Mending Things

By Moon Joggers | Published: March 4, 2014

Mending Things
by Michelle Roberts

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My grandfather lived 100 healthy years and I think of him often on my journey with Moon Joggers. My mother, brother, sister and I moved into his home when my parents divorced. I was just seven years old but felt the difference living under his roof from the start. Already in his 70’s, his was a life of routine and order with dinner served every day at 5:30 sharp. I found comfort in the predictability and the relative calm.

Every morning he woke up early to do exercises – handstands, weights, calisthenics. Then he spent time working in the garden where he grew sweet potatoes, green beans, papaya, sugar cane, pomegranates, grapefruit, tangerines, kumquats, and too many other things to mention. We ate balanced meals every day with some of the food picked fresh from the yard. He saved aluminum foil, reused cans, and kept and repaired items that were broken instead of throwing them away.

I would sit on the carport floor late in the summer watching him remove the old sun-rotted plastic strapping from his aluminum framed michelle33chairs like those in the picture. His strong, rough hands pulled off the old, measured the new and attached metal grommets to the ends. He wove the colorful strapping up and down on the seat and the back as the chair took shape. He was always ready with supplies when the next one needed repair. He lived in a time when everything could be fixed, nothing would be wasted and broken didn’t mean something or someone should be tossed aside.

Maybe that’s why his passing twelve years ago was so hard for me to accept. Even though he’d lived over 100 years, I never expected him to really leave. He had always been that reliable constant that was our family’s safety net and security. Without him who would see the value in a chipped plate, reuse an empty can or see the potential in even the most damaged person.

michelle333I was thinking about him when so many Moon Joggers replied with encouragement and invitations to try again after my failed attempt at my first Full Marathon last month. I’m so grateful to have found a world-wide community of menders, fixers and savers. With each new “I am a Moon Jogger” highlight I read another story of obstacles overcome and gratitude for support from friends and family. Because of all they have accomplished despite their struggles, Moon Joggers are some of the most resilient and dependable people I’ve had the pleasure to get to know.

Some of us are born with a safety net and the security of knowing that there will always be someone there for us when we fall. Others create their own throughout their lives like the bird gathering twine and sticks for its nest. They build friendships that feel more like family and patch their own safety net with those strong bonds. Because they already have the tools, those are the people who pass on the skill to others.

With every post by a Moon Jogger about an injury or setback the replies are a wonderful example of all the ways we hold each other up and catch each other when we fall. After all, we’re tight rope walkers trying things for the first time and facing our own individual fears. I’ve watched more experienced members steady the rope, stake the net and call out to anyone reluctant to take that first step. And when they know it’s time they also pull the net away giving others the confidence to go it alone because they’ve done the work and know they’re ready!

Consider this my Hallmark card to all of you for the many ways you’ve been there for me and for all the good feelings that come from being a part of such a generous, supportive and inspiring group! Dennis, a fellow Filipino says it best, “Run Proud Moon Joggers!” XO

michelleABOUT: Michelle Roberts lives in Tallahassee, Florida, with her husband, Paul, and two children, Ashleigh (10) and Philip (8). She ran her first 5k in October of 2012 and her first half marathon in February of 2013. She was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder in 2001 and maintains a healthy balance without the use of medication thanks to a job she loves, a supportive family, regular exercise, her writing and therapy. A wonderful life of “Both Hills and Valleys”.

“The marvelous richness of human experience would lose something of rewarding joy if there were no limitations to overcome. The hilltop hour would not be half so wonderful if there were no dark valleys to traverse.”
Helen Keller

Posted in Both Hills and Valleys, Connecting, Guest Post, Lessons learned from running, Michelle Roberts, Moon Joggers, online running group, Running | Tagged , , | Comments closed

I AM A MOON JOGGER: LINDA LIVINGSTONE

By Moon Joggers | Published: February 28, 2014

lindaI am a Moon Jogger on my way to Venus with the crew. My year long goals are to run two half marathons, participate in a sprint duathlon, a century ride, just maybe a full marathon. I look to complete 1000 miles running and over 1000 actual miles biking by the new year. I wake up some mornings and ask myself, “Self, how did you get here?”

The journey has been long with surprising turns and twists. One day in 1999 I got out of my car and found myself on the ground. I wasn’t dizzy, hadn’t fainted or tripped. It was as if I had no legs. For 5 years previous I had been experiencing a downward spiral of symptoms yet undiagnosed. An MRI finally revealed that my spinal cord was slowly being impinged. In 1993, a missed block and a young man new to our martial arts class caught me in the back of the head and neck with a round kick which set off years of unbalance, misdiagnoses and trouble. To add insult to injury, some six months later, balance issues contributed to a bad fall down a steep flight of stairs. The damage had taken five years to discover. In 1999 the first of five surgeries was performed. In spite of these, there still remained questionable balance, extensive radiating nerve pain and spastic quadraparesis.
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Independence being important, I acquired tools to maintain it; power wheelchair, handicap equipped van and a sweet lab named Pepper. Pepper had no idea what she was getting into but she maintained her sweet disposition and she and I became like two old shoes in front of the fireplace. Not being able to continue my pre-injury professions, I soon found myself in a government subsidized senior handicap rated apartment at still less than retirement age. Needless to say, depression blossomed and exacerbated what was then undiagnosed bipolar, and with it more than an 80 pound weight gain. After hitting 205 I refused to let them take my weight anymore but continued to grow in bulk. Over time Pepper helped me to get back on my feet but the thought of ambulating further than the mailbox seemed overwhelming. The wheelchair remained in my life for six years. My interests became more and more sedentary.

