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.

Acupuncture, Training, & Obsessions

First let me start off by saying...Hello there...I've missed y'all.  There, now that that's out of the way I can tell you all about my acupuncture, training and current obsessions.

First an explanation....I cannot sit for long at all and that is why I have not been blogging much as of late.  I do love to blog, I do love my friends and followers....I just have to choose the day that pain is okay.  Today is a good day for pain...YOU ALL ARE WORTH IT.

My first acupuncture visit was really a first in every sense of the word.  I have never had acupuncture or massage or anything close to it so I was a bit (read extremely) nervous.  The atmosphere was very relaxing and smelled of eucalyptus, one of the best smells ever.  Kris (the acupuncturist) is a very tall, blond and blue eyed cutie and so nice.  He made me feel like I was visiting an old friend and I immediately relaxed. The visit itself was really not such a big deal and the needles are so small that you hardly feel them, it felt more like a mosquito biting me than someone sticking me with needles. Some of the needles I did not feel at all.

So I found a comfy overstuffed recliner, got comfy and then after receiving about 10-15 needles relaxed for about 45 minutes to the sound of Chinese flutes and chimes and the smell of eucalyptus. By the time it was over I was feeling extremely relaxed and hopeful.  Kris runs a community acupuncture clinic and only charges $20 a visit and if you pay for 3 visits he waives the $15 intake fee. This man is a godsend to anyone who is fortunate enough to live in this area.  Although his office is about a 40 minute drive from where I live, it's worth it.  

I am feeling a difference in the time it takes to feel pain and the intensity of that pain is lessened, so again I am feeling hopeful.  It's not all better but it is moving in the right direction.  I had my third visit yesterday and it was a bit different.  We did a direct stimulation treatment instead of the normal treatment.  I had to lay on my stomach on a table  with a sheet over my bottom half, Kris then poked my back and hips with his thumbs and when he found a sore spot he would mark it with a pen.  After all the prodding and poking came the needles, it was a bit unnerving because it was my back, spine and butt/legs...tender skin equals more pain.  It really wasn't too bad, except for a couple of spots, all went well.  

Until the electricity came in...he hooked one of the needles up to a machine or something that sends an electrical current into your body....hahaha...fun.  So then he leaves the room and promises to come running if I scream.  As I'm laying there praying to God that I don't get electrocuted, I feel my butt muscles spasm and have to bite my lip not to laugh.  It just feels odd and funny and uncomfortable...all at the same time.  

Well I survived and feel better so I think that we will continue with that treatment for now. Luckily sciatica pain is his specialty and he has about a 90% success rate, as not everyone is completely healed but he says even then they have an 80% decrease in symptoms.  There are always the 20% that have need for surgery etc and they will not be cured through acupuncture.

Now on to training...

Running is going well, except for that 12.5 mile run two weeks ago, the sciatica hasn't been a real problem.  It's always there in the back ground mind you, but it hasn't caused me too many stops where I have to stretch before I can continue to run.  Unfortunately last Saturdays run was just not a good run, I rarely have those days but every once in awhile it happens.  

I started out with a sore back and sore leg/butt muscles so that may be why, who knows.  It wasn't a horrible run but I had to stop and start a lot more than I wanted.  It wasn't sciatica pain though, it was sore back and leg/hip pain. I made it through and was happy to be home.

My exercise as of late...

Monday July 8th

• Arc Trainer 60 minutes

Tuesday July 9th 

• Ran 47 minutes (4.1 slow miles)

Wednesday July 10th

• Ran 55 minutes (5 miles)

Thursday July 11th

• AMT 20 minutes
• Bike Trainer 30 minutes

Friday July 12th

• Cleaning Susan's 2 Story house

Saturday July 13th (the not so good run mentioned above)

• Ran 117 minutes (9.66 slow miles)
• High Step-ups with 10lb weights 10 minutes

Sunday July 14th

• Bike Trainer 44 minutes (10 miles)

Monday July 15th

• Rest Day

Tuesday July 16th

• Ran 46 minutes (4.1 slow miles)

Weight loss...3.2lbs for a total of...

