Channeling my inner St. Sebastian

I gots the Gout.  Or at least I did last week.

I hated admitting that.  To me it sounds like some terrible communicable disease that, had I made better choices, I could have avoided.  But it is not.

What it is is horribly-terribly-I-want-to-cry painful.  It is a complex form of arthritis in which there are sharp uric acid crystal deposits in joints, often in the big toe.  And that’s exactly where it hit me, the left big toe. 

When it first started early last week, Himself thought that’s what it might be but I didn’t want to believe him.  I could hardly walk let alone run.  After spending most of that night awake in severe pain, a little internet research told me that is exactly what it was.  Other than taking some pain relievers and using an ice pack, there is not a lot to be done about it.  Thankfully, it is usually short-lived and the worst of it lasts two or three days. 

One day in the midst of it all, I hobbled down to the ladies room at work.  As I was washing my hands, I saw in the mirror the St. Sebastian medal I was wearing.  And I laughed.

How was St. Sebastian martyred?    When it was discovered during Maximian's persecution of the Christians that Sebastian was indeed a Christian, he was ordered executed.  He was shot with arrows and left for dead, but when the widow of St. Castulus went to recover his body, she found he was still alive and nursed him back to health. Soon after, Sebastian intercepted the Emperor, denounced him for his cruelty to Christians, and was beaten to death on the Emperor's orders. (from Catholic Online)

  

One of the ways I described the pain was that it was like a thousand needles were dipped in acid and then stuck in my toe.  The arrows didn’t kill St. Sebastian and a little Gout isn’t going to kill me.  It’s not going to derail my C25K training, just slow it down a little.  

I am now in my third iteration of the sixth week of the plan.  Maybe this week I will finally make it all the way through!

AMDG

183

Saturday was the “big race”, the 5k I decided to run when I started the Couch to 5k program six weeks ago.  I’m not done with the program and I have a (long) ways to go until I can run 3.1 miles, but I signed up anyways. 

* * *

The Thursday before the race I was at Starbucks with a coworker doing network and connectivity testing on our laptops.  Really, we were.  We got to talking about our plans for the weekend and I told her about the race.  While we were talking I realized that the last “race” I had done was more than six years ago. 

After mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer we started participating in the OROC event.  For four years I ran the 5k, but that last year mom wasn't doing very well, so we all did the one mile family fun walk together.  We lost her just three weeks later and none of us has ever done that or any other race since. 

* * *

I used to run a lot and have done dozens of road races, anywhere from a 5k to a half marathon. I’m not sure why I was so excited about doing this.  Perhaps it is because I finally feel like I have turned a corner in doing healthy things for myself and I like it.

* * *

Saturday was icky.  That’s the highly scientific and meteorological word for it.  Icky.  The temperature was in the mid-forties and it was raining. 

After picking up my race packet we had about forty-five minutes until the race started. We introduced ourselves to the parish’s pastor and fellow blogger, Fr. V.   After that we decided that it was too wet and cold to wait outside so we wandered over to the church and rested there for a bit.    Unknowingly, we sat down right next to the St. Sebastian statue.  Of course, once I saw that, what’s a good Catholic girl to do but light a candle! 

* * *

After a prayer and the national anthem the race started with the crack of a gun.  We were off.

And my legs felt like lead.

This seemed like a good idea when I signed up two weeks ago.

The air was heavy and I felt like I couldn't get a good breath in.

I ran then I walked.  Then I ran again. 

* * *

The crowd of almost 200 runners thinned out.  Some were behind and most were ahead.  I played lots of mind games. 

I’ll run to that tree and then walk some.

Usually I didn't make it to the tree.  I walked sooner.  For only a 5k I did a lot of walking!

Running the roads is much harder than running on the treadmill!

* * *

But with all that walking and slow running there was a lot of time to think and to observe.  The neighborhood we ran through was older, houses probably built in the 40's and 50's, but very well kept up.  Several of the roads were red brick.  People there like their gardens.  Large, old growth trees and flowers were in abundance.

People also seemed to be happy to have the runners come by.  No one seemed put out that they were inconvenienced by having their roads closed for several hours.  Families were in their yards cheering the runners on.  A young girl tooted a horn as people ran by.  A middle aged man had his truck’s stereo blasting some motivating music.  An old man with his bulldog encouraged us; he thanked us for running in his neighborhood!  

* * *

I had no idea how I was doing since there were no timers at the one and two mile splits.   I told Himself that I hoped to finish in under forty-five minutes.  I began to doubt that time when I got lapped by the young man who went on the win the race. 

