slowing down, even though I never ran faster than a 9 minute mile. I slowed to a stop at every aid station, sipping a cup of water as I walked and dumping a second cup either over my head or on my neck as I prepared my mind to start running again until I reached the next aid station. Just before a hillier section in Newton, I turned a corner and saw Jenn, holding Stella on her hip with one hand and clutching her camera with another. She snapped my picture and I gave her a quick hug. I’m pretty sure I said something to the effect of, “This is so *&^%^ hard!” Seeing her gave me a boost and I powered on. Those hills, though, definitely slowed me more. I walked more than I’d planned, but then I saw a sign that made me smile:
Run if you can. Walk if you have to. Crawl if you must. Just never, ever give up.
Finally, finally, I’d reached mile 22. I can do this. I can do this. I’m going to see my family any time now. And there they were.
My favorite people
Less than three miles to go!
Getting there! Picture taken by Joe around mile 24
My kids joined me for just a bit...how cute are they?
The last two miles felt like forever, but I kept going and was powered by the growing number of spectators. The closer I got to the finish line, the larger the crowds–and they were screaming, yelling, giving the thumbs up and really motivated me to just get this done. Turning left onto Boylston, seeing the finish line, was the best feeling. I was fighting cramping in my calves and toes, but I could see it now, could see the end. I mustered a final sprint and crossed the line, seeing the red numbers flashing an unbelievably slower-than-anticipated time. But I was OK with it. I had done it. I had finished the Boston Marathon. In ridiculously hot weather.
Dizzy and lightheaded, my legs more sore than they’d ever felt, I found a spot to sit after accepting my medal and baggie of food and water. Not long after I found Joe and our kids, and though it would have been great to stay in downtown Boston and catch a bite and soak up the scene, I couldn’t wait to get back to the hotel, shower, and put my legs up.
Celebrating with cold ones and delicious California pizza
We took our time leaving Boston the next day. A final picture Joe snapped before we left the hotel:
A marathon to remember
One of the very best parts of this trip: coming home. Pulling into our driveway, at 2 a.m. in the morning, we saw this hanging on our garage wall. Thank you Kelle, Gloria, Jennifer, Michele and Susie for your amazing love and support.
"Congratulations" banner with my #17705 bib number and "You did it!" written across it ~ Thank you, friends! XO
Thanks to all of your who have read through this and kept me going strong these past several months as I prepared for this race.
Happy Running!
Sunshine makes me happy
Oh, how I needed this morning’s long run with friends. Group therapy, as Julia called the 7:30 a.m. meet-up that Katherine routed as two 10-mile loops around downtown and Boardman Lake, and a couple of stretches along the Bay. I ended up running 14–a bit more than the 12 I’d planned, but I just felt so good. Bonnie, who is training for the Bayshore half, ran 10 while Karen, Katherine and Julia went for 20 given they’re running the full marathon that takes place end of May. Though a chilly low 30 degrees at the start, the sun was shining and by the time I finished up my final leg, temps were run-perfect: 50s. The pace was just right, too, at about 9 minutes/mile. No pain in my left leg or knee at all. Amazing. What a gift. Most of all, the run was awesome because I was with friends. It was just what I needed. A soul-satisfying way to mark my final long run before Boston.
I’m feeling especially grateful today. For a run that left me smiling, and also for the simple things like a steaming cup of coffee, sunshine in the sky, a three-day weekend…this past week was a stressful one, for various reasons. Nothing monumental, nothing that so many other people don’t also deal with in their daily lives. I found time to run three other days this week, but even these didn’t lighten the mental load I was carrying all week long. I’ve got some decisions to make about work, and while in my heart I know everything will work out the way it should and all will be just fine, contemplating such matters while trying to stay on top of everyday life with three busy kids and a husband and a house just can take a toll. But today–today I am choosing gratefulness and thankfulness. And keeping my eyes on the road ahead.
We leave this coming Friday morning for the East Coast. The plan is to head out early in the morning and arrive in Connecticut, where we’re staying with my best college friend Jenn and her family for a couple of nights. Sunday morning we’ll all head up to Boston. I’m thrilled beyond words that Jenn, a longtime runner herself, will be there for me as I run this marathon. With a full-time teaching job and two young children — 4 and 1 1/2 years old — I am so, so in awe of her willingness to bring her family to Boston to take part in this adventure with me and my family. Having never been to Boston before (and never having run a race in another city with my family in tow), this is sure to be quite an experience. I look forward to sharing it with you all!
Running can teach us so much.
