5 months of running every day

ok although i haven't been blogging very well i have been running well and.....daily.

the daily running commitment has given me:
1. quality one on one time with my children discussing things that don't normally come up in the family room
2. my half-marathon pr in april
3. the opportunity to do something i didn't really want to do.
4.the chance to run in the mountains, the snow, the rain, the sleet, the wind, the mud, the sun, late at night, early in the morning, after a full day of exercise, alone, with family, with friends, in hiking boots, barefoot, on the treadmill, on the roads, in arkansas, colorado, missouri, and oklahoma, when i was sick, when i was tired, when i really wanted to, and when my legs hurt.
5. the chance to see my daughter running her first 4 mile event this weekend.

i have a few most memorable jaunts:

1. in colorado over spring break... started feeling ill on the slopes. had to stop skiing for the day went back to cabin and went to bed while the others went to dinner. chris came back to the cabin and i told him i still needed to run. after much discussion between the two of us he agreed to go with me for the mile minimum. i made it about 50 yards and emptied the contents of my stomach on the side of the road while about 30 deer looked on and chris held my hair back. i am thankful for the window of good feeling you get when you do that and was able to complete the mile and head back to bed.
2. i ran 13 miles in a blizzard at turkey mt. it was all i could do to keep the mud from sucking my shoes off until the ground got so frozen and my feet so wet and cold that it didn't matter anymore. after i got back to the yukon where chris had been sleeping for two hours (we had driven in from colorado the night before, arriving home about 2am) we had to tow people out of their parking spaces.
it also happened to be maggie's birthday and it was the first time during a run that i knew exactly what i had been doing that day 14 years ago. and for those of you wondering..... 14 years ago i hadn't ever run a mile without stopping. i was very proud of where i was that day and who i had become. i felt empowered.
3. running a mile around 10:30 pm to get it done. eli was concerned that i was going out on my own so he volunteered to join me. he talks so openly. this particular night that stands out he asked about how to know that the bible was really all written by God and not just people doing their best. the awesome thing is there is no pressure for answers to the things we discuss. there is only the freedom that running brings to the mind for discovery.
4. a three mile run around the neighborhood with drew on his bike beside me. no walkman needed... after we talked about his day he rode and sang the songs for me that he was doing for his first grade musical.

just to name a few...

it has been a great 5 months...

latest run was 11:15 pm
earliest run 4:30 am
longest run 15 miles (so far)... chris is trying to get me to do another marathon..
personal best in half-marathon of 1:51:27... goal was 2:00:00

everyone is moving more at our house... what about yours????

uphill and into the wind

completed another long (12 mile) training run saturday. did a loop around the river. apparently just missed the plane landing by about 1/2 hour. went from 71st down to the 21st street bridge feeling great. as soon as i turned on to the bridge it was like a hurricane. i had not noticed the wind at my back those first 5 miles, but it was immediate as i turned. i had 6 miles to go straight into that breeze. chris was mt. biking at turkey while i ran, so not only was i to run into the wind but i had the mile and 1/2 uphill as well. i tried to keep a positive attitude and think about what great training this was. that was until the water bottle he was supposed to leave me on the car at the top wasn't there. then i just got frustrated. however, he caught me on his bike a few minutes later with nice fresh water to drink. i forgave him quickly, because it was our anniversary weekend. we were in the midst of celebrating 17 years of marriage after all.

only two more long ones before the big day. my time is coming along. it may actually be possible to reach my time goal. colorado next week for spring break.. not sure if i'm looking forward to altitude training or not.

kristin

2 months and counting

gym today. treadmill after spin class. forgot running shoes. desperate: ran in socks 1 mile. balls of feet a bit on the stinging side upon completion. had been reading about benefits of barefooted running recently. never once did these articles mention the treadmill. imagine that.

well at least i have another first. and i bet i will remember to bring my shoes tomorrow.

kristin

long run postponed....

i awoke thinking i might have been hit by a mack truck . but no, nothing like that. i survived the les mills fitmark quarterly in arlington texas yesterday. my body is sore. a group of us from the gym went down and did roughly seven to eight classes. we were going from 9am to 7 pm. (attack,vive,combat,flow,step,pump,jam,and a bit of cycle) and on my break i even managed to get my mile minimum in for the day. most thought i was more than crazy, but i just couldn't let it be the day i didn't run. i mean i was already sweaty and dressed for it. think goodness for the runkeeper app on my phone. i logged a mile around the hotel which included a pass by texas stadium. which was a first.