 



My current obsessions...

1. Twitter @Shananagins2468 (friend/tweet me)
2. Chocolate animal crackers (what's not to love)
3. Diet Pepsi (I know, I know...bad)
4. Russell Stover Big Bites dark chocolate smore's ('nuff said)
5. Watermelon (refreshing and sweet)
6. The Tour de France (very obsessed w/this)
7. Morningstar Grillers California Turk'y burger (nom nom)

What are your current obsessions?
 
Have a blessed week y'all...hugs 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.

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.

Week In Review

This week has been a great one through and through.  The kids are out for the summer and I'm off work (volunteer) until School starts up again, what's not to love!

I've been running outside this week...3 times, woohoo! Although I am not sitting much these days I am feeling pretty good.

Thursday May 30

• Adaptive Motion Trainer (AMT) for 30 minutes

Friday May 31

• Walked 30 minutes
• Cleaned Susan's house 1 hour

Saturday June 1

• Ran 1 hour and 11 minutes (6 miles)

Sunday June 2

• Walked 49 minutes (3.5 miles)

Monday June 3

• Walked 1 hour and 19 minutes
• AMT 13 minutes

Tuesday June 4

• Arc Trainer 45 minutes

Wednesday June 5

• Ran 55 minutes (5 miles)

Thursday June 6

• AMT 45 minutes

Friday June 7

• Cleaned Susan's house 2 hours (believe me it's a workout)

Saturday June 8

• Ran 1 hour and 15 minutes (6.6-7.0 miles)

Whew, I think I'm all caught up now! I have really liked doing the run/walk 4:1 intervals and my body really is responding well! I don't seem to have as much pain in the hip that usually gives me grief. As far as being able to sit, no real change...not sure it will ever get better but who needs to sit down! LOL...

My 17 year old has applied for two jobs so he can make some money this summer.  Not sure how I feel about that because he does not have his license yet and I don't really want to be the one shuttling him back and forth.  He can always ride his bike if he works during the day time, but if he has a late night shift I will have to pick him up...ugh! We shall see if either one of the jobs pan out! I would like to see him get some more responsibility and do something this summer besides sit around and play video games with his brothers.  

Don't get me wrong, they do a lot of work at our stores during their summer break so they aren't really just being lazy...it just seems like it at times to their mother.  He would like to get out there and start working for someone other than his dad, (not that he minds it) plus the money would be a major bonus for him and his life!  Well enough of my ranting...I'm off to get ready to go workout at the YMCA...ha ha ha, now you have that song playing in your head! Have a great day y'all!

 



"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.

Happy Hump Day

Life sure does get busy fast, doesn't it! First and foremost I'm a wife but secondly I'm a mama to four kids, all of whom are teens, whew! One (my oldest son G) lives on his own and works full time at our family owned big convenience store and is learning to run the place! The other 3 live at home and keep me pretty busy!

Thirdly, I volunteer Mon-Thur every week at our small family owned convenience store.  I make burritos, tacos, nachos and handmade sandwiches for the HS kids that come in for lunch.  With all that going on I still have to find time to fit in my runs or workouts...clean, fix dinner and grocery shop etc...I'm tired just thinking about all I need to do this week.  

I said that to say this...I just find that I don't have a lot of time to blog every day let alone once a week and I hope that I have not lost any blogging friends because of it. I do read your blogs and try to comment when I have some time, and I do truly think y'all are the best. I honestly want to blog but just find that maybe once a week is better for me than every other day, at least right now.  Summer is here in a few days and the kids will be home every day, Oy Vey...and I will be even busier! I'm not going away, I just wanted to let you know I'm here, alive...just busy. I'm not leaving or quitting the blog, I'm just not going to be on as much as I was a month or so ago. 

