2010 is underway

“The only thing we know about the future is that it will be different,” Peter Drucker



When I write a blog, I often start with a quote that reflects my point or feelings. Sometimes I can’t find anything on the subject at hand, other times there are endless choices to be waded though. It all depends on how many people take issue with it. Change was my key word today, a very popular topic, ruminated on by great minds with statements on both the positive and negative aspects. One thing they all agree on is that change is inevitable and necessary.


Every year is fraught with change, but some years bring bigger changes than others and with it comes stress and the need to protect oneself from the ravages of chaos. My faith protects my soul, but running protects my body and keeps my mind steady. As wimpy as this sounds, my resolution for 2010 is to keep a running log. I don’t want to make grand promises that I can’t keep in the way of distances or times, but writing everything down will be a challenge and will help to keep me on track. I plan to log levels of stress and emotions along with my miles and heart rates. I do have a goal for 1,000 miles this year, but it isn’t a resolution, just a starting point.


This past week I did my first two runs since Chiang Mai. The first 3 mile run was horrible. My legs felt like lead, my heart rate was high, I was out of breath, and felt like a brand new runner. My calves were tight and my ankles were griping by the end. There is a big price when you take a couple of weeks totally off of running, and exercise in general. I did a lot of walking, but not nearly enough to compensate.


My second run was a thousand times better! I felt good and strong and enjoyed it. Unfortunately, it took me so long to get out the door that I could only squeeze in 3 miles, but it was above 50 degrees so I ran them barefoot. My feet have softened up a lot since November, but it felt so good to feel the ground! I had no pain or tightness though; calves were good, as were ankles and knees.


My running club has a few races in the next couple of months, so I’ll run some for fun, but my next A race will be the 24 hour Relay for Life in Hampton. I’ll have 24 hours to knock out all the miles I can, but I can take breaks, naps, meals, and walk with friends along the way. I definitely plan to exceed the marathon distance, am really shooting for 35 miles, but my pie-in-the-sky goal is 50 miles. It will all largely depend on how my training goes for the next couple of months and the weather on race day. I can pitch a tent at the check-in point and each loop is only 3 ¾ miles long, so there are plenty of opportunities to change clothes, gear, shoes, etc. and I won’t need a chase team like I would in a big Ultra. The race is April 17th, 2 days before Rusty is scheduled to board the freedom plane for home. It will be a great way to close out this deployment!


So where do the big changes come in? Of course Rusty coming home will be huge, but it will be more of a return to normalcy than real change. The big change is that we are slated to move this summer. Not just move house, or to a different state, but to Osan, Korea. The other big change is that our oldest daughter is engaged to be married in May. She has been in Florida since August, but it didn’t feel like she had left home because all her stuff is still here, her room is still the way she left it, and at some point she would come home. Now she is coming home only briefly to take it all away and become a grown up. It will be really hard to leave her behind to travel almost half way around the world, but it is wonderful to know she won’t be alone.


In the midst of all this turmoil it will be a real challenge to get my miles in, but it will be crucial to keeping my sanity and maintaining control over my RA. Other than some protesting joints from hauling luggage on and off carts, the trip to Thailand wasn’t too hard on my RA so I am hopeful I will continue to be successful in keeping it at bay through 2010.


Running is what is making the move to Korea possible. With Rheumatoid Arthritis, I should be disqualified from accompanying my husband, largely because they do not have a rheumatologist on staff. However, when my husband contacted the person in charge of signing the necessary waiver, he was able to add that I ran 3 half marathons this year, with my fastest being sub 2 hours. The doc was impressed (his best time was a few seconds slower than mine), and said if my RA is under control enough to allow me to train for endurance races, then there was no reason to say I couldn’t come to Korea. YAY!! I knew running was helping me, but I had no idea how far that help would go!


So my future is packed with change. I can’t even picture my life 8 months from now. All I know is I will be putting one foot in front of the other, and writing it down in my log book, adding up my miles, and looking ahead to new challenges. Hmmmm, maybe I’ll shoot for the Seoul Marathon for 2011…



PS, just got in from a 10 mile run, it was great!!