the problem was today. i was supposed to get in an 11 miler this weekend. it hasn't happened; won't happen. i did well to hit the pavement for a mile today in the rain. i really, really, didn't feel like running when i started but as i was completing the mile i felt a bit looser. i must get the 11 completed in the next couple days or i will be off for next weekend as well. not good.

i'll let you know how it works out.

kristin

still running; still learning

things i've learned past couple of weeks of daily running-

1. the i phone can get so cold that it completely goes dead, completely... until you hold it in your hands and/ or put it between you legs for many minutes and it rewarms. it can't be left in a front pocket as you run into the wind on a cold day without striking fear into the heart of its owner.

2. i can run faster than i thought i could. (most days)

3. i may dread the idea of "the run" but i have always been glad i did it when i'm done. no regrets baby!!!!!

kristin

still hanging on.... two long runs done. one 9 mile on treadmill and one 10 mile run this past weekend outside. daily runs of 1-4 miles squeezed in among the rest of life. next week i build to 11 for the long and then start the alternating: long one weekend and half that distance the next. i love those half weekends. some days its taken all i have to get my mile in. my legs have felt heavy and tired. but i've done it and am always glad for one more day. i have found repeatedly that the first mile is the hardest, mentally and physically. however, the tug-a-war i used to do mentally about going vs not going has subsided. it has become a when not if. i am getting stronger and a bit faster. the daily running, however long or short, is becoming the norm. each day it's a choice, and i have chosen to run.

kristin

yet another first...

well, only because i said i would run everyday did i go out a mile today in the slush, snow, and ice. i hate having wet feet which lead to this first. i ran in my gortex hiking boots. it felt like running with weighted feet. one mile was fine, but i am going nine tomorrow and must come up with a better plan. quickly! also, got registered finally for the okc half-marathon. i figure if i'm actually going to run nine tomorrow there better be a really good reason. i committed. wish me luck...

kristin

p.s. i made it a whole month... just 11 more to go.

i'm your husband, that's my job

ok, as you know the weather is stopping the town today, but not me. i waited for the snow to start falling and invited chris to go out with me. if you have to choose, i figure the snow is more fun to run in than sleet or freezing rain. as we were dodging the new hazards of low icesicle hanging branches i thanked chris for coming with me and supporting my crazy ideas. his response "i'm your husband, that's my job". and i must say he does his job very well. thankful for another mile, another day, and a great husband.

kristin

daily run perk 3

forgot my running shoes today when went to the gym. had to work late. needed to get in the minimum run..... luckily the temperatures were in my favor (60*). enjoyed eli's company as he rode his scooter and chalked up another mile for himself too. these short minimum runs are really paying off.
kristin

"look out for that speed trap ahead"

long run today. decided (but not signed up yet) to run okc half in april. there is some reason i haven't signed yet but it is unbeknownst to me. had time to let the thoughts roll today....

1. i have actually been looking forward to the long run which is unusual. i think the daily running has been a part of that. recently i have been considering what is the best kind of run: short, long, intervals, hills, track, pace, etc....answer.... the best kind of run is one that leaves you wanting to run more.

2. ran roads today that haven't been on since we moved. as chris and i were each listening to our music it dawned on me how many times we had run these same roads the past 3 years discussing pros and cons, should we/ shouldn't we of selling the house, eliminating debt, changing jobs, dealing with parenting issues, crying, laughing, etc. so much of what was decided out there is now reality. we have done it. i felt pride in that. we are making progress and taking chances. we've made some big strides towards living true to ourselves and following our passions.

3. decided to blog more often... from the quick mile after spin to the long runs and all in between. reason? i realized that often as we live moments we have no way to know which moment or moments will be the life impacting or life-changing ones for ourselves or for those around us. i'm really into the whole idea of story writing and character development right now and how it parallels the life we have the opportunity to create for ourselves each day. in Bird by Bird by anne lamott in reference to story writing and character development she says:

"you couldn't have had any way of knowing what this piece
of work would look like when you first started. you just knew
that there was something about these people that compelled
you, and you stayed with that something long enough for it
to show you what it was about."

