Every Mile Matters – Know Why It Matters to YOU

By Moon Joggers | Published: July 1, 2015

Every Mile Matters – Know Why It Matters to YOU
By Melissa Oltman

I didn’t start running until I was 53 years old – in fact, I made it a point to tell people that I didn’t run, and I had no interest in running. Ever. The truth was, I had been interested a few times in my life; once in high school, when I couldn’t run the required mile to qualify for the gymnastics team, and once in the 1980’s, when Jim Fixx was all the rage with his running book. I had tried to run, and I sucked at it.

But in September 2013 I WALKED a 5K at my new job, and something clicked. The people who had run looked like they had so much fun, and I wanted to feel that! So the following Monday I started the Couch to 5K app. And by Friday I had strained the medial meniscus on both knees and could hardly walk! I honestly don’t know what made me keep trying. Certainly, I had given up before, but SOMETHING stuck with me.

By January I had found Moon Joggers, and I wanted what THOSE people had too: the joy, the friendships, the fun at races. To make a long stroy short, I entered my first half marathon because “Of course you can!” from my favorite enabler and cheerleader Carolyn. It was the Chicago Rock and Roll Half Marathon, July 20, 2014. I was all flustered when my GPS wouldn’t work amidst the tall buildings of Chicago, so I couldn’t tell if I was keeping the right pace, so I finally just forgot about it and PRANCED my way through 13 glorious miles! It got tough that last mile – man, it was tough! But I finished on the highest high I have ever felt in my life! I could easily have turned right around and run the whole thing again.

And that’s really when things went sour. I raced again in August, and again in September – oh, THAT one was wonderful. A whole BUNCH of Moon Joggers met in Dayton, Ohio for the Air Force Marathon, and you have never really RUN until you have run with a whole bunch of people who have become friends, comrades, and teammates. I actually got really sick at that one – heat exhaustion – because I had gone out too fast, and barely limped across the finish line before being hauled into the medic tent with low blood pressure.

See, I had fallen prey to the “What’s your pace?” monster. They say that “comparison is the thief of joy” and as the months progressed, comparing myself to everyone else slowly poisoned what had become for me not only one of my greatest joys but definitely my stress reliever. Indeed, running became MORE stressful, as I would look down at that bloody Garmin 50 times during each run, and how I felt was toally dependent on that “average pace per mile” flashing on my wrist.

I ran in October and in December – I actually really loved the December race, but I didn’t sign up for any halfs after that because I noticed that not only was I comparing myself to others, but there was a sneaky little thing, even among friends, of comparing themselves to me and amongst each other.

I ran my first marathon in Little Rock on March 1, 2015, and unfortunately, I became injured on my last long run 4 weeks out from it, so the experience itself was painful and disappointing. There was so much I LOVED about it. The city itself is wonderful, the sights we passed were incredible, and the people you meet in those last 6 miles and the conversations you have are very cool, but my time goal was impossible because of my injury.

And when I finished I honestly didn’t care if I ever ran again. At first I thought it was normal – most people take time off after a marathon because the training can be pretty consuming. But I just couldn’t get it back. I tried a lot of things. I tried the positive self talk, the switching up cross training. I tried it all, but for me, the thrill was very much gone. And I really really grieved that. Running has been so many things for me.

ANd then recently, a very smart and wise friend told me, “Stop trying so hard. Don’t wear your Garmin, don’t log your miles. Just get out the door and go.” And one early morning, all by myself, I stepped out the door – no Garmin, no nothing, and just took off down the street with no real plan of where I was running or for how far or how long.  And about half a block into it, I was very aware of my shoulders relaxing, and I closed my eyes and took a deep breath and just sighed. Because it just felt SO GOOD to be out there doing MY thing all by myself.

Find out why every mile matters TO YOU PERSONALLY. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be faster, but for me, personally, I am very much NOT a competitive person. It’s my hippie-everyone-wins personality. For me, running is my ME time, the one time in the day when I am not responsible for anyone else, I have no decisions to make except whether to turn right or turn left, and I am the most authentically Melissa. I love to do races for the FUN – it’s like going to a big party, for me. And I have finally learned to not only be OK with all of that, but to stand up for it, and hold tightly to it when others have different goals and needs.

Every single blessed mile matters to ME. It’s MINE – my experience, my achievement, on my terms. And I truly hope that every runner finds out and cherishes why every mile matters to THEM.

 

Posted in Connecting, Don't Give Up, every mile matters, Finding the Positive, Guest Post, having fun running, Jogging, Lessons learned from running, Moon Joggers, motivation, online running group, reason to run, Running | Comments closed

Every Mile Matters

By Moon Joggers | Published: June 24, 2015

Every Mile Matters
By Elaine Knipe

As a middle school kid, I got the opportunity to run track. As I ran three years of track, what I enjoyed the most was being competitive and running fast. I must admit I hated any track event with any long distance and why well because I wanted the fast and quick results at that time in my running. That’s the runners high I was after. Unfortunately, after middle school my running diminished and the zeal for running was forgotten about. I no longer looked for the satisfaction of running which I look back now with regret. Moving forward 11 years, mid-twenties with a struggle of addiction on my hands and needing some sort of release and way to cope of how to get my life right. Running was coming up in my head to pick back up, and so I did and with every time I went out the door to run. My head and heart was starting to know of what I needed to start to do.

