runnrgrl's wrld: sexy chicks

i continue with my series on real athletes that insprie me. the past few months have been quite challenging for me for a bunch of reasons. i'm the depths of training for the chicago marathon and have looked to all kinds of runners and athletes for advice, support and encouragement. again and again i am humbled by running. i've never worked so hard for something that has such little value for anyone else. but as runners you get it and you know the rewards. here are two women - Ally and Tamyka that i find incredibly motivating through their attitudes first of all and also by their achievements.Every day Ally tweets something to me to brighten my day. Tamyka never lets me feel self-pity or slack off. Both are strong, confident and driven - totally sexy. :)

*these profiles haven't had a single word edited...as provided in their own words, here are Ally and Tamyka.

Ally

name: Ally Speirs (@allyspeirs on twitter)
age: 45
location: Virginia Beach, Virginia (originally from Scotland)
# of years running: 13

reason you began to run:
met my husband Steve in 1997 and he was already a runner....didnt take much persuading after the initial 5K trial by fire !!

biggest challenge you've had to face:
trying to fit my running in around a busy schedule, being an OR nurse, taking call, working shifts. I know this is a really common thing for many of us, but with a little creative scheduling it can be done. I am now the OR charge nurse and no longer take call, so this situation is getting better :-)

what you still fear:
getting some illness and not being able to run

your proudest running moment:
finishing Ironman Lake Placid....I still cant believe to this day that I did it!!! Every moment of that race has stayed with me!!

your most embarrassing moment:
probably doing Breezy Point triathlon with diesel fuel from the swim all over my face, so in pics I look like I have a five o clock shadow NICE!!!

words of experience you'd share with someone just starting out:
above all have fun!!! Build yourself a network of running buddies, they are the best and most loyal people on the planet !! oh, and become a firm friend with Body Glide:-) Discover hot yoga, it is awesome for runners !! Discover http://www.dailymile.com/

the image/thought/idea you think about when you are about to give up but don't:
I always think about a friend who is injured at that particular time and isnt able to run, or how I feel when I am injured, and I realize how lucky I am out to be out there running no matter the weather, or how crappy I might feel at that moment in time.

biggest benefit of running:
feeling really good about my health !! Also eating all kinds of awesome foods !!!(and still being a size 4) LOL

most surprise side benefit:
meeting tons of really cool fellow runners and triathletes, and traveling to wonderful places across the world and discovering we are all the same, trying to fit time in to run with families, work commitments, and life in general!! Running is a universal language!!!
 
your running hero:
my husband Steve Speirs. Apart from him being an awesome runner, his training load and ethic is just amazing.....he will always do the work necessary no matter what is going on, work or weather wise, always willing and able to help others before himself. He NEVER brags, is so unassuming and is a kick ass coach, helping me get to where I need to go !!!!
 
He constantly is trying to improve his running, even though he is at a level that I will not get to in my lifetime !!!!   

Tamyka
 

 
name: Tamyka Bell
age: 29 (but not for much longer)
location: Logan, just south of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
# of years running: 8


reason you began to run:
I was diagnosed with asthma at age 18. I was also overweight. I took up boxing classes (which I still enjoy) and they made us run for fitness. After a few weeks, I realised that running was going to be my thing, and I've been doing it ever since.
 
biggest challenge you've had to face:
Australia is perceived as being a very sporty nation, but we're actually really bitchy about sports performance - if you're not talented, you should sit on the couch/sideline and watch sport instead of participating. As a kid, I was bad at every sport I tried,especially all those team ball sports. I felt like I was letting down the team, so I got really discouraged from trying and eventually quit all sport until I was 19. When I took it up again, I was scared
people would laugh and make fun like they used to. I felt panicked when running on the streets, sure that someone would start to pick on me. But as I started learning about my sports from a more academic perspective, I understood them and found that I could do them - particularly the individual sports, which had always been more interesting for me.
 
what you still fear:
I'm scared to believe that if I train hard, I can achieve great things and one day be an elite trail ultra runner.
 
