I WORK OUT...IT'S FALL

Hey beautiful peeps...How has your week gone so far?  Mine has been pretty great.  

I spent some fun time this weekend with my cousin who came down my way for a church revival he was preaching at.  We have never really met as adults and I was young when I was around him so I have no recollection of meeting him formally.  We have talked for years on Facebook so we know each other and have formed a friendship.  I walked around town with him and showed him some of my favorite shops, I heard him preach Sunday morning and then we had lunch and worked out...so all in all it was great getting to know him in person.  

Last night my husband and I met our son's recruiter and got a lot of our questions answered and then some.  Jacob has decided to go into the ARMY but not as an infantryman.  He scored very high on the ASVAB placement test so he can pretty much do whatever job he wants.  They said he is pretty much at genius status...lol.  He is looking into jobs and doing some research before he actually signs anything but will probably be signing up here in a few weeks so he can get started on training and such. 

He has about 8-9 months before he would actually leave for basic training but wants to get into better shape and be more prepared about what he will be dealing with.  His father and I are excited that he is so focused on doing what he needs in order to get his school financed. He wants to be a civil engineer.  He'd like to build bridges and such.  We are trying to make sure he chooses a job that has civilian applications so that when he does finish with the ARMY he can still find a job out in the civilian world.  Whatever he chooses he will succeed in, of that I have no doubt.

Now on to my workouts...

Sunday Oct. 20...
Running 41 minutes
AMT 40 minutes

Monday Oct. 21...
AMT 30 minutes

Tuesday Oct. 22...
AMT 40 minutes

I hurt my knee running Sunday so I have just been working out on the AMT hoping that will give my knee some time to heal.  I don't think it's anything major, probably a irritated muscle, tendon or ligament.  I can walk without any pain but there is a sore spot next to the knee cap, to the inside of the knee, that is sore when I push on it and it does hurt to actually run on it.  I will give it some time to heal before I try to run again.  Better to be safe than sorry.

I, for one, am enjoying the cool weather, especially in the morning when it is foggy and the air is crisp.  Sweaters and boots are my favorite fall and winter fashion go to, how about y'all?

I will leave you with a quote...

"Time and health are two precious assets that we don't recognize and appreciate until they have been depleted." ~Denis Waitley

Blessings and hugs!

 

Time and health are two precious assets that we don't recognize and appreciate until they have been depleted.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_fitness.html#IQorzFE5diAdKdrJ.99

Time and health are two precious assets that we don't recognize and appreciate until they have been depleted.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_fitness.html#IQorzFE5diAdKdrJ

"Limitations only exist if you let them" Godspeed...this comes from the Middle English expression "God spede (you)", a wish for success and fortune for one setting out on an enterprise, voyage, adventure, or travels. It may also mean good luck. © 2013 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.

I Did It...My 13.1

 Hey y'all...I'm alive and well.

I know it's been a long time since I blogged but I have been busy hustling and bustling about.  The pain I have lived with for so very long is all but gone and it has left me feeling young and active again. I've been running, cleaning, making home made makeup products and keeping up with my other daily activities; all of this with little to no pain.  Hurray! 


Okay, okay I'll get on with my 13.1 journey...

My race was on a Sunday so Saturday evening I collected and readied all my running necessities so that kept me busy...for like 15 minutes.  I wasn't really all that nervous because I knew I had trained well (except for those 4 weeks I took off at the tail end of training due to pain) and I could just believe that I had done enough.  I rested Saturday night and had a good visit with my mom and family then went to bed early to ensure a good nights rest. 

I had to wake up way to early.  It was still very dark when I arrived at the Fair Grounds to take my seat on one of the many buses lined up waiting to take us all to the start line 2 towns away. After arriving I made my way over to the port-a-potties and didn't even have to wait in line.  Then I headed over to the food and coffee table to partake of one strong cup of coffee and a banana piece.  While I was waiting for the start of the race I met some lovely young (they were all in their 20's) ladies who welcomed me into their group and chatted me up.  None of us raced together but I finished ahead of some of them. 

 

Honestly this was an easy and well organized race.  There were volunteers all along the way as well as tables with water, pretzels, gummy bears at miles 2,4,6 and 8.  At mile 11 there was the table of temptation with doughnut holes, beer and wine...I did take a doughnut hole but not the alcohol...I prefer O.J. and vodka.  After downing the yummy doughnut hole I felt reinvigorated and made good time to the finish line in 2:31.  My whole family was there at the finish to cheer me on as I received my finishers medal.  

