I've Never Been More Wrong x2

I have been stubborn all of my life. It isn't until now I have seen how this has affected me. My parents have countless stories about me being the most stubborn child of three. I do not know what it is - I just never want to say yes and take advice! This stubborn road has surprisingly taken me many great places in my running career, but it has also put up walls against things I should have been believing in all along. One example from my last post is foam rolling and how I should spent my recovery time, or time that I am not running. Since I have lately fixed that problem, I realized what else I was doing wrong in relation to training and not making the most of my potential.

I've Never Been More Wrong Part I: Road Biking

My brother, Luke, who is two years younger than me taught me how to ride a bike when I was probably about 8 or 9 years old. He is daring, adventurous, and unafraid. I am always erring on the side of caution, which might explain why I chose running? Who knows. Anyway, my parents tried and tried to get me ride without training wheels, but I was so afraid of falling. I come from a family of cyclists, therefore I have no idea where this unrelenting fear to ride came from. My dad is a former road racer and triathlete and my mom is a former triathlete and half Ironman! Wow, what I would tell my younger self now! In the summer when we were kids, my brother finally gave me the confidence necessary to just get on and keep pedaling. The ability to motivate someone older than you is not easy to do and my brother did just that. Since that day, I have looked up to him to great lengths. Now he is a Pro 1,2 road racer that also races on a cycling scholarship in Kentucky. 

Once I saw the success and enjoyment Luke was getting out of his road bike, I wanted one! My dad, Luke, and I shopped for a road bike and picked one out. I had immense difficulty road biking due to my feet being clipped in and balance and all the other components. Therefore, this bike sat untouched for a few years. I have a beautiful Fugi road bike and I was too stubborn to ride it. Do you know how many kids would kill for this opportunity? I realized this and was determined to become a road rider and a good one at that. I told my dad and brother I was serious this time about learning the sport. Thankfully, my bike was still the correct size for me. 

My first few road rides would consist of me falling off due to me not knowing which gears did what. My dad and Luke would tell me, but in the moment I could not get it down. I was frustrated, but truly determined. And when I got all of it down, I loved it like crazy. I still do love it like crazy of course. It improved my running and it improved my life. The only thing I regret about road biking is not falling in love with it sooner. I am glad I, at least, realize this stubbornness and push it away from me now. I can say yes to more things now, without feeling fear. Most things I am afraid to say yes to are amazingly good for me. 

I've Never Been More Wrong Part II: Crossfit

As a runner, we need strength training. It is inevitable and necessary. We can try to push our limits without it, but eventually can only go so far. We will get injured because we do not have enough muscle in the areas that help us run. Injuries will also surface because we do too much running and not much of anything else. 

I can honestly say that my brother and sister are my biggest role models. I think I am a role model for them in other ways and we all bounce off of each other. Because we are all so motivated and driven, we can learn from each other, but also teach. My sister, Jacki, fell in love with Crossfit a few years ago. At first, I hated it. I hated it because "it wasn't running" essentially. This took a toll on our friendship because I would constantly disagree with her. I regret the time I spent fighting her for her passion. Just as I found passion in running, Luke had found passion in cycling, Jacki found passion in Crossfit. All of these activities are hugely beneficial to our bodies and I was too stubborn to see that for the first couple years and that she was pushing her body to the absolute max. I saw what Crossfit did for Jacki and she is by far, one of the most fit people I know. She is happy, healthy, and in love with a wonderful guy. I admire her beyond words. Jacki has made a stable and exciting life for herself. She has it all and I am so proud she does because she deserves it. 

With the recovery of this injury, I realized I need to strength train. I did something I said I would never do -- join a Crossfit gym. (Drop jaws here, Jacki & Kevin). Here I am on day three of WOD's and I do truly love it. I got a discount on a local Crossfit gym out here in Durango and so I figured why not? I will be going home for two weddings in one month and I am hoping to look better and feel better through a mix of running, cycling, and Crossfitting, which I am pretty sure is not a word. I cannot wait to tell Jacki and her boyfriend I am doing Crossfit. Partly because I said I never would so it will be humbling for me, but it is something we can all do together! 

Jacki & Kevin: I applaud you and your strength through Crossfit. You are now even bigger role models than before and I cannot wait to join you in the workouts. 

Regret is an awful, awful feeling. If you can prevent regret by trying new things, I would side with trying new things. We want a life of good times, not should have beens. Learn from your motivated siblings, they can teach you so much about yourself and might even find your passion in one of theirs. I hope to become a stronger, more well rounded athlete through the three sports. I see it happening already!