your proudest running moment:
About a month ago, I knocked about half an hour off my 50km road PR.I went out way too hard because I thought it was worth the risk, and when I got to halfway, I was ready to quit with a great 25km PR. But I said to myself, "What are you afraid of? Just f%*king DO IT!" And I did. I've done tougher, longer races with a positive attitude throughout, but kicking my doubts and pushing through just makes this one better.
 
your most embarrassing moment:
We had a 10km fun run in Brisbane that I'd been meaning to do for years, called the "Brisbane River Run". It was one of those great events where everyone gets dressed up in silly costumes and has a laugh. I carefully assembled a surgical gown, mask and hair cap, and rocked up to the start line for a laugh. It turned out that they had added it into a series of three races with prize money, and everyone was taking it much more seriously. I was the only person in costume.
 
words of experience you'd share with someone just starting out:
If you can just jog for 20 minutes a day, 3 days per week, for 4 weeks, running will be a part of your life forever. I swear by it.You have to make that commitment, and once you've done that, you'll find yourself waking up with legs that are twitching, ready for that
run.
 
the image/thought/idea you think about when you are about to give up but don't:
It's a bit of a tacky one, but it's a movie scene that highlights the power of the mind and it reminds me of the sudden burst of energy that I'll get as I approach the finish. Did you ever see the movie Gattaca? Ethan Hawke plays Vincent, a "faith birth" or natural child
in a world of genetically engineered perfection. His brother, Anton is in every way superior to him, yet as children when they used to see who could swim the furthest out into the ocean, Vincent always won. As adults, they do it again and Anton still pikes first, asking, "How are you doing this Vincent? How have you done any of this? We have to go back." Vincent responds that it's too late and they're closer to the other side. Anton is panicking (they're in the ocean) and asks if he wants to drown them both. Vincent replies, "You wanna know how I did it? This is how I did it Anton. I never saved anything for the swim back."
 
biggest benefit of running:
Running has taken me to wonderful places where I've met amazing people. It's like a common language that you can use wherever you are in the world.
 
most surprise side benefit:
When I took up running, I wanted to lose weight and fix my health problems. It was really about how I looked. But after a while, I stopped worrying about my appearance and started to focus on how I felt. The bruises and wobbly bits and wonky jaw and birthmark just don't matter anymore, because they're part of an amazing vessel that can do things I never thought were possible, and those are the things that matter.

your running hero:
One of my running buddies, Susannah. She'd be very embarrassed, but I think that most of her friends would agree she's a hero. She overcomes every obstacle to training and every setback with focus and determination. She always tries her very best and is hugely successful as a result. But she's also the kind of woman who will let her race time slip a few minutes while she takes care of another runner. Each and every one of my trail buddies is the sort of woman who would give you her last energy gel if she thought you needed it more. Running with them always makes me feel happier (even when I was feeling great to start with) and it makes me want to be a better person.

runnrgrl's wrld: the art of making love

i continue my series about real life people who inspire.

alicia
i'm delighted to profile alicia, a fierce, determined and dimply sassy chick who has overcome so much to be where she is. her zest for life and living is evident in her tweets and in her blog - marathon confessions - http://www.marathonconfessions.com/. she never complains, always rises to the challenge and for that she is my warrior hero.

steve
steve is no less impressive. he makes dreams come true.as a marathon pacer, he has never let anyone fail to cross the finish line.his love of running is boundless.as he gets ready to run 200 miles for fun, he's pushing his own boundaries as well. he describes it all at http://www.dailymile.com/people/nomadfornow

passion
the commonality between steve, ali and many of the people that give me energy is their unwavering passion. they brim with vitality & yet are so very real and humble about their achievements. it's a compelling formula and like a moth to a flame, i'm so drawn to them.

here are their stories, in their own words, unedited.

alicia

 













name: Alicia (twitter ID: alitherunner
age: 36 (as of Monday)
location: Colorado Springs, CO
# of years running: 2.5 years... though I was a runner through college- stopped in 1997.

reason you began to run:

Originally I began running out of sheer vanity. After my son had a catastrophic accident, I ballooned up to 250 lbs- and I am all of 5'1 tall... One day, I just simply didn't recognize myself in the mirror anymore... so I began running to try to reclaim my body. The first time I ran (New Year's Day, 2008), I made it one city block before I was out of breath and dry heaving. I was mortified.