To be very candid I did better than I thought I would.  I made sure to drink my Gatorade concoction along the way and eat my lara bar for energy.  I took some gummy bears from a sweet little volunteer at mile 8.  All along the way volunteers were stationed and they would cheer you on as you passed by clapping and yelling out "You can do it" as well as dancing and just having fun.  It really did make a huge difference to me because at some of those miles I was tired and needed a little encouragement to keep going.  Luckily I did not have too much pain. 

When I was finished and had some water and a muffin I realized just how much I had accomplished and it felt amazing.  My legs were hurting extremely bad due to my sciatica but after my son drove me home they felt 90% better.  My husband took the whole family out to breakfast to celebrate and I ordered hot chocolate with whipped cream to drink and fish and chips to eat.  I enjoyed every bite of my meal and didn't even care how many calories was in it.

I would definitely run another 13.1...someday, but not any time soon.  It's nice to just enjoy running and not have a race looming ahead in the distance...for now!  The last few weeks have been spent running by time, not miles and enjoying the feeling of accomplishment.  

In other news...

My oldest son G moved out yesterday to begin his new life with his girlfriend in Klamath Falls.  He arrived safely and is happy to be reunited with his love.  He has an interview for a job tomorrow and another possible job working for one of the vendors from our store here in Grants Pass.  I know that he will do great on his own, I have faith in him. 

I may have finally found my new church family and I'm excited to meet new people and form some new relationships with a home group.  This has been on my mind ever since I left my old home group about 3 years ago.  I have been to two different churches but neither one suited me.  This church I found a week before my half marathon and they made me feel welcome the minute I walked in and sat down.  I missed the Sunday of my race and last week as well but managed to get there today for the traditional service.  I was the only one under 45...everyone there had to have been at least 65-75 but I loved it.  It was like being in a room full of grandparents.  What could be better than that?

Anyhoodles, I am sorry I've neglected my blog but life has been busy for me.  Now that the kids are back in school and I'm working Monday thru Thursday fixing lunch for the high school kids that come into our small store, I have to fit my running and cleaning into the days hours and unfortunately my blog has suffered.  I hope that y'all are doing well and are healthy and happy.  

Anyone race lately and want to tell me all about it?  The Lord bless you and keep you.  The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you.  The Lord look upon you with His everlasting favor and give you peace.  

Blessings and hugs,

 "Limitations only exist if you let them"

Godspeed...this comes from the Middle English expression "God spede (you)", a wish for success and fortune for one setting out on an enterprise, voyage, adventure, or travels. It may also mean good luck.

© 2013 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.

I'm Doing It...13.1 Here I Come

It's final...I'm running my half marathon next Sunday! How, you ask? Well let me tell you...

About two weeks ago I started to really stretch and roll my muscles in hopes of getting some sort of relief...and, it worked!  I have been running, working out, stretching, rolling etc and I'm amazed at the difference.  It really is a miracle, a total surprise to me.  I have had little pain in two weeks, except for one day...it has been wonderful.

So I decided since the pain is soooo much better, I'm going for it.  I will never be fast or place in my age group (most likely) but that is not why I run, I do it because I can.  I'm alive and I can run, so I do. I'm a survivor and I'm gonna keep on surviving.  

I had pretty much resigned myself to the fact that I was going to miss my half...again, for the second year in a row. Now I'm on my last week of running and gearing up for the big day! Can you believe it?  Me either!  

Remember awhile ago I mentioned I was being interviewed by Live Fitter blog....well It came out September 11th.  Here is the interview, I hope you enjoy it.  The pictures are not the best but they were all I had.  

The kids have all started back to school and I could not be happier.  It is so nice to get some quiet time to myself for a change.  My youngest son (not my youngest child) is working part time and has 3 AP classes, so he is one busy dude.  My oldest son (also oldest child) is moving to Klamath Falls at the end of this month...I love him but glad he is going off to find his future, I hope he is successful in all he does. My daughter just started 7th grade and is loving it, she gets to be an office aide for her 1st elective so she is pretty excited about that, and my middle child who is my second oldest son is in his last year of high school so it's a bittersweet year for him...and his father and I.  He will be going into the military after he graduates as they will help him get into college and become a mechanical engineer...he wants to build/design bridges and stuff like that. So there you have it.

Some pictures I took recently...

 
That is what I have been up too...how about y'all?

Anyone have a race they wanna tell me about? I love to hear what y'all have been up to, so drop me a line. 

Blessings and hugs!

 



"Limitations only exist if you let them"

Godspeed...this comes from the Middle English expression "God spede (you)", a wish for success and fortune for one setting out on an enterprise, voyage, adventure, or travels. It may also mean good luck.

