RECAP: Run With Maggie B.

Wooooo whooooooo!!!! You did it!!!!

OK-you guys all did amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am still feeling it over here. Why do I have a craving for pancakes?

First-off, the challenge didn’t display all our great distances because it set up as a “first one to reach” a goal, and by now you know the first person to upload results was MYSONX3-who did a whopping 15.77 miles! This was fitting because that is the screen name of one of our winners, better known to us as Josiah Rutledge of Washington.

Josiah won the best Race Outfit, because he had to run with his Medi-pak. This is the intel I have on that:

“Josiah is allergic to pet dander. As such, we are not able to have any furry friends at home. We do have a goldfish, but she was quite grateful that we did not take her running, or we may not have had a goldfish any longer. Josiah’s non-human companion was “Medi”, his nickname for the two IV pumps that he has been carrying around for the last few weeks. (He was quick to point out that you only said “non-human” companion, not “breathing” companion. (Might want to be clearer in the future, my son will take everything quite literally.) He carries “Medi” in a blue fanny pack that he refuses to wear on his fanny (can’t say I blame him!)”


               


The most creative course goes to Mommykr, who is Becki Rutledge. She had the best view of all of us as far as I am concerned, complete with the very attractive hand-designed finish-line banner. If that weren’t enough, she, recruited her mom and her young daughters to pitch in for Josiahs race. Te see more of their journey, go to the photo page, and see their uploads. Remember, the password is moveit. I am also asking her if I can post the story she wrote about their journey on the blog.

Most money raised goes to Gayle Yarick who is LAupnorth. I think she bugged everyone she ever encountered for donations, from the grocery clerk to her 3rd grade teacher. There might have been some blackmail involved as well--who can know these things?

And finally, the best race companion goes to Mary Baker, who dragged her pup Sada, all over town, exhausting the poor thing to the point of couch lounging, as evidenced by the pictures in the picture section.



All of you have blessed these kids by doing this race. I can’t tell you how amazing you have all been. I will send you final tally’s as they are available from the total amount raised.

To the people who didn’t run, but still gave-thank you so much. Every bit helps!

I am hoping some of you might want to keep training together beyond this to. It was so much fun calling on Dr Laura,( who put in some serious miles I might add) and the rest of you guys!

I have been blessed. Thank you so much!
--Maggie B

8 Days & Counting

Can I say “OWWEEEEEEE?” Physical therapy is like trying to open a Vlasic pickle jar for the first time with one hand. It has the feel of impossible. But I have been faithful to my exercises. Yancy, my 5’1” 90 pound P.T. specialist, has been hurting me good for someone I could sit on and crush. We’ve had some spicy conversations too, about faith and the conundrum of the sweetness of Jesus verses the callousness of his people . . . so the twice-weekly trips are not a total loss.

Still, it is discouraging. You get on a good productive track, and you remain faithful to it. You are so excited when you start seeing good results, and then something interrupts. A tumble down the stairs, a bad head cold, and a time-eating emergency; all of a sudden you are losing gains and trying to stay motivated. UGGGGHHHHH!

I’ve read somewhere that lasting change must be a slow, forgiving process. You can’t do it all at once, and you can’t expect perfection. As far as I’m concerned, the head truth and the practice truth of that statement are miles apart. I’ve known these facts for years, but it is just in my recent history, the past 5 years, that I have learned their true expression in my every day. The way it plays out for me is so simple, I’m sure some people would say, “Yea, and . . .?!?” But authentic simplicity is harder than it looks, especially when it comes to our own flat-sides and camouflage.

Every day I get up and plan when I will walk, because that is about all I can do right now, (against the Dr.’s wishes.) I do what I can and keep my mind in the set of, “I will not stay in one place.” Every week, I go to the very lo-tech Weight Watchers meeting with my peeps and step on that wretched scale, the one that is hidden behind the high ‘check-in’ desk. I think there is a very good reason we can’t see it. There are some weeks that I want to cuss it out and choke its little neck when I’ve done it all correctly only to GAIN .6 pounds or some other hideous number. (But I’m not bitter-can’t you tell??) (And what is it by the way, about gaining anything that makes me want to go home and eat a vat of Caroline’s Coco Krispies at 10 at night?!?) (Not that I’ve done that mind you--er . . )
Point is, I get up and do it all again the next day. Walk, eat right, and bring my unwilling self into “subjection,” for me, because I must, because I’m the boss of me.

So I am going to try to walk my upcoming half-marathon. It will probably take me a little over 4 hours. I won’t walk away with anything earth shattering, at least as far as others would recognize it, but I will walk away from inertia. I will keep walking toward something, something that will be good ultimately.