biggest challenge you've had to face:

Injuries have been my biggest challenge. A year after I started running, I tore my calf in my first half marathon... then dealt with knee pain... then broke my foot. 2009 was a VERY difficult year- it played some games with me mentally.

what you still fear:

That I'm not a real runner because I'm a slow runner. I've done some bigger running events like a duathlon, a ragnar relay and a full marathon... and yet, there remains a lingering doubt in my mind that I'm not a real runner because I run very slowly. That the 'real' runners will find me and kick me out of the club.

your proudest running moment:
Crossing the finish line at my first marathon stands alone in my mind as my proudest moment as a runner. 2.5 years ago, no one thought I'd ever be able to run a mile, let alone 26.2 of them. But I did, and nothing in my life can ever change that.

your most embarrassing moment:

I got caught peeing during my first 17 miler... I thought I was in a secluded spot, and apparently I flashed the entire Air Force Academy Cross Country team. *blushing*

words of experience you'd share with someone just starting out:

Don't give up! Learning to run longer distances takes time and patience, but it's worth it. If you move too quickly, you risk injury. Listen to your body though... really listen... most of all though, just have fun. Running is a privilege that we are lucky to have as healthy people.

the image/thought/idea you think about when you are about to give up but don't:

I think about my son... he is a quadriplegic, and when I run fast and push his chair, the look on his face is pure joy. I know that if he could run, he would. So when I want to stop, I remind myself that I am blessed to be able to run.

biggest benefit of running:

My health! When I started running I was prediabetic, heavy, arthritic, and constantly exhausted. I was also on anti-depressants, blood sugar meds, thyroid meds and arthritis meds. Now, I'm on no medications at all. No longer pre-diabetic. Thyroid is healthy. Arthritis is gone. I feel like an entirely new woman, and I love it.

most surprise side benefit:

Self confidence, hands down. I am comfortable in my skin. Happy in my life. I walk with my head held high, and I smile at *everyone*!! And after running a marathon, I truly believe that there is *nothing* in this world that I can't do with enough hard work and dedication.

your running hero

My running hero is my grandpop... He was the first person to believe I can be a runner... And ran marathons until he was 75, when Alzheimer's took it from him. I want to run like him!


steve

name: steven rose aka nomadfornow 
age: 38 may 13 1972 
location: detroit (suburbs) Michigan USA
# of years running: 5 years

reason you began to run:

In september 2005 I did a dualthon (mtb/trail run) 2-person event with my father and he beat me. I had 7k of 10k running and 3k mtb. it is called the muddy buddy series. 

biggest challenge you've had to face: 

I started running consistenty in Sept 2005 and all the training runs that i did for my first ultra 50 mi in April 2007, i completely hated. people would ask me how you like running and i would respond that i don't enjoy it. it is work and no fun. then they would ask why i run and i would answer to race. i enjoyed the races, but not the effort needed to train for them. note** i very much enjoy running since april 2007.

 

what you still fear:  

I really dont like running solo on late night runs. twice i have been chased down and had issues while running. both times i was able to out run them and get home, but not without a high amount of fear

your proudest running moment: 

Finally breaking under 24 hours in a 100 Mile endurance run

your most embarrassing moment:  

in a long training run (40 miler) I was on a singletrack mtb course and saw some wild turkeys. i yelled tag i am it and going to get you (thinking i would chase them for fun). well two of them turned and came racing at me down the singletrack. now this is 32 miles into the run and I was tired. so needless to say they caught me quickly. I was yelling and throwing tree branches to try and get away.

words of experience you'd share with someone just starting out: 

Find the fun/enjoyment in the run mentally because physically it can always be tough so being mentally strong can get you farther.

the image/thought/idea you think about when you are about to give up but don't:

I think of my friends while running. mostly wondering how they are doing at that moment. I usually try to think of a friend per mile in long runs, it makes the time go by quickly.

biggest benefit of running:  

seeing places on foot; meaning when I visit places I run through them and get to see/feel so much of the area. it can be in a city or on the trails. also at all of the ultra endurance runs it is very amazing running through some of that terrain.

most surprise side benefit:

