Couch to ATHLETE!

Well, the question is actually should you run/train while sick? I can tell you that my friend Google will find me any answer I want, but the reality is I want to know if it is healthy/safe to run while sick. What started as a sore throat after I ran my 10 miler on Saturday (which I will tell you about in another post), eventually turned into feeling great on Sunday but a little congested, Monday I had an extremely stuffy nose, and now today I was barely able to get out of bed except to go to the doc and stop in the running store to order my new shoes (had to beat the sale). Since my doctors appointment I can tell you I have gotten a little worse but will spare you the gory details. There are multiple camps as it relates to running while sick. Some people say run away, it will make you feel better, while others say running while sick could ruin your recovery. I have also read about the neck rule. Ever heard it before? I haven't... The basics are if it is above the neck (r...

If you know me even just a little bit you know that I have this undying love for Michael Franti. If he is in town, or even in the state, I will go and see him just for the energy he builds in the crowd. Even if you are not one to dance it is impossible not to when there is a little Franti playing on the radio or in person. What I love even more is what Michael Franti stands for... So Saturday morning I woke up at my usual time 6:30 a.m., took Dukie out for a short stroll and then headed up to Worthington High School for my first Marathoner in Training (MIT) workout. I was sitting on the bleachers taking in the scene before we started running and found the same type of energy building as I always feel at a Franti concert. You see if you talk with people at a Michael Franti concert you will sometimes hear faithful fans asking other concert goers how many times they have seen Michael Franti in concert, if the answer is none the faithful fan will follow that up with any combination of th...

Journey Better Pic from Half Marathon I was talking with my sister last week about how the first three miles of a long training run can be the most difficult part of the workout. While I was running the 5k on Saturday (more about that later) I realized all I could think about was crossing the finish line as fast as possible. There wasn't a moment that I wondered whether I could complete the race. I can tell you that when I crossed the finish line all I wanted to do was keep going because I was just hitting my groove. Picture from 10 miler in Gahanna! When I ran the half marathon last week the first three miles were absolutely the most difficult. Throughout the race I encountered a sea of emotions, challenges and of course at the end success. There was a journey in that run, a journey that I embraced and loved. Endurance events are more about your mind than your body. I often play mind games with myself that include beating myself up for not working out harder, congratulat...

I have to admit that taking the time to work on yourself is one of the hardest things you may ever do but the pay off is most rewarding in the end. When I began this journey a couple of years ago I was not necessarily in the best place/space but I embraced the journey and here I am two years later; two half marathons, a few 10ks, more 5ks than I can count, a metric century ride, many 30 mile rides, a few triathlons all under my belt. The physical health payoff may not be as great as I was hoping for but my emotional/mental health has realized the greatest improvements. Interesting that it wasn't even what I was looking for at the time but it is what I achieved. So people often get frustrated about their speed when running but I have to tell you there are enormous benefits. I finished my race a minute behind the 2:50 pacers according to the clock/pictures but the 'official' time stated I finished at 2:55. What is not to be proud of??? First of all I always take the time ...

I have heard many sociology students doing an assignment for class in which they are to smile randomly at strangers to see how the stranger reacts. Has anyone done a study to see how that same activity impacts the person who actually does the smiling all day??? Well I have, read on... For some reason I have been in a bit of a running funk lately. It is not because I don't enjoy it, but rather because my body is not doing what I want it to do. Part of it could be the foot problem I am having, or it could be a simple mental block but I do know that it has been more and more difficult to get my miles in as comfortably as before. I have probably talked about this before but one of the most satisfying feelings during a race is encouraging other participants in passing by smiling or cheering on their effort. My running buddy and I ran a 10 miler a few weeks ago, and man has she gotten fast! She said to me at the end of the race that when she started feeling like she was hitting ...