This week when I was frustrated with the whole process I arrived at the end of my bitter thoughts and found myself smack dab at the beginning of the thought trail again with this question, “What will you do then if not this? To stop trying is to stop growing.” I knew yet again, in the small and big things, the only way forward is forward, and just like in vivid night dreams when I am trying to run but my legs won’t move, I must keep attempting. The desire to move forward does not go away when we give up.

8 days and counting.

Shoulders and Advil

So I'm well on my way into the world of Physical therapy for my shoulder. YEOW! It hurts! The worst thing about it so far is that I cannot run in the half marathon. No running for 6 weeks. But I am walking, without moving my shoulder on one side, kind of like a Zombie.

This is where it would be easy to lay off and just wait for all to be well before I start moving again, but I know if I do that, I will lose all the great results and gains I got from training. Sooooo I am pressing on. I am still doing as much as I can on April 25th-still pushing it to the limit until then.

I am so impressed with all of you and all the miles you are putting in on the challenges.
You guys are awesome!

Tailbones, Bradford Pear Trees and Nike+

So my back still hurts, and to add insult to injury, my shoulder is showing signs of wear and tear too! It's like I am fighting body maintenance issues!

I'm still going to walk today though. I can't quite shuffle yet. Trying to get an appointment with the Dr. I'm a late-goer when the Dr is involved. My deductible is too high and I never feel like they actually do what I want them to do.

I can tell you that on days I walk, I feel better about life and myself. Just getting out and listening to good music, a great podcast or book makes me feel like I have lavished myself with indulgence.

I wrote to Gloria Santos of Ray of Hope. I told her about what you all are doing for her work. I'll let you know what she says when I hear back from her. The last time I was there she was still on dial up. That coupled with the truth that she spends weeks at a time on a boat in the remote areas of the Amazon, with no internet service, makes her responses sometimes slow in coming.

Thank you for coming with me on this journey. Now I've got to walk, (which right this week, makes me look like a lob-sided cowgirl)

Slow Starts and good results

After my gig in Arkansas, I had the rare opportunity to actually get home on a Saturday night. It felt so good, it almost seemed like I was cheating. Exhausted, I fell into bed at 10, and slept until 8:30 the next morning. Max, my dog, was not very happy about this. He started pushing the imaginary "button" on the side of my bed at about 7 am. I kept putting the "snooze" on him.

"Not yet Max. Settle."

He laid down for increments of 10 minutes at the most. When he could take it no more, and I saw the time-I felt like a cruel Mom. As I leaned up on the bed, he rushed downstairs and padded back and forth at the back door, tail wagging furiously.

"I'm coming sweet boy. Sorry your moma . . ." That's all I got out as my feet slipped out from under me on the way down the stairs. Bam, whack, snap, thud. Rear-end, tailbone, middle-back, and head, just in that order, hit the wood. This to him, was a game. He rushed back to the stairwell, whimpering. I was whimpering too.

"Wait a second. Wait Mister," I grunted and groaned as I tried to straighten up.

"Owwwwwwwwwwwww. Ugh!" I wondered if I should tell someone, just in case I fainted or had some late-blooming concussion or something. I didn't. Out we went to play ball. Everything hurt.

I still walked that day, and today too. I couldn't run. My tailbone hurt too much.

Why would I do that? Because I am on a good track. Between simple things like walking, and my 'oh-so-dry' Weight Watchers program, I am actually losing weight. I am up to 8 pounds now, and that might as well be 50 to a twenty-year-old.

Move more, eat less. If I can do it, you can do it. Misery loves company and all.
Come on if you are hesitating. This really does work. No magic pill. No fake expectations. Just good old fashioned work and slow old fashioned real results.
Do it!

Mind Games

It's slightly over a year now of commanding my legs to walk up to my bedroom, stuffing them into Ace Bandage like shorts, and marching out the door with intent, Nike+ sensor in place. I am proud of me. It takes alot to stand up to yourself-to keep "under your body and bring it into subjection." (I still love King James. It's like reading poetry) In this war of the wills, there are two culprits: chocolate and boredom.

Chocolate: need I explain? If it is within 50 feet, I will not rest until it is completely eradicated, via my mouth. If it is especially delicious, I will hang my head in silence, drawing out every last molecule. I proclaim myself a Vegetarian, but in truth, I am a Choclotarian. I want all chocolate-all the time.

Boredom: I need constant fresh inventory of music, talk radio or audio books. Itunes is great for this. audible.com, and theaudiobookstore.com are both slightly cheaper for books.