As I was getting situated in this new clean lifestyle running was back in my life. My runs weren’t with any real long distance but enough to be part of the much needed therapy that my life needed. Almost every day a 30 min run was part of my day first thing. With completion of treatment and laying out of what’s next in this rebuilding of my life, the constant hustle and bustle of life which entailed the finding of clean and sober living, finding of a sponsor, work and striving of how to be reunited with my children who were living with my parents as I went and got treatment. Yet again at this time in my life running took back burner and diminished. What was I thinking? I don’t know but again look back with regret on why this activity that I knew that added to my happiness was on the way side.

For years it remained this way, I forgot the awesomeness of running and the therapy that it gave me. Being established in my life and raising my children and now married I had become overweight and was not active in any way except for work and caring for my family. We had signed onto a gym membership in our area and used it maybe once, twice a week. Then friends we had just met also had signed up for a membership and come to find out she was a runner. With it being years of not hearing that word running, it was like walking past an old friend that you were pleased to see again. At this point I almost forgot how to start or even know what to do .However; I was soon reunited to my old friend running. She asked me if I wanted to start running with her in the mornings before our families woke up. With feeling of hesitation and excitement I did it! Up at 4:30 and running at 5 am I was on a treadmill. Ready but nervous I pushed “go” on the treadmill and it was time to get to it, let’s do this and see where it goes this time.

After doing 2 miles I felt as if I completed the Boston Marathon, what an accomplishment with being overweight and unhealthy. Wanted to quit that whole week, but I knew I needed to stick it out. Then she said,” Lets run outside 4 miles on Sat Morning.” With immediately feeling a lack of confidence, to be able to complete, I pushed on anyway. I said, “I would be there.” Saturday came and it was early morning with the sky of pretty pink and blue and sun starting to rise and the cool just right tempts and the quietness that you get to have when you get up crazy early .It was like the town belonged only to us. So we parked at the gym and started to head to a scenic part of Sandy. Yikes! My lungs and legs started to burn not far from where we started and I was thinking to myself what happened to my love for running? My feelings of hating what I was doing was confusing me and had me discouraged but kept going with stop and walk  and then run again method. I just couldn’t wait for the next break to come. As we pass the scenic view of the beauty before us was when I started to appreciate the pain I was going through and running wasn’t an enemy but rather a friend I had to get to know again and wanted too. As we headed to the end of our run, it was bittersweet, I wanted to continue but my body was saying leave it for another day. I hugged her and thanked her over and over for getting me out and getting me reacquainted to running again. As the week went on there were days she couldn’t meet but I would go anyway on my own. It was an opportunity for me to see what I was going to do with this. I was running 3-4 times a week, before I knew it and loved it. Couldn’t wait for the next time I could run. Again it was my therapy, my chance to think, to challenge myself. In no time I was running 5 miles, 7 miles, 10 miles and being someone who hated long distance I sure loved my long run days. Today, running is my challenge to myself that I constantly keep reevaluating. First, it was to be fast and win, then distance to cover and now it’s to do long distance and speed. My goal is to run Boston one day and will keep striving until I do. And that is what running has taught me is to keep striving in all aspects of my life. The extra special blessing that running has given me I get to at times run with my kids and hubby they will go on runs with me, do races with me and will support me in my running. Even though running has been in and out of my life it has given me what I have needed at that time, for that I am forever grateful.

Posted in Connecting, Don't Give Up, every mile matters, Guest Post, Jogging, Lessons learned from running, Moon Joggers, motivation, overcoming addiction, reason to run, Running, running for health, running weight loss | Comments closed

Log Your Running, Walking, Biking, Hiking and Swimming Miles Now!

By Moon Joggers | Published: June 11, 2015
EVERY MILE MATTERS! And we want YOURS!

EVERY MILE MATTERS! And we want YOURS!

Let’s make this short and sweet! Moon Joggers set a goal this year of logging enough miles to get to Mars (33 million miles) by December 31, 2015.  So far we’ve reached about 3.5 million miles and we want your help!

The journey has been incredible and our runners span all ages and all fitness levels. Our community is welcoming to EVERYONE and we love to motivate each other to get out there and get moving. Plus, we have monthly contests and give away great prizes (even $100 cash) for those logging their miles!

SET UP YOUR LOG HERE!miles

We are reaching out to EVERYONE that is willing to share their miles with us and log them on our website (or our new Moon Jogger APP for Android! – an app for Apple will be coming soon), where they are automatically added to our overall group total.  It’s simple and easy, and will motivate you to get out the door and get moving! As added fun, you’ll see yourself move up the Moon Jogger rankings as you log more and more miles.  Start out as an Official Moon Jogger with your first mile logged and then move up to Space Ranger, Cadet, Officer and more!

Set up your log for FREE and start logging your miles NOW! In December we’d all LOVE to be celebrating together on MARS!! You can backlog your miles all the way back to January 1st!  You can log them in bulk if you’d like, just no more than 175 miles can be logged on one day. Please help us reach our goal!

 

SET UP YOUR LOG HERE!

Thank you for taking the time to read this!

Happy Jogging!

Angie Webb
Moon Jogger Maniac

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Training is Hard, But Oh So Rewarding

By Moon Joggers | Published: June 10, 2015

Training is hard, but oh so rewarding.
By Sheila Dawe

Isn’t it funny how when one first gets a new training program there is a wistful dream like quality to imagining conquering all those distances? Yet when the actual training days come there is the cold truth of fear and dread of facing the distance. During the workout, there can be moments of doubt, thoughts of quitting or questioning of one’s physical ability. After the workout there is a strong sense of accomplishment, and hope that the next workout will be even more successful.