Y'all are the best and I thank you for your friendship and support, keep coming around, I get all your comments in my email and when I open it up, I always get a big smile to see that you came by.

Okay now for what I've done in the exercise department lately...

Thursday

• Rest Day

 
Friday

• Cleaning my friends 2 story house for 2+ hours

 
Saturday

• 94 minutes of running 8.1 miles

 
Sunday

• AMT 30 minutes
• Gardening 45 minutes

 
Monday

• 49 minutes of running 4 miles slowly

 
Tuesday

• Rest Day

I will be going to the gym today but I'm gonna take a few days off from running on the road...I'm feeling a bit of soreness where I broke my pelvis and want to see if a few day rest will make the pain disappear. It only hurts a little when I press on the sit bone so I'm only taking precautions just in case.  It doesn't hurt to stand, jump on one leg, or run..but having broke it before I'm not gonna take any chances.

Have a great week y'all, 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.

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.

New 5k PR Post Injury

NEW PR for me post injury...I think we will start with Thursday night to give you a little back ground on how the week was going sleep wise.

My stomach had been bothering me all day Thursday for some odd reason so I didn't sleep too well that night. On Friday morning my mom and I drove to Medford to pick up my race bib and race goodies and then stopped off to have lunch at Red Robin. (yum) I had a headache and took some acetaminophen while waiting for our food to arrive.  I ordered the Banzai burger, sans the meat and cheese and with a gluten free bun. It's nice to know I can go there and get a meat and dairy free option.  When our lunch came I could only eat half the sandwich (it was amazingly good) and a few of the fries.  I spent the last half of the day in angony with an upset stomach and headache.  I am sure it had nothing to do with the food and everything to do with my neck and the acetaminophen I took.

I have chronic neck pain from an accident I was in many years ago.  I am used to dealing with migraines from my neck muscles that were injured. That being said I wish it had picked another day to rear its ugly head.  I slept fitfully Friday night read off and on if at all and awoke around 4 a.m. but stayed in bed until 5 a.m.  After getting up and around my stomach was still not happy so I only drank a tiny bit of water and ate a couple bites of a protein bar.  We left around 6 a.m. and arrived in plenty of time to warm up although I never got around to it.  My friends, D and J, from the running group found me and we were able to start the race together. I made sure to tell them both that I would be abandoning them early on but not to worry I would be waiting at the finish line to cheer them on. They already told me this was going to happen and that it was okay with them.

The race started on time and we were off.  J was running her first ever 5k and started off fast, (we told her the adrenaline and excitement would make her faster) D and I ran together for about a minute before I headed into the fray of the crowd.  I was soon zig-zagging in and out of the runners trying to make a path for myself.  I didn't want to trip anyone or get tripped for that matter.  You know how these things happen.  

Mile one went by fast as did mile 2 especially since the half way mark came sooner than I remembered it coming last year.  (That's good right?) All of the sudden here I am running trying to catch my breath around the 2.8 mile mark and out of no where a man passes me with a jogging stroller...oy vey! I am now highly incensed that I have been passed by a baby...so I pick up my speed and start picking off runners left and right.  (In all actuality I am just trying to pass the guy with the stroller, sadly I never do) 

I can hear the crowd cheering at the finish line and take off at a sprint, and look down to see that my timer reads 28:50 something.  I am actually going to beat 30 minutes and I feel elation...soon after that I hear my name announced as I cross the finish line in 29:47:1 (according to my timer) I never looked at the race clock so I don't know my official time, just that it was 29 something.  My sons face says it all, he is standing there with a big grin that makes me feel like a Bada$$ Mother Runner and maybe even a hero. 

(Last year it read 30:13)

I hug my mama, daughter and son and feel like I have accomplished something great.  It may only be a race to some of you but this was a huge milestone for me.  It proved that I can still run, my injury is healed, and I can do anything I set my mind to. I am back and I thank God for getting me through this last year of injury and frustration, not to mention heart-break. I am sore today but it's a good kind of sore.  I am proud of my legs for getting me across that finish line strong, and I'm proud of my heart and mind for knowing I could do it. J and D both finished strong and I am so proud of them.  I am looking forward to running with them again very soon.