In January of 2004 I was given a final prognosis that deterioration would slowly continue over time. In February came what would become a life changing crossroads. Returning from Wyoming on a genealogy research trip, I came to terms that I was watching myself sit in that apartment slowly dying and decided I would do whatever I could as long as I could until I couldn’t any more. And so my life on wheels began. I gave up my apartment and everything I owned went into a trailer towed by my van or passed on to others. The “rule” was I would do all I could for myself unless it was apparent that I was up against something that even given enough time was beyond my physical ability. The journey that first year took me to Arizona where sadly the death of three family members kept me there through my first RVing winter.

An interesting thing living this lifestyle and being in a very dry climate; in spite of the grief and stresses of handling three estates, my physical stamina and mobility improved a small amount. I began to use walking sticks and Pepper more and the chair less. So I stayed another winter and another, traveling during some of the hotter months. By 2006 the chair began to lie dormant and I functioned with crutches and sticks in all of life’s necessaries. I started walking and was up to ¼ mile at a time and resolved to let the chair go if I could manage a year without using it, and I did. 2008 I discovered the hobby letterboxing that required some hiking, and in the dry Arizona climate the physical nerves continued to heal, and my range extended until one day with the help of walking sticks I hiked 6 miles. I dropped weight to about 190; I was content that I might live a somewhat normal life even though I thought it likely I would never return to the level of activity I once had. So life went on.

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In the meantime I was also diagnosed with Bipolar disorder and after 2 years of struggling to find something that worked, I found an alternative treatment that has changed that part of my life; EMP by Truehope in Canada. It hasn’t been perfect and there were times that it didn’t keep me as even as I felt I needed but the side effects of the many pharmaceuticals that had run through my system were much worse. So I followed my protocol and I traveled and I hiked and I read and I sewed. I was also given opportunity to help a friend as she went through cancer surgery and chemo.

Crossroads come in many forms and I thought I had hit yet another one. I thought I would be building a root base in Tucson even though my family was scattered far to the Northwest and East. This was a conscious choice as my physical body really loves that hot dry climate. Much to my chagrin I found myself in the state of Washington. My daughter lives on one side of the state and my son the other. In the fall of the first year and on the west side my daughter says, come do the Jingle Bell Run with me in Seattle, it will be fun.
FUN? I can walk 3 miles but RUN? And so it started. Near the mobile home and RV park a bike trail extended both directions and I would go walk a lot and run a little. Then the running became a little more. The day came I texted my daughter in tears, I had run the entire 5k distance; slow, but without stopping to walk. We did that first 5k and then another and then a 10k in Wenatchee. And, the pounds came off.

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linda6And I was feeling more content with the world.

That spring I moved to the east side of the state. The primary impetus was a temporary part-time job that I had confirmed the previous summer. However, upon arriving it turned out the park had been sold and the new managers had no idea that workampers were showing up expecting a space in which to live and hours to work. Fortunately I found a site in the next town over that would accept my rolling home and the price was very reasonable with more space and more privacy. Just down the hill another bike trail extending two directions and running continued.

The Sage Rat Deux Run: A 12k and the next day a 15k hill/trail run (ok I hiked the 1200′ elev. gain).
Came home with some terrific bling for the two days including a 2nd and 3rd for age division.

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After completing the races I had committed to with dollars, I continued to run because I just plain felt so much better both physically and emotionally. The climate is dry on this side of the state so the twinges that had started to sneak back in while on the wet side, disappeared. I thought maybe someday I might try a ½ marathon; and maybe, just maybe, if I got real wild and crazy I’d consider a full. That summer, on my 62nd birthday I did a training run of 13.1 miles, unsupported. All was great until the last two miles and it disintegrated into disaster real fast, but I learned some good lessons from those two miles. One month later, exactly a year after my daughter challenged me to run the Jingle Bell Run with her, I finished my first officially timed ½ and can’t wait to do it again this year. No, linda99I’m not fast, but that 15k hike? Last week I took 40 minutes off last year’s time in a training run. I’m looking to take 15 minutes off this ½ marathon time at Wenatchee in April. Who knows, maybe wild and crazy will come sooner than I imagine. I actually looked at marathons scheduled late this year.

As I wrote this I am teary with gratitude. Yes, I am grateful for having my legs back. But more so, I am grateful for those who stood by me, held me up, and walked with me through many fiery trials over the years. I’m grateful for the hours spent in the rooms, the hours sitting in waiting rooms, taking notes, and asking questions, the miles driven to appointments and even to rescue from halfway across the country when I couldn’t get myself home. I am grateful to those who walked with me, though they barely knew me, through the dying and death of three family members in one year. I’m grateful for the selfless giving of many who have by their example given me the freedom to turn around and pass it forward. I am grateful to have a lifestyle that has now allowed me to heal and progress and to be there for others during hard times. I am grateful I couldn’t see ahead what each of the stops on the journey would entail, because I’m not sure I would always have gone. However, once in the midst, I wouldn’t want to be some other place. I am doing something I would not, could not, do before. And, I am grateful.

