My Running Story....

Running: (adjective) galloping, racing, moving, or passing rapidly. Or, if you had asked me a a few years ago, running: (adjective) hell, torture, or dying a slow death.

Running and I were never friends. I wanted to be friends with running, I used to dream of being friends with running. As I quickly acquired my college weight and the scales tipped at over 230 pounds, I was desperately trying to get running to like me. I would try and I would FAIL. I would make D be my coach. He could go out and run 7 miles without blinking, (he once even ran 12 miles with a buddy carrying an 100 pound “log” for no other reason than he could) and I thought he could show me how it was done. I thought he could introduce me to running and show her how awesome I was. Nope, still running did not want to hang with me. I would call her up and start running but then quit, telling myself all sorts of good reasons as to why running and I should not be friends.

Once in 2003, I think it was 03, I ran a 5k. The whole thing without stopping and vowed I would keep contact with running so we could start to like each other. Well I never called her again. Then again, in May of 2008, I decided to do another 5k. This one I did a run/walk combo, then used the preggo excuse to not do it again.

After giving birth and dropping my pregnancy weight and then an extra 20 pounds I decided to give running a call to see if she would be my friend again. I started out small, really small. I ran/walked a 5k in Oct 2009 and did it again in May 2010. In August 2010 I started running with a couple of really cool moms. We would run late at night, in the dark, in the humidity. We started out running not far and then walking, then running again and then walking.

We set a goal of running an Oct 5k, we RAN THE WHOLE THING! We even came in under what we thought we would. We loved it so much we decided a Nov 5k needed to be added. We ran that in even less time!!!

You see, I was sticking with this thing called running, not so much because I was better at it than I was in the past, not because it was easier, or the weight was flying off.  I stuck with it because I was running away from something.  INFERTILITY.  It is a big, nasty word and a heart wrenching and emotionally crushing journey.  The reason Running and I were so close now was because it was my escape.  

We started trying for baby #2 in January of 2010.  And month after month of negative pregnancy tests REALLY had me going in a bad place.  Infertility round two was even worse than the 18 months the first time took. I thought once you got pregnant the second time would be easy. Nope. It wasn't it was worse. The depression set in and the weight started to add back on. Tuesday nights in August of 2010, after 8 months of trying and failing, were my therapy sessions. I could deal with the failure of trying to conceive if I could just run from it all. Run from the doctor appointments, the shots, the multiple negative pregnancy tests. In March of 2011 I decided that I needed a goal other than getting pregnant to focus on and I did something completely unlike me.  I signed up for a local road race series. Run 6 races (4 5ks and 2 10ks) and earn a free runners jacket. I also signed up for a few randoms so that I would have at least 10 races on my calendar for the year.  

April 23rd was my first race. But on April 15th after 14 months of the hellish nightmare called TTC, I took a pregnancy test and it was positive!!!! I had paid for all of these races so I talked to the doctors got the ok to run and didn't look back. I ran all season. My last race of the series I was 34 weeks pregnant and I crossed that line running. I had run 12 races while growing my son. I also fell in love with running.

On Jan 2, 2012 just 13 days postpartum I started running again. This time with a half goal in my sites. I ran that half plus a bunch of other races last year. But it wasn't until a cold, snowy night in January of 2013 that I actually started calling myself a runner. I went out late at night without needing too. No training needed to be done, I had already worked out that day and it was snowing, snowing hard. But I went out. As the snow pelted my face and my feet fought through the unplowed sidewalks I felt a peace and a sense of pure happiness. I loved being out there. I had done it. I had gotten running to like me and I was and AM a runner. Now, because of running I am 103 pounds lighter, and started a running club that meets on Tuesday nights!  And the best thing of all is that through running I met a hero and she is ME.  I now believe in myself and am more willing to step up to the unknown and get ‘er done! 

Blogging slump

It happens, every once in awhile you will find me at a lack for words.  For the most part, I do always have something to say and an opinion to voice.  I have sparks of ah ha moments and times I want to shout to the world about something I have discovered.

Lots of things have been running through my head.  After all, running and my family are my two obsessions.  But I have had a hard time getting my thoughts to mesh and come out as a steady flow of words.  So I thought, well let's blog about this.  You readers want to know my random thoughts right?  No?  Ok how about a race recap then?

