The Journey

After spending three hours reviewing Emergency medicine/nursing and  50 EKG strips, I took at quick nap from 10a to 12pm to get ready for the Mission 10 miler at 2pm.   Today was a fun day for me.  I ran the Mission 10 miler. It was for a wonderful cause.  All the proceeds help the homeless.  The volunteers were outstanding and smiled pleasantly as I woddled by the water station.  Though the 10 miler was NOT a PR for me.  My best 10 miler was 1:38, I was pleased.  I ran the entire way and did not have any doubt that I could do it.  I need to do this run to prepared for the up hill inclines for the Frederick Half Marathon on May 6th.  I finished in 1:57 (11:53min/mile).  I believe that I will reach my goal for sub 2:30 half marathon time and sub 5 hour marathon time just by shaving 30 sec per mile by lifting weights and practicing the inclines more.  Overall, I felt great.  I could have worried that I was not going t...

After back-to-back 12 hour shifts at the hospital, I managed to run 6 miles for my half marathon training and get to my swim lesson.   I finally completed 1 lap with no floaty ---Yippee for me. My coach clapped for me.    One month ago I took my first lesson and never thought I could even put my face in the water.   Now I just have to do this 20 more times and I will be ready for my FIRST Triathlon that I am eyeballing in the summer.   Practice, Practice, Practice! One of the nurses on my unit asked me how do I find time to read, drive 120 miles round trip from my home to the hospital, run, take swim lessons, bike and SLEEP?   She knows I am finishing my nursing practicum and preparing for graduation and taking the National Nursing Boards in May and June.   This was an interesting question because nurses are the QUEENS of multitasking.   The staff constantly educates patients on the importance of exercise and diet es...

As I watch those around me prepare for the Rock N Roll Marathon or Half Marathon, I feel excitement.  For many, this will be their first marathon or first half.  I remember that excitement and anxiety of my first long distance races.   Over the years due to commitments, I have continued to run, but not race.  But every once in a while when I feel down about running or fear that I not good enough to run a race because I am slower than I was 10-15 yrs. ago, I look at all that I have accomplished. Sometimes those medals are just the reminders one needs to say, "I can." ~Stayfitt 

When I first started training for marathons in the 1990s, there were no Garmin watches or GPS systems that the "common" man could buy.  I simply read Runner's World, put in the mileage and ran races.  I kept a weekly running and diet log as well.  Over the years, I personally have found that the more gadgets I accumulated the slower I have gotten, perhaps there is a correlation. I used to run for feel and enjoy the scenery. I was must more in touch with my body and focused on my stride and muscle balance.  I paid attention to signs of dehydration and hunger much more intently and did not care what a "watch" said I should be doing.  I decided based on bio-mechanics.  All during the 1990s and up until 2005 I was able to maintain 8:30-10 milers/ half marathons and 10:30 marathon times.  Then I got on the electronic band wagon and my times have decreased ever since and drastically.  Whether it was Nike+ apps, Garmin, etc.  Electronics gadgets...

It is a most liberating experience when you are able to live life with an attitude of no expectations.~E. Tan  Fear and doubt manifest when we have expectations that appear real, but may or may not be founded in truth.   We must live in the moment with purpose and surrender any expectation of an outcome.   This is difficult and something I struggle with like many others. This week, I finished all my exams for nursing school.   In March 2010 when I attended “Acceptance Day” at Johns Hopkins Nursing School, I never thought this day would arrive so quickly.   Now new feelings of dread have manifested.   Did I make the correct decision to attend nursing school?   Will I find a job after nursing school?   Will I pass the NCLEX? I worry (fear) that I may not be smart enough, fast enough, good enough at my job.   I know I settled on the idea of entering nursing with good intentions.   It is a career field that can feed my soul ...

Stress is real for many people including myself.    This week I had a fellow nursing classmate and team member curse me out when I asked her had she done her work on our group project.   She hadn’t made any effort so she decided to drop the F-bomb in our clinical conference meeting about how ranted about how she was NOT going to do anything. This was stressful and in this case unnecessary.   It was even more stressful because other students, her peers, just sat there and said nothing.   Basically, not one student had worked on the assigned worksheets for our project plan except myself so I was the “bad guy.”   Perhaps, this is the difference between being a 40+ yr old student and a 20-something who would rather wait until the last minute or pray that someone else will pick up their slack. Sometimes stress is good and natural. It can motivate you, drive you to excel or achieve a goal. It occurs when we start a new job, buy a new home or plan...

Virtual Run for Sherry Arnold- February 11, 2012 On January 7, 2012, my cousin Sherry, age 43, left her house in the small town of Sidney, Montana at 6:30 a.m. for an early morning run. She didn’t always run in the morning because as a teacher, it was often difficult to fit in runs before she headed to Sidney High School to teach math. January 7 was a Saturday, however, and Sherry had a bit more time to spare. After her run she planned to meet her sister, Rhonda, and head out to their parent’s ranch a few miles outside of town. Her husband, Gary, had gone for a walk at 5:30 a.m. and when he returned home he could tell that Sherry had already left for her run because of the toothpaste splatters in the sink and a light that was on in the kitchen. Sherry often ran within the town limits and January 7 was no exception. When Sherry did not come home later that morning, however, her husband began to worry. He called the police and a search ensued. By 3:00 p.m. h...