My pacing opportunties; I have paced marathons in Miami, San Diego, Ottawa, Detroit, Louisville, Pittsburgh & Cleveland. Seeing how i have helped others achieve their goal in finishing a marathon is simply amazing to me.

your running hero:   

Scott Jurek (professionally) Leo Lightner (average joe runner)

runnrgrl's wrld

context
my last post about body images portrayed by fitness mags provoked the strongest reaction i've ever seen here in this blog and on twitter.i wasn't prepared for the outpouring and for the support.self-image issues never go away.

i've been told i'm useless too many times to count. through maiming words i was made to cower and hide my thoughts as i grew up. there's no fucking way, i'll ever go back there. i don't see the good in me many times, but lots of other people do it seems. i created this blog as a place for myself to air my thoughts. i have tremendous passion and i know it sets ppl back to hear it but i can't write for others to love and agree with me all the time. i can't water down my opinions here. for me, my passion has been my salvation. i'll never stop feeling, and now expressing. for those that respond, thank you.i know you don't always agree and i appreciate the respectful way that most of you share your own perspective.

getting real - 16 everyday running rockstars that i can relate to
this entry marks the beginning of a series of profiles. For the next 8 blog entries, i'm profiling one man and one woman who inspire me. these are the real life athletes that i think about when i need to dig deep. i'm a story-lover. i've never been a natural athlete and to me, the inspiration comes from a variety of sources. i love hearing how people have overcome some obstacle to become runners, to become athletes. i've followed these people on twitter for some time now and though i only know a small slice of their lives, i think the world of these athletes- my personal rockstars.

btw..i have not edited a single word of their stories as they told them to me.

GINA HARRIS

Name (real or twitter id)  GINA HARRIS
Age: 56 (almost 57), really OLD

Location:  Salem, Oregon area
# of years running:  4.5

Reason you began to run: A friend began running to become healthy and he became my inspiration to work toward a healthier lifestyle. In the winter of 2004 I had an episode with a racing heart rate so I had a stress test done. I was appalled at how out of shape I was. I couldn't even do the test and had to have IV medicine instead. SO bad. I began exercising and using an elliptical in my home. Later that Fall, I decided to try running. I have NEVER been athletic, NEVER. I was so bad at physical ed that I missed getting a straight "A" average in high school because of my "B" in that class. I probably should have had a "C", but I think the teacher felt sorry for me.  :)  I would never have begun to run if it hadn't been for my friend's example. He never forced me to start, I'm too stubborn to let anyone tell me what to do. haha!

Biggest challenge you've had to face:  

Wow, that's a hard one. I've had 2 stress fractures since I started running, plus many other injuries. When I started running, I had no idea what I was doing and did pretty much everything wrong. It has taken me 4.5 years to finally find the right kind of footwear to use. I'm optimistic that I finally found the right ones, Vibram Five Fingers.  Marathon wise, I'd have to say the Bizz Johnson Trail Marathon was the hardest. It's at over a mile high and I hadn't trained for that; plus I had had a serious bicycle wreck 3 weeks before the marathon.

What you still fear:  

I still fear becoming injured because of wrong equipment, although I seem to be doing great with my VFFs.

Your proudest running moment:
I'm not sure if I have ONE moment, I think finishing ALL my marathons were great, but finishing California International Marathon within my goal time was the best.

Your most embarrassing moment: 

Fortunately, it was a training run, with no witnesses. I was running in a new bra top (which is usually the only top I have on) and suddenly realized it had slipped up above what it was supposed to cover. hahaha! I'm glad there weren't any cars coming at that moment, although I really don't have much up there to show. :)

Words of experience you'd share with someone just starting out:

PLEASE make sure you have the right equipment (shoes), and take it slowly. Read everything you can about running and take advice from people who know what they're doing. But, mainly, listen to your body and don't overdo it. You will thank yourself for years to come.

The image/thought/idea you think about when you are about to give up but don't: 
 I think about my friends on twitter and dailymile and know I can't post my workout and say that I quit. Not a very profound thing, huh? However, if it weren't for all of them, I would have given up long ago. They are all SO encouraging and inspiring to me. They are true friends. Everyone needs someone to be accountable to. These people are mine.