 

linda999

Posted in Feel Good Friday, Guest Post, Jogging, Moon Joggers, Pictures of Runners, Running, running for health, Spotlights, Wellness Journey | Tagged , , , | Comments closed

Voyage to Venus Week 7 Video

By Moon Joggers | Published: February 27, 2014

Posted in Moon Joggers, online running group, Pictures of Runners, Places to Run, Running, Running Video, Weekly Results | Tagged , , , | Comments closed

My First Marathon – A Runner’s Journey Pt 2

By Moon Joggers | Published: February 25, 2014

My First Marathon- A Runners Journey Part Two
by Tina Bond

Where did we leave off?  The day before the marathon, yes.  Jim and I had to go to the expo to pick up our packets!!  We ended up getting to the expo as they opened and it was great!  No lines at packet pick up!  Then it was over to the expo to pick up our shirts and some runDisney merchandise.

New Balance Cinderella shoes from runDisney!

New Balance Cinderella shoes from runDisney!

I was pleasantly surprised by how organized it was.  There were no crazy lines and there was tons of merchandise left, even on the very last day.  I got my ‘I DID IT’ shirt, and a mug.  I could kick myself for NOT getting the marathon magnet.  I also got a pair of the New Balance Cinderella runDisney shoes.  I was shocked they even had my size on the last day seeing how much of a frenzy it caused when they came out.  This expo was fantastic compared to the Disneyland and Princess Half Marathon expos.

I set my alarm for 2:00 am which is normal for any Disney race.  I was very excited when I woke up!  I wasn’t really nervous at all.  I had my morning coffee, got all my race gear on, put Skin Strong on my feet, packed up and headed out the door.  We left the house at 3:00 and were parked by 3:30.  We brought bagels, bananas and peanut butter to eat while we waited in the car.

Jim and I started to head up to the port o potties to make one last pit stop before we walked to the corrals.  The morning was cool and a little breezy.  It was actually fantastic race weather.  Jim was in Corral P and I was in M.  We reached his corral first and this is when I got a little anxious.  I had to leave my race buddy, but just for a little while.  I gave him a big hug, told him good luck and off I went.  It had rained a little during the night and the side of the road I had to walk on to get to my corral was muddy and wet.  That made me paranoid.  All I could think was “Don’t slip, don’t slip.”  Finally made it to Corral M and went all the way to the front.  I had never been to the front of a corral before.  I wanted some extra buffer between me and Jim so I could try to get as far as possible before he could catch me!

I sat there and listened to people talking.  There was a couple next to me who had never run a marathon before who were getting married in April.  They were wearing the Minnie and Mickey wedding ears.  There was a gentleman who was also running his first marathon but he was doing it as part of the Dopey Challenge (the 5k, 10k, half and full marathons).  There were people from Michigan who were complaining about the cold, but who had also trained in 12 degree weather.  Even though I had to wait about 40 minutes after the race started before my corral even made it to the front of the start line, I had lots of people to talk to!

Once it was our turn to go, we waited for Mickey to do the countdown.  Then there were FIREWORKS and Corral M was off.  I started the race doing 1:00/30 intervals because I wanted to make sure I paced myself for the beginning of the race.  I had a lot of miles to go and didn’t want to burn out before the end.  The race started great, I felt good.  As a pre-emptive measure (because I had been having trouble with my knee on training runs), I decided it would be a great idea to take Tylenol at Mile 3.  When I went over to the medical tent, they asked me for my bib number and marked my hand with a big, giant red line.  This totally freaked me out!!!!  I was so worried that since they took my bib number and marked me that if I asked for more Tylenol later in the race that I’d get swept.  I tried wiping off the line with water, but that didn’t work.  Shoot!!!  From then on I was so worried.  I just decided not to take anything else for the rest of the race.

The dreaded ‘mark’. I was paranoid.

The dreaded ‘mark’. I was paranoid.

Moving along I got to one of my most FAVORITE parts of the run:  the water bridge.  You’re probably thinking “What’s so great about the water bridge?”  When I ran the Princess Half last year, there was a DJ standing on top of the water bridge.  This is where boats from Fort Wilderness Lodge pass to get from Bay Lake to the Seven Seas Lagoon.  Not only was he a DJ, but he was wearing these GIANT Mickey hands!  He was talking with everyone and waving his giant hands as people ran by.  When I ran by I gave him a ‘virtual’ high five.  I was very happy to see this same guy on top of the water bridge again this year.  I don’t know why I liked this guy so much, maybe it was the GIANT Mickey hands, but it was a highlight of my run!

At this point I had run through the Magic Kingdom gates and was closing in on mile 5 when all of a sudden I look over and who do I see?  JIM!!!!  He almost ran right by me!!!  I was so excited to see him!  At that point we regrouped, talked about the guy with giant Mickey hands, and kept running!  We were getting close to entering the Magic Kingdom.  I was so glad he was there so we could run down Main Street together!

Jim and I in front of Cinderella’s Castle!

