Slowing Down But Not Stopping!

Some of you know that selling house, moving, moving again, travel and a huge race to run took its toll on me.  I have been limping along figuratively and trying to bounce back to where I was but it is not working yet.  I have had a hoarse or no voice since end of June.  It comes and goes, seems worse when I am tired out, but I have not felt like I had a cold or allergies.  I ignored it, and ignored it, and ignored some more......but a very observant friend who would call me regularly kept asking me "Whats wrong with your voice?"   She did this so many times, eventually I heard the message.  I have stopped running, but still walking.  If I quit moving, it will not help.  I have gotten more rest and regular afternoon naps or rest times, and will have an MRI of the brain today and some other tests to follow.  My doctor wants to be sure it is not anything of concern.  I am not singing in the shower, singing to the radio in the car (both hobbies I do enjoy!) and I have been resting my voice and not talking most of day.  If I stay home its not a problem.  No one to talk to helps.  But my voice is best first thing when I wake up, and worsens through the day.  The reason I post this blog entry today is not because I stopped running after the Senior Games.  Its not because I did not score a medal.  It is not because I don't want to run.  I feel like I can't and I should not be trying right now.  Several times I have preached about listening to your body.  I get in trouble when I don't.  I am still walking as I said, and try to be as active during the day as I can be.  I did trek over to Houston so spend the weekend with my son Mike, wife Kristen and my granddaughters and grandson, even though Gigi did not feel like whooping it up as usual, I did love the giggles, the kisses and hugs and moments together.

 Instead of going shopping at the mall with these bundles of energy, I brought some surprises and I did some online back to school shopping with Ava, who just started first grade.  She did not seem to mind not going to the stores to shop, but seemed happy to pick from pictures on my cellphone.  And she knows that she and "mommy" will be surprised when the boxes come to the door in the next week or so.
I am also writing about this so those of you who have looked to me for inspiration to just keep going to better fitness, will not stop or feel I am no longer focused on health and wellness, after the biggest race of my life.  I need your inspiration right now to keep on moving.  I do not need to get weak again and have to struggle to keep my strength.  Keep walking or running, whatever you do best.  Let others know you are still carrying on, rain or shine, and it will keep me in the game too!  If I don't blog about running, its cause i am not able to.  I will try to blog about walks, healthy living, and rest.  I will not blog about ailments and what is wrong with me.  My focus will be what is right with me, and if there are long lapses of time, its cause I am doing the best I can.  Thats all any one can do!  Exercise, rest, fun and therapy can come in many forms!  Enjoy each day!

Top 10 Reasons Running Haters Run Anyway

I read.  I read a lot.  I read recently, that if you ask people what they think about running, apparently you can divide the population into two distinct groups.  The lovers and the haters.  The interesting fact that I gleaned from this was that even though many people say they hate running, continue to make it a regular part of their lives.  Why?????  That sounds crazy to many of you, but it makes a lot of sense in retrospect.

The benefits of running are many.  Most people start walking and then running in an attempt to lose weight or tone legs.  Running is just fast walking.  Once a walker gets faster and stronger, many times they will think, "hey, I would get done faster if I did a little running too"  And then it goes from there.  The truth is that walking and running strongly contributes to winning many personal wealth battles, and enhances overall health in many ways.  The top 10 I have come across:

1) Whether you win a race or just finish them, you are on track to winning the battle of the bulge.  60% of runners run for weight control.

2) Prevent muscle and bone loss.  Even thin people get sagging and wrinkles if they don't exercise due to muscle loss and loss of muscle tone as we age.  Weight bearing exercise and running helps this and also prevention of bone loss.  Human Growth Hormone levels elevate as well.  These taper as we age, and this is why celebrities have injected this in themselves to hold off aging.  Running does this naturally.  It also slows aging on the inside of our bodies too.

3) Fights Disease.  Running helps with increasing elasticity of blood vessels, decreasing blood pressure, decreases incidence of diabetes just to mention a few benefits.

4) Increases lung capacity and oxygen to all parts of the body.  It increases the immune system, by increasing white blood cell production, decrease risk of blood clots, and also increases the HDL levels, or good cholesterol.

5) Runners report a new level of self confidence, self esteem.

6) Stress Release.