Like the saying goes, "We find ourselves in the things we love."

My Hiatus and Me Time

When I started this blog, I was injury free. As all runners know, injuries show signs quickly and quite recklessly. Seven weeks before the half marathon I was setting up to race, I encountered an adductor injury that had other plans for me. The muscles of my adductor tightened up and the pain radiated to my groin, prohibiting running of any sort. I spent a week on my road bike, hoping my pain could be healed with rest. As soon as I began to run a week later, I felt the tearing, stinging pain in my groin. This meant I needed professional help.

I live in Durango CO - an up and coming town that lacks in a few major areas. No Active Release Therapists? Ugh!!! Major problems in the world of Whitney as the only running related injury I had prior to this was healed by an ART chiropractor. I decided I would call around and see what my options were. I spoke to a chiropractor who told me my hips needed alignment along with deep tissue massage. I saw this person and the massage therapist for 4 visits without any signs of relief. I knew my road to recovery needed a divergence and quick. I spoke to a fellow runner in the running club I belong to here and he gave me the name of an awesome physical therapist whose focus is athletes.

I called him right up and saw him soon after. I would have never been able to run the half marathon without this man's help. For sports injuries, we need exercises and healing methods to help us recover faster and stronger. This PT was able to give me a structured set of exercises to do on days that I was not receiving treatment. Without these exercises, I would have sat like a lump on a log and not actively healed myself.

13.1 Day -- I decided I would run this distance, instead of race it due to set backs in my training and wanting to eliminate further injury risks. I have to say, I love this race distance. The first 10 miles breeze by you as you take in all the sights and watch the runners around you. You make friends at this race and with this race. The last 5k is where you really gut it out and show everyone what you are made of. The last 5k is a grueling test of your mental strength. After all, its only 3.1 miles, or less than 30 minutes, one episode of Friends, or half of an episode of Grey's Anatomy... however you decide you will come to terms with this last 25-30 minutes is up to you. You are in control to make the best out of it and that is what you always will choose to do.

Knowing I was not totally ready for this half marathon, I needed some mind games set in place when the going got rough. The easiest and most honorable way to set your mind in place is to dedicate your miles. The night before my race, I wrote out a list of each mile and who I would dedicate it to. I read this a while back when I first started running longer distances. It works perfectly for 13.1 because I can easily remember 13 people that have inspired me or for whom I should run this race for. For example, I dedicate one mile to each member of my family -- the people who give me the most support and inspiration because of the dreams they have accomplished for themselves. Along with those people, I chose friends and heroes that I look up to in order to crank out the rest of my miles. I also dedicated any rough patches, or times I wanted to give up to Paula Jones. Paula was a NEPA runner who was killed by a drunk driver while running. I knew she would give anything to be in my place -- even the hardest moments when I wanted to stop. Paula would have given anything to run a few more steps, so I knew I had to push on stronger for her.

Always, always, always dedicate one mile to yourself. Whether it be the first to remind you why you do this or the last to remind you that you are certainly strong enough. Dedicate a mile to yourself because after all, you are doing this for you. You are running 13.1 for a passion that lies within you. During that mile, I think my entire running journey: from the time I started running 6 miles on a treadmill, to being scared to do sprints with Steve, my dad's friend who pushed my running boundaries further than I could have ever pushed them myself, and to the Boston Marathon, where every runner dreams to be. These flashbacks of your first races and runs will instantly put a smile on your face and you will forget the pain you are experiencing. After all, its 13.1 and you are probably closer to the finish line anyway!

So, I finished the half marathon just under 2 hours. This is not my best time, but it certainly was a great experience not pushing myself against the clock as I usually do. It was enjoyable and incredible to push other runners through their first half marathon and give them the inspiration needed to go further.

With this injury, I realized the importance of a few things missing in my life. These things may seem small, but hugely important. I was missing quality time with the foam roller. I was letting myself go out for a run without any warm up and cooling down without any stretch or foam rolling. This may have let me slide through my younger running days, but it isn't helping my middle stage of life. Running is constantly a learning experience and even though I should have listened to my elder athletes, I am learning now and that is okay. I plan to be stronger and more concise in my activities in the future.

I know I maybe haven't posted enough to earn your trust 100%, but if you take anything away from this its to buy a foam roller and actually use it often!!! Injury prevention and strength starts here and its possibilities are endless if you are willing to put in the work.

Happy Shaded Trails,
Whitney