I also do a LOT of praying when I run. There are times that I know it's only by the grace of God that I am able to finish. He is SO faithful!

Biggest benefit of running: 

A much healthier body; plus, for me, my heart PVCs have disappeared completely since I started running. Riding my bicycle doesn't do it, it HAS to be running. And now that I've been able to run without leg pain, I'm actually enjoying being out and running. A runner's high is a real thing, endorphins, you know. I love it. :)

Most surprise side benefit: 

I really can't believe how muscular my legs are. :)  And since I've been working out, I am seeing benefits in the rest of my body also. I never thought I'd have any muscles at all. Of course, as one ages, it's harder to build and maintain muscle so I'm not as great looking as a younger person would be. Who cares, anyway? I'm not in this for looking good, but for feeling good.

Your running hero: 

I don't really have a particular running hero. I'm just amazed at every runner who perseveres and does their very best. Everyone who does that is a hero to me - people like you who have overcome so many obstacles to become great athletes. You inspire me!

GORDON 

name (real or twitter id)

Gordon (@disneyrunner & @vegansouth, runtodisney.com, Running to Disney podcast)  

age 43 

location: Alabama 

# of years running : 3+

Reason you began to run:

In December 2006, my  doctor discovered that I had "industrial strength" high blood pressure.  I had been active, mind you, working out at the gym, taking spin classes, and officiating soccer, but my eating was horrible, and any exercise was countered by the crap I ate. I had been forced to run in High School as an athlete in football and wrestling, but had never done it for running's sake.  And I knew that it was a great calorie burn.  So I started.  1 mile seemed like freaking forever and I felt like lying down on the street and napping.  But soon, 1 turned to 5, and 5 turned to 10, and so on.  In April 2007 I ran my first 5K and about died, but the feeling when I completed the race was intoxicating. The next week I ran another 5K, and found myself scouring running mags, looking for running gear, absorbing all I could about this new passion.  I was hooked. 13 months after my first official run, I finished a half marathon.  Was a big day for me. 

Biggest challenge you've had to face:

The battle of the mind. Realizing that I need not compare myself to others.  That while we all run together, we essentially are running alone, against ourselves and our personal demons that tell us to slow down and take it easy, or we aren't worthy.  They tell us that we will never grow, get faster, run more effectively.  They tell us that no one likes us, that we have nothing to offer this world.  I had to get to a point where I trusted some friends to tell me the truth, and then I had to force my self to believe the positive things they said about me.  With help from dear friends, I had to slay my inner demons of low self-esteem and negativity.  

What you still fear:

I fear two things: 1) some injury that prevents me from running long term.  The idea of not running terrifies me. 2)not living up to my expectations or those of my friends.  I'm still growing as a runner now, for the last 6 months I have set new PRs in every distance I run, but I know that at some point in my life I'll reach the end of my abilities.  I am afraid of where and when that may be.  Don't get me wrong, I love running for running's sake, but without goals I tend to drift and stagnate.  So I have to continually set and strive for new and higher goals.

Your proudest running moment:

Well, people who know me would probably say it was when I finished my first marathon, Disney 2009. And while that was a tremendous moment that changed my life and convinced me that i could be a marathoner, my proudest running moment came a week ago when I had the honor of running alongside my oldest son (11) as he ran his first 5k.  I let him wear my Garmin, and I paced him to the finish. I recorded it and put up in my podcast.  That is my proudest running moment.   I'm getting tingles and goosebumps just writing about it now.  I found him running laps in my backyard yesterday, as a way to prepare for the next 5K.  He's hooked now.  And he looks up to me and wants to be like his dad. How do I even express the level of happiness and pride I feel?  What word sums that up?  (I'm crying as I type this.)

Your most embarrassing moment:

My most embarrassing moment came during a routine Sunday morning run when I lived in Louisiana.  I had felt the urge to "go" about a mile from my car and a nearby bathroom. I had no option (unless I wanted to relieve myself in someone's front yard) so I decided to take my chances and try to make it back to the car and the bathroom.  It took all my will and strength to get back to the parking lot. Within sight, no more than 100 yards, of the much needed bathroom, I couldn't hold it any longer and lost it right there on the street, in my running shorts. I was mortified, embarrassed, and more than a little stinky.     