© 2013 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.

Letters To Myself...A Mental Note

 I often wonder what my life would look like had I not had cancer and become a runner.  Who would I be? Would I have awoken the sleeping giant of fitness enthusiast in me, or would I have continued on in the lifestyle I was existing in? I'd like to think that I would have gotten tired of being fat and unhealthy but I just don't know.  It's amazing to me that it took a life threatening disease to come to my senses and cause me to change my entire lifestyle.  

Life has a way of throwing me curve balls just when I think things are going great.  Why now? Why after all this time did this have to come to the surface iu such a painful wrenching way to my soul? Did I just not want to see the reality of what was going on?  Oh, I thought I was listening to my body speak to me, but I see now that I was not listening hard enough.  I let small pains and bits and pieces of important information come and go without even a nod in their direction.  I thought I had it all under control but I forgot two very important things, nutrition and my lack of normalcy.  Normal has never been my forte'.  I couldn't just have one thyroid disease at an early age I had to have three and I couldn't just have low Vitamin D I had to have Chronic critical low Vitamin D due to my bodies inability to process this vital nutrient.  How could I forget or rather ignore the nutrition and think everything was going to turn out alright?  

I know that all the stuff that's happening to my body will work itself out, one way or another, it's trusting in the process that has me worked up.  Giving up running my half marathon for the second time in two years has been heartbreaking, yet I know that it's what is best for my body.  Yet a small part of me wants to run it anyway, the consequences be dammed.  I won't do that though, it would be like running in the direction of danger just because I can, and frankly that's stupid. 

If I could just look back several months to my newly healed self I would tell her to focus on more than getting her mileage back up and for pity's sake take the damn vitamin D every day...and don't forget....get your protein in one way or another. I'd tell her that even though she could run long distances, maybe it wasn't the smart thing to do, and that running a half marathon would not define who she is. I'd tell her to just enjoy the shorter runs and focus on being as physically healthy as she could be.  Ah yes, hindsight...there is that!

If I could give one piece of advice to someone out there I'd tell them that nutrition is just as important as physical exercise.   We all want to be faster, better etc...but when is the cost to much.  I'm here to tell you, the cost is always too high when it comes to your body...it's the only one we get so take care of it and in the end it will take care of you.

I'm gearing up for more testing to see why I'm having this pelvic bone pain.  Is it a fracture, probably not. Could it be osteitis fibrosa?  Possibly.  Is this Thyroid cancer metastasized in the pelvic bones? We shall see! All I know is I'm in horrible bone jarring pain and cannot run nor can I sit or stand for long before I'm relegated to laying on a heating pad in bed, which is every day by mid morning.  This is not the life I envisioned while getting healthy, yet it is the life I live and I'll find joy however and wherever I can because it could always be worse.  I am blessed beyond measure and I am so very thankful for each and every blessing in my life.  That includes all you lovely people from the blog-o-sphere that have become my friends.  

Blessings and hugs, here is what has become my new hobby now that I have so much free time to just laze around...LOL enjoy! I call my new hobby Cloudy Thoughts Photography...What say you?

"Limitations only exist if you let them"

Godspeed...this comes from the Middle English expression "God spede (you)", a wish for success and fortune for one setting out on an enterprise, voyage, adventure, or travels. It may also mean good luck.

© 2013 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.

So Very Frustrated!

Warning:  This will be a whinny post full of my sadness and frustrations, so if you don't want to hear it feel free to move on, I won't hold it against you!

I am feeling sorry for myself.  This pelvic pain has been a constant reminder of my bodies inadequacies for running.  Maybe that is not the right word, yet it is how I feel.  The doctor ordered new x-rays that of course showed no new fracture (surprise, surprise).  The fact that the x-ray showed no pelvic fracture does not surprise me, as x-rays rarely show a pelvic fracture, but now the doctor has me off running for a week (it's been a week as of Saturday 8-24) and the pain hasn't really changed, I still cannot sit for long and the pain is still present. 

That being said, running wasn't bothering me while in the moment, but I think that it was/is exacerbating the problem.  I have been good this last week and have not run one step.  I did go to the gym and use the non-impact machines and yesterday I walked for 49 minutes so I have gotten in some exercise, just not my preferred exercise.  

While on my walk yesterday morning I started to talk to God again.  We have (or I should say I have) been incommunicado lately. I realized that running has been an idol and I have put it above my relationship with God,  I had to lay running at God's feet and give it to Him and repent.  It is heartbreaking to me that I have put running above the One who loves me most, and it saddens me that I may not be able to run (ever) again due to my physical problems.  