This year I discovered a very unique training program for my 100 mile ultra. It is by Jeff Galloway and consists of doing 4 “runs” with no longer than 4 hours between each workout. The workouts are every 3-4 weeks with minimal miles in the weekends between, thus allowing for full recovery. In his book he often stresses to walk as much as necessary and on any given run it is still okay to walk the whole thing as you will still gain endurance.

Recently I attempted my greatest distance to date, 85 miles. Here is a little glimpse of an ultra-training weekend:

Friday, May 15th: 7:30 pm – I lay down dressed in my running outfit, hoping for a little sleep before I start my training at 10:45 tonight. I listen to the sound of kids playing, dogs barking and tell myself, any rest is good for my body, even if I don’t actually fall asleep. 10:00 pm. Perhaps I should get up. 10:30 pm. I am wakened by my alarm. Odd how sometimes the thought of getting up and not trying to sleep results in a release and sleep finally finding me.

Sheila D

Photo taken from my turn around point for run 1, note photo was taken on a different day so it would be in the daytime.

Run 1 – 10:45 pm to 4:15 am. I am out the door. It is 16 C and I head off to a road which will take me above our town. As usual the start is tough, as it is so daunting the distance and time you will still have to cover. I reflect back to the beginning of my program when I only did 5 miles for the first run, today I am to go the farthest yet with 20 miles. I little bit of the adventurer in me is excited to see how far along Nanaimo Lakes Road this will take me. I pass through a small park where bats dart in and out of my vision when I look up, scanning the trees for fear of Cougars. Thankfully no cat eyes are reflected back and all I see are lots of killer bunny rabbits and hear various choruses of frogs.

Run 2 – 7:30 am to 1:30 pm.  Saturday, May 16th. After a very brief lay down, I was up again and ready to go…sort of. My first run was with my mother, we did a gentle 4 mile route. Then she drove home and I ran the 14 mile route we had done together in her training for her half marathon. About half way I stopped at a rest area, sat at a picnic bench and laid down my head. I was so tired, I could go to sleep BUT that would not get me home or get my training done. I finished the route and then walked the 3 miles home for a total distance of 21 miles.

Run 3 – 5:00 pm to 12:10 am.  It is still a lovely day but this would be a tricky one as the evening would be in full swing by the time I finish – tricky to dress for such changes in the temperature. I am now in full on walk mode but keeping myself motivated for this 24 mile adventure. I listened to several audible books and really enjoyed getting lost in the world of Science Fantasy. I visited 7-11 twice for refuelling. On the return walk I sat at a bus stop bench while I ate some food. I focused on how many miles left to get home, I translate this into time left which I find easier to mentally deal with when I am getting tired…so only 2 more hours. When I got up my shins tightened up so much it really hurt to walk. However after a few steps, they loosened up and I was fine, that is until I got home and had to face a flight of stairs. I set my alarm for 3:30 am and mentally was questioning whether I would be able to do the fourth run.

Training is hard, but oh so rewarding at times.

Training is hard, but oh so rewarding at times.

Run 4 – 4:10 am to 6:40 am Sunday, May 17th.  Slow, slow as molasses, slow as a slug – is this really worth it. It is time for some serious self-talk. I was supposed to do 21 miles, perhaps if I could just go out 6 miles. As I continued on it then changed to “just get to 5 miles”. But at 4 miles, I thought “nope, this is all I got, I best turn around”. Funny thing happened on the return trip – I began to feel good. I even ran a slow single mile to keep my running streak days alive. I came up with all sorts of plans, as I wasn’t completing my scheduled distance – doing only 8 miles for my final run resulted in a total of 73 miles instead of 85 miles.

The next day I felt very good and recovered well. I questioned whether I pushed myself hard enough or whether I should have gone further. But I know that it is better to end feeling good versus having the wheels fall off or worst becoming injured. I have a new plan for the remaining training sessions. Yes, it will be hard but I am sure with all these struggles not only am I gaining physical endurance but I am also gaining mental endurance. I think that the more barriers I push through, the more I will gain come that day in September. With each and every training session, I think I always gain a little bit more knowledge of who I am and what I am capable of. Keep on keeping on.

Training is hard and yet can also be very gratifying. There are no race day photos, no bib, no expo, no aid stations, no cheering spectators, no start time, and no medal at the end. But if you put in the miles, embrace the workout; then you will be rewarded on race day.

Posted in Don't Give Up, every mile matters, Guest Post, having fun running, Jogging, Lessons learned from running, Marathon Runner, marathon running, Moon Joggers, motivation, online running group, Pictures of Runners, Places to Run, reason to run, Running, running for health, Sheila Dawe | Comments closed

A Month Ago I Became A Marathoner…2 Years Later

By Moon Joggers | Published: May 27, 2015

A Month Ago I Became A Marathon…2 Years Later
By Tara Chavanne

“But guess what….a month ago I became a marathoner (a Big Sur Marathoner)….and I am planning on going back in 2015 to kick Big Sur’s butt!!  I got this.”

 

TaraThose were the last words I wrote about the Big Sur Marathon 2013.  It is now 2 years later and I AM a Big Sur Marathoner 2 times over.  But the big question is, did I kick Big Sur’s butt or did Big Sur kick mine?!?!