My racing season has started, YAY!!!!, and I have 3 under my belt so far.  A 5k and two 10ks.  The first race kicked off my road race series.  I am trying to earn my second Seacoast Road Race Series jacket! Seriously, if you have ever wanted motivation to run, this jacket rocks!!! I wear my first series jacket ALL. THE. TIME.  (This years series is closed but check it out HERE to think about doing it next year!)


My first race was a 5k through the city of Dover.  It was a fun little run and I really enjoyed chatting up the miles with my running buddies.  The course itself is full of hills, so the company was a really nice distraction on the pain in my calves. After, my mini decided to run one of the kids fun runs.  She was super cute at the start line and excited as all get out.  They said go and off she went, then she stopped.  She couldn't find us and she panicked a bit I think.  She came in dead last but hey she finished :0)

Race two was EPIC! It was Pineland Farms 10k.  A trail race for 6 miles.  Last year my amazing hubby took on Pineland's 50k and he rocked it! This year, I decided heck why not do something different and try a trail 10k.  WOW! After 6 days of straight rain, race day arrived with torrential downpours and waaaaay below seasonal temps.  I lined up at the start already drenched and shivering.  If I had thought my first race was hilly, this race soon demolished that thought.  The race course was BEAUTIFUL, breathtakingly so.  It crossed big rolling field hills and wound through the forest, up and down and twisting by brooks and waterfalls.  The path was knee deep with mud and had rivers of water flowing down them.  I stumbled ALOT, I walked some and I even fell once.  BUT I got up, kept going and made it to the finish line 83 minutes after the gun went off.  My time was not my best, but it was most definitely a life changing race.  I came out stronger than ever and added a new level of me to my running.

Ok the third race is my pride and joy.  It was Market Square 10k.  There really is nothing special about the course.  Its through downtown Portsmouth, NH and it has nothing to look at.  Usually the houses along the course have music blaring and water misters out but this years Hurricane Andrea made race day not so festive.  Market Square day itself is a great family event.  Housing lots of vendors, food, face painting, entertainment and the works, but we usually just go for the running.  This was my third year in a row running Market Square.  My first year running it was my very first 10k ever.  Before that I had never run more than 3 miles.  I was 14 weeks pregnant with my son and had SEVERE morning sickness.  My hubby decided to push the stroller with out daughter next to me so he could keep an eye on me and make sure I was ok.  I was, as I hit mile 4 I just started crying, I had never run that far before and I knew I would cross the line running.  Which I did at 1:17 and some odd seconds I crossed the line as tears of joy streamed down my face.  Last year I ran it just shy of 6 months postpartum with one of my very best friends.  She helped me get over my wall and keep at it.  Finishing in just 1:07 and some odd seconds.  TEN minutes were shaved off my time.  This year, after a winter of training with the running group I started I had hoped of making it in about 1:05.  Well, a good friend also had the same time goal and having run a few times together before hand we knew we paced about the same so we started together.  And we ended together.  Crossing the like at 58:55!!!! Another 8 minutes and some odd seconds taken off my time giving me a PR!!!!!!  Hubby even had flowers waiting for me since he knew I would PR, although we never thought by that much!

Three races down and a bunch more to go.  I can't wait for the next one :0)

It's race season!!!

Oh boy, tomorrow is the start of my racing season!!!! It's funny as I was talking to my husband the other day, I realized that this year I have more 10ks than I do 5ks and have even made up my mind to run another half.  I still finish in the second half of the pack but at least I finish, I still struggle to think of myself as a runner but I call myself a runner and I still get super nervous for no reason the day before a race.

I am not sure why the nerves settle in, since it's not an actual race for me.  The only one I compete against is the fat girl in my head who likes to tell me that I can't do things. She likes to speak up at the worst possible times yet I have learned to push pass her and show her that in no way is she right.  In fact, she has been kicked to the curb and I am hoping she decides to just leave instead of standing out there yelling at me.

