This may come as a shock, but though I am not a natural athlete, I will attempt to run 26.2 miles 8 days from now. How is this possible? It's simple-you don't have to be athletic to run. I truly beleive that anyone can run this distance (given, of course, they have a high pain tolerance and too much determination.)
Let me share with you a few anecdotes to show you my point.
My best friend is a natural athlete. Soccer, baseball, volleyball, you name the sport-she's good at it. I attribute this ability to her dad having a PhD in Physical Education (have I mentioned my dad works for a labour association?). One summer, her parents convinced mine to sign me up for the same week-long sports camp my friend was going to. This was not such a good idea. While she excelled and honed in on her natural volleyball and basketball skills, I looked forward to the free Dunkaroo snacks and the end of the day. Finally, it was the end of the week. Yes! I was going to be free from this group of athletic individuals. At the close of the day, the leaders hosted an awards ceremony where the campers were awarded most valuable player, most improved, etc. I believe my friend received "world's most amazing athlete" or something prestigious like that. I was awarded "most likely to get hit in the head with a basketball." No, that's not a joke. My parents probably still have my award in a box in the basement.
Fast forward four years. Every January, our highschool would have a "ski day" outting. We'd all show up early in the morning, board a bus, and go a few hours north to where there was some relatively decent skiing (okay, they were bunny hills). It was grade 11 and my best friend (same superathlete as above) and I decided that we wanted to try snowboarding instead of skiing. Well, not only did we spend the whole day sitting in the snow but at the end of the day, as my best friend was taking her final run down "Gentle Ben," (the name of the hill), she fell and broke her wrist. The ski paramedics bandaged her up and it was my job to keep her lucid on the way back home. A few days later, a concerned individual asked my friend about her casted arm. At the end of the conversation, this person said to my friend: "Funny, because I would have thought it would be Annalise who would break her wrist, not you, since you're more athletic." It's okay, the concerned individual and I were never really tight to begin with.
I'll conclude with this. My freshman year of college, I took a mandatory gym class and, surprisingly, loved it! Oh yes, "Personal Fitness" was one of my favourite classes that semester. All we had to do was work out a few times a week and track our progress. This is when I fell in love with running. Some of my friends were even shocked at how much I liked to run, given my athletic history. Apparently my story was inspiring as a few years later a friend shared of how she had gotten back into running because of me. "I hope you're not offended," she said over the phone, "but when I started running again, I thought to myself, 'if Annalise can do it, I can do it!' " Apparently I was now a measuring stick.
These stories are not supposed to be just entertaining. They illustrate the point that you do NOT need to be athletic to run. Anyone, regardless of their athletic ability or interest in sports can be and should be physically active. You don't have to run a marathon if that's not your thing. You don't even have to run. You can walk, bike, swim. But, you CAN do something. You can even run a marathon. If "most likely to get hit in the head with a basketball" can run a marathon, so can you!
Friday, October 23, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Two weeks to the big day in the big apple
That's what my dad said to me, yesterday. My response? A groan. Not that I'm not looking forward to the marathon but I am slightly worried. Worried that I didn't train well enough and stressed b/c my running ambition is currently on hold b/c of a cold. Bagh....
However, throughout these days of mixed emotions, nightly nightmares about the marathon (including, but not limited to forgetting to pack my running gear, getting the dates confused, running a marathon the day before the marathon and then realizing that's not good training, and the list goes on) I have been surrounded by encouragement-from the stranger I sat next to at a birthday party who had done a marathon a few years ago and reassured me I could do it, to an old highschool teacher and marathon veteran who told my parents I'd do fine.
I am thankful for these instances and must have faith as I go through these last few weeks. All I can do is continue putting one foot infront of the other and hope for no more marathon nightmares.
However, throughout these days of mixed emotions, nightly nightmares about the marathon (including, but not limited to forgetting to pack my running gear, getting the dates confused, running a marathon the day before the marathon and then realizing that's not good training, and the list goes on) I have been surrounded by encouragement-from the stranger I sat next to at a birthday party who had done a marathon a few years ago and reassured me I could do it, to an old highschool teacher and marathon veteran who told my parents I'd do fine.