My relationship with God should be more important than running or anything else and sadly it has become a distant love and for that I am solely to blame and it's up to me to fix that,  for it is me that has gone off on a tangent, God has always been here waiting for me. He is always there for me (and you) just waiting for me to lean on Him and rest in His loving arms and look to Him for answers instead of trying to do my own thing.  

Doing my own thing has always led to disaster, yet here I am again.  Thankfully God does not look at us like we think He does, we assume when we do something wrong He looks at us sternly and says "OMG how could you do this" or maybe "I am so disappointed in you"...Thankfully that is not how He sees us.  If we are His children He looks at us with love, forgiveness and mercy and because He loves us it saddens Him when we decide to do things on our own (and put other things/people above Him) especially when those things/people take us down paths He would rather us not go (because He knows the pain and anguish that awaits us).  I thank God that He loves me and forgives me when I repent, and takes me into His arms and comforts me (like now) when my heart is broken.  

Running is/has been my passion and I'm sad I can't run right now,  but even more I want God to be my passion and I only ask that I can one day run without pain, if that fits into Gods will for my life.

Physically I may have another pelvic fracture or it may be osteoporosis, or it could be bone cancer as thyroid cancer will metastasize to the bones of the pelvis first. The doctor did inform me that for some reason my body does not metabolize vitamin D, either from the sun or a pill, very well, and that I have been chronically very deficient for some time and most likely will be for the rest of my life. I went to the Herb shop and found some fast absorbing Liquid Sunshine with 5000 I.U. and am now taking that every day.  I am also having a problem getting in enough protein which is essential for bone growth, maintenance and renewal, so I am working on that in regards to my food.  

Currently I am waiting to hear back from the doctor to see what he wants me to do now that I have taken a week off from running, I fear his response will be "Continue doing what you are doing". He was going to see if my cancer doctor wants to move my scans up and have them done now to check for bone cancer in the pelvis and also whether he wants to order an MRI or a bone density scan. 

So for now I am not running and trying desperately (probably foolishly) to hold on to the hope that I can still run my half next month.  In my mind I could still run it, even knowing that it will cause me more pain. (and possibly injure me more) Physically I know I can do it, mentally I know(-ish) that I shouldn't run it as it could cause a more serious condition that may cause permanent damage etc. End of rant.  

So that's it folks, that's all she wrote, as the saying goes. May God richly bless you all.  I hope that your week turns out to be a beautiful one.   
Blessings and hugs.

 


"Limitations only exist if you let them"

Godspeed...this comes from the Middle English expression "God spede (you)", a wish for success and fortune for one setting out on an enterprise, voyage, adventure, or travels. It may also mean good luck.

© 2013 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.

Longest Run Ever

 My 17 year old son was a rock star and rode his bike behind me while I ran 12.5 miles this last weekend! At first I was unsure he could ride that slow (I run like a sloth 10:30-12 min pace) but he said it wasn't that slow.  Go me!  I even went out and bought a pain of running shorts...my legs finally look awesome.  The run out was great, the temperature was nice and cool with shade most of the way, and I only completely stopped once to stretch my lower back.  

Once we reached the half-way turn around point we stopped to drink some water and stretch some more.  It seems like I have to stretch almost every time I stop to walk right around 50 minutes to an hour of running. Just before we got to the half-way point we ran by two dead deer that had been hit by a car or something and about 2 minutes after the half-way point we spotted a very small dead fawn, so sad.  At this point it was mostly down hill so my son rode ahead a ways, making sure to look back and stop once in awhile to let me catch up. I was really flying down that hill. Probably not such a good idea with my sciatica...hindsight, sigh!

Remember my fear of being dragged off the road by a mountain lion? Well once we got past that field it was back to civilization and I told my son he could go ahead and ride home without me after I filled my water bottle back up. Now I could just settle into a nice easy pace and motor on home by myself.  It was pretty nice going...for a bit, the sun was shining, birds chirping.  People were driving by honking their support, and I even got a couple of whoop whoops along the way!

Drum roll please.....Cue the ominous music...

So there I was with about 2.5 miles to go until home when I started to get the worst sciatica pain ever forcing me to stop and stretch every walk interval.  I was not sure I would make it home, it was that bad.  My legs just did not want to work properly and I kept feeling like they were going to give out. The pain was close to unbearable... so I did what every BAMR (bad ass mother runner) would do and sucked it up and shuffled home as quick as my legs would let me.  That was the longest 2.5 miles ever.

After arriving home I immediately took a quick shower then iced my lower back in hopes of relieving the swelling and thus the pain, and it worked.  Ice was my friend Saturday.  After about an hour the horrible pain was gone and I was only left with the sore muscles that normally come after a very long run. This sciatica is getting to be really annoying and I can't wait until I see the acupuncturist.

