Running for Anna

On December 12, 2010 our family was devastated by the loss of my niece, Anna Rogotzke, on her fourth birthday, to a rare cancer called Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma. On December 4, 2011, I ran in the California International Marathon to raise money for the Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative, a leader in the fight against sarcomas. This blog is created to update those interested in my journey and progress as I train for this event and events thereafter.

....And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,
2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1-3)

Monday, January 16, 2012

Back to "Normal"

I felt there hasn't been too much to say these past few weeks, so I haven't posted in awhile.  We're finally getting back into the swing of things after the holidays.  I feel like we're back on a schedule now, and that's pretty tough (what...you want me to work a full week??).  Good thing I had today off for another quick break.  :)

A lot of people (my husband and son, for example) like to sleep in on those days when work and school are not dictating our wake-up times.  I, personally, like to get up just a little later than I normally would (come on...I'm not going to get up at 4:15 on my day off...I'm not that weird), and enjoy doing something different than the normal routine.  I don't HAVE to immediately get dressed and go running or HAVE to put on work clothes.  I can make a cup of hot chocolate, sit and relax, or whatever before starting the day.  That, in my opinion, is the best part of a day off.  Of course, I did HAVE to go running today, if for no other reason than to work off my frustration with the Packers game yesterday.  So hard to watch!!  I had to self-medicate with this after the game.  
Yeah, I don't take these losses very well. 
Running on a day off means I can run in the daylight!  I can actually enjoy the scenery.  Some pictures from today's run:
FINALLY!  We got some snow...desperately need the moisture in this area. 

I've been running again pretty consistently for over two (2) weeks, now.  I've felt great and, for the most part, pain-free.  Right now, they're mostly shorter, slower runs.  I don't even look at my Garmin.  I do plan on working more on my speed, but I'm just trying to get back into it at this point.  Now that my mileage isn't at marathon-training distances, I have time when I finish my runs to get some ab / core work in.  HATE this!  I've never been disciplined when it came to these types of workouts, but I realize it will help with my running (and in defining creating ab muscles), so I try to work it in at least three times a week.  I've started self-torturing myself with "planks".  If you don't know what they are, keep it that way!!  They are not fun (unless you're my family who has fun watching me try to do them)!!!  I also do crunch variations and all that other stuff....blah!  

Looking at some races I might enter in the first half of the year.  I'll probably try this one (in Sacramento):

My husband is looking at maybe hand-cycling in this marathon,
the Windermere Marathon in Spokane, WA, so I might do the half there, as well.

We're waiting to see how everything pans out as far as scheduling. 

Hope everyone's new year is starting out well!  Have a great week.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!  (2 Cor. 5:17)

6 comments:

  1. yay u're back and blogging!! :) okay, if u were waking up at 4am on a day off i'd have to send u to the loony bin...lol! glad u're able to rest and sleep in and run under the sun!

    snow...wow, i'll say it's beautiful but i'm a wimp and am happy with sun and no winter thank u very much...hehe.

    i'm also really happy u've chucked the watch/garmin for ur first runs back, just get out there and ENJOY it! forget the pace...and even better u made friends with the planks!! seriously, i do this routine, and while i hate it, i love it too because ur core will thank u. :)

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  2. Welcome back! I just love the scenery where you are running! I MAY just wake up at that time if I had that background to look at! Now, I don't know much about football...but sorry for your loss but that sundae looks way delicious...so its kind of like a lose-win?! Look forward to reading...added myself as a follower!

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  3. I can't believe you get up that early normally!
    And the scenery is beautiful! I love to run in the winter. Love that you are just out there enjoying it!

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  4. glad to hear things are moving pain free. i think that half sounds wonderful, i've always wanted to go there!

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  5. My favorite reasons to sleep in on a day off are the same as yours- running in daylight is a gift!

    Looks like a great race at Windermere.

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  6. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Cor. 5:17)
    Thanks for posting this on your blog. I see you haven't posted in a while, but I needed to read this tonight. :)

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