Jim and I in front of Cinderella’s Castle!

The crowd support at the Magic Kingdom was phenomenal!  My favorite part is the second you turn down Main Street you see the castle, see all the people and hear all the cheering!  We had to stop to get a picture in front of the castle.

Miles 6 through 12 were challenging, not because it was hard to run, but because the crowd support on this stretch was very thin.  There weren’t too many characters.  At Mile 8 we got to run a loop around the Richard Petty Driving Experience track.  I was excited about that but as we entered the track, there was a tunnel going onto the track.  It was extremely hard just walking down the slope.  I think if I didn’t have to run through the tunnel my knee would’ve held out a little longer.  Somewhere between Mile 10 and 11 we got to run by the “Treasure Chest” or the wastewater treatment facility which smelled absolutely fantastic!  Just kidding.  It smelled exactly like it sounds.  I tried not to open my mouth as we ran by.  At Mile 11 ‘Sweet Caroline’ was on repeat, so we got to hear that at least 3 times!

One of the fantastic signs we saw during the race!

One of the fantastic signs we saw during the race!

Mile 13 was great!  It meant that we were halfway there and we got to run through Animal Kingdom!  This part of the race had special meaning to me.  A few years ago Jim and I decided to head over to Animal Kingdom for the day.  On the way up roads were blocked with cones and traffic was horrible.  We had no idea what was going on, but then we saw the RUNNERS!  I watched them as we drove by on Osceola Parkway and thought to myself “I never want to do that.”  We drove by the Mile 16 marker and I saw people running and walking.  I didn’t know people could walk a marathon!  Some of the people looked miserable.  I am sure they were.  I remember what I felt like at Mile 16.  There was pain and cursing and pain.  I digress.  When we finally parked we cheered on the runners as we walked up to the entrance.  I saw Mickey and there were bands playing.  I thought it was neat and the energy I felt as we walked by the runners was amazing, but I still had no desire to run it.

I love cute, little, tiny animals!! Had to get a picture with this cute, little owl!

I love cute, little, tiny animals!! Had to get a picture with this cute, little owl!

Fast forward to this year and it was MY turn to run through Animal Kingdom and to be cheered on by people going to the parks for the day.  People were going to drive by me and say “I’m never doing that.”  Who knows, maybe I inspired someone to run it.  I ran by Mickey and the band and then it was out of the park to Osceola Parkway.  I will never look at this road the same ever again.

Miles 16-21 were very difficult.  These were the most difficult miles throughout the whole race.  This is where the cursing begins.  This is when I start texting my friends (thanks Carol Lee, Dana and Diane!).  This is where I say “I’m never doing this again” and “This is the stupidest idea you’ve ever had.”  In all my training runs Mile 16 was where everything just started to hurt.  I would get very tired and hungry.  The Tylenol I took at Mile 2 had worn off long, long ago and I didn’t want to take anymore because I knew I’d be swept.

I don’t stop for many pictures, but when I do it is because there isn’t a line!

I don’t stop for many pictures, but when I do it is because there isn’t a line!

Around the 20 Mile mark we crossed a timing chip and Jim got an alert that I was going to cross the finish line in 7:05:xx.  My knee was killing me.  I tried to do intervals, but every time I stopped it was hard to get going again.  It actually hurt worse to do intervals than to run straight through.  I couldn’t take it anymore.  As we left Wide World of Sports I decided it was time for more Tylenol.  I found a medical tent just before Mile 21, sweet relief!  At the tent they asked me when I took the first Tylenol.  I didn’t know the time, but I told them around Mile 3.  The lady then asked me how long ago that was.  I looked at her like she had 3 heads.  Mile 3 was like 5 hours ago, lady!  Seriously?  At any rate, they gave me 2 more Tylenol.  No sweeping, no hand marking, no writing down my bib number!  I was safe!

After that I don’t know what happened, but at Mile 22 I think I got my second wind!  SECOND WIND!  The Tylenol kicked in and the pain wasn’t as bad.  I was able to run a little more easily.  The other thing that helped was seeing the Mile 22 marker and knowing I was so close.  We were about to run through Hollywood Studios to EPCOT to the FINISH!

Running through Hollywood Studios was fantastic!  There were so many people and they were yelling cheers to me!  (Having your name on the front of your race shirt is a really good idea!)  Another reason why I liked this part of the race was because once we left Hollywood Studios, it was just like a training run.

At the Finish! Marathon Complete

At the Finish! Marathon Complete

I had run the route from Hollywood Studios to EPCOT so many times before on training runs.  I knew the route.  I was confident.  I was also able to pick up the pace.  I felt like a machine!  Like one of those machines that you see at 7-11 that cooks the hot dogs (get it, because it’s slow!?).

Once we entered EPCOT, I was so excited.  I looked over to Jim and he said to me “This is our Showcase Showdown!”  He was right!  We had to run around the World Showcase before we exited the park to the Finish Line.  We got to the Choir and it was amazing!  I finally got to hear them SING!  We made the turn out of the park and I could see it… the FINISH LINE!  I can’t tell you how happy I was!  As Jim and I neared the finish we grabbed hands and ran!  Jim’s favorite character, Donald, was waiting at the finish line.  As we went by Donald we ran on either side, gave him a High-5, grabbed hands and crossed the finish!  We stopped and Jim gave me the biggest hug ever!  It was over.  I was elated, happy, hurting.  It felt great having that medal around my neck.  26.2 miles.  Wow. I DID IT!