4. somewhere between mile 6 and 7 today we came up on an old man grabbing his newspaper from the driveway. he shouted something to us. for some reason instead of just nodding and smiling having no idea what he said (related to the headphones i mentioned earlier) we both pulled out an earbud and said "what?" his reply "look out for that speed trap ahead!." then he proceeded to belly laugh at us as we acknowledged his wit and ran on. everyone needs a good dose of humble pie occasionally. of course we are ASSUMING that he was being sarcastic..... (we didn't see any cops the rest of the run)

kristin

daily running perk #2

daily one mile minimum run completed. perk of commitment today was time with eli alone. had time to discuss some frustration he was having and he was better when we were done. yeah for exercise big or small. it's all beneficial physically and emotionally.

kristin

unforseen perk of daily running #1

guess what!!!!

i can still say i have run every day this year. getting to be more of an impressive statement than it was jan. 2. somedays it's been 1 mile somedays more. but it has been everyday.

here is first perk- monday i had off from work. so my plan was to come straight home after 5:45am spin class and go back to bed, which i did. (i have been jumping on the treadmill after to get in my minimum mile for the day.) i figured i had the rest of the day to get in a run, which i did. however, as usually happens on days off the time just seems to speed up and disappear. before i knew it it was 7pm and i still needed to get to the grocery and make dinner. i had the fleeting thought to call the whole thing off again thinking of all the struggles it might save me in the future...but i did not. and boy am i glad! you rarely get to see the ripple effect of a commitment that you make, but this say i did. and i liked it.

as soon as i said i'm going to get in a quick mile before the store eli said he wanted to come. then because maggie didn't want eli to get more miles than her she was in. next up was drew who is slowly making his way to oklahoma city with his miles. all the kids were in without me even asking or begging. a first..... so chris and roxy joined us and we had a family mile run. AMAZING to say the least. it was one of those few times as a parent when you know you have done at least a few things right and have for the moment achieved an outcome so longingly desired. i savored it.

just an update: maggie biked 20 miles and run/walked 4
eli biked 9 miles and run 9
drew biked 2 and run/walked 4
not a bad start for the year.....


still running
kristin

Kristin -

Another first: I was home early today and on kid duty. Scott called around 5 - I was expecting him to say he was running late, or ask if he needed to stop by the grocery store, or something like that. I answer the phone and hear a simple, "You wanna go for a run?" I don't think HE has ever asked ME to go for a run. A bike ride? Yes. A walk? Yes. But he only runs when I beg him to go with me. I was so startled I thought I must have misunderstood. But no, he had a really stressful situation at work and just thought the best thing to do was tell me all about it on a run. Wow. That is beautiful.

Ardelle
PS: Regarding the group the other night - it went GREAT. Their thoughts were better than mine by far. Very good discussion about desperate vs. dedicated. But the best part came toward the end, when one guy asked if he could go to the bathroom. Without even thinking I said, "Oh, come on ... we'll be done in about ten minutes ... are you really desperate?" There was about 2 seconds of silence and then a burst of laughter. He just goes, "No, I'm not desperate but I AM dedicated when I have to go to the bathroom."

the run that almost wasn't

sometimes motivation comes from the most unusual sources...

yesterday i spent the day in a mental tug of war. will i run? will i not? it's 14 degrees for the high temperature. i've done something for exercise everyday this week (i usually allow one day at least to do nothing physical). we were working on the kids room. having good family time. did i mention the 12 degrees? planning on a long run sunday. i actually made a new year's resolution to "do less." this could be a first step in that direction... we had two different sets of company at the house during the day, one in the afternoon and one coming for dinner. did i mention the windchill made it feel even colder than the 12 degrees it was? however, to continue to be able to say that i'd run everyday this year lingered in my head. the agreement was a mile minimum to be able to count as a run. it wasn't that much. 8-9 min plus change time. back and forth, back and forth. what will i do.... during the day i was able to distract myself frequently. play it down. i mean the run everyday idea was just kinda tossed out there at new years because we were all running together those few days. it would be impossible to really run everyday this year, so i might as well stop now.