 

To start with, I came up with a few goals going into this second race. #1 No Tears (you would think this would be easy to accomplish, but if you read the first recap…it’s not). #2 Big Sur PR (faster than 4:58:18). #3 Marathon PR (faster than Space Coast 4:35:37). #4 All time PR goal of 4:30:00 and, the most important goal #5 HAVE FUN! 

 

In order for me to obtain my most important goal, I convinced (suckered) fellow Moon Jogger Rebecca DeVall to run her very first marathon with me. There ended up being four Moon Joggers running Big Sur, Carolyn Guhman ran the 21 miler, Dallas Millican ran the 10.6 miler and we had a guest appearance from our Fearless Leader, Angie, cheering us on at the finish line. 

Tara2

 

Even though Rebecca and I live on opposite coasts, we had a great 9 months of training together, stressing together, and getting excited together to run one of the hardest marathons in the country.  We both had minor running issues; Rebecca’s hip had been hurting during long runs and my hamstring was still not 100% since I injured it during my first Big Sur adventure.  We decided to run the race together (with the caveat that if one of us was having the race of our life….or wanted to die….the other could run their own race).  I knew having a running partner with equal running abilities (and sarcastic nature) would be what would carry me to that finish line with a smile on my face (Tara 1, Big Sur 0).

 

A week before the race, like normal, crazed runners, the Moon Jogger contingent started discussing the weather and how it was supposed to be cold (for California), rainy  (unlike California) with wind speeds of 14 mph (just blah, California)…not the best running weather.  As it turned out, we had PERFECT temperatures.  The race started in the upper 40s and by the time we crossed the finish line it was in the 70s.  BEAUTIFUL!  The wind…well…that was another story.  Although I didn’t think it was THAT bad, (compared to how I thought it was the last time), afterwards we found out that the winds were some of the worst in the races history (Tara 1, Big Sur 1).  All I have to say is Rebecca, Carolyn and I are Rock Stars for killing those winds going up to Hurricane Point (Tara 2, Big Sur 1)!

Tara3

 

Let me back track a bit…..on the Friday we arrived in Monterey, we took a road trip to Big Sur.  I wanted to see the course again.  As wedrove up, I had two completely opposite reactions.  First, was the reminiscing…mostly…this is where I was crying…oh I was sooooo angry at this point….gosh I hated this hill…here was the Strawberry Lady with THOSE strawberries!  But then I had a totally unexpected reaction.  There were big chunks of places, sceneries, areas, that I don’t recall at all (probably because I was crying/angry/tuned out).  I had a long talk with myself and decided that if I was going to enjoy this more than last time and not have Big Sur kick my butt, I HAD to take in the scenery.  Look around at the Red Woods… the ocean….. the cows that were running up and over the hill chasing the runners…Yes! This really happened this year and one of my fondest memories (Tara 3, Big Sur 1).

 

Back to race day, Rebecca and I had planned to start the race with the 4:30 pace group and see what happened.  What happened was we ran with them, or slightly ahead of them, until around mile 9…when they decided to leave us (how dare they).  This was right before starting the climb up to Hurricane Point.  But who needs a pace group, when we had each other…and with Rebecca’s mountain running hutzpah…we RAN all the way up to Hurricane Point (have I mentioned that to get to Hurricane Point you have to run 2 miles up a 5% grade???).  It was not fast and it definitely was not pretty, but we got it done and we got it done with NO tears!!! (Tara 4, Big Sur 1).

 

 

Tara4Although I am very proud of myself for running all the way up (I walked most of the way last time…with tears), running the whole way may have been the breaking point for Rebecca’s hip and my…..nope not my right hamstring, my LEFT IT band…go figure!  Shortly after crossing the Bixby Bridge, the official halfway point, Rebecca and I were contemplating taking short walk breaks….I was all for walking because by then the downhills started to kill my IT band.  The lofty dream of finishing in 4:30 was over (Tara 4, Big Sur 2). BUT as I kept telling Rebecca, my head was still good.  I was still having a great time and if we had to walk the rest of the race I was fine with that. (Tara 5, Big Sur 2).

 

I do have to say, only because I made a point of mentioning that the Strawberry Lady’s strawberries were not all they were cracked up to be last time (for me), the oranges at the Aid Stations were the BEST oranges that I have ever had….ever (Tara 6, Big Sur 2). And the strawberries were pretty great too!  And here is also where I have to say that the volunteers for this race are amazingly wonderful.  They have to be up and at ‘em just as early as we do in order to get on the course before it closes.  And they are all very cheery and happy to see us.  I cannot say enough about the volunteers and the Big Sur community!  I <3 Big Sur (Tara 7 Big Sur 2).

Tara5

I don’t remember exactly when, but things started to go downhill, quickly…and I don’t mean in elevation….my IT band was trying it’shardest to get me out of the game.  There was more and more walking and the running was getting harder and harder to enjoy.  My head was still in the game but it was taking all my energy to convince myself I was having a good time.  The finish line is all we wanted to see (Tara 7, Big Sur 3).

 

Tara6And as unbelievable as it seemed…after 26 miles there it was!!! The finish line was in sight!!! The pain was still there, but you can do anything for .2 miles. Right???  I had to convince Rebecca of this, and after 26.1 miles she told me if I felt like it to go ahead.  That was NOT going to happen.  We started this together 9 months ago, we were going to finish it together!!!  And we did… a little worse for wear, but it was DONE! 