Here is what my workouts looked like this last week...

Monday July 1st
Ran 36 minutes (3.1 miles slow)

Tuesday July 2nd
Weights 45 minutes
Ran 20 minutes

Wednesday July 3rd
Ran 64 minutes (5.1 miles)

Thursday July 4th 
Ran 40 minutes on mini exercise trampoline

Friday July 5th 
Cleaned Susan's 2-Story house 2 hours

Saturday July 6th
Ran 2 hours 30 minutes (12.5 long slow miles)

Sunday July 7th 
Ran 30 minutes (2.6-ish shake out run)

Anyone else obsessed with watching Le Tour de France?  I am absolutely addicted to it...and I don't (can't sit on bike yet) bike at all right now.  Every year I watch this amazing race event and feel so inspired to do/experience more in the fitness world.  Someday I'd like to do a triathlon and maybe someday an Ironman but that is really just a pipe dream.  I shared this desire with my husband yesterday and he just laughed and looked at me like I was a crazy woman.  Oy Vey!  

Have a blessed week y'all! Hugs!

 
 

"Limitations only exist if you let them" 

Godspeed...this comes from the Middle English expression "God spede (you)", a wish for success and fortune for one setting out on an enterprise, voyage, adventure, or travels. It may also mean good luck. 

© 2013 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.

Sciatica Pain Anyone?

I have been dealing with sciatica pain since last year when I broke my pelvis and the pain at times is excruciating.  Since I am allergic to ibuprofen I cannot take anything that really helps ease the pain so I don't take anything, although I have recently found that heat helps tremendously.  

How does one not sit...I mean standing all day is just ridiculous right...so I have this weird schedule of standing, kneeling and laying on one side and then the other, and of course I am working out during all this pain as well.  I have pain every day all day but I know that this will pass and that the sciatica is a result of my injury last year, it may be time for some PT or something I can do at home like massage or use of a foam roller.  I was researching on this pain and last night read that sciatica is often a result of pelvic stress fractures due to nerve damage...oy vey! I've had it from the beginning but just never realized it!  When I was first injured I had this burning pain on my sit bones with tingling that ran down my leg(s) anytime I tried to sit for more than 2 minutes, it has not changed in a year.  

Seriously, if this is the worst thing I have to deal with from my injury it's all good.  I'm really not complaining, just trying to maybe find a solution or something that helps that maybe I have not thought of.

I'm still on track with my training for the half in September and will be doing a 9 mile training run this Saturday.  The sciatica pain has not stopped me from running or working out, it's really only painful when not exercising or moving.  It does hurt a little bit sometimes when the pain is bad and I'm at the gym but it never hurts while running so that is a blessing.  Does anyone have any tips or advice for me that are not going to cost me a lot of doh-ray-me?

Okay now on to my workouts for this week so far...
 
Sunday June 9

• AMT 24 minutes (2.54 miles)
• Arc Trainer 16 minutes (.85 miles)
• Weights 15 minutes

Monday June 10

• Ran 51 minutes outside (4.3 miles)

Tuesday June 11

• AMT 27 minutes (2.53 miles)

Wednesday June 12

• AMT 18 minutes
• Weights 30 minutes

Thursday June 13

• AMT 51 minutes (5 miles)

Weight loss for this last week was 1.6 lbs

 



Let me just say thanks for listening to my woes, family issues and many other rantings throughout the years...I truly thank God and consider y'all to be ♥ friends and blessings!  

"Limitations only exist if you let them"

Godspeed...this comes from the Middle English expression "God spede (you)", a wish for success and fortune for one setting out on an enterprise, voyage, adventure, or travels. It may also mean good luck.

 © 2013 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.

Blooming Where I'm Planted?

Warning...this post is about life, struggle and God...it's long but I think it's worth reading, it was certainly worth writing! 

I am often so absorbed by training for this half marathon that I forget to stop and attend my spiritual health.  I have this longing to accomplish this race, not because I want people to say, wow what a great thing...it's more like I have to do this to prove to myself, my body and my spirit...that I can do it! Does that make any sense to you?  

I was talking to one of my very best friends about my spiritual health just the other day and it was about this very subject.  Feeling like I'm not doing anything significant for God, has left me feeling a little lost.  Come to find out, she is going through the exact same thing.  Don't you just love how God works? I sure do.  After we talked I didn't feel like everything was solved, but I did feel like I had made some headway and like God was still there...waiting.  For what, I don't know...I just know that God has me where I am, and I need to accept it...maybe not embrace it, but accept my garden where it is and how it looks...and bloom where I've been planted.  

