The Training Blog of PAMELAJEAN

Hi everyone!!
It’s been a while since I have posted anything. Well, I am happy to report that I am officially a marathoner! Sept. 14 I completed the Maui full! It took me 7 1/2 hours and I got dizzy and felt sick to my stomach at mile 15, BUT, I completed it and came home on the plane with a medal around my neck. This may not sound all that great to you elite runners, BUT, since I run/walk … or “ralk”, as I call it … it was for me. It was an hour more than my projected time, but all in all I was so emotional and happy that I finished that I think I was more worried about just finishing than my time at that point!! It was an incredible experience and all my Team in Training members were waiting at the finish line just for me!! All of the training and hard work definitely paid off in the end!
I also just completed the Denver half marathon on Oct. 19th and did okay with that one too. I went into it feeling like with the altitude difference and the mountains that I could finish in 3:15-3:30… and my actual chip time was 3:19! My goal of completing a half marathon in every state is well on it’s way. There is no giving up now, that’s for sure!! I’ve talked my sister into training for the half in Duluth, MN for next June and I have a friend at work that wants to do the Princess Half in Disney next March! Whoo … hooo … no telling who else I might get hooked! I even joined a local 24hour fitness club yesterday evening that is to open in November sometime. Whew … lots to do in my lifetime! Hope this finds everyone well and working towards their own personal goals! Good luck ya’ll!!
Pam

I haven’t logged on or posted anything in a while. I had been diligently training for the Maui full until about a week and a half ago … no excuses really, just plain LAZY!! I intended to do a long run while I was on vacation in FL over the weekend … HA … that did not happen. Yesterday I got back on track though and did 8 miles and felt great! Funny when you start out training and you think 8 miles seems like it is a lot and it is impossible … now 8 miles is the short run to 26.2 miles! Keep on keeping on … as I am determined to finish. Happy running everyone!

Okay, so reality may have hit me in the head like a flying saucer. September is really only 4 months away…not even and I am embarking on 26.2 miles. Something that 3 years ago I would have NEVER EVER done ….or even thought about that is. I don’t like to think about it a lot because then I psych myself out and that’s not good. I’ve done several half marathons, so I know I can do that, but 26.2 miles is different. I have not done good with training this week. My left foot has been hurting and I don’t know exactly why. I’ve taken a few too many days off this week, BUT, I am back on it Sunday morning, NO EXCEPTIONS! Someone recently said “you get out of it what you put into it” and that is true. Running was overwhelming to me when I started doing this and at times it still is. I still have to do the run-walk method, but it is a great improvement of what I did when I started this so I always try to remember that fact in point. It is funny how things you think you cannot do you actually can do if you just try. So what the heck, I’m not in it to win it, only to finish and get that shiny new medal around my neck! Good luck to everyone else in their goals … because they are attainable, you just have to be willing to try!

I am feeling motivated again! I did a local 5k race last night and it was my best 5k time so far…by 42 seconds, but still! And of course my best 5k time I’m sure isn’t too good compared to everyone else on this site. I’ve been doing the walk-run method for a while. I’m getting better and starting to actually run a lot more than walk, but still all in all, it is a slow process and my pace per mile is slower than pretty much everyone I know. It’s okay though, because I really am getting motivated again! I’ve a full marathon in September and another half in October to prepare for, so I need all the motivation one can get! Hope all is well with everyone else!

Hi everyone,
I will be participating in the Maui Full marathon in September with Team in Training to raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). This will be my 3rd year with TNT and my first full marathon. 26.2 miles is very intimidating to me, however, I think of the people going through grueling cancer treatments everyday and know that when I hit that finish line I have helped. I invite you all to take a look at my webpage and consider supporting my efforts at http://pages.teamintraining.org/la/maui08/thtlaPam.
I thank you for your support!

Pam

“If you think training for a marathon is hard, try chemo!”

Hi everyone!! I don’t have much free time lately to get on this site, but it is sure great when I am able to! The running thing has started to click in my head … funny as that sounds, it is. I am starting to feel guilty on days I don’t get some activity in and I am starting to also realize that it is a mental thing. It’s hard, at least for me, to “learn” how to run and breath right and not give up and say I’m going to go drink a beer instead, but the rewards of how I have been feeling lately have completely overshadowed those negative feelings. I am beginning to understand completely how this is such an addictive thing! I can see it now…I’m going to be one of those people that when I get in my 50’s I will have to have knee surgery because I ran too much in my 30’s! I officially signed up for the Maui full marathon this week. Not sure if i’m crazy or what, but It is my biggest goal yet! Has anyone out there done this marathon?? And if so, any input/advice/etc.??? Time to sign off for now… everyone keep dreaming big and keep achieving those dreams!!

I’m happy I am improving I keep telling myself! It is such slow progress, but I keep reminding myself of where I have come from … AND where I intend to go with all of this! I need to eat better though and I’d probably have better results. I bought a headband at the Mardi Gras Marathon expo. this year that says “I run so I can eat” … and anyone who knows me, knows that is the truth!! I refuse to give up though. The run on the coast was excellent and it was my best time so far. I still haven’t completely mastered the “run” and continue to do the walk-run method at this time, but I keep pushing on with it. I have noticed that every week different muscles in my legs hurt (well, ache actually). Perseverence pays off! That should be my new motto! I’ve lots more states and half’s to conquer - I can’t give up now! Hope to hear how everyone else is doing!

Well — I’ve been unmotivated this past week since I did the 5k. I have been feeling sick and very tired. Have an earache that I have been treating. I know, excuses, excuses, excuses … and they all pretty much such! I am determined to get back in the swing of things tomorrow. I always feel better after I have gone out … even if it is only for a mile or two. I will be on the Mississippi Coast this week and know that would be a beautiful run! I love to hear the views of others so ya’ll keep on posting!

So I did a local 5k this weekend up and over a bridge. That may not sound like a big deal to a lot of you, but the inclines are still tough for me. I am training for the Maui full in September and the Denver half in October which both are hilly and where I live is completely flat ground! I was happy with myself after this weekend’s race as I was only 15 seconds off of the goal time that I had for myself. I won’t say what my time was because for me it was a goal, but definitely not as fast as most people I know. I am still walking and running and I definitely put my all into this one! My niece who is 16 did the race with me and had a great time. She is ready for another one! I am actually starting to like and look forward to my walk-runs which isn’t something I could say a year ago. I mean I did them, but i wasn’t excited about it! Now I am just trying hard to improve myself and challenge myself and in doing this, trying to get fit too! I like this site because I can read about other people that have the same type of goals. Thanks for the support ya’ll!

Last week was terrible…I didn’t do barely any training. Only one day and then I was having all of these self doubts that perhaps setting my sights for a full marathon is something I can’t do…maybe I should just stick with the half marathons I was telling myself. I trained this evening after I went to a movie and I had a great mindset. It then occured to me … that’s it…it is all in the mindset…it is all mental. At first when I started doing half-marathons, I was constantly comparing myself to all of the runners out there…because I was a walker. I felt like runners wouldn’t look at me as a real athlete because I was walking those 13.1miles. I would evern correct people and say I was a walker and not a runner because I didn’t want to be misrepresented. Then I said to myself, I am going to try to run….at least try. It’s very slow and I can’t run long distances yet. I really just do the Galloway method, but I haven’t given up. My goal may not be the same as everyone else’s, but it is a goal none the less and I realized tonight I can do this. I have to put my doubts to the side and prove to myself that I can do this. Maui full here I come as a walker/runner..or as I like to call it “ralker”!