Run to Feed the Hungry 5K: Celebration pics

I didn't have time to upload these for the initial post but since I'm still basking in the runner's high I thought I'd share.

Mike and I near the finish line once the crowd thinned out and we finally found each other

My wonderful Papa who came and sat for over an hour just to see me finish.
He was as happy as I was

Monster on my back

A Brief Running Update

The one nice thing about times of stress is that I run a lot, and with 15 days left until the 5K race for Run to Feed the Hungry I need to be training more anyway. Since I'm pulling all-nighters at the hospital I'm trying not to overdo it. So far I can consistently run 1.6 miles and still feel strong at the end.


But the asthma monster still has his claws in my back and is hanging on with a vengance.

Today I am Rocky!

Imagine me at the top of the stairs, dancing, throwing punches. Arms over my head yelling victoriously. Why? Because today my lungs and I went head to head, and for a change I won!

My lungs and I fight a lot. Especially when I’m running. They are a spirited and stubborn pair. Given the importance of breathing to that whole consciousness and physical well-being thing, they usually win. (Asthma attacks suck in case no one ever mentioned it.)

My asthma usually cuts in about the time my legs find their rhythm. In fact, it’s a rare occurrence when my legs are sore after a run. My lungs won’t let me go at a fast enough pace or for long enough to really get a burn going.

But not today!!

It’s been a long time since I could run two miles without stopping to walk or take a breath for a second. I don’t usually have to stop for very long, but I do have to stop and walk for a bit. For a lot of people running two miles is no big deal. I understand this. I know I haven’t done anything that impressive. But given the sad state of my lungs lately (and it’s been pretty sad), I am giddy beyond belief. We’ll forget the cough and minor wheeze that tells me my poor lungs are inflamed as hell. I just ran two miles without stopping dammit!!!

It was a good day. Tomorrow marks exactly one month before race day.

Running to Stand Still

A 5-mile hike through mountains (I'm thinking of a couple different ones I've done this summer in the Sierras and one in Yellowstone):
I can do this without a problem. OK, I'm tired the next day. But that's about it.

Today it was all I could do to run a half-mile without stopping. Allergies, asthma, something is kicking my butt.

I admit that I haven't run very regularly this summer. Periodically, but nothing consistent. Maybe that's it. Then I think, no, I've done softball. Luci, Scout and I have gone walking or hiking about every other day all summer with only a few exceptions. Maybe I just suck at running. This is incredibly likely.

In my younger days, I hated running. As hard as I tried in high school P.E. classes I could never run a mile in less than 9:30 - and even that was pushing it. I didn't start to like running until I was in college and had joined Hapkido. I would run in the evenings and let out every ounce of excess energy and stress I had built up during the day. It was wonderful. Especially during the spring and summer when the jasmine was in bloom.

I bring this up because I've decided to run a 5K (3 miles). I've been wanting to do this for awhile. I'm not sure why. Perhaps my college roomate, who's now a nationally-ranked triathlete, inspired me. I've never felt like an athlete. It wasn't until martial arts that I even considered myself an active, quasi-athletic person. And maybe it's the absence of regular martial training that's driving me. I'm not sure.

I want to do it to prove to myself that I can. That's all.

Obviously I'm starting off small, but that's OK with me. But since the one I'm looking at is in Sacramento I figure I have the advantage of training at altitude, right?

All I know is that after today I have a lot of work to do. Ouch, my lungs hurt already.