Kim and Lauren - Post #8

Kim and Lauren are a mother/daughter team, training to run the Disneyland Half Marathon in September of 2012. Kim, the the 50-something mom is vegan, and is training at the literally breathtaking altitude of 7,000 feet in Taos, NM. She has never been any kind of athlete before. Lauren, the 20-something daughter, is mostly vegetarian, and is doing her training in Seattle, WA. Running isn't new to her, but distance running is. This weekly blog, written by both of them, documents the journey, and hopefully, will inspire a few others to follow a dream, do something that's harder than they ever imagined they'd do on purpose, and enjoy the entire journey. Find all the entries by entering "Kim and Lauren" in the "search this blog" box to the left.


Kim:

Make a plan and plan to change it... 

I hurt my foot last Friday. It had been bothering me a little bit for a few days. It felt like my shoes were laced too tight, so I kept loosening them, and kept running. Then at about mile 4 on Friday, the top of my left foot hurt so much I couldn't keep going. I slowed to a walk - a slow walk, and limped the rest of the way back home. I feared a stress fracture, but realized that wasn't it, because I could press on the sore area without causing extra pain. I stayed off of it as much as possible, and walking was tricky for a couple of days. It's gotten a little bit better each day, and I'm confident I'll be back "in the running" in just a few days.

Meanwhile, I've been doing water aerobics class at the local pool. It keeps me moving, goes easy on my foot, and besides, it's actually a lot more fun that I imagined it would be. Everyone is nice and welcoming, it's a good workout, and I get to play in the water - all for $3. I think I'll keep going as a cross training thing even when I'm running again. 

I think I was throwing myself too much into making "progress," and forgetting, as Lauren gently reminded me, that we're supposed to be having fun with this. My foot injury was a message to slow down a little bit, and enjoy the process more. I'm certainly not using it as an excuse to stop. I want to keep going!

I've learned an alternate way of lacing my shoes, to take the pressure off the tops of my feet. I'll try again in a few days, probably when we get to Seattle. I'm also looking forward to visiting Road Runner Sports and having some real running experts help me find the right shoes. We don't have anything like that in Taos, and it's very possible I'm running in the wrong shoes. 

We're leaving tomorrow, driving for three days, and spending Easter with Rick's family, and my kids, in eastern Washington. Cooking school starts next Monday! My time in Seattle will be super busy, with classes and running, and maybe even some swimming. We'll be gone for almost a month, but I know it's going to fly by. I'll be blogging from the road, of course, so keep checking in here, as well as on PositivelyVegan.

Until we meet again, today's life lesson - Loosen your laces, and have more fun!

Lauren:
In college I had to take an entry level communications class for my major. One of our assignments was to interview a student athlete. Being the timid young procrastinating girl that I was, I waited until the last minute to figure something out. The thought of interviewing someone I didn’t know terrified me, so at the last minute I asked my sorority sister and friend Madi if I could interview her, she was a cheerleader at UNM. She had already taken that class and was more than happy to help. All the information I wrote was true, but the fact that I didn’t have to exit my comfort zone to get it was extremely helpful. Madi helped me that day, and at that time I had no idea she’d be someone I’d be counting on for help for years to come.

It is true to my character that I waited until the last minute to do that assignment and the training for this half marathon. I decided a long time ago I only wanted to try things if they were going to work. For example, I only wanted to eat healthy food if I knew it would make me feel healthier or workout because I knew it would make me skinnier or date because I was going to find the perfect guy. I am a huge believer in instant gratification; unfortunately that’s not really how life works.

It was unsettling to me to finally realize and admit that there is never a guarantee, sometimes you fail, sometimes you don’t feel healthier, sometimes you don’t get skinnier and you’ll more than likely date a few wrong guys before you find the perfect one, but you have to try in order to have a happy and full life. The harder you try and the more effort you put in the better the outcome and the more you appreciate your successes.

I came into this idea of a half marathon with the perfect training plan in mind, I was only willing to use a plan that had proven to be successful, I don’t have the energy to fail. Per usual, I waited until the last minute to figure things out, this is where Madi comes in. Madi is also in training for a half marathon, she will be running her race in a couple of weeks. We have talked a little bit about it and she has inspired me to keep going when I am feeling helpless or defeated. She has this strength and drive that I have always admired, she is not lazy or a quitter.

Early last week Madi sent me her training plan, I couldn’t be more thankful she would share that with me. I have been sort of lost and felt a tad bit defeated in this whole thing. I know I can do it, but my only athletic training comes from being on teams, many years ago, I have no idea what I am doing when it comes to running. But Madi has re-instilled my confidence and proven to me that I can do it, just like she is. I could have never predicted that six years later she would still be a friend and sister I can count on for help and encouragement, but I couldn’t be happier that she is. So thank you Madison Dane, I love you forever!