Do you have a favorite imix for walking or running? A good audiobook recommendation? Tell us about it. I will compile a user list and post it on itunes. (Books don't post as an imix, but we will see them here)

Enough procrastinating now-you get out there and strut your stuff.

You BraveKindhearted Souls!!!

So I see some of you brave ones are coming along with me. Good for you. There are so many good things about doing this. Of course, the first is the best one, the fact that children all over the world will have a better life, or put even more bluntly-will have a life because you decided to be kind and generous.

Next on the list is entirely selfish: I won't be suffering alone :-)

And since we are all friends here, another great thing about this is since I started doing this in January, I've lost 5 stubborn middle-aged pounds. Those of you who are there know how stinkin' hard that is to do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Did I give you enough exclamation points?)

There are so many great free resources out there for 'newbie/don't want to break a hip' runners out there. By following a training plan on the Runnersworld.com site, I got my direction and motivation. That and my new weekly Weight Watchers meeting, (another blog entirely) have made me feel alot better. There are links to both things on runwithmaggieb.com for those who want to declare war on their bodies. (And if you join WW through the RWMB link, more money goes to the kids)

I am not fast. I am not elegant. I am just moving.

On Saturday I walk/shuffled 7 miles. In my wildest dreams, I never-ever thought I would do that. Yet, by following the book, (or at least applying some of the advice in it,) 'Half-Marathon You Can Do It,' (also in our Amazon store and also causing more money to go to the kids if you get it there) I did.

All of this is my small victory. And you lending me your eyes right now and giving me your extra pound as we move together-(PLEEEEASE NO! GOT ENOUGH TO DEAL WITH!!)-well-it's just major.

While I am writing this, I am procrastinating the 4 miles I have to put in today. But in just a minute, I will get up, get into a series of tourniquets, and go down into my musty basement for my walk/run. That is my small victory for today. Tell me about some of yours.

Why Do I Run?

to be the boss of me

to hold back the spread

to watch my Nike+ person make me proud

to accomplish something hard

to listen to great books

relieve stress

to build confidence.

Because I can


I don’t “run” per se--at least not in the high-school/college way, but rather, I walk fast, shuffle, sprint and pant--in that ‘over 40’ way. Still, I get where I am going—eventually.

Life comes at me in a series of realizations. As a child, I realized all things were possible for me. As a young adult, I learned that is not true. As a maturing adult, I started to live around that truth. Now, I’m believing more for myself again, making a concerted effort to beat back my own self-imposed limitations. My shuffle-run is part of that process.

A great runner told me “You don’t have to look good running. In fact, being conscious of that actually impedes the experience.”

Shuffle like an old man. Take deep breaths like you don’t care who is looking at you from the side. Strap down everything that moves too much, and go. Go slow. Go fast. Go without music. Go with music. Be selfish; feed yourself with effort, your personal pacing--and go.

What has happened to me since I joined Nike+ and started to reclaim a few hours in the week with walk/running? I’ve found new friends on-line who have become new friends in person. I’ve become more assertive in areas I wouldn’t even try before. I’ve lost a little weight. (I like chocolate too much for “a lot” of weight.) I sleep better. My mind is clearer. I don’t eat as bad. I’ve gone through several pairs of running shoes. I’ve given some to Soles4Souls. I’ve earned two medals. (Not because I won against anyone—rather because I “showed up.”)

Does it feel great? Not until I am done. Do I find a thousand reasons not to put my shoes on and go? All the time. Everytime. But it doesn’t matter. When I can decide to do something that is hard for me, and actually do it—that is a victory. That is worth celebrating.

But even better than all that, is the spirit of this event. Lose something of yourself, and pass it on to people who need it. Run with me, and feed children who will literally die if someone doesn’t run to them, run for them. Meet a selfish goal for an unselfish end. It’s so simple.

Come, try with me to change the world, or even more difficult, to change yourself.

RACE GEAR - WHAT YOU'LL NEED

If you are not a “Pixie,” some of the stuff you see available for fitness can look uncomfortable at the very least, and borderline obscene at the worst. (There is nothing worse than getting halfway down the block only to find your shorts are bunching up in the middle, exposing your thighs to all the world . . . making you slink back home with a cowboy swagger—of course-that’s never happened to me.)

I’ve spent a lot of time going through fitness clothes. Something that looks good on the rack—un-tired in the dressing room—rarely works for me at home. In the fitness clothes section of the site I included a lot of “moving comfort” apparel. For comfort, their stuff is the best I’ve tried. It’s basic “keep-it-where-it-is” fitness wear. I’m not sure what their mission is, but as a curvy girl, I can tell you that I am comfortable consistently in the clothing they design.