7) Helps brain focus and builds mental determination.  The regular increased oxygenation to the blood and stress relief must also be considered as healthy for our aging neurons.

8) Runners High-- yep, that natural feel good, relaxed feeling of endorphin release that strenuous activity brings.  It keeps you going back for more.

9) Balance and Coordination improve.  These are things that also naturally decline with age and can cause injury.  This is important.

10) No fancy equipment is required.  Decent shoes, comfy clothes based on the weather and a safe place.  Meeting people who walk or run, and joining races and fun runs for charity a social bonus!

Out I go for a long fast walk and a few slow jogs!

Running in A Heat Wave, And Not Lose Focus

I have been reminded more than a bit, that I have been slacking on the blog.  Working on the house we will inhabit has occupied my time.  I have hit the gym a few times though for aerobic activity as I have had plenty of manual labor.  Friends have fallen off track too since my hiatus, and my friend Norma got after me for some motivation to get back on track with habit forming exercise and healthy eating.  We need to be less hard on ourselves, with weeks of 90 to 100 and above temps.

 Exercise in hot weather is important but so is avoiding heat stroke.   It is the main reason we have not had enough  running lately.  Ben and I are looking for a race to plan for coming up soon, so it will nudge us to get back to the road.  The 100 degree plus temps have not been helping. i have had a run or two on a tread mill, but not the same to me.  Personally I don't enjoy the tread mill, but its the only option in this heat.  This is the hard time to train if you live in the south.  Exertion outside when the temperature is higher than your body's and with high humidity is dangerous at any age.  Your body can not cool off.  Its that simple.   The tread mill is a moving track, that does not give the same feeling as you propelling along a track or road, but with this kind of heat it is all you can do.  I have been 2 miles on the tread mill and another 6 to 10 on the stationary bike, when not working on our move.  My focus has been back to proper nutrition as well.  While traveling and moving, we fell back into fast food and take out more than ever.  So, back to the basics of eating less processed and more wholesome choices is again in style at our house.  I took a few pics of recent examples to share ideas.   Figuring out what to fix for meals and stay healthy is some days more challenging than a race.  You don't always have the time to go to the store and browse what looks fresh and healthy to get ideas for meals.
In the first picture is an example of a healthy summery breakfast
Fresh blackberries, blueberries, watermelon and peaches, with two soft boiled eggs and a slice of whole grain toast.  Proper feeding of our bodies, adequate sleep
and exercise makes the body perform best.  Lets try to get back on that track!

I Have Had To Stop Running- Pushing Too Hard Can Slow You Down

I have been in a bit of denial.  Actually, a lot of it.  The build up for  the big race, moving out of a house, into another then again into an interim apartment, travel across the country in time to run in the biggest 5K held only every two years, and then back to adjust to a new apartment, preparing for and then presenting data in a Houston Tax Protest Hearing, then unpacking, cleaning and settling new home three hours away, just thinking about it is exhausting.  I wasn't sleeping well at night, and I had no time for naps.  My life became a terribly run on sentence.  It was like a train on the tracks hurtling forward without a brake.  My life became a marathon and I now feel every punishing mile.

 I can say proudly " I did it all and did it well" but that does not make me feel any better today.  I tried to function like I have not been  challenged physically and mentally, like I am not a vintage person with a physical and mental limit.  That is until I hit that limit, tried to push beyond it, and now am back to where the common activities of daily living are exhausting.  I have no energy to run errands, let alone run.  I have tried, and had to stop.  I tried to run yesterday.  I had to stop.  I had to admit defeat, for now.  After just trying I had to go lay down and rest.  Complete exhaustion set in.  It feels like I am too tired to beathe when I push too far.  I have taken more steps backwards now than I can bear to consider.
 I feel weak.  I feel mentally and physically spent.  I did this to myself, with the help of life and my sense of duty and need to accomplish.  I am not 30 any more.  I have limits and exceeded them, so now I am paying for it.

Running was a way I felt strong.  I felt free and like I was really alive.  I felt a sense of accomplishment without having to concentrate or remember.  I could put on music I love and enjoy natural surroundings, fresh air, sunshine, and the freedom of the open road.  Until I tried to expend enormous amounts of brain and body energy tackling our life changes and demands.  It feels like failure.