 

Want to know something? Even though Big Sur tried it’s damnedest, I finished the race with a smile on my face and NO TEARS (Tara 8, Big Sur 3)!  AND a new Big Sur PR of 4:54:28 (Tara 9, Big Sur 3). I met 3 out of my 5 goals…not too shabby, if I do say so myself.

 

Two years ago I became a marathoner (a Big Sur Marathoner).  One month ago I went back to kick Big Sur’s butt…my score card says…..I got this!!!!!

Tara7

 

** If  you have not signed up for MEET ME ON MARS (one of the paid registration options) do so now and you’ll be able to save 25% on our virtual races! Sign up HERE. (Use code UPGRADE to save 15%)!  As you log your miles you’ll move up the Moon Jogger Rankings and help us reach Mars!!! EVERY MILE MATTERS!

Posted in Connecting, Don't Give Up, every mile matters, Guest Post, having fun running, Lessons learned from running, Marathon Runner, marathon running, Moon Joggers, motivation, online running group, Running, running for health, Tara Chavanne | Comments closed

Moon Landing Anniversary – A Gift to Say THANK YOU

By Moon Joggers | Published: May 23, 2015

1774-moon-landing-wallpaperTwo years ago today (May 23, 2013) was a historical event for Moon Joggers.  In January of that year we had taken off on a mission to the Moon, with hopes of logging enough miles to get there in one year.  We made it in five months! To celebrate our two year anniversary of landing on the Moon we wanted to do something special for each of you.  We wish we could reach out and shake each one of your hands, or give you a great big hug and a small gift, but that is virtually impossible.  So instead, we want to give you a discount code to all of our events as a way of saying THANK YOU FOR SUCH AN INCREDIBLE JOUREY SO FAR! 

http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-images-23-percent-image2465029Because our moon landing anniversary is May 23, we invite you to save 23% on all of our VIRTUAL EVENTS for 2015 by using promo code MOONLANDING23.  The same promo code will also save you 33% on our MEET ME ON MARS mission and 20% on any of the virtual events on our sister page, VIRTUAL RUN EVENTS.  The code will expire at noon on Tuesday, May 26 (Mountain Standard Time) so be sure to use it as soon as possible.  Feel free to share this code with your friends as an invitation to join us on this great adventure through the universe! 

Thank you again for sharing this journey with us!  We reached the moon and now have logged more than 3 million miles as we journey through space.  Below is our post from the day we landed on the moon two years ago!

 

 

On January 1, 2013 a group of walkers and runners from around the world took off for a historical adventure – a trip to the moon.  This trip involved no rockets or space crafts, only our feet.  Each mile jogged by each of our team members has gotten us to where we are today. STANDING ON THE MOON.  Now it’s time to celebrate! We will be exploring the moon for a few hours and then it’s time to turn around and finish our journey.   The second half of our journey is all about “coming home.” Way to go Moon Joggers!

The first words spoken from a Moon Jogger on the moon: “The inspiration of two people and everyone working together and supporting each other has made this possible. MJ’s rock!”
—Perry Newburn, ranked as #1 Moon Jogger, with 2,685 miles logged in less than six months.

Posted in Connecting, every mile matters, Half Marathon Training, having fun running, Jogging, Marathon Runner, marathon running, Moon Joggers, motivation, online running group, Raising funds for charities, reason to run, Running, Running for Charity, running for health, Virtual 10K, Virtual 5K, Virtual Run | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments closed

Every Mile Matters

By Moon Joggers | Published: May 20, 2015

Every Mile Matters
Amber Hadigan

May 11, 2013. I laced up my running shoes for the first time. I was 204 pounds and wore a size 18 pants. I downloaded a couch to 5K app, as I had signed up for a 5K race exactly eight weeks later as motivation. That day, I could hardly run to the end of my driveway.

—

I heard the call up the stairs once again. It was about 11pm, and I had to get up at 5am for school the next day, so I was already in bed. Yet, for some reason, my mom felt the need to yell from her chair, up the stairs, for either me or my brother to wake up, come downstairs, and change the TV channel for her. She was too lazy to get up and do it herself.

My entire high school career was like this. My mom wanted someone to serve her and do all her chores for her, while she sat on her recliner. It was always a frustrating situation for both my brother and me. I got up early for school and he had to be to work at 5am.

I think, by the time I was in high school, my mom just gave up. She worked a job she absolutely hated, but really needed because it paid enough for her to support herself and us. She worked all day, and when she came home, she had nothing left to give. She was overweight and chose to not do anything about it. There was a not-so-secret stash of candy and chips by her chair that we weren’t supposed to touch.

I watched my mom eat and sit for years. Her knees started to go and she couldn’t even walk the stairs of our townhome to take a shower every day. Yet, for some reason, she never did anything about being fat. I think she actually took pride in it. She used the word fat and talked about being fat like it made her special. Back in those days, it was very rare to see an overweight person.

I loved my mother, but I always knew that there was something slightly wrong with the way she conducted her life. It wasn’t a conscious awareness, but a nagging feeling in the back of my mind, one that would pop up just before sleep, when the thoughts about the meaning of life hit this adolescent. I couldn’t articulate it at the time, but as I grew into adulthood, I began to understand.

I swore that I would not be like my mother. There was something sad and just a little bit desperate about the way she lived her life. When I was in my 20s, I talked about not wanting to be her. Even when it was hard, I worked on completing goals I had set for myself, such as going to college and getting an advanced degree. I explored activities and was rarely home.