Words of experience you'd share with someone just starting out:

Running progress and speed takes time. Don't rush. Enjoy this journey.  Don't compare yourself to other people.  You must only compare yourself to YOU.  Measure your growth in months and years and not days or weeks.  Running is hard and tiring and drives me crazy, but I do love it so! I cannot live without it.  So I learned to treat running like a relationship. We will have fights and arguments, but in the end we will make up and love each other stronger than before.  This takes time.  It has taken me two years just to get to the point where I feel i'm finally competitve and striving for some major goals.  So enjoy the running journey. Don't rush. You have the rest of your life to do this, so don't try to fit all your running adventures and joy into 1 month or 1 year.  See the big picture.  See the long view of your running life.  

The image/thought/idea you think about when you are about to give up but don't:

When I am about to give up I think of my family and my friend/coach, Megan. They have supported me and cheered me and sustained me.  I do not wish to disappoint them.  I also think of a goal I have.  I want to qualify for Boston someday.  I ask myself when I'm about to give up or pull back, "will this get you to Boston?"  It won't, so I push on.  And I'm find that my body is more than willing and able to push beyond my limits, but my mind resists. I've had to re-train my mind to allow the body to work and grow and push.  In those most difficult parts of my runs, when I want to give up, I ask myself, "Ok, if you give up here, can you look yourself in the mirror and your friends in the face and tell them you did your utmost? If you cant, then keep pushing baldy!"

Biggest benefit of running:

My physical transformation.  Along with becoming Vegan, running has transformed my body beyond anyone's wildest imagination. I went from an obese (240 lbs) man with high blood pressure to a fit man (171 lbs) with normal blood pressure and who was removed from his BP meds because of his fitness level. I am lighter than at anytime since i was 15 years old, and I'm wearing clothes sizes that I haven't seen since high school.  I take off my shirt now and i am NOT ashamed of myself.  That is some heady stuff there.  For a guy who never took of his shirt this is a big step.  I am no longer shamed of myself.  Wow.        

Most surprise side benefit:

 My self esteem. With my physical changes, I have found that I am more confident. I feel better about myself. I no longer experience bouts of funkiness and self-loathing. I walk a little taller, prouder.   I believe the nice things people say about me. And in this new more positive and hopeful and confident outlook, I am better able to be a positive of what running and better nutrition can do for people.  Unfortunately, I remain disappointed that running has not made my hair grow back!

Your running hero:

My dear friend and running coach, Megan. Not just because she's one hell of a runner with natural ability and talent,and possessing some of the grittiest determination and drive that I've ever seen in another human.  But she's my hero because she took an obese bald newbie runner who was adrift last summer in a pit of despair and listlessness and convinced me that I could get faster, that I could be a better runner, that I could complete another marathon. That in time I could qualify for Boston. With her guidance and friendship I've become a better runner and a more confident person. The encouragement and support I received from her over the past year has been priceless, essential, and principal in my development as a runner and as a human.  And the cool thing about it all is our families have become close, my kids chat online with her kids about Pokemon or moshi monsters.  Such a cool thing for two families thousands of miles apart!
 

Get Fucking Real

just saw my RunnersWorld magazine for this month. i look forward to this time of the month because i get runnersworld and bon appetit in the same week. so what do i see? for the billionth time in the past 3.5 yrs that i've been running, i see the same woman on the cover. she's a 21 year old airbrushed with a six pack, long and lean, in a running bra and short shorts. well, if that doesn't say all it all, what does?

where did i put my airbrush?
so, ok, i go through the whole thing - i just flip through and every model, every ad and every piece of art is the same. long lean taut bodies in near bikinis. awesome. well, i'm only xxx lbs so i could probably lose 20 to get that ripped hungry look if only someone could then go and inject some collagen back into my face.

what the fuck, runnersworld...are you really the whole wide world of running? 

where's the woman who's just had a baby - maybe her first, maybe her third who's crying because she has loose skin she's never had to deal with before? where's the person who just celebrated their first 3k walk because she finally had the tenacity and courage to take those steps? where's the woman who struggled with her weight her whole adult life and then decided at 55 that she'd take up running? where's the brown chick or black chick, yellow chick who just got out there in spite of everyone asking her what she was doing all that for - she wasn't no "runner"...