All stressors of life, work, effort needs to be balanced with adequate food, fuel and rest.  The older person, older runner, needs more rest.  I know now I did not take enough recovery time after each event.  Selling house, preparing for move, moving, unpacking and settling, training to run, travel to Senior Games, running that race, etc, my life became a run on sentence.  Until I hit the wall.

Time for me to unplug, take a deep breath and plan my days again.  I need to get back on the routine. I need to have a walk every day.  That is healing.  I need more rest, and that means a good nap every day, at the same time.  I need to eat only healthy unprocessed foods.  I need to drink more water, and wait.  I will feel better, it just takes longer.  My body will respond.  It has before.  Each time I get myself to this point, I swear to myself I will not over do again, that I have learned my lesson.  This is a constant struggle.  Find your balance.  Know your limits.  Take best care of yourself first.  Then get on with what brings joy to your life.

The Motivation Of Other Runners

I have gone quiet but not away!  Since the Senior Games, the necessities of life have intruded on our recreation and leisure time.  I have prepared for and won a Protest Tax Hearing in Harris County which was way too much brain overwork for me.  Several days before and after, I had a drive to College Station to take care of repairs and prep new house there for living.  Ben had to stay behind and cure pestilence and disease, so I was on my own with fighting bureaucracy and cardboard boxes.  This new home project is just 2 1/2 yrs old, but has some serious wear and tear on floors and ice maker and freezer gaskets, think frost and snow in a Texas Summer!  In addition,
we still have mountains of cardboard boxes with miscellaneous things I am beginning to think we should live without!  Time for more purging!  We are both at the stage in life where less is more, except apparently for light bulbs.  I discovered Ben has a collection of light bulbs that should take care of us forever.  I have been working my brain, arms, shoulders, back way too much lately.  Today is the first day of the rest of our running careers.  My brain and body still function better with consistency and routine.  Never being a routine driven person in the past, it still puzzles me, but one important exercise in brain (re) training is routine.  Wake up at same time, eat at same times, afternoon snooze or rest at same time, etc.... and yes, I do feel better.   The piece that has been missing most has been the exercise part.  Ben has been waiting for me to come back, so we can jump start our running for fun program.  He is sleeping in right now, but I am planning his reentry to the world of the run.

In the mid to high 90's with high humidity, we are going to be  mostly inside.  If I can get him motivated early enough my plan is to warm up, run a mile or so outside on the track, go inside then to run another mile on the smaller inside track,  or hop on the tread mills that are designed for going "the distance".  These are more forgiving, easier on the joints for distance run.  Today will be for distance, a moderate steady pace.  After this I would usually spend 15 or 20 minutes on the rowing machine.  Not for awhile will I be doing that.  My upper body has had more than enough strenuous working out lately!  Its time to get back on the run, and a friend has helped point me back in the fast track!

Lisa

An excited shout out to Lisa Weidt Heller.  Lisa grew up one street over from me, and she has started a running career already successful in completing other 5Ks and weight loss.  On Saturday, Lisa ran the Chick-Fil-A 5K in Hagerstown MD,  winning the third place Grand Masters Division with a super time of 33:18.  Way to go Lisa!!!!!    I think Lisa has done a great job!!
Another shout out to my sister in law, Patty Hull for completing a walk 4.85miles!  Patty has also completed a Ridge Race, and an ALS Fun Run event!  So much motivation to encourage each other and keep going!  

Amazing Statistics

For many reasons, this was not the most enjoyable race for me but it was the most satisfying, the most humbling, the most inspiring and most memorable.

The Games are still going on, but Ben had to get back to work, and I too had business and moving issues to take care of, so we came back early.

After the last post, I sat down to reflect on a few of the  people I met at the National Senior Games.  The first athlete I met was at the airport.  She introduced her self as an 80-84 y.o 5K contestant from Georgia.  She had her husband, son and daughter in law with her, and her grandchildren and more family joining to cheer her on race day.  I checked the results and there she was.  Andrea Harrison of Newnan Georgia, won Bronze for a 3rd place finish of 12:18 min per mile pace for a time of 38:13.  The bright smile and the "yellow shoes" I was told to look for on race day!

