turning the page...a new chapter

Last Sunday was a day of many emotions:

fear...as I got up to the alarm and realized what I was about to attempt

tears...I cried while walking with the group from the hotel to the starting area...it was a

dream about to be fulfilled and one I had worked so hard for

excitement...when I crossed the starting line and came upon the cheering crowds

laughter...at the guy riding a chicken, Elvis, the juggler, and the zany signs along the way

anger...where is the frickin' water

respect...for the older guy who was hobbling along but was hanging in there at mile 8

sadness...at the thought of those who could not physically do what I was doing

gratitude...for all the wonderful Chicagoans who were there with water hoses, water pitchers,

etc.

comfort...when I saw various red MM signs along the way with the holder cheering wildly

elation...when I reached the halfway mark, Matt took my picture, Sheila was screaming at me,

and I realized I was halfway and I FELT GOOD

confidence...when I saw the 16 mile marker and realized I was going to finish within the official

time of 6.5 hrs...only 10.2 miles to go!

disbelief....when we were re-routed

horror....when someone said they had CANCELED my beloved Chicago Marathon

confusion...where are we going...how FAR is it...do we get a medal

amazement...I met a new friend, Clara, from Venezuela who joined me on our long walk to the
"so-called" finish line. This was her 7th marathon and 2nd time at Chicago. The
only reason she was near my pace in the race is that she had not trained AT ALL
this year. We had a nice LONG chat and went to the massage tents together.

disappointment...I did not get to finish and I could have

anger...me and some of my comrades were cheated out of our dream


End of Chapter...turn the page

Suzanne's words in her blog helped me "get a grip"...there are so many people dealing with more serious issues than crossing a finish line. I can still do a marathon and I WILL do a marathon.

I am going back to Chicago because I know they will have their act together next year, I love the people lining the streets, and I love Giordono's pizza. The hospitality was so great that I believe they must have moved there from the SOUTH at least a few generations ago. :)

My new chapter includes losing weight by eating less fat, better carbs, fewer calories, and being lighter on my feet in Chicago next year. I also will be more diligent in my training and won't skip so many XT days. I went to see Cindy Pulliam, an orthopedic NP, today because of concern I had about pain on the inside of my left lower leg and my x-ray did not show fracture but showed evidence of stress along the bone. There looked to be an old stress fracture that had healed. She recommended I rest it for 4 weeks and start back slowly. If the pain returns or does not go away then she will order an MRI for a closer look at what is going on. I had done nothing, not even walked, for 2 weeks before I got out there and ran and walked the marathon. It could be just a shin splint. I am not invincible...I need to train regularly or I will NOT be able to do a marathon because I will be sidelined with an injury. I don't know if I will be able to do the MS BLUES half marathon, but if not, I will be out there cheering you on just like our great role models, the Chicagoans! Yes, I am looking forward to Chicago next year...they better be ready for us!

Finally figured it out

Finally figured it out...who/what is going to drive me when the going gets rough on the marathon trail. It hit me between the eyes when I was watching a TV special report...the injured soldiers, marines, etc. who have lost their legs!!!!!!!!!!!!! The article was about the latest, greatest, prostheses that are available to our injured military and it occurred to me...were it not for them and all the courageous souls in years past who have defended our country, we would not be preparing to run the Chicago Marathon. So, when I am beginning to really struggle, which I am guessing will be around mile 18, I am going to visualize those young, brave men/women who are now struggling to walk on their metal prostheses. I will then reach down and pull up more determination to get through my insignificant, albeit mild, challenge. The appreciation, admiration and respect I have for them and for all of our troops will help carry me across that line.

Recap of MM

I have been reading thoughts of various marathoners and said to myself...I don't have that many thoughts...WRONG. I sat down and within a short time I compiled the following list:

"Stuff" from Marathon Makeover

• I will get up before sunrise, go out in the dark and do hard labor with no paycheck involved.
• I will retire a “perfectly good-looking” pair of shoes because I don’t want to take any chances of injury.
• I will send my blog full of personal stuff out to a bunch of strangers
• I am quick to tell some people what I am doing and won’t breathe a word of it to others
• I can’t believe how unselfish and supportive my husband has been about all this…not sure I would have behaved in the same manner were the roles reversed. Now, all knowing, I would behave the same way!
• I am very glad that I am OC about reading the daily newspaper…the MM article was my 2007 destiny.
• I can’t believe I ever thought I could actually complete a marathon…what trust I have in Mark Simpson and company.
• I was motivated by the hope and belief that I would be skinny like other runners by October. Key word here is “runners”…I did not become a “runner”, but a wogger; hence, I did not get skinny.
• My sister and my mom still think I am crazy and rarely ever ask me about my endeavor. I will sashay around them wearing my medal, with a mantra, “told you so”.
• I am looking forward to my bragging rights in my 2007 Christmas letter.
• I have learned the REAL meaning of mind-over-matter while becoming a marathoner
• When I am feeling low in confidence, I have learned how valuable it is to tell myself that I am a really cool person because I am going to complete the Chicago Marathon. Few people ever attempt something of this magnitude.
• I have been amused to see the reactions when I tell someone I am training for the CM. A quick “body scan” always ensues.
• I have learned that although I am a 60 yr. old, I am not “over-the-hill”…I am healthier and stronger than I ever knew!
• I have spent many more hours this year talking to God…walking has provided this special time for me.
• I have become addicted to reading and writing blogs. Blogging has been a key to my success.
• I have a love/hate relationship with the training…I must have goals to continue it. My new goal for 2008 will be to RUN, not wog, 5K and 10K races. After completing that goal, I bet I will be ready for another marathon.
• Wayne Jimenez rocks!
• I wish there had been a picture of each member of the MM group in our directory. I also wish everyone had blogged.
• I am in awe of the obstacles that some of our MMers have had to overcome to train for this marathon, like caring for multiple children, demanding jobs requiring frequent travel, family illnesses, family commitments, you name it…almost makes it seem easy for me.
• My job has suffered a bit from the distraction of training for the marathon, but that is okay. The physical and emotional benefits of the MM are a huge ROI (return on investment) and I will be better in all areas of my life because of it.
• I will never look at Strawberry Park in the same nonchalant manner again. I will never play tennis at North Shore Park again without a big smile reminiscing over the accomplishments on that trail.
• I buy Harvest bread for customers at least twice a week…it never looks or tastes as good as on Saturdays after a run.
• I have new words/phrases in my vocabulary: body glide, Endurox, gels, sports beans, sports blocks, camelback, race-ready shorts, “cotton is rotten”, Garmin, metatarsalgia, and some I can’t remember right now.
• I have gone from being “horrified” with my blue toenails, to, “hey, only runners know the success story behind these blue babies”.
• I am extremely happy to have some new friends! Wayne (hubby) and I have been invited to join a Supper Club group by one of the MM friends. This unique group of people with a common goal has become our MM family. We share, we care, we support each other. Does it get any better than that?
• I have only one regret associated with this Marathon Makeover…I wish I had done this way back in my youth. If so, I would have a wall of medals by now!
• I am blessed, that in this great state of Mississippi (of which I am a transplant from NC), there resides an exceptional group of people who are changing lives through the establishment and execution of the Marathon Makeover experience. That would be Mark, Robin, Matt and Scotty…many thanks for all that you do. Your halos will be delivered via UPS in the near future. :>)
• I learned how strong and determined my new daughter-in-law is…she does not give up easily. Kristy had some of the biggest, nastiest blisters I have ever seen, plus she persevered through plantar fasciitis which is so-o-o painful.
• During the time of my training for the marathon I have seen my older son, Morgan, (30yrs.) transition from a broken, depressed, chronically ill young man on disability leave, to one who is healthier, emotionally stable, newly employed and one who looks forward to his future again. I got through these challenging months with the help of my MM training…exercise helps manage stress. My quiet time with God on these many walks was invaluable. Praise God.
• I am thrilled to see that my younger son, Steven, is getting to enjoy the success of completing the Chicago marathon at the tender young age of 27 yrs. He will reap the benefits of this experience for many years to come.
• I have even more love for my wonderful husband…he has massaged my tired feet on many occasions, brought food, drink, and Motrin to me when I have crashed in the bed after a Saturday run, never complained about the additional expenditures for my various “necessities” of training, and has been the wind beneath my wings. I love you, Wayne.
  
  Thoughts by Cheryl Jones
  
  
  
  

Sleeping in my own bed again...woo-hoo!

Lo-o-o-n-g week at the Westin in downtown LA...sounds glamorous, doesn't it. HA! I would have traded it for spending my nights in a small tent in a cow pasture somewhere...at least I would have had SOME control of how I spent my time! Anyhow, it was an intense sales meeting with lots of challenges and role plays and video taped presentations, etc., but I survived and flew back to Memphis late Friday night. My husband and I had made plans months earlier to meet some friends and attend a Viking Cooking School course on Saturday night which is what we did. This is our second Viking class and I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys learning new things about cooking. It was a "hands on" class and we ate our "fine dining French meal" afterwards with 3 other couples. After we did the items which required knives, then the bottles of wine started flowing. Viking doesn't want the liability of wine and knife combo so we had to get the slicing and dicing out of the way. Wine makes cooking with strangers evolve into cooking with your best friends!