A year ago I took stock of what training for my first marathon meant for me — I wrote that post with a couple of months to go before the big day. With just two weeks to go before Boston, my third marathon, I am again thinking about what training your body for 26.2 miles can teach you. I couldn’t help thinking about this following a recent weekend 10-miler that found me running with a group of new runner friends. I discovered a few new things, about running and about myself, throughout this early morning route around Little Glen Lake in Leelanau County. In the weeks since, which has included a much-needed week-long break to the Gulf of Mexico with my family, I’ve had a few other moments of runner self-reflection…
1.) Going outside your comfort zone is essential. And uncomfortable. I often run alone, partly because my schedule varies enough that coordinating with a friend’s schedule is more back-and-forth emails and texts than actual side-by-side running. Also, I’ve realized I like the time to myself, to bliss out to peace and quiet (or a rockin’ playlist). But running with friends IS fun and, during months of race training, can break the monotony of the same-old routine. I had the opportunity a couple of weeks ago to run with three fantastic women. It was part of an informal run get-together that all told included 10 people. As it happened, the guys opted to run a different route, two women decided to go a shorter distance on their own, and that left me and three others choosing a 10-mile loop that started in the tiny village of Glen Arbor, took us around beautiful Little Glen Lake, up a hill with a gorgeous view of Lake Michigan, and back to where we started. So where does the discomfort, er, uncomfortable-ness come into this? Well, in a nutshell, after some time reflecting on it, these women were fast runners. Fast for me, anyway, as an athlete training for her third marathon in less than a year with a not-quite-healed IT Band. It didn’t feel horribly fast as we started out, winds whipping around us and the temps in the low 30s. It felt steady, a pace I’m used to … later in my runs. So, looking back, I think running sub-8 minute miles from the get-go probably wasn’t such a grand idea for me. I’ve since come to the realization that I need to remember this lesson, and it is this: when you’re about to run with new runner friends, ask them about the pace. Just do it. Don’t worry about any awkwardness this may arouse. They may tell you a pace that’s ridiculously out of reach. Or maybe they’ll share a minute mile that sounds just fine. At least you’ll know. I didn’t know. I only guessed. On what, I’m not sure? They look like similar paced runners? That’s no way to figure it all out. Yes, I could have asked we slow down. Thing is, I didn’t really feel that we needed to — until the final couple of miles when, after ascending a hill (with sweeping views of Lake Michigan came into sudden view), I just felt…tired. Worn out. Thinking we — I — just went out too damn fast. And isn’t that the worst? Feeling like you want the run to end already because you wore yourself out within the first few moments of taking to the road? Much later, after a delicious breakfast with this group of really wonderful people and runners, I shared thoughts about the run with a good friend, someone who also is training for a marathon right now. I expressed how I was hurting, how my IT Band/knee wasn’t feeling 100 percent again after a long-ish run, and how I was feeling bummed and humbled and frustrated after running for the first time with these runners. Her reply: “They’re fast runners because they are not training for a marathon! You are a rockstar.” (we all need friends like this, no?) So, on the one hand I am happy to have met new runners — there’s nothing quite like getting to know people as you sweat side-by-side — but I’ve also realized, yet again, just how tough it is to find runners in similar stages of running — meaning, finding a person who is training in like ways, who runs at a pace that matches your own is a little like finding a life partner. It ain’t easy. But also, that’s OK. We’ve got to try new things, meet new people, expose ourselves to different, even uncomfortable, situations so that we can learn more about ourselves.
2.) Injuries = blech (for the most part). Let’s see. Is there anything worse than having your body disagree with your mind about what can be accomplished? Sure, there are worse things. But this, well, it blows. You want to go for it, to train the way you once did, for example, and your body is saying, “um, no, not this time.” This sort of sums of the past couple of months for me. I have tried really hard to have a positive attitude about it all. I do feel we have the opportunity to learn much throughout an injury. It’s certainly a lesson in slowing down, in truly, truly listening to our bodies and giving it time to heal…even when it kills us to do so. I remind myself that if I hadn’t had these IT Band issues (or any of the injuries I’ve experienced), I wouldn’t get to know my body the way I now do. It’s an education, if you let it be, because when I am hurting, I want to know why it is happening and how I can make changes to make myself feel better–and even better yet, possibly, hopefully avoid these pains down the line. I don’t mean just Googling your injury either (of which I am guilty) but actually trying out different potential remedies, like ART. I never would have known much about this at all had I not experienced pain in my left leg and knee and mentioned it to a friend during Pilates. She immediately recommended I see a local longtime runner-coach-massage-therapist who had pretty much cured her knee ailment a few years prior. But even beyond that, I’ve been in touch with others who could possibly help me, including a chiropractor and a couple of area physical therapists. It feels good to know what is available to athletes who are dealing with injuries. It seems fitting to add this gem from my Oregon runner friend Laura (she posted this today on her Run Momma Run FB page–what timing! ;) )
Hey injured runners….just thinking about you, sending you speedy recovery vibes and reminding you that you ARE a runner. Don’t be mad at your body – feed it well, rest it lots and move in other ways. When you’re back out on the road or trail, it will be stronger and feel loved. Sometimes being injured feels lonely. You feel behind. You feel like you’ll never catch up or be your old self. You ARE a runner – inside and out. And I was just thinking about you today. Big hugs! xxxooo
3.) Re-calculating is a good thing. This year we decided to forgo flying and drive the 20+ hours from Michigan to Ft. Morgan, Alabama for
Post-long run, enjoying the balcony view and cup of coffee ~ hoped for 16 miles, ran (and walked) 13 because it was just too hot.