Jim got a text with the official time and I came in at 6:59:56.  Remember at Mile 20 when I crossed the timing strip and I was projected to finish in 7:05:xx?  In that last 6.2 miles I somehow took 5 minutes off my overall time!  I was really moving, albeit at a turtles pace.

I told you they were GIANT!

I told you they were GIANT!

Initially I decided this marathon was going to be my one and only marathon.  Since some time has passed and I have almost forgotten the pain, I changed my mind and will do another marathon some day.  Before I do another full there are a few things I need to do first.  1. I need to work on getting better at half marathons.  I want to be more comfortable with the half marathon distance and get my time down to 2:30, eventually to 2:00.  2.  I need to work more on my core, strength and stretching.  I think those 3 things would have really helped improve my marathon performance and prevented or reduced any issues I had with injury.  If I can do those things I think I’ll have a better overall time.  Not being injured would also be very nice.

Jim asked me why I decided to do another marathon.  I thought about it for a long time.  Why would I put myself through the

torture of training and getting up at 4 am to go on an 18 mile run?  I decided to do another marathon is because it was hard.  I am going to run another marathon because it was hard!!!

Me and Jim just before we parted for our corrals.

Me and Jim just before we parted for our corrals.

 

 

 

Tina lives in Orlando with her husband, Jim. When she’s not jet setting across the country with her job or running, or training for a race, or recovering from a race, she enjoys reading, photography, movies, music and going to Disney!!

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Running through the Magic Kingdom gates!

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With the Mouse! He puts on a great race!

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Corral M lining up at the start.

Posted in Guest Post, having fun running, Jogging, Marathon Runner, marathon running, Moon Joggers, Pictures of Runners, Places to Run, Running, Running at Disney World, Running Shoes, Tina Bond | Tagged , , , , | Comments closed

Where Is The Love?

By Moon Joggers | Published: February 22, 2014
Despite beautiful weather and beautiful trails I still struggle trying to find my love of running.

Despite beautiful weather and beautiful trails I still struggle trying to find my love of running.

Meandering thoughts from the trail: Where is the love?
by Sheila Dawe

In the month of February, I find myself in a bit of a funk. Me, the runner with the can do attitude. How can this be? I have always tried to have a positive outlook and be focused on my training. By making my running routine I never questioned it, I just went out and did it. And now for the first time in over 5 years, running has become hard and I am left pondering “where is the love?”  Perhaps I should have taken a bit of a break in December, but I didn’t. Perhaps everything is too stale: following the same old training plan and same old routes. Perhaps it is from starting off the New Year on the wrong foot, so to speak. With a sore foot (tendonitis in 2nd metatarsal) I now find myself dealing with pain the majority of time I am running or walking; running has become oh so difficult. Whatever the reason for this funk, I need to find a way out of it and thus my month of February, is dedicated to getting my mojo back and finding my lost love.

February 9th, at the start of my trail run I heard the familiar voice say, “battery low”. My Ipod was then silent shortly after only 2 miles. Little did I know that, although I was disappointed of not having charged the Ipod the previous evening, this run would result in the spark I needed to make a change in my attitude. The silence allowed me to reconnect with nature and my thoughts. The lack of music and many other things contributed to me being able to see a glimmer of the old me.

On this day I ran on a beautiful trail of pristine dry snow. Living in the Pacific Northwest this is a rare event. We had a snow storm a week ago, followed by a week of freezing temperatures. I marveled that there were no other footprints besides mine and some wildlife. While having one of my many snack breaks and sitting on a log, I was pleasantly surprised by how silent the world was around me. I was suddenly transported back to when I was twelve years old and would explore the woods around our neighborhood after a rare snow fall. I had an “aha” moment as the young explorer in me came alive on this run. I realized what I love about running is the adventure. My adventure is in exploring trails, exploring the possibilities of my body and being out in the great outdoors for hours upon hours.

I got my mojo back and found my love of running, thanks in part to Moon Joggers.

I got my mojo back and found my love of running, thanks in part to Moon Joggers.

This is how I continued to find the love again for the rest of the month:

Step one: Make it easy. When I first taught running clinics this was my number one rule. If an active is easy then one will enjoy what they are doing. Making it easy can take multiple forms, such as: running at a slower pace or running for shorter intervals (i.e. having more walk breaks). I even went to the extent of breaking up my 6 mile run into two 3 mile runs, just because mentally it was easier to do the 3 mile route.

Step two: Make it simple. Lose the technology. Putting the Garmin away, allows you to not think about the pace and become more in tune with your body and finding the pace that fills right. Running without music and simply listening to the world around you allows you to connect with the process.

Step three: Stir it up. Try different routes. I started to do my usual routes in the reverse direction. My long run, I changed the start location which resulted in a change of route. I even changed the clothes I wore; I dug deep into the drawer and found some old forgotten favorites.

Step four: It’s all about me. Be sure to continue to eat and drink during run. Change the focus on the act of running to taking care of yourself. Work on rehab and strengthening exercises.