i had pretty much convinced myself this was going to be the end of the road. the second set of company had arrived. i was making dinner, but very distracted from the conversation at hand by this continuous internal dialog. was i really going to let it end this way. it was 7:30 pm. the sun had set. it was over. i was ok.....or i will be ok....or i don't know. when maggie walked in the kitchen and asked "mom, aren't you going to run today?" "you said you were going to try to run everyday this year." i looked at her and replied "i'm not really sure i said that. i mean, we were all talking about how cool it would be, but i'm not sure i actually said that." she responded "you should go".

i provided her with some of the dialog that had been running through my head all day. she listened, as did our company, probably thinking "i can't believe how much time and energy you've wasted on this today, either do it or not". maggie again simply said "you should go. there may be a day when you can't for some reason, but today you can. so since you can, i think you should.' she was right. the dinner for our guests was in the oven for 20 min. i had time. i had a choice.

i invited magggie and eli to come along on their bikes, which they both turned down initially, and headed up to change. as i was changing maggie came in and said she would go with me. awesome!!! we both bundled up, put the leash on roxy and headed out the door. one more day, one more mile.

the thing is... how many other times do i let this inner dialog squander an ideal or waiting adventure? too many. maggie reminded me that i might not succeed in running everyday this year but i can run today. and today got me one day closer to everyday.

still running-
kristin

foiled attempt

ardelle-

wow- wished i were running with you today. desperation is often a part of my dedication as you know. i think you hit a jackpot today. i'll be curious to hear how the group discussion went and i think i will spend some time pondering those questions myself and get back to you.

my run today went like this...
desire = 3-4 miles on treadmill after bodypump

reality= husband to bodypump with me (which is awesome) but (does there always have to be a but???) he does not want to stick around for that.

new plan= 1 mile so i can still have run everyday this year

reality= 1.5 miles ( first mile to get daily minimum in. half mile to blow off steam from information acquired during first mile from husband.)

lesson learned= half mile not adequate for anger removal. must either go further and/or faster next time.

"and that's all i have to say about that." forest gump

kristin

From desperation to dedication

Hi Kristin,

I don't know about you, but running is my best planning time. For my day, my week, maybe a plan of attack for some project. Priorities and ideas just sift to the top when I'm running in a way they don't when I'm sitting still. So today when I set out to run, I knew my top priority was to figure out a topic and some discussion questions for a court-ordered domestic violence group I had just agreed to lead tonight.

I barely got started on my run when I saw an acquaintance of mine drive past. It is super cold out today, so right away I thought, "I bet she thinks I am really dedicated, out running in weather like this." And my next thought was that it is more desperation than dedication that is getting me out to run. Then the aha moment -- are the two really that far apart? Desperation can be one of the surest routes to dedication!

Well, from there it didn't take long to figure out a topic for group tonight. I think my opening questions tonight will be: When have you, in some way, reached a point of desperation? Did it push you to change your priorities or commitments for the better? Or could it have, if you had let it? At the beginning of a new year -- what are some things you feel desperate to change? What are some things you want to change before you get desperate? What are some priorities or commitments you have already established that you feel good about and want to continue?

Whatcha think? And by the way, I remember one of the first times I shopped one of your garage sales - you had some cross-training shoes for sale that looked like new. I said so, and you replied, "They look great on the outside, but they're completely worn out on the inside." You've had that topic brewing for awhile, huh?? Great birthday thoughts ...

Ardelle

it's what's on the inside that matters.....right????

ardelle-

had a fabulous birthday yesterday. got on the treadmill after bodypump to run a few miles. called to check in at home to make sure everyone was up for school when i was reminded of what was even more important. the kids and chris were at home waiting on me for a birthday breakfast surprise. luckily i already had a mile under my belt and had almost completed the second. i increased the speed and hoofed it out.