Who else is racing tomorrow?  If you are then happy happy race day!!! I know that Blood, Sweat and, oooh so shiny is running her first half tomorrow and The Running Itch has her first half Sunday! Head on over on facebook and show them some support!

StReAkInG!

Streaking to a runner is a bit different than streaking to a college frat boy.  I am NOT running naked around the block, down the road or around campus.  I am running EVERY day.  Every single day I am lacing up the sneaks and hitting the pavement running.  In fact when Running on the Fly, initiated the challenge to streak the month of April, I had already run the last two days of March, so today marks 32 days of streaking.  Some days I am logged some miles and most days I just did my mandatory at least one mile.  Some of those one miles days were done as fast as I could and some were just slow comfort miles.  I have run alone, with partners and pushing my littles.  I have run in the cold, the wind, the snow, the dark, the morning, the night and the gorgeous spring sunshine.

Halfway through April, my legs were TIRED.  Even on my one mile days I could feel how heavy they were and how slow I had become.  I wanted to end the streak, I wanted a running break, but I stuck with it.  Something, however, has changed in this last week of April.  As the finish line to the challenge approached the more I WANTED to run.  In fact this past weekend I took on 2 of the hilliest 5k courses I have ever come across. Back to back, Saturday AND Sunday and I PR'd both times.  Out on those hills, I actually laid down my two fastest 5ks EVER! In fact, according to my trusty Nike + app my average mile for the month of April is 35 seconds FASTER than my average mile in March.  I have logged twice as many miles, yet I am somehow faster?!

Before the streak, I was a huge promoter of rest days.  Running just 3-4 days a week.  However, I think I may have had a change of heart.... I think that my streak may continue for as long as I am still loving it.  How about you?  Ever streak? Want to streak? Streaking thoughts?

Off to run :0)

Running Rules...

Ok, it's been awhile.  My dreams of writing a few times a week were sidelined when my heart went out to Boston.  After the Boston bombings I was heavy, I was sad and I was at a loss for words.  I couldn't figure out what I wanted to say and I couldn't figure out how to organize myself to let inspiration flow.  So, I didn't write.

I have even sat down and asked on my Facebook page Crazy Mama Runner, for help on what to write next.  I was in the middle of composing a piece on my kids because running and my kids are like my all time favorite things, but it wasn't coming together.  Then this morning, I had one of my dear running partners post to my personal page.  This list of running commandments posted by Favorite Run.  As I read them I started out with small nods of approval and by the end was just about shouting YES! These are a fantastic lists of things I believe as a runner.  I especially love #5 and #8 ;0).  What are some of your running commandments?  Happy Running :0)

The 53 Runner's Commandments

1. Don’t be a whiner. Nobody likes a whiner, not even other whiners.
2. Walking out the door is often the toughest part of a run.
3. Don’t make running your life. Make it part of your life.
4. During group training runs, don’t let anyone run alone.
5. Keep promises, especially ones made to yourself.
6. When doing group runs, start on time no matter who’s missing.
7. The faster you are the less you should talk about your times.
8. Keep a quarter in your pocket. One day you’ll need to call for a ride.
9. Don’t compare yourself to other runners.
10. All runners are equal, some are just faster than others.
11. Keep in mind that the later in the day it gets, the more likely it is that you won’t run.
12. For a change of pace, get driven out and then run back.
13. If it was easy, everybody would be a runner.
14. When standing in starting lines, remind yourself how fortunate you are to be there.
15. Getting out of shape is much easier than getting into shape.
16. A bad day of running still beats a good day at work.
17. Talk like a runner. “Singlets” are worn on warm days. “Tank tops” are worn to the beach.
18. Don’t talk about your running injuries. People don’t want to hear about your sore knee or black toe.
19. Don’t always run alone.
20. Don’t always run with people.
21. Approach running as if the quality of your life depended on it.
22. No matter how slow you run it is still faster than someone sitting on a couch.
23. Keep in mind that the harder you run during training, the luckier you’ll get during racing.
24. Races aren’t just for those who can run fast.
25. There are no shortcuts to running excellence.
26. The best runs sometimes come on days when you didn’t feel like running.
27. Be modest after a race, especially if you have reason to brag.
28. If you say, “Let’s run this race together,” then you must stay with that person no matter how slow.
29. Think twice before agreeing to run with someone during a race.
30. There is nothing boring about running. There are, however, boring people who run.
31. Look at hills as opportunities to pass people.
32. Distance running is like cod liver oil. At first it makes you feel awful, then it makes you feel better.
33. Never throw away the instructions to your running watch.
34. Don’t try to outrun dogs.
35. Don’t trust runners who show up at races claiming to be tired, out of share, or not feeling well.
36. Don’t wait for perfect weather. If you do, you won’t run very often.
37. When tempted to stop being a runner, make a list of the reasons you started.
38. Never run alongside very old or very young racers. They get all of the applause.
39. Without goals, training has no purpose.
40. During training runs, let the slowest runner in the group set the pace.
41. The first year in a new age group offers the best opportunity for trophies.
42. Go for broke, but be prepared to be broken.
43. Spend more time running on the roads than sitting on the couch.
44. Make progress in your training, but progress at your own rate.
45. “Winning” means different things to different people.
46. Unless you make your living as a runner, don’t take running too seriously.
47. Runners who never fail are runners who never try anything great.
48. Never tell a runner that he or she doesn’t look good in tights.
49. Never confuse the Ben-Gay tube with the toothpaste tube.
50. Never apologize for doing the best you can.
51. Preventing running injuries is easier than curing them.
52. Running is simple. Don’t make it complicated.
53. Running is always enjoyable. Sometimes, though, the joy doesn’t come until the end of the run.