Step five: Be positive. I have always tried to say, “I love…” as opposed to “I hate…”. I believe that you create your own

The explorer in me adventures out on a new trail.

The explorer in me adventures out on a new trail.

reality and thus by having a positive attitude, eventually the true feelings will follow. So I love hills, I love to run in the rain, I love long runs, I love making time for a run after a long day at work and I love the runner in me.

Step six: It’s all about someone else. Give back. Teach someone to run. I find tremendous joy in training my mother to run her first ever half marathon. Another option is to volunteer at a race.

Step seven: Use Moon Joggers for motivation. I often will check Facebook prior to going for a run for motivation.

Remember if you find yourself in a funk, try dedicating a month to improving your outlook. I am now glad for the month of February, in which I found my one true love and baby I am so glad to have my mojo back.

 

sheila daweBiography:  Sheila being 49 years old, single, with no kids has the perfect lifestyle for becoming an obsessive runner. Her 77 year old mother, Catherine Campbell (another Moon Jogger) moved in next door to her in 2000. After cheering Sheila on at multiple marathons, Catherine finally caught the running bug. Sheila taught her to run in 2009 and this year is very significant as Sheila is training Catherine to complete her first ever half marathon. Sheila works for the Government of Canada as a fish health technician but longs for the day when she can retire and dedicate even more time to her passion…running.

Posted in Guest Post, Lessons learned from running, Meandering Thoughts from the Trail, Moon Joggers, online running group, Pictures of Runners, Places to Run, Running, Sheila Dawe | Tagged , , , | Comments closed

Running Alone

By Moon Joggers | Published: February 20, 2014

hector220Rocking on the Roads: “Running alone”
by Hector Romo-Parra

5:00 AM.The watch alarm sounds, drops on the window and cold outside, darkness…double espresso; dressing, foam rolling, warm up, shoes…

A town sleeps and the road is mine.

 Some time ago, when I started running, first I joined a running community. I was very optimistic in getting fit and learn all about marathon but after some weeks, despite that I met really nice people, it was difficult for me to stay there. Not much flexibility: fixed appointments, fixed training schedules, the groups either were running too fast or too slow, people talking a lot (I am a bit autistic), etc. Suddenly I realized that what I really needed was peace and quiet at some point in my day, that was exactly the reason to start running: disconnect my mind from my daily life.

So I did not come back and decided to start running on my own. It was January; still winter no snow but the temperature was under zero. That night I planned everything for next morning: shoes, clothes layers, reflectors, etc. Next morning, new day and new start, I did my routine and went out. The road is mine. I usually like to run through the fields where there are neither cars nor noise, so I went from a nicely illuminated street deep into the forest. The first 4k I really enjoyed, it was kind of liberation, hearing the birds waking up, watching the moon, feeling every step and also hearing my feet pressing the leaves that where lying on the floor and… Late was when I realized that the moonlight was not enough to let me see the way:

hector2220-“Oh my god, I did not had a lamp! How could I missed that simple detail”

“What to do now? Phone call? No, I have neither my phone! Please Hector, think fast, you can not sit here and wait until the sunrise you will be frozen! It is -3 centigrade”

Far from town I was really anxious, so I started to walk back on the same way that I took and hoping that I was not going to fall into a deep hole or even worse to get an injury that would not allow me to continue walking. My body started to lose temperature. I needed to do something and to keep me warm I started with some kind of Galloway, running and walking, trying to not step to strong on the floor and to give short and fast steps. Feeling the hector22220ground and compensate every single change on the surface… Stopping and doing push ups, running-walking again. I do not remember how much time passed but finally I saw the street, stopped a car, explained what had happened and asked for a ride. I arrived safely home, changed clothes and warm my body; I managed somehow for this time.

Years later…5:00 AM The watch alarm sounds, drops on the window and rain outside, darkness…double espresso; dressing, foam rolling, warm up, shoes… LAMP! and MOBILE!

A town sleeps, the road is mine, I will come back home safely every time.

 

hector3Héctor is a runner during mornings and a Neurophysiologist during days.  He lives in Germany and he runs for two motivations: his 4 year old Son who is living in Mexico and to raise funds for “The Myasthenia Gravis Association” since he has been diagnosed with this disease.

“Move yourself for the one that can not move” support us: http://www.justgiving.com/Hector-Romo-Parra

Posted in Guest Post, Hector Romo Parra, Jogging, Moon Joggers, Places to Run, Rocking on the Roads, Running, running for a cure | Tagged , , | Comments closed

Week Six Results Video

By Moon Joggers | Published: February 20, 2014

Posted in Jogging, Moon Joggers, Running Video, Weekly Results | Comments closed

I Am a Runner

By Moon Joggers | Published: February 20, 2014

I AM A RUNNER
by Richard Akersrick3

After reading an article shared by Runner’s World I decided to put down my thoughts from my past and what got me started with running and my continued love for it. I borrowed some lines from that article but, changed them up a bit, these lines are what brought back memories of so many of my own experiences. I continued on with my own thoughts…Maybe these words can encourage new runners or any runner starting out with new goals and or ambitions…