—

Fast forward about fifteen years, to May 11th. What spurred my decision to lace up my shoes, pull out my iPod, and trudge down the road, even though I could barely catch my breath?

 My worst fear had come true. I had turned into my mother. I was spiraling out of control, straight into a pit of depression and desperation. At over 200 pounds, I felt uncomfortable in my body. I worked a job I absolutely hated. After working all day, I came home defeated, too tired to even get up off the couch. I developed a terrible sugar addiction. I looked in the mirror and saw the woman I had become, and I hated her.

I toyed with the idea of running for years. I was a track kid in school, but hadn’t really run for over twenty years. But something changed when I looked in the mirror. 39 years old, overweight, and couldn’t fit into my own clothes. It was time to stop the cycle.

Reading the paper, I saw an ad for an inaugural 5K race during the July 4th weekend. On a whim, I signed up. Now I had money invested, so I had to follow through. I downloaded a couch to 5K app, and on May 11, I went out for the first time.

I thought I would die. My body was not used to moving, let alone running. But I refused to give up. Up at 5am, I would go out and complete my run/walk intervals faithfully, three times a week for the next eight weeks.

An amazing thing happened. I started to be able to run a little longer. When I couldn’t run for a minute the first day I went out, by week 6 I could go twenty minutes without stopping! Although I couldn’t complete a full 3.1 miles yet, I felt I had accomplished something.

On race day, I thought I would die. It was about 100 degrees and the course was sunny, but I didn’t give up. I learned about the supportive nature of the running community. Two women talked to me before the race, cheering me on. My husband came down to watch me cross the finish line. And though I walked some of the course, the feeling of crossing the finish line was something incredible. I wanted to feel it again.

I was hooked. Although training was hard, racing was my savior. I ran 4 5Ks that first year. Then I trained for a half marathon, then a marathon. And although I suffered an injury that sidelined me for 9 weeks, I never gave up faith that running was changing my life.

I could see it in the mirror. I was happier. My clothes fit better. The scale crept down into the ones. And, for the first time in many years, I had a motivation to improve my life. Since I started running, I also started working toward other goals I had dreamed about. I quit the job I hated and became a freelance writer. I began taking creativity coaching classes and want to teach adult education. Each day, I make steps toward the life I want to live. I believe that running spurred all these changes in my life.

Every mile I run proves that I can work hard.

Every mile I run proves that I can set a goal and achieve it.

Every mile I run proves that I am stronger than I was yesterday.

Every mile I run strengthens my perseverance muscle.

Every mile run proves that I am alive!

I don’t really know what happened to my mother. She gave up on life when she was about my age. She still may be living, but she does not participate in life.

 As for me, I started living at age 39, when I started running. My 40s will be my best years yet! 

 

Amber12Amber Hadigan currently lives in Hyde Park, NY with her husband John and her two cats, Sobe and Scrappy. Originally from Wisconsin, she has lived in many different states. Now settled, she spends her time working, freelance writing, and writing and performing folk music. A runner as a child, she began running again in May 2013 and has rediscovered the peace and joy running gives her.

Posted in Amber Hadigan, Connecting, Don't Give Up, every mile matters, Found Myself Running, Guest Post, Half Marathon Training, having fun running, Jogging, Marathon Runner, Moon Joggers, motivation, Running, running for health, running weight loss | Comments closed

Every Mile Matters, Especially at the Boston Marathon

By Moon Joggers | Published: May 6, 2015

Every Mile Matters, Especially at the Boston Marathon
By Shirlee Webb

Starting Line Selfie

Starting Line Selfie

Boston Marathon has proven two times now that things can change in a twinkling of an eye. Both times I have run it the weather was forecast a week out to be the perfect weather for a marathon and then within a couple of days before the race, has changed from one extreme of heat three years ago and to the extreme of cold, wet, and windy as warned in an email the day before the race this year.

What I have learned from both of these experiences is that the one thing you can always count on in life is CHANGE! The most important principle I learned is to be unchanged by change. It is what it is -so be it- I realized I needed to keep the same desires and goals I had made for under the best of circumstances, yet be willing to not have the same outcome I had hoped for if circumstances changed. I no longer had the ideal I had hoped for. I realized we can set ourselves up for disappointment and failure if one can’t rise to the “changed occasion.”

I knew before I ran this marathon that I had decided it would be my last, I have felt a need to quit while I am ahead. I love half marathons and hope to run them til I am called Home, but I also know that these long runs will sooner or later have an effect on me for the worse and in some ways, this run did.  I had a cancer scare the first two months of this year and I wasn’t able to do anything and I felt that lack of training in this race.

Two weeks later I continue to feel extremely tired and I have gotten some of the physical challenges back that I experienced with the cancer scare.  So I know this is the correct decision for me to make. As life winds down in later years I am sure I will make decisions required in rethinking running even half’s although I hope not too soon.

With husband Tom at the finish line.

With husband Tom at the finish line.

Boston Marathon is always exhilarating because of the great people we are surrounded by throughout the whole race. Those great folks who volunteer by the thousands and the great support we receive all along the way by the public.  I didn’t even listen to my music this time because of the enthusiastic noise all along the route from Hopkinton to Boston. It never let down–they were getting as wet as us and the wind and cold was there for them too.