our spring break travels. Definitely long, definitely tiring, but so worth it. This year great friends of ours also spent their spring break in the condos along the Gulf of Mexico, a bit off the beaten path but close to Gulf Shores, Ala. It was an amazing time with them on the beach and at the pool — perfect temps of high 70s, breezy and sunny. Gorgeous running routes, though a bit hot at times. But all that driving came with, of course, lots of pit stops along the way — some expected (meals, bathroom breaks, being a tourist) and some not-so-expected (many, many bathroom breaks). Each time we changed our course, to take an exit or check out some local spot like the Diamond Caverns in Park City, Kentucky, our lovely GPS woman would let us know she was “re-calculating.” We heard this so much, I pretty much tuned it out…except it got me thinking how my marathon training this time around has been all about re-calculating. Re-calculating because I’ve altered my days and times I’ve run, thanks in large part to an all-consuming job these past few months; because of an injury that while much better in recent days definitely has taken me off my preferred course; because … I just seem to have lost some of my running mojo. There, I said it. While I can’t pinpoint exactly why this is — I suspect it’s a combination of pretty much what I’ve just described above, and then some — I do know that I just haven’t had that same joy. That same contentedness I had become accustomed to feeling pretty much all the time when I run. So, it’s strange. A little disorienting. But I know it’s just normal. I do believe that. I’m re-calculating–continuing to re-calculate. I’m thinking the months to come are going to be great – the two weeks ahead are going to be amazing! — as I switch things up and try new things with my running. I’m thinking more trail running. More volunteering at races. More triathlons. We’ll just see where the re-calculating takes me.
First up: a long, easy-does-it trail run on the Vasa this afternoon…
What’s something running has taught you lately?
Trisha and me after the 2009 Bayshore races -- she ran the half marathon, I ran the 10k.
I love hearing from runners who are training for their first marathon. I admit to getting a little giddy, I’m so excited for them. I think it’s because yes, I’m a nut-ball about this sport and had such an amazing experience training for my own first marathon a year ago. But I also believe so strongly in distance running’s power to push our minds and bodies to places we never knew we could go. I am not saying marathons are for everyone—I enjoy shorter distances, too, for many reasons—but for many of us, 26.2 miles is pretty significant.
So when my friend Trisha told me she’d be running her first one, the Bayshore Marathon this spring, you can imagine my happiness—not only is Trisha one of my oldest and dearest friends, she’s also the person who came alongside me during the final half mile of my first marathon and truly powered me through to the finish line.
Every runner has a story about what’s behind their commitment of training for 26.2 miles, and Trisha is no different. Hers is especially interesting, not only because she’s a mom of five kids ages 11 and under (including almost 4-year-old twin boys), but because she’s running the Bayshore with a specific purpose: to raise awareness and funds for The Way Home, a ministry supporting orphans in Uganda. To anyone who knows Trisha, it’s no surprise she’d choose to do this while tackling her longest race distance. She’s a woman of great faith—always has been, even back in junior high school when we became friends during seventh-grade basketball.
Trisha has been running for about 20 years. She ran track throughout school, and found she put even more effort into it when she was in college. “It was then that it became my own. I ran five to six days a week and averaged 25 to 40 miles a week,” she says. “I ran 5k’s, 10k’s and several half marathon relays. Running was a new love of mine. No one was telling me where and when to run. Throughout my pregnancies I took time off, but here I am, five children later and still running.”
Trisha is blogging about her training, and I wanted to share more of her story here. Read on for details of this ministry, including how you can help if you feel so inclined. And, of course I had to find out how she fits in training while caring for her family. Did I mention that she homeschools her kids??
Tell me about The Way Home and how you came to learn about this organization.
When we first moved to Boyne City ’04 we would often take walks around the block. Almost every day I would see a little boy who captured my attention. It was a Ugandan boy named Joseph. I wanted to know Joseph’s story. I had recently been to Uganda to visit my twin sister, and I was drawn to people who had also been there. I would ask Joseph questions, but I wanted the full story of what brought him to the U.S. When I finally met Joseph’s parents I was overwhelmed at how much we had in common. We had both been in the same parts of Uganda. I was there in ’98, and Marcia and Russ Baugh (Joseph’s parents) were there around the same time. The Baughs were in Uganda to build an orphanage. During their time there, they adopted Joseph. Joseph was a baby in one of the orphanages that Marcia and Russ worked with. My heart was touched to not only meet Joseph, but to know that his future was bright. You see, during my time in Uganda, I witnessed dozens of orphans on the streets, begging for food, crawling about the dumps in search for a meal, or watching them bury their innocent faces in a cloth filled with gasoline to get a high so they wouldn’t have to face the present day. Marcia and Russ were heroes to me; they had saved a young boy from a hopeless future. We got to know each other very well, and became great friends. Our sons became best friends. Watching them play football together daily, and having Joe in our home was always a joy.
The widowed "grannies" in Uganda are the present day heroes there. They are the ones keeping the increase in the street orphan population from skyrocketing. They bury their own children, who have succumbed to AIDS, and immediately begin caring for their orphaned grandchildren, keeping them in a "family" of sorts, and from becoming another addition to the horrendous homeless orphan statistics.