My life and everything I touch is my personal garden and I CAN bloom where I've been planted.  We don't need to all go out and knock on doors, or serve at the soup kitchens to be significant. Some of us are mom's and dad's and our children and loved ones are our ministry.  The people I see daily, whether they are family or acquaintances, are in my garden and how I interact with them matters.  I may be the only person in their life that day, that reaches them for Christ through some small an act of kindness.  That means a lot to me personally, I am serving lunch to the high school kids in town Monday-Thursday and I may be their only smile or kind act in their day! In that way I am significant to God.  

How does running fit in?  Well I'm not sure, to be perfectly honest.  Yet, running is a big part of me at this moment in time and I have to believe that God planted that seed somewhere along the way for a reason.  I'm a runner but that isn't what defines me, I survived cancer, but that doesn't define me either...I'm a child of God at my core and that SHOULD define me.  I am hopeful that people see my heart (God) when they read my blog.  I pray that someone has been touched by my words (Gods words) at one time or another...but that is ultimately up to God not me.  

Running has been difficult for me.  I have had my fair share of injuries because of running, yet I love it. God has brought me through those injuries and the resulting heartbreak the same way he brought me through cancer and every other heartache I've gone through in life.  I got through those injuries because inside of me is a belief that God brings us to the valleys only to shine and show us His majesty when we come out on the other side. He is ultimately the one who gave me my spirit of triumph..it's not me, it's Him.  I hope that I show that in my blog.

You may be asking...What?

I've said all that to say this...I am struggling with pain.  Running past 4 miles is causing me pain in my hip and pelvis and I'm not sure I can keep up my training. That does not mean I am quitting just that I may have to tweak my schedule.  I am just saying I'm struggling.  My husband questions whether I should keep training for this half, period.  I am questioning it myself.  I have been thinking lately that maybe instead of trying to run the whole thing I should try a run/walk schedule.  Ugh! My ego doesn't like that last statement. To be honest, it was hard just writing that last statement. Egotistically I want to say I ran the whole way, but I really don't see that happening.  Maybe God is saying His plan for my half is better than my plan is...I have to learn to stop and listen for His advice.  It's always better than my advice. God may see this half marathon as a way to touch someones life through some seemingly insignificant act or word...I am sure that He sees it's execution and completion entirely different than I see it! It may have nothing to do with me at all and everything to do with Him. 

Thanks for listening to my struggle and for not giving up half-way through, I'm sure y'all deserve some kind of medal for finishing this post. It would be called the Medal of Friendship, and I virtually award it to every one of you! 

I am blessed by you and I thank God for bringing you into my life! Blessings and hugs! I hope I haven't scared any of you off!  I promise I have not lost it...lol!  May God bless you and keep you and may His favor shine on your life.

   



"Limitations only exist if you let them"

Godspeed...this comes from the Middle English expression "God spede (you)", a wish for success and fortune for one setting out on an enterprise, voyage, adventure, or travels. It may also mean good luck.

 © 2013 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.

Running Bloggers Survey

I know I already posted this morning but wanted to join in on the Running Bloggers Survey as well!

Best Run Ever

That would be my first run ever...The 40th Stage Coach Run in Jacksonville Oregon.  It was my first official race after my cancer, surgery and treatment.  I felt so accomplished after I crossed that finish line.

Three Words That Describe My Running

Obsession...Accomplished...Empowering...

My Go-To Running Outfit

Compression capri's I got from Old Navy, running bra, new uber berry Reebok flex shoes, and usually a running tank of some kind.

I Won’t Run Outside When It’s…

 Hot and humid as it makes me sick to my stomach and last year I got heat exhaustion from it.

Worst Injury – And How I Got Over It

My pelvic stress fracture I sustained last year while training for my 1st half, which I had to miss.  I took the whole summer off from running and most walking, stayed in bed when needed and pretty much just swam all summer long. I was able to start taking walks sometime in August I think, and then started to run again in November...I am back to normal now!

I Felt Most Like a Badass Runner When…

I completely killed my 1st ever PR by over 4 minutes...I also felt like a Bad Ass my last race (1st race post injury) when I beat my Pr by 28 seconds.

Potential Running Goal for 2013

 To complete my half marathon training without injury and run the race in September.

My Next Race Is…

At this time that would be my half marathon in September, but we runners know this could change in the blink of an eye. 

Now go over and link up with Kelly The Culinarian and have fun with the survey. 