I experienced the great human spirit of endurance as I passed the fellow with Muscular Dystrophy who took 20 hours to run and was that long in the pouring rain.  I was also very humbled by the two blind fellows who had guides and were joyfully running alongside of me several times.  I sometimes heard the words in my mind “God forgive me when I whine.”

Like three years ago it proved to be a run of endurance. Last time 93 degree heat from the get go and this time, the very cold, wet, and windy weather.  I had to change my four hour or less goal and I had to decide just to do my best and just finish. Even though circumstances changed, I felt complete joy when I finished no matter how ugly it was!

I am grateful and thankful to again learn the lesson that you can always do what you set out to do by not changing yourself nor the desires of your heart and finish anything you desire to do even if the circumstances change. When things become hard, don’t become hard with them. Find the joy in the journey whatever it gives you. I feel gratitude alone that I can still run at my age and find such great joy in it.

 

11169737_10155446790555433_8266058406852657728_oAbout Shirlee:  She ran her first marathon when she was 45 years old, after giving birth to eight children. She is now a 63 year old grandmother of 13 grandchildren, plus one on the way. She has battled depression and raised a severely mentally ill son.  When she first started running she barely made it around the block before she stopped, but she kept getting up each morning and gaining distance a little at a time.  When she was 60 she ran the Boston marathon for the first time, in the hottest weather on record, 90+ degrees. Today, at age 63 and 1/2, she ran Boston in the coldest weather, 43 degrees, and finished in 5 hours. She said that today it rained the entire time she ran and it was just as hard as running in the heat.  If anyone ever tells you that you can’t do it, just remember this, YOU CAN. When the voice in your head tells you to give up and quit, you tell that voice, NO WAY! We were born to do hard things. YOU CAN DO HARD THINGS!

 FEEL FREE TO LEAVE SHIRLEE A MESSAGE IN THE COMMENTS BELOW

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Posted in Connecting, Don't Give Up, every mile matters, Finding the Positive, Guest Post, having fun running, Jogging, Lessons learned from running, Marathon Runner, marathon running, Moon Joggers, motivation, online running group, Pictures of Runners, Places to Run, reason to run, Run for Life, Running, running for health, Running With A Disease, Shirlee Webb, Wellness Journey | Tagged , , | Comments closed

A Day in the life when Every Mile Matters

By Moon Joggers | Published: April 29, 2015

A Day in the Life when Every Mile Matters
By Sheila Dawe

March 26th, 2015

5:00 pm. Arrived in Boise, Idaho. I got picked up at the airport by my good friend Natalie. We are both entered in a new race for the both of us – Pickled Feet Time Runs (48, 24, 12, 6 hour and 100 mile): Natalie in the 100 mile event and me in the 24 hour event.

10:00 pm. Did I take a sleeping pill or not, I remember opening the bottle but I don’t remember taking a pill. To err on the side of caution, I decided I must have taken the pill.

March 27th, 2015

12:30 am.  Or not.

6:00 am. It is time to get ready despite having plenty of time. Natalie starts at 10:00 am and is already anxious to get going. I don’t start until 6 pm…it is going to be a long day despite my very late start.

9:00 am. We arrive at the Eagle Island State Park and find the main pavilion. Natalie picks up her race package and I stare at the 48 hour participants that are presently in their 15th hour. I am a bit shocked by the fact that they already look very tired. What I did not know was that they had suffered a cold foggy night.

10:00 am. All the 100 mile contestants are to start. They have 32 hours to complete 40 laps of the 2.5 mile loop. Go Natalie go – but not too fast, it is predicted to be a warm day. Now I have to focus on staying off my feet, drinking fluids, eating and resting…this will be the strangest race for me.

3:00 pm. Oh the carnage has begun. It is very hot on the course and all the runners are starting to look like they are overheating. I begin to make myself useful by trying to help fill water bottles with ice and water and aid as much as I can. The hours are slowly ticking by, I can’t believe I have been here all day.

6:00 pm. Finally we get to line up for our start. I am wearing my “Streak Runner’s International” jersey and got the usual comment, “Do you run naked?” I smile and say “No but this will be day 389 and 390”. And we are off…yay!!

The start of the 24 hour race, Sheila is finally off and running after a day of waiting.

The start of the 24 hour race, Sheila is finally off and running after a day of waiting.

 

8:30 pm. After a spectacular sunset and with dusk settling in I finally turn on the head lamp. My goal is to try to continue my run/walk throughout the night. In the past, with most Ultras, I have always defaulted to walking once it has become dark. This time being so fresh, it is a great opportunity to practice my night running.

March 28th, 2015

2:00 am. Sheila is up and boom Sheila is down. Yikes I am falling. Knee hits ground, then left breast, left shoulder and right hand. I see from my head lamp my bottle rolling along the path. I sat and semi hyperventilated due to the shock of hitting the ground. I took inventory: my chest hurt a little and my hand hurt a whole lot. From here on in I would not be able to use my right hand and would carry my water bottle only in the left.

2:20 am. Upon arriving back at the aid station, I sat down and nearly started to cry, as I felt sorry for myself. The race director came up to me and asked if I was okay. I told her of the fall but said I thought I was fine and asked for a coffee. The black elixir was very comforting and just the boost I needed to get my butt off of the chair and back out into the dark.

3:30 am. A volunteer asked me if I would like company. I told her I was only walking but trying to walk fast, she said that would be fine. She entertained me with stories of how she is doing seven 100 mile events this year with the Grand Circle Trail Series. We talked of so many different things during this lap, I felt like a made a true friend (although I still can’t remember her name) and it was just the boost I needed to power me on for the rest of this journey.