Last year Joseph’s family felt a calling to go back to Uganda. They left in January of 2011, starting their new ministry for orphans The Way Home. The Way Home ministry was birthed out of their love for Uganda, and their burden for the millions of orphans, their adoption of Joseph (a former Ugandan orphan) and the subsequent adoptions of two grandchildren. The widowed grannies in Uganda are the present day HEROES there. They are widows and the one’s keeping the increase in the street orphan population from skyrocketing. They bury their own children, who have succumbed to AIDS, and immediately begin caring for their orphaned grandchildren, keeping them in a “family” of sorts, and from becoming another addition to the horrendous homeless orphan statistics! Their living conditions are destitute. The objective of the Grannies program is to empower these Heroes to survive and raise their orphaned grandchildren to have shelter and food when they are gone and to be introduced to Jesus as the source of life and a FOREVER Home. The Way Home project has been working in one of the highest AIDS districts of Uganda since March 2011. They have 40 grannies and 205 orphans in the program to date. The goals are physical family stability (shelter & food) spiritual family stability (teaching the gospel, health/hygiene/HIV, Farming God’s Way, granny/orphan support groups). The heart of The Way Home project is ORPHANS. A contract is signed upon the start of home construction stating that, upon the granny’s death, the home, the land and garden, will go to the surviving orphaned grandchildren…they will be the new “family” empowered to survive and thrive even on their own…with the continued mentoring of TWH ministry. The Granny families average one granny to 5 orphans. The smallest family is Granny Abigaile who is blind but only has one 4 year old orphaned granddaughter, and the largest granny family is Granny Getulida who is raising 14 (ages 11 to 2, with two 2- and 5-year olds and three 7-year-olds among them) orphans of her two deceased children. They are identified through the pastors of the local village church’s. Their conditions are outrageous destitute living, cooking with open fires, and caring for any chickens, pigs or goats that very few might be privileged to own, all in the same small mud hut and without any bathroom.
How did it come about that you tied your interest in helping this ministry with running a marathon?
Last year when I finished my fourth half marathon, I felt a need to do more than just run for a time. I wanted to run for something bigger. Last October when Marcia and Russ came back to the states for a short time, they showed a video of what they were doing in Uganda. I immediately felt a need to do something—I wanted to build a home. Since I can’t personally go there and do it, I decided to try and work out some financing to see how much I could give, but that still didn’t seem be enough. In November as I was getting ready to sign up for the Bayshore Half, I knew I wanted to run for a purpose. I immediately thought about The Way Home. I shared this with my husband Todd and he thought it was a great idea. He suggested I run the full marathon though. I began to come up with excuses as to why that might be too much; with five kids and all the responsibilities I have in my life right now … that might not be the best idea. Todd reminded me that a marathon has always been one of my life-long goals. Why not mesh it together with something else that means so much to me. It was then that I decided to JUST DO IT. I signed up for the full, and decided not to worry about all the details. If God put it on my heart, He will work it all out!
Trisha is training in Boyne City, Mich., running outside as much as possible.
What kind of training plan are you following, and how’s it going so far?
I decided to go with Hal Higdon’s Novice 2 training program. It seems pretty manageable right now. I have 4 run days, 1 cross training day and 2 rest days. My goals for the race are to finish in four hours or less.
What’s been the most challenging aspect of planning and training for this race? How about the most rewarding?
The most challenging part of my training is trying to balance my time. I am homeschooling my children this year, and I am a typical busy mom. Trying to fit it all in and giving myself enough rest will be tough. I am determined to keep my family first though, they are my first priority! The most rewarding part of this training and the marathon in general is what it is teaching both my children and me. My children pray for the orphans in Uganda every day. My running this marathon is living out what I have been teaching them. The other day my 8-year-old son Brayton said that he, too, wants to run for orphans.
Love the gloves. :)
Trisha hopes to raise enough funds to build at least one home for orphans. The Way Home builds a small, strong brick home and a two-room bath/latrine for orphans. The cost for each home and bathroom is $1,700. Another component of the ministry is teaching families a farming program that if properly followed, using resources readily available to them, increases their yield up to 10 times. To learn more and give to this ministry, visit The Way Home here.
Anyone else here running to raise awareness and funds for a specific cause?
Taking a run with a good friend...something I hope to do all my life.
“You can’t indulge self doubt. You just have to ignore it and pretend it doesn’t exist.”
This little nugget I found this morning while scouring old posts on my friend Beth’s awesome running blog. She’s my inspiration today (and lots of other times) as I wrestle with not being able to comfortably run more than 5 miles. I know, I know, 5 is 5. This is something. But I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t tear me up inside some given that Boston is just two months away. At this point in my training I should be logging long runs of 16, 17, 19 miles. It’s discouraging, to say the least. Knowing Beth went through something similar exactly a year ago as she looked toward Boston ’11 — she ultimately ran the race — I spent some time re-visiting her posts about her hip fracture and altered training plan leading up to her Boston Marathon experience. Her posts are always honest … and funny. It’s an excellent combo.
So I’m feeling a little better, re-reading what she went through and thinking a lot about self-doubt and not wanting it to take over. I am determined to keep at this training and look forward to stepping up to the start of this year’s Boston Marathon. But as I was reminded by Lisa this morning, adjusting my expectations is the wisest thing I can do for myself at this point. Lisa doesn’t tell me what I want to hear — she tells me what I need to hear. I may run this race at a much slower pace. I may even walk parts of it. But not doing it? Not finishing it? Not an option for me.