J, me and D post race

Blessings and hugs to all who came by today.  May your day be a blessed one.

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.

K Is For...Killing It

KILLING IT is a term I (and probably others) use for when I completely destroy a PR (personal record) or time I thought I could achieve. When any of my friends, here at home or out in the blogosphere, beat their PR's I always say, "You killed it"!

IT is such a rush to completely destroy a PR. Not only do I feel so accomplished (the rush of adrenaline could fly me to the moon and back) I also feel like a super hero (for a day or two) in the eyes of my family.  For example, when I ran my first 5k my finish time was 34:36, but when I ran The Pear Blossom Run last year my finish (chip time) time was 30:13...I KILLED it, by 4 minutes and 23 seconds. I was super excited and that feeling lasted several days.  I still get excited when I think of it. 

OF course, this Saturday when I run The Pear Blossom 5k I will probably not beat my last PR, read about my pelvic stress fracture debacle here.  I am not back to normal yet so I will just have to be happy with what I get. We shall see. Wish me luck as I try to come close to my pre-injury PR.

1. Have you ever "killed it"?
2. Do you want to "kill it"?
3. Do you think of hunting large game animals as "killing it"?   

HAVE a blessed day y'all.  Hugs and try not to hurt yourself when your "killing it".
 
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.

A Is For...Aerobic Exercise

1st A is for Arlee Bird who started this Challenge in 2010...He is the man...

Aerobic Exercise is what I like sometimes loathe to do...Aerobic literally means "living in air", and refers to the use of oxygen to adequately meet energy demands during exercise via aerobic metabolism. Let's have a little introduction first...shall we? I think we shall.

Some of you know me from the last couple of times I participated in this challenge...If you don't already know me, I'm Shannon, I Survived (cancer) and Now I Run...I started this blog after I survived cancer, mainly to proved to myself and my body that I was in charge not cancer, and that I was no longer going to allow myself to just exist. I wanted to really experience living the way it was meant to be experienced.  

So at 40 I started a Couch to 5k program and as they say, the rest is history. I have run 5k and 5 mile races and am now training for a half marathon (September 2013), it's also the same half I trained for last year, (I was up to 10 mile long runs) unfortunately I broke my pelvis and was off the entire summer and then some. I'm back now and determined to finish what I started.

All the above was a rather long introduction for my 1st topic in The A-Z Challenge for 2013. So here goes...


I'm a runner so I am used to needing, using and sometimes even gulping a lot of oxygen (Aerobic-living in air) to go from one point to the next and then all the way back to the start. It's normal for me to head out from my house to wherever and however far the road will take me, and that could be anywhere from 2-6 miles right now, to as high as 10 miles a month or so from now. If I can keep from getting injured again, knock on wood, fingers and toes crossed. 

Here are a few ways in which aerobic exercise can benefit a person.

1. People who exercise are less likely to get the flu.
2. Aerobic exercise releases tiny ninja-like endorphins which are the bodies natural painkillers which also helps to calm anxiety and stress.  (Running is how I stay sane)
3. Fat reduction. (Enough said)
4. Longer life...research by Harvard University revealed that for the first time there was a scientific link between increased life and exercise.
5. Better lungs...Aerobic exercise enhances the maximum oxygen consumption by the body.

Your SMART people so I won't mention all the beautiful scenery and wild life you will encounter, that is just what I like to call the icing on the cake. I live in Oregon and the scenery is Gorgeous and wild life...abundant.  It's normal for me to see deer, squirrels, geese (they are here year round) and ducks each time I go out for a run. (I have yet to run into a bear or mountain lion but I'm not really gonna complain.)

So get out there and move your body and see how good it feels. The endorphins are enough to convince me, I love those little (but oh so powerful) guys. 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.