 I Am A Runner

 As a kid I was always one of the fastest kids on the block but, I fell in love with the long run after I read a story of a kid who got burned in a fire and was told he would never walk again. In short he did walk and then ran. For whatever reason that story inspired me and I started  doing the longest runs I was allowed to do on the school track teams. I started running for the enjoyment of it during the summer after 6th grade and since then, there are two things I can say for sure that I’ve collected from everyplace I’ve called home—a driver’s license and miles logged in my running shoes. Life’s direction has shifted more times than I can count, influenced by circumstances and decisions, but if there’s one thing that has kept me sane and sometimes the only thing that has kept me moving forward has been running.(Lines from Runners World article with a few changes to fit my thoughts)

 rick2I often looked at marathoners and thought there was no way I could ever do that. After my 2nd marriage fell apart I needed something to keep me occupied and to fill all the empty hours. I got involved with Team In Training and started training for a half marathon. As I started logging the miles I decided I wanted to fulfill one of my life’s ambitions and complete a full marathon. Up to that point the farthest I had ever run was 6 miles without stopping. I kept on adding miles and kept on running until I hit the 20 mile mark and as with most training programs that is the longest distance you run.

 My first marathon was the Austin Motorola Marathon in Texas. It started out with a very cold morning and I had no idea what I was doing or how fast I could even run or even finish a 26.2 mile race. I saw a sign in a pace group with 4hrs and 30 mins and I settled in there. Bang went the starters pistol and I was off doing something I never thought I could or would do.

As the miles went by I settled into a good rhythm and pace and started moving up and around runners. I had injured my Achilles earlier during training from improper running shoes and I thought I had rested enough for it to heal because all my training runs, with the right shoes after the injury were pain free with no issues. Then I felt a slight pull in my Achilles I slowed way up and hobbled on for a mile or two. I came to an aid station and got an elastic bandage and wrapped it as tight as I could without stopping the blood flow. Off I went again with a much slower pace than before. The more miles I ran the pain lessened and slowly I got back to a good pace. Mile after mile I ran and seeing the mile marker 20 I knew I was in unknown territory.

On I ran and I could actually feel that I was going to finish my first marathon. Mile marker 24 then 25 then I saw the 26 and I knew I was going to finish. All the months of training and after 100’s of miles logged I had done it, my first marathon. Something I had only dreamed about but never thought I could accomplish. I crossed the line with a 3hr 41 min time, I was 49 years old.rick45

After the race and a few days had gone by I got the Boston bug. I got to thinking about the race. Even after my slowing way down and stopping to wrap my calf area I still had come so close on my first try, only 16 minutes short. I signed up for another marathon for later that same year in November, The San Antonio Marathon. I finished that one in 3 hrs 21 mins and soon as I got back home signed up for the Boston Marathon as 50 year old and competed in that race in a time of 3hrs 31 minutes.

I am now 59 years old and have run several more marathons and a half marathon since then. My times are not as fast as they were 10 years ago but, as long as I continue to stay healthy and have the time to train I want to continue to run..its a part of who I am and has been as far back as I can remember… I am a runner.

Posted in Guest Post, Jogging, Lessons learned from running, Marathon Runner, marathon running, Pictures of Runners, Running, Spotlights | Tagged , | Comments closed

Why Do I Keep Doing This?

By Moon Joggers | Published: February 14, 2014

amber hThe Back Of The Pack- Why Do I Keep Doing This?
by Amber Hadigan

It’s Sunday morning. Long run day. In my training for a half marathon, there is one day of the week I both look forward to and dread the most: the long run. At this point, I am up to 10 miles. At over 12 minutes a mile, it takes me over two hours to complete. It is the dead of winter, so it is cold and dark until 7am.

“What made me decide to become a runner? What possessed me to think this was a good idea?” I’ll say this in my head and even to my husband when the daunting task seems too overwhelming to overcome.
But eventually, when the sun comes up and it starts to warm up a little, I dress, make my way out the door, and down the road. I hit the corner after my warmup and start my GPS, and the clock ticks away.

The first mile is always the worst. My legs start to rebel and my mind keeps asking “Why?” But soon I get into the rhythm of it. Listening to my iPod, I have a playlist of songs that both inspire me to continue and that distract me from what I am doing. And after the first mile, I find myself enjoying the ride. The scenery on the country road I run on is beautiful, and as I pass each landmark, I feel more confident. My legs feel great, my mind and my body are one. I feel like I can fly.

But there are still moments, even with these great feelings, when I question what I can do. The further I run, the more these thoughts go through my mind. I have certain tricks I use to convince my mind that I can continue. In the first half of my run, I only think about the first half. “It’s only a mile till I can turn around.” “Only a half mile…” And then, when I get to the point that my GPS says 5 miles, I cheer myself on. “I made it! Half way done! It’s all cake from here.”

There is something magical about the half-way point. When there is less in front of you than behind you, you can start to feel good about the odds of finishing. I like to tell myself, “I’ve already done 6 miles, so 4 more doesn’t seem so bad.” And the further I get and the less that is left, the better I feel.