my big plan for the day was to get new running shoes and go to a couple of movies i'd been wanting to see. i had been thinking about the deal with running shoes for a few weeks now. i fondly remember the days when i picked a shoe by myself and made the selection based on appearances. i thought almost any shoe out there was a possibility. i'd been examining the shift of that more and more intently as my birthday approached. when did i learn that wasn't true? when did i learn that a running shoe was only good for 6 months or 500 miles, whichever came first? when did i have someone watch me run on the treadmill and tell me i need a motion control shoe and these were my four or five choices, of which i might not find any attractive. and when did i start absolutely believing what they told me was true? i guess it was when i put that first pair on and was won over by the soft cushioning, flexible forefoot, and glove like fit. it was what was on the inside that was important. the inside is what made us a perfect match.

every 6 months or so i start getting a sore arch or achy forefoot and i know it's almost time... usually the outside of the shoe still looks fine but inside it is broken down. this year as i was i psyching myself up to make a choice based on the important things about my next running shoes i became very aware how we as people are like running shoes. lots of times the outside is really not an accurate reflection of what is happening on the inside. and those perfect fits take a bit of effort to find. in my life the number of great fits is much closer to the motion control options than the wall of shoes they are a part of. and at a newly 39 i am satisfied, actually elated, about my motion control people and shoes.

i have to tell you i was super prepared for the venture.. i brought with me my past three pairs of running shoes (MINUS THE ONES I VOWED NEVER TO WEAR AGAIN AND BANISHED FROM THE HOUSE AS SOON AS I GOT HOME FROM THAT LAST MARATHON) in a green (not plastic) bag. (a different new year's resolution) i was making sure the salesman would know what had worked in the past as well as donating them. they take old running shoes to the local day center for homeless and provide shoes for people. and to top it off.....i remembered my own socks to try on with. you can see i was very focused here. however, even having recently spent time pondering these things when i walked into tulsa runner yesterday and saw the wall of shoes it was quite enticing. but, i stayed focused. there were only three choices this time and our movie started in 45 min. i even shared my people /shoe theory with the salesman who smiled politely and nodded his head in agreement. the trip was a success and now i have new shoes which always inspire running. mission accomplished.

on another note i highly recommend the movie "it's complicated." chris and i both laughed so much. not for the kids though.
the kids are out of school for the rest of the week due to frigid temperatures.... chris is quite perturbed by the ordeal seeing how his office is 10 feet from the hub of the home's activity.

kristin

Cold!

Hey Kristin -

LOVED hearing about the New Year's discussion. Especially Drew wanting to let the dog out less! I am remembering why your family is so inspirational for us ...

I did make a resolution for Kate to learn how to make lemon crepes in 2010. Scott & Alden & I were out for a run and passed a little place in Hillcrest that came & went all in a year - didn't make it long - but I really, really liked their lemon crepes. Scott & I both said, "Guess we'll have to learn to make them." But since Kate has been bragging about how good she is at cooking with the Wii (we don't even have a Wii - can't remember where she did all this cooking!) - & that cooking with the Wii is WAY harder than real cooking - I thought she could take on that task.

Plus she's gotten really good at getting out written directions to figure out how to do something. I recently got a humidifier for her room - & before we had a chance to set it up, she had gotten out the directions & had the whole thing put together & ready, full of water & everything. Scott came in to check it & plug it in. He moved it over toward the wall/outlet, & she yelled, "No! Dad! That could give you an electric shock! It needs to be at least 12 inches from the wall!!" So it's comforting that we've got the safety factor down.

I too have managed to run every day of the year, but short distances - it is dang cold here too. I've done at least a couple miles a day though. I've also tried the yoga stuff you showed me - and I HURT! In a good way. Alden tried the moves too, and they humbled his almost-14-year-old body. But he mentioned that his track coach last spring suggested they work on their core muscles to improve their running, so he has his own motivation going.

Last night I read another bit of A Christmas Carol out loud before we went to bed. Tried reading it during the holidays but we didn't get very far. It's sweet time but everyone else falls asleep and I get a sore throat from reading aloud. I was caught off guard when I totally choked up at the part where Tiny Tim said he hoped the people saw him in church on Christmas Day, "because he was a cripple, and it might be pleasant to them to remember upon Christmas Day, who made lame beggars walk, and blind men see."

Kids had a snow day yesterday - handy to be in transition with work right now, on days like that.