As Lisa puts it: “It’s all about preparing yourself mentally to have a good experience.” She also said this: “You have to remember you’re going to be a runner for a long time. You’re going to be healthy and strong when you’re 50 and 60…”
And how’s this for serendipity? (I love that word) Not long after talking with Lisa this morning, during which she reminded me of my desire to be a lifelong runner — Boston is great and wonderful but it is not the end-all, be-all — I had a phone conversation with another runner, a woman I hope to get to know better. I’m writing an article for a local business publication about a new running assessment program and Holly has signed on. While talking about the gait analysis and other assessments she’s doing through the program, she shared that her hope in doing all of this is to be proactive. “My goal is just to be able to run pain free as long as I can, for life.” Isn’t that great? And isn’t that really what we all hope to achieve?
So, slow and steady is how it’ll be for me awhile. My plan is to continue these 5-mile runs and see how I feel. Then, once I am feeling stronger, I will attempt longer distances, hopefully getting to the point where I can log at least a few double-digit runs before race day.
And I’m taking care of my body in other ways. I’ve gotten a lot better lately about actually getting myself into bed and asleep before 10 p.m. This is huge for me. I’m also drinking way more water. Stretching and icing are built into my daily routine. I’ve also had two sessions of Active Release Technique therapy with Dan Zemper, an accomplished lifelong runner, former high school cross-country coach who came highly recommended to me as “the guy who knows how to take care of your sports injury” by numerous people. I do believe that having seen him twice in the past week — I’ll see him again this coming week for a third and possibly final session — has helped me continue to run.
The best way to describe what he does — in my unscientific, non-medical way — is deep tissue massage. But it’s incredibly focused. For an hour, I’m on my stomach, my back, my side, as Dan works the muscles of my left leg. There is a specific method and physiology to what he does, and here’s how he explains it:
Scar tissue may form within the muscle itself. Very often it forms within the fascia surrounding the muscles that have been injured. Some is fine, too much is the problem. Once there is too much scar tissue, it tends to bond more and more tissues together. This leads to less movement and more problems. The hypoxia actually perpetuates the growth of scar tissue, so that over time a minor issue gradually becomes worse. Because of all of this, breaking up this excess scar tissue is the primary focus of what I do … Using particular methods of tensioning the muscle as it is moved through it’s range of motion is the basic idea. As the muscle is tensioned, it is also lengthened. This releases much of the “pollution” or hypoxia in the tissues, immediately allowing for better function. Scar tissue is not as flexible as muscle tissue, and whether it happens immediately, or after several sessions, the excess scar tissue adhesions are broken apart. Once the muscles are “released,” following the prescribed stretching program will keep the muscles moving freely past each other. The body then recognizes the damaged scar tissue as waste material, and clears it from the body. This then leaves only the amount necessary to take care of the original injury.
The first session went well, but it was the second session that left me having more hope about my injury, which seems to be a combination of IT Band and hamstring issues. My muscles had loosened up by the second session, Dan shared with me, and as a result he was able to really get at the areas (side and back of my left knee) that have been the most tender and sore during and after runs.
Dan doesn’t promise I’ll ultimately be pain-free, but his success rate of 90 to 95 percent is good enough for me. I also like that he’s a runner, a dedicated athlete who has experienced his share of injuries, and can understand the physical and emotional frustrations that come with having to suddenly change plans in your training.
Keeping the faith.
Also, there’s this line that stood out in my morning reading … Beth shared this, in her Boston Marathon recap (if you read her blog, you likely get the underwear reference. If not, you’ll want to head over and check her out. She’s witty and fun and an all-around good person):
“Don’t let nothing stop you! And if you have to throw away your underwear at mile 22, for god’s sake, lock the door.”
Staying the course. Looking forward to a Sunday morning run with a dear friend I haven’t seen in awhile. Can’t wait to catch up over the (nice and easy) miles.
Here’s to happy and pain-free running for each of us … for a lifetime.
This isn't me, but I feel her pain. (it couldn't be me, anyway--where's the snow?)
I’ll always remember when Lisa told me this simple fact: athletes get injured. You run (bike, swim, you name the sport) long enough, and you’re going to face set-backs in the form of our bodies telling us, whoa, slow down there. This hurts. The other simple truth she wisely shared: we heal.
This is what I’m thinking about tonight as I cut short a 14-miler due to pain on the outside of my left knee. And by cut short, I mean I was hurting enough that just past mile 9, after giving myself a few walk breaks in hopes that the pain would subside and I could finish the run, I texted Joe to come pick me up. I’d chosen an out-and-back route, and with snow falling, roads icy and temps in the 20s, I knew it wasn’t wise to walk the five miles home–not when my sweat-drenched body was quickly chilling now that I was no longer cruising along.
I’d never had to call anyone to come rescue me from a run gone bad. It pretty much sucked.
As I walked along the side of the road, scanning the stretch of snow-covered pavement ahead of me for our mini-van to appear, I kept it together (for the most part–I did let my knee know I wasn’t too happy with it) by reminding myself of Lisa’s words. And also reminding myself of my past aches and pains that have cropped up throughout different trainings — and that have also gone away, with ice and time and patience. I didn’t want to write this post, I’m sure in large part because this knee thing has been nagging at me for pretty much the entire month of January and I just haven’t wanted to admit that this could be more than just a little ache. It hasn’t been a major problem (until today). More like an annoyance that’s been there on a few longer runs, more so I’ve noticed when I’m running hills. I had talked with Lisa about it, and we’d decided to tweak my plan some to include a few days of rest and shorter runs in the last week. I’ve also been icing — can you believe I’m just now discovering just how great ice in Dixie cups work? — and I really thought all of this would equal a good run today. I wanted to experience that, a good long run of 14 miles. I think it would have boosted my increasingly dampened spirits about this training for Boston.