The hardest mile is the last one. I am tired and I feel like it has gone on forever. I keep repeating to myself, “Stay strong. You can do it!” I adjust my posture because at this point I am slouching a bit. I stand strong and feel a surge of energy going through my body as I repeat the mantra “I am strong” over in my mind. And as I see my corner come into view after the curve, I get a swelling of pride and accomplishment, knowing that the last fifteen hundredths are easy because I have already put in 9.85 miles. I speed up a bit. A smile crosses my face. And as my GPS hits the ten mile mark, I slow to a walk. My heart swells.

The one thing I have learned is that the runner’s high often does not really happen during the run, though I feel very good while in the middle of the run most of the time. (There are exceptions, of course, days where the running is hard and I trudge through.) When I feel the high is when I am done, especially on long run days. My inner monologue throughout the rest of the day reminds me how awesome I am for completing what seemed like such a monumental task. I feel giddy. I feel like I can do anything! And it is that feeling that keeps me running.

I started running to get in shape and to deal with stress. I keep running because I have learned through running that I can do anything I put my mind to. I use running to train my brain to deal with stress and adversity. If I can overcome the inertia of my legs with my mind, I can overcome anything. And although the day started with me dreading the long run, the day ends with me feeling invincible.

bio pic 2

Amber Hadigan currently lives in Hyde Park, NY with her husband John and her two cats, Sobe and Scrappy. Originally from Wisconsin, she has lived in many different states. Now settled, she spends her time working, freelance writing, and writing and performing folk music. A runner as a child, she began running again in May 2013 and has rediscovered the peace and joy running gives her.

Posted in Amber Hadigan, From the Back of the Pack, Guest Post, Jogging, Moon Joggers, Running | Tagged , , , | Comments closed

SHARE YOUR MILES WITH US

By Moon Joggers | Published: February 13, 2014

Voyage to Venus7

Each day millions upon  millions of people lace up their shoes and take off on the open road, the open trail, the treadmill, the elliptical machine or some other way.  Some run to train for an upcoming race, others walk to enjoy the beauty all around them, others jump on the machine to burn some calories and relieve stress.   For many a simple walk around the block is the most challenging part of their day, while for others a ten mile run is the highlight of their day.  No matter the reasons, and no matter the distance, each of these people are MOVING – they are giving their bodies a chance to exercise and their hearts to grow stronger.

Moon Joggers is searching the world over for these millions upon millions of people that are taking their health into their own hands and focusing on physical fitness as a key component to health and happiness.  What is Moon Joggers you ask?  Let us tell you.

photo-9

Ashley & Angie
at Rivalry Relay
in Provo, Utah

It all began when two sisters, ANGIE & ASHLEY, challenged each other to see who could run 1,000 miles in 2013.  After some number crunching Angie realized that if they could get 240 people to join with them in this challenge they would be able to run to the moon.  This was only the beginning of something exciting and fun for every person involved.

When they decided to open it up to their friends and family members on Facebook the idea blew up!  Suddenly Moon Joggers exploded and more than 1,000 people joined the two sisters, including people from more then 30 different countries.  On January 1, 2013 they took off on their 239,000 mile journey to the MOON. Goal Accomplished!The goal was to reach the moon in one year.  We made it in five months!

Going to the moon was only the beginning.  Moon Joggers has decided to boldly run (and walk) where no one has run before by exploring all of the planets in our solar system.  These planets are millions of miles away, but that will not stop us! This year (2014) our goal is to travel 25 million miles to VENUS (the closest planet to Earth).  This means that we need approximately 25,000 people to take on the Moon Jogger Challenge and join us.

We’ve made a promise to our Moon Joggers that we would get to Venus.  To accomplish this we are going to search and search until we find enough people to help us get to Venus.  Why is this so important?  Because we’ve set a goal.  It’s a goal that seems impossible at times but then we look back and remember the time we spent on the moon.  We would have never imagined we’d get enough people to join us on that adventure, but we DID!  We wanted to recruit 240 people and we ended up with 1,200.  So why not shoot for something bigger?  Why not go to Venus?

On January 1, 2014 more than 3,000 Moon Joggers began their quest to Venus.  Each day our numbers grow as more and more people commit to the Moon Jogger Challenge.   The only question left is this:  WILL YOU TAKE THE MOON JOGGER CHALLENGE?  Will you join us on this historic adventure?   All we ask is that you commit to running, walking and/or jogging 100, 500, 1000, or up to 5,000 miles this year.  You’ll get your own log on our website where you’ll keep track of your miles and contribute to our group as a whole (you can go back and log any miles you’ve completed starting January 1,2014 to NOW). We’ll encourage you, cheer you on and celebrate every mile.

We would love to have you part of this fun running community! It is perfect for beginners, for people that just love walking, jogging, or running, and competitive marathoners… and everyone in between! Please SHARE YOUR MILES with us and help us reach our goal! Plus, we’re raising money for an AWESOME charity: THE LITTLE HEROES FOUNDATION!

Find out more about our VOYAGE TO VENUS and sign up.  You can participate for FREE, or for those of you that enjoy the SWAG, you can do one of our paid registrations (use promo code SAVE5 to save $5)! Click here to SHARE YOUR MILES!

Voyage to Venus8

Posted in Connecting, having fun running, Jogging, Marathon Runner, marathon running, Moon Joggers, online running group, Places to Run, Running, running for health, Ultra Marathon Runner | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments closed

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