I had planned to run my 10 miles on Saturday in Memphis and guess what...my sweet hubby FORGOT to bring the weekend bag I had packed and left in the bedroom for him to bring to me in Memphis. Of course this had all my running gear. I guess I am glad, in hindsight, because I finally feel rested and back to normal and I am sure it is because I slept in both Saturday and Sunday...oh, sweet bliss. I must get my hind parts out to the park tomorrow and put in some mileage since I did not make it today. Time is getting close...I, like Onetta, am excited and freaked out all at the same time.

Cheering squad works

Thanks to all of you who left such encouraging comments on my last blog. This is a HUGE benefit to MM...communication from the compassionate, supportive people in our group through blogging. We have all benefited at some time or another by either information gathered or the valuable encouragement showing up from our fellow bloggers. This is what I will miss the most...blogging of the people, by the people, and for the people.

Leaving for LA at 6:17am tomorrow on business trip. Sorry I will miss the "short run" with y'all on Saturday. Flying back in to Memphis for the weekend. See you the next Saturday...our last short run together as the 2007 MMers. Be there!

I have been hesitant to blog. My negative thoughts are somehow overpowering my positive ones. The blogs I read yesterday were so positive that I decided I was a failure at this whole thing. I was glad to read Mandy's today. Yesterday I did at least 22 miles and I think, if my math is right, it was 22.2, however, I was miserable most of the time after doing Fox Bay. My mental determination is the ONLY thing that got me through. I got a late start which put me out of sorts and then I fussed and argued with me most of the way. I did Fox Bay first and then decided to do 5 intersection to boat launch trips back to back so I could avoid the whole spillway part of the run. So, I had no running partner, no ipod, and by the time I did the 5th boat launch trip, I was the lone ranger...no MM people anywhere in sight. My own fault...all of the above. After 2 boat launch to intersection trips, I decided I could only do one more...then the math told me that was not acceptable for someone running a marathon in 3 wks. So, I decided I would do the whole 5 trips but halfway through the 3rd trip, I said, "screw it" (sorry) I just don't have the energy today. I need to save my energy for the real marathon. And so it went back and forth, back and forth, the whole way. Miserable, I was. I ran quite a bit up until about mile 15 and then mostly walked the remainder. My hamstrings and calves were killing me. I was so disappointed that I could not muster up the energy to run more. All I could think of was the weather is as good as Chicago will be, I carb loaded the last 2 days (maybe last 5 days, ha-ha), got enough sleep, wearing brand new shoes, what the heck is wrong with my energy level? If I can't do 22 miles any better than this, then I am a loser when it comes to doing a marathon. It took me 6 hrs. 8 min. I wanted to be able to do the CM in the official finish time of 6.5 hrs but a miracle will have to occur for that to happen. I am afraid they will have removed the finish line before I can get there. I am afraid if I start early and my chip doesn't cross the starting line then I won't be considered a legitimate finisher and won't get a medal. I am a basket case right now...all of my insecurities are raising their many ugly heads. There are a couple of positives about yesterday's wog...a) I out-negotiated the little devil on my shoulder that kept telling me to give up. I did the mileage. b) thanks to the Endurox and cold shower, I feel great today...very little soreness. I even played a tennis match this afternoon. Back to my negatives...I am very worried about the 26.2 miles. I sure am putting a lot of hope into that cheering crowd. Please get me through it.

Shin splints...NOW?

Ever since the Saturday run in Clinton my legs have been so sore. My left calf has been particularly bothersome. I did not exercise yesterday giving myself more time to recover and repair. So, today, I went to the park and started out doing 2:1 intervals...that did not last but one mile because my calves were HURTING like crazy mainly on the inside. Sounds like shin splints which I have not had the entire training period! I am guessing the hills in Clinton are the culprit. I usually run without much of any kind of pain and this is not fun to have legs that hurt as I run. Kristy has run with PF, huge blisters, and others have run with all sorts of pain issues. Well, let me say, I must be a big wimp, because I just ended up walking the rest of my time. I was out there 50 min. which was a struggle at that. I don't like doing minimums and I had intended to wog for at least an hour and start ramping up on my intervals and speed this week. It is disappointing to feel like I am regressing instead of progressing. I must remember that I am still in the game and do not suffer any debilitating injuries thus far...thank you God. So, I will be patient and know that I will bounce back from whatever is going on right now. Oh my gosh, y'all, 22 miles! I only did 18.5 on our last LSD. Will I be able to do it...yes, yes, yes, I can. (fake it 'til you make it)