We heal.
We also can cross-train. Yes, we can do this. I’ve started back up with Pilates in the past month, and I know it’s a very good thing because it’s been an incredibly humbling experience. I took a break during the summer, with camping trips planned and friends visiting, and thought I’d get back into it come fall. But I took on a new job, one that I love but that has been more challenging and time-consuming that I’d anticipated. So Pilates again took a back-burner. My body, as a result, has been sore, in a good way, as I’ve gotten back into the swing of reformer Pilates.
My work isn’t really any less time-consuming, but I’m also making my health a priority again. Not to mention trying to get back eating well, drinking more water and getting enough sleep (the last one seems to be my biggest challenge, being the night owl-type. But I keep trying).
These past few months have taught me — once again — that discipline is everything when it comes to reaching our goals. It’s sticking with our plan. Doing the work. Showing up. And when we fall off or veer away from our path, we get back up again and keep going. All of this is hard, and I don’t pretend to be a master at it. Clearly. But the one thing I’m sure of is that if we continue to move forward, we’re on the right track.
I also know that every training we experience will be unique in its own way. Different work schedules, shifting family obligations, ongoing or new injuries–these make a difference in how and when we train. I’m grateful for what I am able to do, and I’m looking forward to staying the course.
Are you facing a running challenge at the moment? How are you dealing with it?
Jumping into Lake Michigan on Jan. 1. Why not? (I'm the fourth crazy one from the left. Andrew is next to me, in the orange shorts, Joe is in front of us, about to dive under)
I couldn’t have planned a more perfect New Year’s Day if I’d tried. Some days just work out that way, don’t they? The less you organize and agonize and the more you just let things unfold…the more surprisingly great things somehow turn out. Better yet when this all comes together on the first day of a new year.
I like the clean slate that comes with January 1, but I’ve never been one to put too much weight on the start of a new year. It can be too forced, unnatural. Too high-pressure. Why wait until a specific date or time of year to initiate change if really you need and want to just get going on something in your life now? Just get on with it already, I say, whatever time of year it may be. Don’t wait until the ball drops at midnight.
Yet, as I said, there’s that fresh-start feeling that’s inevitable come January, and so it seemed fitting to do something today that I’d never done before: jump into Lake Michigan with a few dozen other crazy souls, including Joe and our 9-year-old, Andrew (Emma, our 11-year-old, and Alex, our 6-year-old, were charged with documenting this nuttiness with video and photos). Did I mention it was windy, snowy and 28 degrees out at the time of our polar plunge? In fact, we did this at noon today, right around the time the season’s first blizzard was beginning to take shape.
A few days ago I’d written an article for a local website about this planned dip in West Grand Traverse Bay — a monthly event actually that has been coined Crazy Times Ten by the group of friends who started it — and I couldn’t shake the thought that I’d like to give it a try myself. I mentioned it to Joe somewhat casually, and he surprised me by saying he’d like to do it, too. Then, while talking about it with Andrew, he said he was game, too, especially if his friend Ethan would do it with him. So there we all were, stripping down to our swim suits, jumping up and down to not completely freeze as we counted down “5…4…3…2…1″ and ran out in into the numbing-cold water, dove under and raced back out. It was flipping freezing. I couldn’t wait to get back into our warm car and crank up the heat.
But I loved it. It was, as the organizers I’d interviewed shared, invigorating. Crazy, yes. But it’s true, you feel alive.
Which is what I felt later in the day, during an 8-mile training run on the trails. By this time, the snow was coming down hard, blanketing the roads. I strapped on my YakTrax and headed for the trails, knowing it would likely be the last time I’d be able to run the Vasa for awhile.
The heavy, sideways-falling snow made for perfect running conditions on the trails, particularly because we’ve had such a lack of snow leading up to this blizzard. A just-enough cushion of snow made for slower running on the trails, but it was never too deep or padded that I worried about slipping and falling. All around me were trees dusted with snow and glistening with ice. I passed only two hikers with a dog. When my iPhone decided to stop playing music midway through, I was frustrated for only a moment; why wouldn’t I want to simply listen to the quiet of snow falling and the wind whistling through branches?
Snowy trail run ~ it doesn't get much better
It was one of the most peaceful runs I’ve had, but it also was one that left me thinking, “You’re crazy. You’re running in the woods in the middle of a blizzard.” Just as quickly, though, I thought, Why Not? Why not run in the middle of the woods during a blizzard? Why not jump into the frigid bay to commemorate a new a year, new beginnings?
I’m not going to list out all the things that I hope to accomplish in 2012 — in running and in life — but I have decided that I am going to continue to say, Why Not? Life does move at such a fast pace (I only look at my kids and how quickly they’re growing up to realize this fact), so why not make the most of every last second. I want to savor and laugh and love as much as possible.