 

* * *

Ugh. My legs feel like lead.

No matter, the lady directing traffic told me.  You’re almost done.

* * *

At one point I looked back and saw no one behind me. 

Great.  I’m the last one to finish.

But I wasn't.  I finished in 41:33, well ahead of my goal.  There were 192 runners.

And I was 183.

Yeah me!

AMDG

Quick Takes (31) - No Excuses aka Halfway Done

-1-

I have surprised myself and have made it halfway through the Couch to 5k running plan.  At first I thought it was a six week long schedule, which rather surprised me.  It certainly didn't seem long enough to go from nothing to 3.1 miles.  Flip the paper over, Donna!  It’s nine weeks.  Whew!

It feels good to sweat; well, except when it gets in my eyes.  Soaked clothing is tangible evidence that I am working hard.

-2-

I've been dealing with a rather bad case of Plantar Faciitis.  I've had it before and it is painful and annoying.  It usually is indicative of beating your feet up in not-so-good shoes.  I checked Zappos to see when I bought the running shoes I have been using.  It’s been three years and a lot of walking miles ago.  I guess it’s time to splurge and buy a new pair.

-3-

Speaking of good support (I was wasn’t I??), I decided that the sports bras I had were completely inadequate.  Who designs those things anyways? I stopped in a couple of local department stores and they had pitiful selections.  Macy’s only had one real sports bra and it was sixty-five dollars!  I don’t think so.

Himself suggested checking Amazon and they had a great selection.  I had many, many from which to choose and the prices were much better.  The reviews people posted were so helpful.  Since we have a Prime membership, the one I picked out arrived in just two days.  Did I tell you how much I like Amazon Prime?  And my new bra?  Both are awesome!

-4-

The 5k race that I am going to sign up for is a fund raiser for the Knight of Columbus at St. Sebastian’s church.  And just who is St. Sebastian? you ask.  He is the patron saint of athletes, and particularly of runners.  Got to love that coincidence.  If you’re not doing anything on October 18th and feeling like heading my way, I’d love to have some company on my run/walk.

-5-

I had to travel for work last week.  In keeping with my ‘no excuses’ theme I brought my running gear.  The hotel had a small, but very nice fitness center.  Had any of my coworkers that I traveled with seen me after my workout they would have been afraid, very afraid.

-6-

I downloaded the C25k app on my phone.  Once I figured it out I found that I could choose the ‘voice’ that gives the orders as when to run and when to walk.  I like the Drill Sargent.  He is good motivation!

-7-

There have been a few workouts that were a little tough to get motivated for.  But afterwards I was so glad I had done them.  I felt good.  I like what I am seeing on the scale now that I am running again.  -5.  ‘Nuf said.

Don't forget to check out more Quick Takes at Conversion Diary.

Have a great weekend!

AMDG

The first step?

Whoever said taking the first step is the hardest part of the journey is a lying sack of . . . Umm, sorry.  They are just not right.

I've taken that first step so many times, both figuratively and literally.  I am great at starting things.   It is the finishing them that’s the problem.  I have a closet and a basement full of newly started projects.

There’s the counted cross stitch sampler I started for a wedding gift to Himself; we will soon be celebrating our sixteenth anniversary.  I bet I have at least five or six other partially started cross stitch projects as well.

And then there are the quilts.  I think there are two that are started, one that is promised, and another that needs to be repaired.  I just remembered the material we bought for our fall colored raggedy quilt.

I have a couple of books that I want to write.  I have notes jotted down, but that is about as far as those projects have gotten.

I could go on and on and on, but you get the drift.  The first step is easy, for me.  It’s what comes after that’s a challenge.

That being said, I started something new last night.  Yep.  Me.  Something new.

Feeling like a slug and needing to lose weight, I decided to take my inspiration from this lady.  I started the Couch-to-5K program.

Yikes!  It was hard.  I used to be a runner.  I ran twenty miles once, but twenty minutes of walking and running just about did me in last night.  I was a sweaty, dripping, achy mess afterwards.

But you know what?  It felt good!

If I keep up with this, I should be able to run 5k by my birthday.  What a great gift to myself that would be!

To add a little extra motivation, I found a 5k race on October 18th to do.  It’s a fund raiser for the Knights of Columbus at the parish where our friend, Fr. Ed, is a Parochial Vicar.  If you’re in the area, come on and join me!

I know this is going to be hard.  I know I am going to find excuses not to do it.  But I know I need to do it.  So, I ask that you bug me, cajole me, bother me and remind me.  Hold me accountable and make me do it.

Maybe this time I will actually finish what I start!

AMDG