7:00 am. As I came into the aid station, the wind suddenly picked up to hurricane force gusts, tents, tables and signs were flying. I went into the main tent to get extra layers as I was feeling chilled. The ground looked very inviting but as the wind whipped around my ankles, I knew the best plan of action was to keep on moving.

9:00 am. Natalie and I had constantly seen each other throughout this race. I knew she would be walking at this stage and ironically we both had the same idea to wait for each other and join forces.  As we walked her final three laps together, and the morning began to heat up, it was so nice to change my focus from “me” to “her” and getting her to the finish.

 

Natalie and Sheila during Natalie’s final lap of 100 miles, Sheila was in hour 18 and soon would miss Natalie’s company.

Natalie and Sheila during Natalie’s final lap of 100 miles, Sheila was in hour 18 and soon would miss Natalie’s company.

12:46 pm. Natalie finishes her 100 mile in 2nd place female, 5th overall in 26:46 – I was very proud of her and glad I could share a small part of it. I am at mile 60, my primary goal is to get three more laps done to complete the distance I was supposed to do for my ultra-training.

2:00 pm. I tried to run again for a short stretch but for fear of burning myself out, I opted to keep to a fast walk, especially since I was passing some of the 48 hour runners. As I walked, I caught up to some other competitors and I mused out loud, “I wish I knew what place I was in”. A fellow competitor checked his I-phone and told me I am tied for 3rd female with two competitors close behind. “Thanks, and see ya”. I said as I picked up my pace – talk about your boost of energy.

3:30 pm. Natalie has returned, it was so good to see a friendly face. I told her the scenario. She checked the standings and told me…you need 2 more laps to secure your place.

4:30 pm. I lie down in the main tent. There is excruciating pain in my ribs when I lie down, so I get up and do that one more insurance lap.

5:15 pm. There is a short course (.28 mile) for the final hour. Natalie convinces me to give it a go for a lap. It was so enjoyable, I did 3 more laps before the magic hour of 6 pm finally arrived.

 

Ta-da. My first 24 hour race in the books, 73.62 miles, 3rd female and 8th overall.

Ta-da. My first 24 hour race in the books, 73.62 miles, 3rd female and 8th overall.

Post-script. Upon arrival back home, I went to see the doctor. Nothing was broken in the hand although it remained swollen and painful for over 3 weeks. I had a hairline fracture in one rib, but I did not affect my running only my resting. Must keep on keeping on.

Biography: Sheila is 50 years old, living in Nanaimo, B.C. Being single without any kids leads to an active life filled with lots of running and travelling. She is currently training for two big events in 2015: Squamish 50/50 (50 miles on Aug. 22nd and 50 km on Aug. 23rd) and Lost Souls Ultra 100 mile (Sept. 11th and 12th). Both these event she attempted and DNFed in 2014. This year she has a different training program and is determined to do her best, have fun and hopefully complete these events. 

Posted in Don't Give Up, every mile matters, Guest Post, Jogging, Miles to Go, Moon Joggers, motivation, Running, Sheila Dawe, Ultra Marathon Runner | Comments closed

Why Every Mile Matters

By Moon Joggers | Published: April 22, 2015

Why Every Mile Matters
By Eric Clifford

Why every mile matters. I could sit here and tell you all some great (ehh) tale about how I needed to get back into shape after an accident. Or, I could tell you about how I’m always about sports and sports is my life! Or even about how I was lost, empty and needed something to fill the hole that was inside me. All of that would be true to an extant but the real reason is that I just didn’t have anything better to do.  All my friends stopped playing ball (softball, football, basket…) “I’ve got this with the family.” or “I’m doing that with the family.” I have the kids blah blah blah… You see, being the first one of my friends to get married and have kids I know all that is all bullshit. There’s always time for yourself.

1973663_10202824666152826_4175995069940281513_oSo after a couple years of doing nothing and going from 175/180lbs to 195/200lbs and feeling like my head was going to pop when I bent over to tie my shoes I was like “This sucks. I have got to start doing something.” What can you do that’s a good exercise and that you can do alone…  (lightbulb) Running! So I started. Three miles a day in about 40 minutes. I was gassed, sore and couldn’t stop thinking about what the hell happened to me. But I stuck with it and pushed myself to where I’m pretty happy with my distance and speed (most of the time).

Running is part of my life now. But sometimes it becomes my life and I’m not overly happy with that. There must be balance. You need to stay happy or at least not dread the idea of running. If you plan on running races it’s all that much more important. I run for myself. I run to stay in shape to do things. I run so when I go to the show the seat is reasonably comfortable (well that was before most theaters put in oversized seats) and so I can get on a plane and not be squeezed in the seat. I want to be able to work around the house landscaping, or building new decks or putting up walls… I run because I want a life. I’m selfish that way. I know that as long as I can do what needs to be done and then some, everything else will fall into place. I’ll be able to take care of my family, my house, my work doing side jobs (albeit my acting/extra work is pretty easy). I needed something to do so I could do something. Every Mile Matters because they bring me closer to where and what I want to be.

Posted in every mile matters, Guest Post, having fun running, Jogging, Lessons learned from running, Marathon Runner, marathon running, Moon Joggers, motivation, Pictures of Runners, reason to run, Running | Comments closed

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