Wishing you all a fantastically Why Not? 2012. Here’s to many, many miles of happy, satisfying and adventure-filled running in the year to come!
love, love, love these shoes
Funny how my last post was weather-related — specifically, how bad this this winter is expected to be. And yet, there I was, out on the trails this past weekend, running eight miles on completely snow-free paths. We have yet to experience the first snowstorm of the season. All we’ve had so far is frost and maybe a couple of inches at most.
As much as we all love Michigan (I figure you must if you’re a reader of this blog), if the ice and cold wants to take their sweet time arriving, that’s just fine. Especially if it means a mid-December trail run. This is Reason #1 I am a happy runner: being able to spend a Sunday afternoon on the Vasa–not on skis, but in running shoes. And in capris and sunglasses nonetheless. (This morning’s run did require strapping on the Yaks, but it was a thin layer of crunchy-icy snow. Not too slick, and it just felt good to be out in the crisp more wintry-like weather.)
‘Tis the season for feeling grateful for the cherished people, places and things in our life. Having this unseasonably warm weather comes on the heels of a few other makes-me-smile things, all running related. Other reasons I am feeling especially thankful as of late:
Reason #2 – I recently learned that I was accepted into the 2012 Brooks Inspire Daily Program. What this means: some cool (free) gear as well as exclusive access to events and other “insider” experiences. I’m waiting to get more details, but from what I understand it’s a program with definite perks. I trained for my last marathon in the Brooks Launch shoe, and I became hooked. The color definitely caught my eye — white body, purple sole, turquoise shoelaces — but these shoes also are incredibly comfortable to my; they’ve got some cushion but not too much. They feel more like a minimalist shoe, in a way. Very flexible. I ended up buying my second pair recently. So when my friend and running coach Lisa suggested I apply to this Brooks program, I figured it was worth a shot and I felt good about liking the company’s products. I’ll keep you all posted on what I learn. Have any of you been involved with this program?
Reason #3 – Online registration for the Bayshore races opened earlier this month and I was able to sign up both myself and my husband for the half marathon — no easy task since this race filled within hours. But beyond being happy that we got in, I’m excited to run with Joe. This will be his first half marathon, and he’s actually just getting back into running after several years of not running much at all. He’s working on a “back to running” plan, created by Lisa, and then will start his half marathon training later this winter. It’ll also be our first race together. I’m also thrilled about good friends signing up for new-to-them distances: Trisha, who helped me finish the Bayshore Marathon last spring, is running her first marathon, Kelle has signed on for the half and my sister-in-law Micki as well as a bunch of others are in for the 10K. So I’m thinking we should have a huge post-race Bayshore bash of some kind, to celebrate everyone’s impressive feats.
Reason #4 – Boston Marathon training is going well! It’s also a bit more on track, thanks to Lisa, who came up with a 5-day-a-week running plan that I started this week. I’d actually started a few weeks back, thinking I needed to do another 22-week program like I did for my first marathon. But Lisa and I got talking, and after arranging a “trade” (more on that soon — I am helping Lisa with an exciting project in exchange for her coaching expertise) — I learned I needn’t do a 22-week plan since I have built up a strong foundation of consistent running over the past year. Here’s my training schedule:
| Week | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thur | Fri | Sat | Sun |
| 1-12/12 | Rest/cross | 3 m run | 5 m run | 3 m run | Rest/cross | 5 m pace | 10 |
| 2-12/19 | Rest/cross | 3 m run | 5 m run | 3 m run | Rest/cross | 5 m run | 11 |
| 3-12/26 | Rest/cross | 3 m run | 6 m run | 3 m run | Rest/cross | 6 m pace | 8 |
| 4-1/2 | Rest/cross | 3 m run | 6 m run | 3 m run | Rest/cross | 6 m pace | 13 |
| 5-1/9 | Rest/cross | 3 m run | 7 m run | 3 m run | Rest/cross | 7 m run | 14 |
| 6-1/16 | Rest/cross | 3 m run | 7 m run | 3 m run | Rest/cross | 7 m pace | 10 |
| 7-1/23 | Rest/cross | 4 m run | 8 m run | 4 m run | Rest/cross | 8 m pace | 16 |
| 8-1/30 | Rest/cross | 4 m run | 8 m run | 4 m run | Rest/cross | 8 m run | 17 |
| 9-2/6 | Rest/cross | 4 m run | 9 m run | 4 m run | Rest/cross | Rest | TBD 1/2 ‘thon |
| 10-2/13 | Rest/cross | 4 m run | 9 m run | 4 m run | Rest/cross | 9 m pace | 19 |
| 11-2/20 | Rest/cross | 5 m run | 10 m run | 5 m run | Rest/cross | 10 m run | 20 |
| 12-2/27 | Rest/cross | 5 m run | 6 m run | 5 m run | Rest/cross | 6 m pace | 12 |
| 13-3/5 | Rest/cross | 5 m run | 10 m run | 5 m run | Rest/cross | 10 m pace | 20 |
| 14-3/12 | Rest/cross | 5 m run | 6 m run | 5 m run | Rest/cross | 6 m run | 12 |
| 15-3/19 | Rest/cross | 5 m run | 10 m run | 5 m run | Rest/cross | 10 m pace | 20 |
| 16-3/26 | Rest/cross | 5 m run | 8 m run | 5 m run | Rest/cross | 4 m pace | 12 |
| 17-4/2 | Rest/cross | 4 m run | 6 m run | 4 m run | Rest/cross | 4 m run | 8 |
| 18-4/9 | Rest/cross | 3 m run | 4 m run | 3m run | 2 m run | Rest | Rest |
| 19-4/1 | Boston |
So, runner friends, what’s making you happy?