the dudes i know are that ripped, or tan with such great teeth and hair. most of the women i know that run have kids, have careers, husbands, the whole nine yards and they are my heros. i don't see myself in this runner's world. i like my world because its real.

real runners are studly
i was talking to an ultra runner a week ago and he asked me who inspired me. my answer wasn't very specific but it is pretty meaningful. i'm inspired by the people who have overcome stuff and have found meaning in running. i'm inspired by everyday people like me, especially women, who find the time to fit in running as a means to escape, to find solitude, to challenge themselves, to bolster themselves and to develop a new sense of all that they can accomplish.

i know all kinds of special men and women who give of themselves to help others run, to use their running for charity, to pace people, to work or volunteer at races. runners are a tremendous giving, generous community of people united and they have the fabulous stories of their achievements. they aren't the big prize winners or super stars. they aren't the super studs and starlets of runnersworld and other fitness magazines, but when you see their finish line pics, their faces are lit up and radiant. they are sexiest, most alluring most triumphant people on the planet. ask any runner to describe hitting their first major goal...its a delight to hear those stories - for real runners, there is no better conversation.

imperfection is beauty

it's taken me a long time to accept myself because i'm not perfect in face or form or anything really. my body just doesn't make muscle very quickly. i continually look at my bits and pieces and hyper-analyse them to shreds because i can't stand back at look at my big picture. and you know what, i'm pretty self-confident most days. then, i see runnersworld - apparently how i should look, and i'm thinking i'd better off buying vogue. no pretentions there about a healthy outlook and way more creativity. trouble is i really like stuff that has flaws, that is transient and so is more intriguing to me than perfection (something the japanese call wabi-sabi). 

runnersworld - take this challenge...
so ya runnersworld, get fucking real because you are not the world of running. not even close. real runners are way sexier than anyone you put on your covers. you challenge people to join your marathon challenge...why not put real people on your covers...i challenge you right back. but watch out, because you have soooooo many hotties to choose from. for reals.

making dreams come true

Last night I went to Disneyworld for the first time. As a child, going to Disney wasn't even on the radar. It was hardly a luxury we could afford and the princesses and fairytales, felt well, like a fairytale for me. as you may know, my childhood wasn't so dreamy. i'm the first one to knock Disney and i'm not a huge fan. Last night a friend coaxed me into letting the cynicsm go for a little while - to slip back into a child's perspective. It was then i could see the magic. that was a gift to me and i'll try to hang on to it. when you see the families with their children's mouths agape at the fireworks, you can understand why parents would want their children to see a world that is magical, even for a night.

someone heard me
Sometimes we can make our dreams come true and even those of others to a small extent.when i ran Boston i came back with a few goals - one major one was to run for a charity. i wanted to not just make my accomplishments about me so much. now that i knew i could actually run a marathon and finish, i wanted to make a difference for others.

making a difference for women's health
a few weeks later, The Chicago Run Institute sent me a note to see if i'd be interested in running the Chicago marathon for charity. There was no doubt in my mind - if the cause was right and I could help others that i'd do it. i talked to Kristen from Friends of Prentice - For the Future of Women's Health. Friends of Prentice has focused on the mission of saving lives of women and infants, bringing difficult pregnancies to successful birth, advancing research on several fronts critical to women and improving the quality of life for health-challenged families.

united
some canadians i've told are surprised that i'm running for an American charity. for me, borders are meaningless and i'm glad that they've welcomed me onto the team. the future of women's health transcends all of the things that we think divide us. the runners i speak to everyday come from everywhere and have helped me endlessly with their support and kindness. i can't imagine not helping someone because of something like nationality. its in me to give and so i am.

so many ways to help
i can run for women's health and I can make a difference. so many of you help me everyday with your words that uplift me and i've drawn on your words to raise me up and to give me strength. you can help with a donation if you'd like and please don't feel obliged - its never been my intent to insert a transactional obligation onto any of my friendships. i've met so many people that i'd love to run with and if you have the means to join the team, i believe there are still spots available.
http://foundation.nmh.org/goto/suman 

running naked

i'm running naked for the next six weeks. wanna join me?