As far as running shoes, I am someone whose foot rolls to the outside when it strikes the ground and I am by no means accomplished in my stride, in fact, when I went to my local fitness store and was matched with a shoe based on a running demonstration I gave by running up and down the sidewalk outside, the owner commented to me, “I’ve never seen anything like that before.” Hmm. Nebulous comment aside, I encourage you to go to a smaller specialized store and get someone who “runs” to recommend a shoe to you. Someone who is qualified to give you the best info will ask you to run in the shoe you try on, and will watch you. Even if you don’t buy the shoes, go online and look for a better deal, it can’t hurt to get a professional to make recommendations for you. (I personally, pay the extra at the store to make sure I am getting the real thing—and—in the off chance that I have to return a pair—which I have—I have options.)

With the Nike+ sport kit, you will get a sensor and a receiver. At the store, salespeople will tell you that you need a Nike shoe to put the sensor in. (The sensor fits nicely under the interior sole in a pre-cut slot) Not all Nike shoes have the slot for the sensor so, not all of us find our ‘ultimate’ shoe in the Nike shoe line. A cottage industry has sprung up as a result, offering ‘shoe-pouches’ for the sensor. My favorite is ‘Shoepouch’. It connects onto your shoe via your laces, and I’ve run in pretty hard rain with no problem.

Keep in mind that these sensors are using battery every time you move your foot. Once the battery dies, you cannot use the sensor-there is no way to replace the battery. You have to get a new sensor and link it with your receiver. I know-weird right? But you need to know this because what the shoe pouch allows you to do is remove the sensor from the back of the pouch (Velcro) so that you can wear your shoes without the sensor in the pouch. To unlace the pouch is a pain, so the Velcro slot is great.

And finally, the “girls” :) For you lucky buxomites, be ready to plunk down some change for something that will tame the “girls.” Again, if there is someone you know who is a good bra fitter-go to them first. If not, moving comfort has some great non-chafing alternatives, (if it gives you a “uni-boob”-generally, you’re safe) (Sorry guys if this is TMI. It’s a dirty job, but somebody’s got to do it) :) I also get some BodyGlide Anti-Chafing Stick to prevent chafing where straps and elastic rub against my skin. During my half-marathon, I also used it in between some of my toes. I’m not kidding when I say this-it made a massive difference.

You need proper socks. My favorite SmartWool PhD Running Ultra Light Micro Sock - Women's. Over long walks and runs, these sockd keep your feet cooled. It probably seems like something you think you don’t need now, but believe me, when you are going over 5 miles anywhere, you will become overly aware of every discomfort. On my last race, my worst complaint was that my feet felt like they were on fire eventually. There are other socks in the store too, many of which I personally own and use for shorter distances.

And finally, for me, I already have so much I am cinching up and binding in when I am running-the last thing I want at this point is more to worry about, so I have a trick. I wear loose fitting, easy breathing fitness pants, (Capris) over a tighter short underneath. The fitness shorts I put underneath are turned inside out so the seams don’t irritate my skin. This layered methodology works in everything but warm weather. It’s like wearing a body sock with a moo-moo over it—perfect.

Next blog - how to put on that sports bra, (all by yourself) without getting tangled and mangled in unyielding straps and elastic . . .

:)

How To Win The Sports Bra Battle

There are about a million ways to pull your neck out. Sleep wrong, turn your head too sharply, dance a little too hard . . . a little too long, and of course, the most inglorious way—putting on your sports bra.

There is nothing more curse-inducing-frustrating than having your sports bra roll up like a human sized rubber band, lodging itself right above the “girls,” jammed up into your armpits, just ever-so slightly beyond the contorted attempts of your oh-so-short fingertips to unroll it. The only thing worse is having to summon someone to release you from fat-roll-press-down-flat bosomed tourniquet nightmare. I have literally thrown sports bras in the trash with a disdainful growl over this issue. Most of the time, the problem starts if there is any--and I mean any moisture on my skin--no matter how minute.

I have a homegrown self-administered remedy-and I warn you—this is something that should probably stay here between us! It is not slick or pretty.

You know all those single socks you have? Take one that is longer than an anklet and put about a half-cup of baby powder in it. Close to the opening, either use a hair tie or tie a knot in the sock itself to seal the powder in. You want to leave enough room in the sock for the powder to move freely.

Now, before you attempt to “strap in,” swing the sock over your shoulder and beat yourself up with it-all over your back. (Self-sock flagellation, if you will) then bring the sock around front and powder off all the normal places that the sports bra gets jammed up. This will make it easier to pull those “onsies” down your torso. And if you tell anyone I told you this, I will deny it.

If anyone else has some ideas . . . send ‘em on.