Marathon Monday!

What a sunshiny day here, it almost makes you believe it's warm and perfect for running and not cold and perfect for not.

I have had an unbelievable outpouring of support after making the decision to branch out and become a runner blogger. My Facebook page scored 26 likes overnight, yay !!

I just wanted to do a special marathon Monday blog post. What motivates you? What inspires you?

I know for a fact that those Boston runners running today are one strong group of inspiring people. The training , the qualifying runs, the barely missing the qualifying time and doing it again and sign makes for some awesome runners! I have a very very special friend who just recently qualified for Boston 2014. I can not wait to travel down and cheer her on. She is such an inspiring runner and person and I often times find myself using her as my "head" voice when I want to quit. I don't, I just put on my big girl sneakers and keep at it. Pounding pavement one step at a time. Because after all one step becomes two and two becomes three and before you know it you've crossed the line 13.1 miles later.

Have a happy marathon Monday all and good running to all you running the Boston!!!

Live laugh RUN!

Hitting the road running!

Hi! *wave*

Welcome aboard my crazy train.  Things around here are never dull and it is never easy to squeeze in a run, but somehow I make it happen.  I have learned in the past year that I need to start doing things *gasp* are you ready for this?... I need to do things for ME! Yes, that's right for myself.  As a mom, me as a person is always shoved to the back.  My needs are last, if I have to eat I do after everyone else is served and fed, if I need a shower I am the one with the cold water, if I need to potty I cross my legs and put everyone else through the line first.  But with my new found friend Running, I have learned that I can do things, awesome things and I need to do them for ME!

So I have decided to take it up a notch and add my little quirk of writing in with the running and now I can become a crazy writing runner.  What better place than a blog to chronicle all my running stories and to maybe just MAYBE motivate some other runners out there for whatever they are training for.

I wasn't always a runner, in fact when I first took up running I couldn't even do a 1/4 mile without quitting and just giving up.  But things change (see here for the beginning of that change!) and I have changed.  I ran my first half last fall and I haven't looked back yet.  I am loving the new confidence and freedom being a runner has brought me.  I officially call myself a runner now, which for the longest time I had a HARD time doing.  I always used to say I run but...not fast, not far, not long, not good.... Whatever, I run.  I may run like a turtle through peanut butter but I run and thanks to one cold winter day where, while running it all clicked, I can call myself a runner.

So, my name is C. And I like to call myself C Runner.  I run. I am a mom. I am a wife. I am a daughter, sister, friend and more.  But most importantly I am me. This is a journey of discovery, because what you discover about yourself while the miles are pounded down under your feet is pretty freakin amazing.  I hope you follow along, and say hi occasionally!


Live, Laugh, RUN