Where did you find the WhirlyPop? You're going to love the popcorn it makes!
Ardelle

jan 4th and still going strong

hey ardelle-
i have managed to continue to run every day of the year. today i squeezed in my mile between spin class and step class. i am doing damage control for the time spent at your place. according to the scale not all was lost (or gained). so for the year i am at 15 miles. i've had to use the treadmill here, the high for the past few days has been in the teens.

on the way home from little rock i was asking the family what we wanted to do more of and less of this year. this could be as individuals or as a group. of course i was hoping to hear how everyone wanted to exercise and eat well and quit watching TV. instead drew wanted to do less of letting the dog out, (apparently he does it allllllll the time), eli wanted a trip with dad only, and maggie- well she actually had some good ones. i was determined that i was not going to bring exercise into it for anyone since it really does need to be their own choice. chris had decided he wanted to start combining runs with vacations and made a goal the misoula montana half-marathon in july. he was on the phone to one of our friends who made what he thought was a "smart remark" about "why don't you just run to montana" when i had possibly one of my best ideas ever......for sure the best idea of the year..... to motivate the seemingly unmotivatable.

i tossed out to the kids in the back seat "if you guys pick a destination in the united states and log the miles to get there we will take you there." they were interested. after many clarifying questions on their part and few to no promises on our part, except to take them there, we had three very motivated kiddos. thus far our destinations are drew to oklahoma city at 100 miles, eli to new orleans for a saints game at aprox. 700 miles, and maggie to new york city to see a play at about 1400 miles. yesterday they got busy... maggie got 9 miles under her belt on the bike and eli got 10. drew ran 1. we have charts and stars to do it up right. i'll keep you posted on the progress of course.

hope it warms soon. not looking promising for outdoor running. lows later this week of 3 and 0.

kristin

p.s. got the whirley pop!!! new running shoes for my birthday tomorrow....

Today is the first day....

It's the 2nd of January, and so far we've run every day this year. Thirteen years ago we started running together in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. Since then each of us with our families has moved back and forth across the country a couple times, and the runs have continued. Whether or not we've both kept it up separately (we haven't lived in the same town for the past nine years) -- when we get together, we always know we're gonna run.

A couple years ago, we decided to make a tradition of our families spending New Year's together. We've had one year of keeping it and one year of not, and then this year -- we're back on. The story of our lives. So the Kings came to the Walters for New Year's this year. (Which means Kristin will demand that we go to the King's house next year. Or whichever year we get back to our tradition.) This time one of us is in great shape and one of us is not -- but there was no question as to whether or not we would run together. So we ended the year with a run on December 31, and began a new year with a run the next day. It's been a great year so far!

There was, however, a first involved here. Both of our husbands ran with us -- a foursome. It's amazing that in thirteen years that has never happened. Come to think of it, last summer was the first time we all went on a bike ride together. Kids must have something to do with this new phase -- the older ones are now teenagers and can be in charge while all the adults go out to run or bike. In the old days we depended on our husbands who not only watched the kids while we ran, but never complained (at least not to our faces) about us sometimes paying a sitter to watch the kids while we ran ... sometimes planting a car at the other end of a long run for us ... toting the kids to some of our road races (and showing up with Sudafed instead of ibuprofen in the middle of a marathon) ... and all while trying to make time for their own exercise and interests. Chris and Scott realized early on that our running improved not only the quality of our own lives, but of our relationships with them and the kids as well.

Chris even set up this blog for us. Wait - was it his idea too? Come to think of it, Chris & Kristin were on a run when they came up with the idea of a blog for Kristin. Then when we were all together it expanded to a joint project. Which is the best kind.

So the idea is to get some of our "running thoughts" down on paper (or on cyberspace as it were). Over the years there have been so many "aha moments" about ourselves and each other and life and faith and cooking and parenting and working and going back to school ... that incubate or hatch while we run (together or separately) ... that we thought it might be kind of cool to start documenting some of this stuff. For fun and edification, not to mention that we sometimes need our own gentle reminders to lace up our shoes and get moving. Just put one foot in front of the other and there is no telling where you might end up. Admittedly - you might end up crashing on the pavement just as easily as soaring on a runner's high - but you'll have a story anyway.

We're headed out for a run before Kristin's family heads back to Tulsa. Then we'll start a whole new dimension of shared running - by posting thoughts after a run. We hope you'll join us & do the same.