Godspeed...this comes from the Middle English expression "God spede (you)", a wish for success and fortune for one setting out on an enterprise, voyage, adventure, or travels. It may also mean good luck. "Limitations only exist if you let them" © 2013 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.

D Is For...Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness

Delayed onset muscle soreness is basically the soreness you feel, hours or days after a strenuous work out. It is also called muscle fever.  "The soreness and stiffness comes from eccentric exercise which causes micro-trauma to the muscle fibers." (partial excerpt taken from Wikipedia)

This happens to me after I work out particularly hard or do a workout that I don't usually do.  For instance, I tried the Biggest Loser Cardio Max workout (a few painful weeks ago) and, by the end, thought I was going to drop right there and die, seriously it is crazy hard.  I'm in exceptional pretty good shape but dang that was a wicked hard workout (read I'm not in as good as shape as I thought). Another great example is when I do too much running like a cheetah fast sprinting and by the end of the night I am practically in tears and huddled under the covers of my bed wishing for the sweet relief of sleep. (This is why I don't do too much speed work)

(how I probably look to birds while running)

Have a great day y'all! Thanks so much for stopping by, blessings and hugs! 

How are you doing this week?
Any races you did or are training for?
Are you in The A-Z Challenge? 
If so how is it going for you?

Godspeed...this comes from the Middle English expression "God spede (you)", a wish for success and fortune for one setting out on an enterprise, voyage, adventure, or travels. It may also mean good luck. 

 "Limitations only exist if you let them" 

© 2013 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.

Happy Monday!

May your Monday be filled to the brim and overflowing with love.

As I sit here grumbling because I have to stay still and do nothing (compressing, icing and elevating leg), I realize that I am a blessed woman.  God has provided me with what I need, some of what I want but most of all with love.  I am surrounded by love...

I have been babying my left leg, as much as I can stand to anyway, by icing it, using compression wraps and elevating it.  Of course we won't go into how I walked 10 miles yesterday in 1 hour and 50 minutes and 29 seconds...we will just leave that in the past.  I was walking, not running so I was behaving-ish! (Yes, I realize that is not a word, I just made it up) I have a knot in my lateral hamstring tendon that is a bit sore but not too bad.  All in all I cannot really complain, as I know there are others who are much worse off. I will heal...God is good, All the time and All the time, God is good!

1. Saturday-Arc Trainer 20 minutes. Bike trainer 20 minutes for a total calorie burn of approx. 400 calories.
2. Sunday-Walked 10 miles for 110.5 minutes for a total calorie burn of 539 calories or so.
3. Monday-Rest Day & R.I.C.E. 

Have a blessed day!

Godspeed...this comes from the Middle English expression "God spede (you)", a wish for success and fortune for one setting out on an enterprise, voyage, adventure, or travels. It may also mean good luck. 

 "Limitations only exist if you let them" 

© 2013 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.

Biceps Femoris Pain/Hamstring Pain

Okay so what I thought was ITBS is really an issue with the hamstrings...the pain is not on the side of my leg/knee...it is to the side and back of knee where the Biceps Femoris muscle tapers down into the lateral hamstring tendon.
  
A hamstring strain is a stretch, tear or rupture of one of the three muscles on the back of your thigh. The muscles involved are the Biceps femoris, Semittendinosus and Semimembranosus. Together, these muscles are commonly known as the hamstring. These muscles are two joint muscles that extend your leg at the hip and flex your leg at the knee joint. Strains are classified as first, second or third degrees. (Excerpt taken from runningplanet.com)

 

 
The pain and inflammation is where the picture indicates the lateral hamstring tendon is. Anyone ever have this injury? If so what did you do to treat it?  There are 3 degrees of injury.

• First-degree strain – A tearing of less than 25% of the muscle fibers. This is characterized by mild pain and may not be felt until the day after the injury. A slight pull may be felt at the time of the injury.

• Second-degree strain – A tearing of 25% to 75% of the muscle fibers. Pain is more sever and is felt immediately upon suffering the injury. Discoloration may occur. The injury will be felt immediately and continued activity will be difficult. Walking and jogging may be painful.

• Third-degree strain – This is a complete rupture of the muscle. This will require immediate medical attention. Walking or running is impossible.

 
 The pain I am feeling indicates a second-degree strain.  It is pretty much painful all the time.  I will have to keep my exercise to a minimum and no running at all, for now! So I will cross train as much as possible without further irritating the hamstrings. I am hoping that by babying my leg, it will heal quickly and I can get back to training. So that means, R.I.C.E. which we all know stands for Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation.

