SENTENCE PER PICTURE and Your Running Accomplishments

SEVENTEEN MILES with Josse yesterday and 4 stops at the exact same water fountain along the way… I think I would have stopped at 15 miles if it wasn’t for her entertaining stories.

When we first started our run it was dark and really cool outside and by the time we finished it still wasn’t that hot—> win.

She sent me home with homemade almond butter (PS a marathon is just a fun 9.2 more miles than this… WHAT IN THE WORLD am I thinking??).

Back home to pick up the Brookers before heading out for the day.  

But first we went straight to test out the almond butter with a few apples.  

She insisted on bringing her cookware with us no matter where we went yesterday. 

A hangout with the Andrew man and Knox.

We were driving along the road and Brooke saw a carnival and she asked to stop and it sounded like a great idea to me. 

Living the American Fork, Utah life.   

And then as we were driving around this happened.  

Brooke was more upset with the flat tire than I was.  

A stop at the pizza factory for my favorite breadsticks.

The girls requested a stop at The Chocolate for a Thursday night special.

The chocolate coconut cake won the show in my opinion (I was hungry all day after that long run yesterday).  

And at 12:10 a.m. Bangs Friend went through and organized my purse like she always does (she said she won’t organize my sock drawer because my socks don’t have matches… valid point). 

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THANK you so much for all of your amazing running accomplishments!  The next round of these will be in two weeks (I’ll remind you that week)!  You guys are incredible! 

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Theresa!!! “This submission has been a long time coming.  It has been difficult for me to find the words and I know it is very different from the usual ‘Running Accomplishments’ featured (which I love reading!) It is also very different from where I thought I would be running wise just a few years ago.  But I want to tell my story because I know there are a few out there who are going through similar challenges and I want you to know you are not alone.  

My life has been about running from the very beginning.  I was competing from a young age and putting in tons of miles and marathons by my early 20s.  I struggled with my health a bit at this time (mostly GI stuff) but with a limited diet was able to make it work. After a few difficult years with multiple jobs and travel, I started seeing the results of my 100 mile weeks and ran my 19th marathon in the fall of 2012, a 3:02:53.  My sub 3 was so close and I had the 2016 trials on my ‘dream big’ list.

After that point, my health declined steadily over the following year.  The GI symptoms escalated, I was blacking out often, and having allergic reactions to everything.  I was seen in several well known hospital systems across the country as well as locally and ultimately was diagnosed with a very rare diseased  called ‘Mast Cell Activation Disorder’ and many other related secondary diagnoses.  The easiest way to describe this disease is it is like being in a constant allergic reaction.  So triggers can vary but food, environmental, temperature, smells etc. can all be involved and change over time.  It is chronic and mine has been progressive.

In the years since, I have had many surgeries and hospital stays that total many months.  I have 2 feeding tubes and a central line (permanent IV lines in my chest) where I receive all my nutrition. As you can imagine, running was left behind.  With Mast Cell being so multi systemic, it is difficult to have a day where everything feels *good* enough just to function, not to mention run! I have managed to continue teaching high school full time at one of the best high schools in Michigan which I am extremely grateful for and proud of. But in all honesty, I withdrew a lot during this time— from family, friends, life… and running.  I felt so angry at my body for letting me down, watching my dreams slip away.  Why bother trying to run a mile or two when 10-14 mile days were the norm.  Running was about racing and being fit- neither of which I was anywhere close to, so I found myself pushing it aside.  

But the last few months, things have started to change.  I have been getting myself into my running shoes and out the door.  And most of the time, running is hard.  But there are these glimmers where my foot hits the ground or I feel the breeze and I remember.  I remember running.  Because I then can feel and remember that for me, running never was ‘just’ about racing or being fit.  Running is my soul- the very core of my being.  And it will always be there for me.  And it is an accomplishment in that as weird as it sounds, just lacing up for 20 or 30 minutes some days is as hard as mile 26 was during my marathons.  But even though it is fleeting, that feeling of the old me, just for a few seconds is enough to get me out the door next time. 

So anyone struggling with health or anything similar, keep the faith.  And remember that no matter what, running will always be there waiting patiently when you are ready to return.”

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Trina!!! “This running accomplishment involves my sweet 3 year old niece, Nina! She completed her FIRST 1km fun run on Canada Day, July 1st, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.  She was so excited to run like her Mom and Auntie do (we are both half marathon runners).  The entire week leading up to the race, she kept telling us how much she LOVED running.  There was a costume contest for the race so we asked her what she wanted to dress up as… naturally she responded like most 3 year olds would- Princess Elsa!! I love to sew, so I sourced fabric and made us all princess costumes for the run (yes, I did!).  Her Mom was Cinderella, I got to be Snow White, and Nina was Princess Elsa.  I think it’s the most fun I’ve ever had during a run.  I may have to dress up more often.  Nina’s favorite part?  A toss up between the running, the costume (she slept in it that night) and getting a finisher’s medal from the city’s mayor:)”

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What is your long run this week?  Early… later… solo… with friends?  

What is your sentence for the day?  

What do you have going on this weekend?  

Last car problem that you have had!?