The second person who impressed me was "Peter", who said he was 88 and  from Mississippi, but qualified in Florida.  I checked the mens stats for that era and I found him.  I knew he took first as I saw his medal ceremony.  Peter Miazza, of Madison, MS set a 10:24 mi/min pace for a time of 32:16.  I wondered if this was a record time for this age group.  It seems impossible for an 88 year old male to be able to run that fast.  The NSOG record for 85 to 89 was set in 20021, @ 27:54.  Unbelievable.

I also wondered if the record for my age group was set this time, as I vaguely remember that the times of this Senior Games was faster than last in 2013.  It was faster, but not a record.  The 60-64 5K record was sent in 2009 at 19:55.  The record for men 60-64 was sent in 1989 @ 17:27.  Having run this one, I am so in awe of these people who don't let a number stop them from being their best.

The friends who took time from busy lives to drive to where we were staying and spend time sharing history and catching up, meant a lot too.  As we age, its more important to keep connected with others, and support each other in life.  Really nothing much else comes close to being of importance in the big picture.  Life and the aging that comes along with it, is filled with challenges, illnesses, situations, pitfalls and potholes.  Helping each other along the way, even if just by telling someone they mattered to you at one time in life, and you still care about them is a very healing pastime.  We need to continue to support each other on this journey.  We should try to make each day special in some way, and caring about our fellow man is top of the list.  

Recap Of The Biggest Race

We arrived pretty tired and a bit sick to Minneapolis, but the energy of the event kept us going.  The day before the race, we went to the Minnesota Fairgrounds and mapped out the route.

 The plan was to run it as a slow training run,

to familiarize ourselves with a double out and back complex route.  After running a mile, I was out of breath, coughing, so I told Ben he could keep running, but I would prefer to walk for today, and hope for a rain delay to Tuesday.  The forecast was terrible, and I would have loved an extra day to rest up from double moves and travel, to feel well to run but it was not to be.  The term "rain date" apparently only referred to lightening strikes, and then with a 30 min. delay after each strike before starting the race.  We saw that it was going to be a race up and down hills comparable to 6.5 stories in a downpour and with lots of water covered areas.  I think I still would have done fairly well, but I did not enjoy this run for several reasons.  1) I was pretty exhausted from separating household items into short term, mid term and long term living arrangements.  It was very complicated.  2) We actually orchestrated and assisted in moving our living accommodations 4 times in 5 days, then traveling to Houston to fly out.  I had a headache, sore throat and upset stomach up to and including racetime and for several days afterwards.  Not what you want to feel in perfect weather.  Pretty nasty in cold wet downpour.  It had tapered off by the time I finished the race, at 29.03 minutes.  3) Just a minute before the starting gun went off, I was told if I did not want to be disqualified I should take off my headset and turn off the program on my cell phone.  The woman said depending on my time, they may not care, but according to rules, I could be disqualified.  OK, so I had our car key in my sports bra, cutting into my sternum; I now had my soaked cell phone and case attached to my upper right arm, and also my headset tucked in my shorts.  The real problem for me?  I pace to music.  I had not read all the fine details of the games rules, and apparently the committee could if you did very well, consider you may have had professional coaching help being piped into your ears instead of golden oldies.  Looking around I did not see anyone else with music apparatus.  Music is what makes running enjoyable for me.  I love to run to oldies hits.  No matter what I did time wise, I want to be in the books for running this race.  I did not want any reason to be disqualified!  I did not know what pace I started off, but I was ahead of Ben.  Looking back, I know I must have started out too fast for my physical condition that day.  I learned from Tim our running coach, that when you are not watching your pace by technology, 99% of people run faster than they think they are.  I was trying to keep pace with two other women who also had lavender cards pinned to their backs.  Lavender was 60 to 64 age group.  I am usually either ahead or in pace with fast "middle aged" females....these two were easily keeping me chasing them.  It was ok and I was close behind them until awhile after the two mile sign.  A crowd and photographers that were at the summit of the largest hill was yelling and cheering everyone on, encouraging you to give it all you got, because the finish was just ahead...so I did pick up my pace, feeling a bit short of breath and panting, but I nailed that hill and put everything I had out there, only to find around the corner there was at least a block and 1/2 left with hills to go!  That last bit was so hard, but unlike a few of my cohorts, I did not walk, I kept running, and averaged I think it was close to 9.23 per mile.   Having a virus, being really exhausted from moving and travel, I was pretty happy with how i did.  My husband pulled in front of me after the big hill.  Many others were ahead of me too, but I did finish strong.  I took 17th place our of 24, 66 of 117 females, and 171 of 257 of the fastest group of people 50 and up. It was by far not my best day out, but the biggest race and the biggest event I have competed in.  First place was taken by a long distance runner, at an unbelievable time of 21 minutes plus a few seconds.  The previous National Record was 22mins +  I bet it will be the new record.  Amazing !  The first one is in the books.  We learned a lot!