ERMERGERD, it's like my body is conspiring against my love for running! It seems that if it's not one thing it's another, when it comes to my body and running.  My sons like to point out it's because I'm old...aren't they sweet.  They are always teasing me, saying "Your gonna break your hip", because it happened once upon a time. Oy Vey! 

I hope that y'all have a FANTABULOUS weekend planned out! Blessings and hugs! 

Godspeed...this comes from the Middle English expression "God spede (you)", a wish for success and fortune for one setting out on an enterprise, voyage, adventure, or travels. It may also mean good luck. 

 "Limitations only exist if you let them" 

© 2013 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.

Calf Compression Sleeves & The A-Z Challenge 2013

First things first, I bought a pair of compression calf sleeves and what a difference they made! I ran without pain the other day for approximately 6.5 miles...woohoo! I am going to be using them on all my longer runs for sure and even the shorter runs until my shins are 100% better. I feel more confident about running The Pear Blossom Run now than I did before I bought the sleeves. I may not run faster but I will run without pain, and to me, that's a good thing. Okay now onto The A-Z Challenge...

For those of you who have never heard of the A-Z challenge, let me tell you all about it. This challenge is put on every year by Arlee Bird over at Tossing It Out (It started in 2010) and the idea is to blog every day (except Sundays) and to do it Thematically/Alphabetically.  Every day you blog (starting with the letter A on April 1st) according to what letter of the alphabet you are on. It's a blast! (I will still be posting on my running and life in general)


So for example starting April 1st we will blog starting with the letter A.  April 2nd we will blog starting with the letter B, and so on. We will blog every day except Sunday.  You can write all the posts and schedule them ahead of time or you can write every day.  You can have a theme or just wing it. You can even post a recipe or poem.  This year I have my A-Z words picked out already and will pre-schedule some...others I will write the day of.  This challenge is a fun and informative way to get to know other bloggers in the blogosphere. Feel free to join us or not...just go over to The A-Z Challenge blog and follow the directions. Hope to see ya there. Please do not feel obligated to join in, but do come and visit as usual. I will miss you if you don't. Blessings and hugs.

Godspeed...this comes from the Middle English expression "God spede (you)", a wish for success and fortune for one setting out on an enterprise, voyage, adventure, or travels. It may also mean good luck.

 "Limitations only exist if you let them"

© 2013 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.

Coffee, Shin Splints and Life In General

 Coffee √ Shin Splints √ Life In General..In Process!

Life is good as usual.  I have much to be thankful for, and little to complain about.  Shin splints in the grand scheme of life are really nothing big.  I think I have found the problem, the school track I've been running on is very lumpy and uneven so I am going to stop running on that track asap and find another with less lumpiness and more evenness. (Not a very grammatical sentence, I know)

I'm getting more running in (even with sore shins) and working my way back up in mileage.  May not be a good thing, I know.  I have been wrapping my shins at home with ace bandages, the compression is a miracle worker.  I also wear my compression soccer socks and they are helping as well. The shins feel great-ish, not perfect but better by far.  The 5k is not until April 13th so I have plenty time if I need to take some training time off. I am running slowly and very carefully but I do stop if it hurts.

In other news, my son's ortho appointment is getting closer and he is restless waiting for it.  Not being able to weight lift affected his grade in Weight lifting class (although he can make it up) and he's not happy about that at all. He's 15, he'll get over it. 

The 17 year old is doing great, his father is trying to teach him to drive the old truck (1969 Ford) which has a very long and awkward stick shifter that does not shift normal, lucky hubby right! 

My 12 year old daughter is...well...a 12 year old, love her hate the age, it is full of hormonal angst and whatnot. She is beautiful, tall, slim...funny as the day is long, creative, and sweet....just sooooo not a morning person. She can make or break my day, anyone out there feel my pain? Ha ha ha!

The other day my hubby and 17 year old son replaced the screen on my screen door for me (I've only been asking for 2 years, lol) and fixed both gate doors outside (they close and latch now) woohoo! 

Exercise for me has been a little running, biking (at the gym) and the Arc trainer...I have also been running my two little wiener dogs (mini-wiener dogs mixed with short leg jack-russell terrier) around the yard outside to get them used to being out "there".  They have always been inside dogs and the outside is a brand new and exciting endeavor for them both.  That's about all I have to say, my life isn't that exciting. Have a great week y'all...blessings and hugs! Anyone racing or traveling? Tell me all about it.

ANNIE

WEENIE

Godspeed...this comes from the Middle English expression "God spede (you)", a wish for success and fortune for one setting out on an enterprise, voyage, adventure, or travels. It may also mean good luck.

 "Limitations only exist if you let them" 

 © 2013 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.