no, not starkers and certainly not across any baseball fields (taser zone). i'm just gonna strip down to the bare essentials. me and nothing else. i'm gonna run free. with clothing because i'm not that silly.

i'm running without a garmin. i know roughly how far certain trails and loops are and i know roughly how long it takes me to run them. i'm just giving myself a break. i've been training since January. My next marathon is October. I need a break from the constant need to meet a mileage goal or a time goal or a pace goal. i love competing but its time to rest now. both body and spirit need to replenish and revitalize without scrutiny. i'm just gonna run.

i'm so excited about it. i get to meander down paths or trails or streets and not care. the self talk about pick up the pace, slow it down, how much left to go, is that all? oh fuck, i dont want to run another 5 km... i need to quiet it down. listen to birds. my breathing. my footfalls. just let myself be absorbed into the world again.

so, now you know what i mean. still want to join me?

Nailing It

Mississauga Marathon
1:44:42 --- PR was 1:44:38 in 2008.
Gender: 140/2821
Age Group: 30/291
Current State: ORGASMIC
what's this mean:  I can still run fast  (!) 
course details and website (a real live link for once - go check it out- all you want to know about the technical details)

my pals
here's a few of the people i run with almost every week. the one dude with the sunglasses and my superfit friend in the blue shirt paced the other fella to a personal best of 1:34. My other friend who left before the pic was taken, finished with a PR of 1:37. I met the other woman in the pic (friend of my superfit friend) for the first time and she finished in 2:13. It was a great day for all of us.

running because I can
it was a great day to be alive. to feel alive. grateful to be able-minded and able-bodied. i've had a long month of exhilaration followed by grief and insomnia.i've had an average of 4 hours of sleep each night.i've run all of 4 times since April 20 and the farthest distance was 10k. My knee suffered from the downhills of Boston and I've been pampering it. When i woke up at 4 am today, I just decided to do what i could. Try my best. That's all. The difference between my Personal Best and my Personal Worst is 4 minutes.

beauty with every step
the early arrival of spring made this course leafier than normal and provided great relief from a warmer than average day. the sun was shining and usually the magnolia trees would be in bloom but they've already finished flowering this year. The river valley we run over was so green it was surreal. everywhere i'd look people were running. it was a crowded course and people were constantly jockeying positions. i'd pass the same green shirt girl three times. people of all ages, all abilities, all running in a massive pack of life like a gigantic swarm. unbelievable and humbling.

steady and strong
I started a few seconds slower than my target pace.my plan was to hold the pace until i couldn't. simple as that. i tend to lock into a pace and although i wanted to begin easy and see what happened...i could always drop it back if i went out too hard. when i got to 5k, i was at 24:50 much to my surprise and delight. I got to 10k and i was at 49:00. it seemed to be working so the plan was to keep going kilometre by kilometre. and so i did.

self-talker
All i did was to keep talking to myself. i was nice and kind.i pretended that i was all the people that support me in real life and virtually. i replayed the comments that people give me and i used them mercilessly when i flagging - stuff like "the miles will run themselves" and "when you get tired, go harder". when those words weren't working i'd look at all the supporters. one woman at the 16k (10mi) had a sign that said i love runners and even though you're complete strangers, let's get together ...your place or mine?(was a big sign). i blew her a kiss and picked it up a bit. through this race, as with Boston, my splits once again were almost uniformly consistent. 

2 wrongs did make a right
unintentionally, i lied today on twitter. i thought i had a PR but i was off by 4 seconds. I actually had forgotten my 2008 time. also i thought i had qualified for NYC marathon but i needed a 1:44 even time or better...they don't go to the 1:44:59 as Boston does. so i burn...but not really. i don't care. here's why.

i've been running slow long distances in marathon training since last july. i didnt think i had speed left in me. today i proved to myself that i can do it. i'm delighted because 2 years ago, i was only training for this half, not doing it 4 wks after a marathon and today i proved that i can focus and get my time and i'm actually stronger than i was 2 years ago. I'll get that NYC qualification time. I'll also beat my half PR. Today was a stellar gift of confidence. there's not a minute of the day that i'd take back.