I am thankful for these instances and must have faith as I go through these last few weeks. All I can do is continue putting one foot infront of the other and hope for no more marathon nightmares.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Music and Running
Yes, I know, I have not updated in a while. I really do apologize for my lack of continuity. The good news is I'm still training and fundraising, running a comfortable 10 miles and currently at 90% of fundraising goal met! The not so good news is that the marathon is exactly 50 days from today! When we started this blog we had 100 days. Yes, that means our training time has reduced to 50%! However, as many people have reminded me, I have to things on my side: 1) I'm training at an altitude of 5280 feet and 2) I'm young (apparently this is an asset although I wouldn't have guessed that a few weeks ago when a 70 year old man beat me up a mountain by 1 hour!).
Anyway, now that housekeeping is taken care of, let me get to the topic at hand. I don't know how readers feel about this, but to me, the thought of a run without music is like the idea of Christmas without snow. It can be done, if necessary, but is not nearly as pleasant. If you're like me, your Ipod is probably not only beat up from falling on the ground too often and covered in a sticky residue from when you spilled gatorade on it around mile 5 but is also full of workout playlists. These simple sets of songs are what keep me sane and motivated during my repetitive laps around the park. They are just as essential as good running shoes and almost as essential as water stops and porta potties.
Of all the songs I listen to while running, the following list is my absolute TOP TEN (as of now)
10) Summer Nights-John Travolta and Olivia Newton John
9) Roll with it-Oasis
8) I Run to You-Lady Antebellum
7) Video Killed the Radio Star-The Buggles
6) On Saturday-The Clarks
5) That's not my Name -The Ting Tings
4) Power to the People -Cover version by Black Eyed Peas
3) You Make my Dreams -Daryl Hall & John Oates
2) Bye Bye Bye-N'Sync (bonus points for doing dance moves while running)
1) We Didn't Start the Fire- Billy Joel (excellent opporuntiy to learn entire lyrics)
However, my playlists are getting tierd so, after listening to Billy Joel's "We didn't Start the Fire" for the third time in one run, I decided I needed to branch out and seek professional help. That's why I'm soliciting you for your suggestions as to additions for my running playlists. No song title is too crazy.
Looking forward to hearing what your favs are!
Anyway, now that housekeeping is taken care of, let me get to the topic at hand. I don't know how readers feel about this, but to me, the thought of a run without music is like the idea of Christmas without snow. It can be done, if necessary, but is not nearly as pleasant. If you're like me, your Ipod is probably not only beat up from falling on the ground too often and covered in a sticky residue from when you spilled gatorade on it around mile 5 but is also full of workout playlists. These simple sets of songs are what keep me sane and motivated during my repetitive laps around the park. They are just as essential as good running shoes and almost as essential as water stops and porta potties.
Of all the songs I listen to while running, the following list is my absolute TOP TEN (as of now)
10) Summer Nights-John Travolta and Olivia Newton John
9) Roll with it-Oasis
8) I Run to You-Lady Antebellum
7) Video Killed the Radio Star-The Buggles
6) On Saturday-The Clarks
5) That's not my Name -The Ting Tings
4) Power to the People -Cover version by Black Eyed Peas
3) You Make my Dreams -Daryl Hall & John Oates
2) Bye Bye Bye-N'Sync (bonus points for doing dance moves while running)
1) We Didn't Start the Fire- Billy Joel (excellent opporuntiy to learn entire lyrics)
However, my playlists are getting tierd so, after listening to Billy Joel's "We didn't Start the Fire" for the third time in one run, I decided I needed to branch out and seek professional help. That's why I'm soliciting you for your suggestions as to additions for my running playlists. No song title is too crazy.
Looking forward to hearing what your favs are!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
77%
That's right-we are officially over 3/4 of the way there everyone! I am so blessed to have such a supportive circle of friends, family, and coworkers.
However, this increase does slightly concern me because now my percentage of marathon distance I can run is significantly less than the percentage of funds I have raised. Now, I know these two percentages don't have to match, but I must say, when I only had 10% of my funds raised it made me feel slightly better about only being able to run 25% of a marathon. Now I have 77% of funds raised and can run approximately 35-40% of a marathon. Do you see what I'm gettin at?
