Going stir crazy here in the frozen north. I’m too much of a wuss to get my ass outside and run in these frigid temps. Oh but I have a treadmill…yes, yes I do but I loathe that thing. I think Friday, the BF and I will hit up the Y and I can run on a glorious indoor track. It’s so glorious and I can’t wait
Author: monybalony
seeing eye canes
I started orientation and mobility training (or O&M training) with a white seeing-eye cane. So that’s been fun. I’ve yet to use the cane on my own but I will eventually. I like knowing I have the option to use it, its like carrying a security blanky with me while out traveling. I did run into a big ass dude the other night getting off the bus at a busy transit center. So soon, I’ll get tired of saying sorry and get over myself and use the damn thing. I read a great article from the BBC about how the author with low vision felt like a fraud at first using her cane and that is exactly how I feel. I don’t want any confrontation from strangers who see me get on the bus with my cane and then see me reading on my phone and can’t figure out how I can see my phone but struggle seeing my surroundings. For many people, blind = no vision at all but the reality is blind = lots of varying degrees of vision for the majority of us blind folks. And for many of us blind and low vision folks, our eyeballs and our brains do magic to help us fake it! It truly is amazing how much our brains fill in when we have holes in our vision. But we can only rely on that for so much. Also, it makes me tired as hell to have to be constantly scanning my surrounding hoping I catch ALL the hazards in my path–look up, to the left, down, oh shit don’t run into that person coming seemingly out of nowhere to the right, up again, down, to the right, oh shit a tree branch–and that’s with the sun shining or in a nicely lit room. Turn off the lights or after sundown and it’s even harder to catch everything.
So the cane will be tremendously helpful for navigating. I want to maintain as much independence as I can in this next chapter of my life. I just have to get over myself!
Well folks, that’s all she wrote
for this season of running. I am feeling this year was pretty blah overall, I ran enough races but I didn’t get out there and just run for the fun of running as much as I wanted too. So, my winter plan includes a bit of relaxing with a least two runs a week, between the track at the Y and forcing myself outside on the above zero degree Fahrenheit days to maintain my fitness level. And let’s be honest, my sanity.
Slacker!
Ugh, totally flaked out on any running this weekend except for my 10 mile race on Saturday. Which I killed, btw.
I’ll get back to it this week.
so far
I ran 22.22 miles Friday through Monday this past week. I think I need to add one more day of running per week to fit in all the miles.So I’ll be out on the road five days a week with two rest days where I can do some hip and glute work. I’m noticing just a slight tinge in my right knee that isn’t bothersome yet but I do not want it to become bothersome. I feel like this is the time to address any little nagging issues before I ramp up my mileage leading up to the marathon in June. Juggling this training with everything else is challenging but so far I’m making it all fit with nothing slipping yet. Of course, my house could be cleaner and I could use more sleep but these are not new issues.
As far as food goes, I feel like I’m eating okay, not great but not too horrible and I’ll need to get better at fueling properly as my weekly mileage increases. I just really really love my sugary sweet snacks and working in a grocery store makes it so easy to cave and buy the damn bag of jelly beans! But I am trying to make better choices when I’m craving something sweet like an orange or some dried fruit instead of those jelly beans (that are on display right in the front of the store, staring at me all day) or all the other many candy and junk food options. The best thing ever was getting a Culligan water filter installed in the breakroom. I had already broken my soda habit and now it’s pretty easy to get my water needs met without resorting to buying a bottle of water or making excuses. Water is a struggle for me because I’m not a big fan of flat, plain water. But I’m working on it.
Today’s Run: Hill Repeats
I wasn’t even going to brave the weather today (17° and gusty winds) but I layered up and headed out the door. After a rough first mile, running on wooden legs, I approached the hill and got down to business and started my hill repeats. And I’m so glad I got out there as I started to feel amazing after my first pass. My goal was to do three repeats at a 10 mile minute pace. And I finished with a 10:04 pace and nailed the repeats, I could have pushed through one more repeat but I ran out of time and had to head home.
I just completed an activity with Runkeeper http://runkeeper.com/activity?userId=15259197&trip=742315186
Blind Girl Runs
And falls down! Dang speed bump and cobblestone road combined to bring me down. Thankfully, I didn’t break my face or anything else, just got a bit of road rash. I think it might be time for a beer. hah. Falling down, injuring myself or running into other runners is always on my mind when I’m out running or racing. It’s a lot to concentrate on and then to also concentrate on the actual running part of running. I’m just super glad I didn’t smash out my teeth or break my face.
And on tomorrow’s run, I’ll be a bit more careful. I promise.
Guatemala
Feeling the winter blahs
I haven’t ran in far too long. I feel so outta shape, so unfit, so blah.
I’m ready to get my training started but I’m procrastinating for some reason. It’s too cold, I’m too busy planning this vacation, I’m too exhausted with work. Ugh! Self-sabotaging behavior rearing its ugly ass head.
I just gotta hang on because I know the blahs will pass, especially after I get that first run in and let everything shake out along the trail.
2016 racing season
and so it begins! I’m registered for most of my races for 2016, I’m starting with a 5k in February and then a 10 miler, a marathon, a half marathon and finishing with another 10 miler in October…so far. I’ll probably add on a few more, the Hot Chocolate 15k falls on my 41st birthday this year so I’m sure I’ll do that one.
I love running races (even though they are an added cost that I could do without) because I love being in the starting chute with all the other runners, getting ready to go out and give it our best. It’s a camaraderie thing, even when I’m running solo. For the first year or so of my running races, I ran all my races solo. Then I ran my first marathon with a new co worker. Talk about making an instant friend! We have run a few other races together since then, and we are running another marathon this summer, although, I doubt we’ll actually run together since she hauls and I cruise but we’ll cross the start line together and I know she’ll be at the finish line cheering me on!
Either running with friends or solo, races are my motivation to get my ass out there and train and sweat and cry and laugh and do all the things that make me feel great and make me a better person. I’ve always said that running is my therapy and it really truly is. When I’m sad or depressed, I know a run will help. When I’m happy, a run makes me feel even happier. Sometimes, I cry on my runs and other times I laugh and can’t stop smiling. I love letting all the emotions wash over me and flow through my feet onto the pavement. When I’m sad, I picture leaving all that sadness on the pavement with each pounding step and when I’m happy, I am running on air, leaving little happy hearts behind me as I fly down the road.
Blind Girl Runs 