Immediately after the race I felt pretty tight in my lungs, dizzy and nauseated.  I found a bench and laid down for a minute or two and felt much better once I could catch my breath.  Once I got up, I saw a couple and a vintage man walking my way.   "Jeff" told me his friend Peter, was 88 and just finished the 5K.  Peter was looking pale, and shaky.  A tall gray haired man who did not look 88 or even close, was wandering around a bit, saying " I think I am gonna go down".....  The nurse in me came out, and my focus was on Peter.

 Jeff said to him to just keep walking like he always does after finishing, adding that he and his wife cannot believe his ability and they follow as many of his races as possible.   Peter said a second time he felt like he was going to go down, when I caught his arm and said, hey, a few minutes ago when I finished, I felt the same way.  A few minutes on the wooden bench, and I felt much better.  I usually walk till I recover too, but I felt pretty bad so I tried it and it really seemed to help.  I was thinking, if this 6 foot man faints and falls,  he's gonna get hurt.  I lead him to the bench and helped him recline on it.  He did not perk right up, so I asked him if he minded if I check his pulse.  He was at 200 beats per minute initially and after about four minutes he was back to 120, and steady.  His color was better, and he sat up.  I got talking with the group, and found that Peter had been a family friend and the young couple love to travel with him as his support team.  They are amazed with his ability, at his age.  He took first of the male, 85 to 89.  He too had not started running until later in life, and found that he could compete at an advanced age.
 During this time, my husband I saw across the street waving his hands at me to get my attention.  I was having a nice visit with this group of new friends, and waved back.  He waved more vigorously, and pointed to a water bottle, so I assumed he thought I needed water, and I suggested Peter get some too.  Crossing the street, a young man with a huge camera came up to me, said to me, "Is this you???" as he pulled out of his pocket a copy of the Jim Melaro Olean Times' Herald photo and article.  I was stunned.  I asked him if he were from Olean, hopefully!  He was not but is a Minneapolis reporter, who was assigned to write a follow up on the OTH article.  I was still so surprised, it seemed surreal.  Ben came over and said he was waiting in line for water when he heard a loudspeaker blurt out, " Is there a Kathy Hull here?"  several times.  He walked up to the announcing booth and said," I am not sure how or why, but I think you may be looking for my wife.!'   He was told a reporter was trying to find me after the race.  Matt had graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in journalism.  I did not ever get an answer as to how he had been given the OTH article.  He said his style was just to follow us around for awhile and get a feeling of us and our experience.  He would decide what and how to write it later.  He took a few candid shots of us together, but he never said he had gotten any along the route.

When the Senior Games Daily News came out the next day, we had forgotten about the informal unlikely interview.  Ben was reading and said " Hey, you have to see this!  Look you are on the front page!  "  The article brought tears to his eyes.  He and I both tend to try to forget and put behind us the dark days, way too many of them.  But it is a part of our history.   It is no longer the dominant theme any more.  We have forged ahead, together, denying that anything can slow or stop us.  Its not true of course, but events like that have such a strong effect on you, that you must choose to live in that moment, hang on to it, let it command what you do or don't do, or try to run as far and as fast from it as possible.  Thats why we run, and we run together!  So much heartfelt thanks to everyone who has helped me get this far.....the doctors, nurses, therapists, friends, family.  I wouldn't be here, and Ben would not be where he is today with me.  We are so appreciative.  Enjoy something about each day.  Move forward and leave the bad stuff behind.  Walk or run to a better future.   CS Lewis was right!