Perhaps I can best explain the difference in percentages to myself by saying this: I am on target for training and my donors are simply super on the ball with fundraising.
However, this increase does slightly concern me because now my percentage of marathon distance I can run is significantly less than the percentage of funds I have raised. Now, I know these two percentages don't have to match, but I must say, when I only had 10% of my funds raised it made me feel slightly better about only being able to run 25% of a marathon. Now I have 77% of funds raised and can run approximately 35-40% of a marathon. Do you see what I'm gettin at?
Perhaps I can best explain the difference in percentages to myself by saying this: I am on target for training and my donors are simply super on the ball with fundraising.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
64%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Due to an extremely generous donation, our fundraising total has just jumped 40% --from $600 to $1600! I am floored at the generosity. Thank you, anonymous for your kindness.
24%
Latest Fundraising Total: $600 or 24%! Interested in seeing this percentage increase? Visit www.firstgiving.com/annalisedezoete
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
$500 Benchmark & Comparison
Due to the unending generosity of people, I have recently hit the $500 benchmark for fundraising! Yes, that's 20%! THANK YOU EVERYONE!
Also, I have decided that training for long distances must be similar to being pregnant. Now, I've never been pregnant so I don't know for certain, but here are some silimarities I've noticed between both conditions.
1) Short term pain-long term gain. Alright, running a lot of miles and carrying a baby for 9 months can be a long time but you do it because you know the long term effects will be worth it.
2) Cravings. I've heard that pregnant women often have strange cravings. Cravings like ice cream or pickles or things like that. Runners' cravings are more for carbs, carbs, and more carbs.
3) You're hungry-a lot! When you're pregnant you're eating for two. When you're running long distances, the amount of calories you're burning is probably the recommended amount for two people. In other words, you're burning for two. Consequently, even though you ate a big supper, your stomach wakes you up at 3am informing you that it needs more food.
4) You're constantly running to the bathroom. Pregnant ladies do this b/c of bladder pressure? I don't know. But runners do it because they have to drink a zillion liters of water to replace the fluids they lost running laps in the park.
5) People ask you about your body. Pregnant women say that people will ask them about their body or touch their stomach. While no one has come up to me and touched my calf muscle, people still make comments. " I can tell you're a runner-look at your calves!" Things like that. Generally it's considered socially inappropriate to comment on others' bodies, except if you're pregnant or a runner.
6) You spend money on things you never thought you would. I'm guessing that most people never really thought that they would spend their disposable income on wet wipes, diapers, feeding pillows etc. I never thought I would spend a lot investing in energy drinks, water bottle belts, or spandex.
So, as you can see, running a long distance is like being pregnant. Too bad we don't get maternity leave.
Also, I have decided that training for long distances must be similar to being pregnant. Now, I've never been pregnant so I don't know for certain, but here are some silimarities I've noticed between both conditions.
1) Short term pain-long term gain. Alright, running a lot of miles and carrying a baby for 9 months can be a long time but you do it because you know the long term effects will be worth it.
2) Cravings. I've heard that pregnant women often have strange cravings. Cravings like ice cream or pickles or things like that. Runners' cravings are more for carbs, carbs, and more carbs.
3) You're hungry-a lot! When you're pregnant you're eating for two. When you're running long distances, the amount of calories you're burning is probably the recommended amount for two people. In other words, you're burning for two. Consequently, even though you ate a big supper, your stomach wakes you up at 3am informing you that it needs more food.
4) You're constantly running to the bathroom. Pregnant ladies do this b/c of bladder pressure? I don't know. But runners do it because they have to drink a zillion liters of water to replace the fluids they lost running laps in the park.
5) People ask you about your body. Pregnant women say that people will ask them about their body or touch their stomach. While no one has come up to me and touched my calf muscle, people still make comments. " I can tell you're a runner-look at your calves!" Things like that. Generally it's considered socially inappropriate to comment on others' bodies, except if you're pregnant or a runner.
6) You spend money on things you never thought you would. I'm guessing that most people never really thought that they would spend their disposable income on wet wipes, diapers, feeding pillows etc. I never thought I would spend a lot investing in energy drinks, water bottle belts, or spandex.
So, as you can see, running a long distance is like being pregnant. Too bad we don't get maternity leave.
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