Get outside already!
So Michigan apparently is going to get pummeled this winter with wet, heavy snow. So says the Farmers’ Almanac: For the winter of 2011–12, the Farmers’ Almanac is forecasting “clime and punishment,” a season of unusually cold and stormy weather … A very active storm track will bring much heavier-than-normal precipitation from the Southern Plains through Tennessee into Ohio, the Great Lakes, and the Northeast.
I think we got our first taste of it today, when a couple of inches fell overnight and then still more came down throughout the morning. I broke out the YakTrax, and I’m glad I did given that what had fallen definitely was sticking to the roads. Thankfully I’d spent part of last weekend pulling out winter running clothing and gear, so I was pretty prepared this morning (though am left wanting a new running wardrobe…<sigh>). Having run so much last winter while training for my first marathon, I feel like I’ve got frigid-weather running down to a science.
C’mon, you’re running outside this winter, too, right? I’m guessing so. Or you’re at least contemplating it. Yes, you’ll be asked by well-intentioned friends and strangers, “Really? You’re going to run in the snow and ice? Are you nuts?” To which you may answer, “Why, yes, yes I am!” This is a good kind of crazy, I say.
So if you are planning to keep running outdoors throughout the next several months – and I highly recommend you do, it can pretty amazing, I promise – here are a few things I’ve learned along the way that have definitely helped:
You don’t need a ton of clothing, but key pieces will make all the difference. My wardrobe staples, all of which consist of wicking material: two pairs of running pants (I pre fer running tights, though I found a pair of Saucony yoga-style pants that work well, too); two form-fitting long-sleeved shirts to wear as your base layer (I really, really like my black and white UnderArmours); two-three fleece hoodies; wind-resistant jacket (to wear as top layer, sometimes over a hoodie if it’s cold and windy, or over a base layer if it’s not too terribly cold); heavier running jacket (for those below-zero days); good socks (I love Smartwool or Wright socks); gloves and hat (I’m thinking this year I’ll finally get one of those hats with ponytail holes in them) — and sunglasses for those bright sun-reflecting-off-the-snowbanks days. A good rule of thumb: dress for 15 to 20 degrees warmer to avoid overheating and excessive sweating. You should feel cool to start; it won’t take long too long to start feeling warm.
Be safe. Definitely get yourself a pair of YakTrax or other traction devices to ensure stability while running on snowy roads and paths. I like the coil-bottomed YakTrax rather than the spikes, but everyone is different. See what works best for you. I also try to keep an eye out for snow-covered dips, cracks and holes in the road as I run. Shortening your running stride and keeping your feet lower to the ground will help you run more efficiently and reduce the risk of slipping or straining muscles. And if you start out on a run and the roads feel too icy for comfort — even with extra traction — head back home. It’s just not worth it.
Plan for a FUN race. Whether you’re running throughout winter to train for a spring race, or you’re simply out there to enjoy the elements doing something you love, consider signing up for a “fun” run sometime during the cold, dreary months of January, February and March. Last year I ran the Frozen Foot Race here in Traverse City, a 5-mile race at the base of Old Mission Peninsula. It was snowy and cold, and tons of fun. It’s not like you can run your fastest in these kinds of conditions, so there’s no pressure to go all out. It’s just you and your other crazy winter running friends waking up early to run in nutty weather conditions. What’s not to love about that? Oh, and afterward be sure to treat yourself to a delicious breakfast out with your friends. Other race options: St. Patrick’s Day runs, which typically include a beer at the finish. No brainer, right?
Give yourself incentives. It might be indulging in a steaming-hot vanilla latte post-run (yep, my guilty pleasure), or treating yourself to a new piece of running clothing (or something else you’ve been coveting) after completing X-number of miles for a couple of weeks in a row. Or maybe a massage. Whatever the reward, just make sure you give yourself one. It’s not easy prying yourself out of a warm, cozy bed to go for a run. We all know it’s worth it and ultimately feels great, but getting from Point A — your bed — to Point B — the road — ain’t always easy, especially when it’s darker than dark outside and no one would really know if you missed a workout, right? Give yourself something to look forward to, and your routine just might not feel so, well, routine.
Cross-train. I’m not sure if it’ll happen, but I’ve been thinking of trying to incorporate some swimming and spinning into my exercise regimen this winter. I figure these activities will be great ways to strengthen my body, and I’d also like to think they’d help me get in better shape for summer triathlons. The trick, of course, will be to figure out how to fit these into an already full schedule. But like anything in life, if you want it bad enough, you’ll make room for it. I do think it would help keep things interesting throughout my Boston Marathon training, and what a great feeling to work hard at two somewhat foreign-to-me sports–could be fun to see how my body takes to this extra training.
What have I forgotten? What keeps you motivated to run all winter long?
