healthy lifestyle

Dear Mr. “X”

“I am Woman. Hear me Roar”

I am sorry about the profanity, but the censored version wouldn’t load

Dear Mr. “X”,

I don’t know you, but I know I don’t like you. I have a serious problem with the way you’re treating my friend. You may think you can break her, but you have truly underestimated the woman you’re dealing with. Maybe it’s because you never took the time to love or know her as a husband should. Let me just enlighten you, that girl has more strength and character in her little toe than you’ll ever have in your life. Tell me, exactly what kind of man spends his time trying to tear down the mother of his child? What kind of miserable person wastes his own life trying to destroy someone else’s?

You may think you can convince the world with your lying and manipulation, but I am on to your games. You abusers all study from the same handbook; not one of you ever has anything original to say. You spend your time telling your target she is crazy, unlovable, selfish, unattractive, and a terrible mother. The list goes on and on. You try to convince her she’s isolated and cut off her support system. You make her feel like her problems are a burden to other people. You attempt to tear everything that makes her happy out of her life. You know how to play the victim card, how to fein concern, and how to strike for the jugular once her guard is down. This time, however, in your case, it isn’t going to work.

You won’t convince her she’s crazy because she has too many people who care about her to show her the truth. Plus, thanks to your insistence on having her head examined she now a psychologist to back up the fact that YOU- NOT HER are the problem. YOU are the crazy one. YOU are the weak one. YOU are the one who needs therapy. Strong men don’t chip away other peoples’ self esteem. Cowards lacking any self esteem of their own do… BULLIES do. You are a coward and a bully, and I can’t stand either.

You won’t convince her she is unlovable because I LOVE HER, and I tell her everyday. I will continue to tell her everyday until she’s tired of hearing it. That girl is like a sister to me. I know exactly what she is going through. I know WHAT YOU ARE PUTTING HER THROUGH. For every insult you utter in her direction I will offer 100 words of encouragement. THAT is kind of treatment she deserves. Guess what else… I’m not the only one behind her. She has a MULTITUDE of people who genuinely love her without conditions or criticism- a kind of love you can’t comprehend. We will continue to love her no matter what you do.

You may try to convince both her and yourself of how worthless she is, but everyone who meets her loves her. She has a gift for touching people. She is capable of compassion you’ll never understand. She is not someone you meet and forget. That girl has star quality, and she SHINES IN SPITE OF YOU. She is handling the most difficult situations (that’s right- plural) a person can face in her life- ALL AT THE SAME TIME and still manages each day with more strength, determination, grace, and optimism than you could ever imagine. You ARE TOO BLIND TO SEE IT. That girl is NEVER bitter. If there was ever a person who had a right to be angry at the world it is her, but instead she is CARING, GIVING, and LOVING. THAT IS WHY WE LOVE HER. That is why we ADMIRE her. She may think we lift her up, but it is she who lifts us up on a regular basis.

That is NOT the behavior of a selfish person. She doesn’t have a mean or selfish bone in her body. Making her health a priority is not selfish. Going after her goals in life is not selfish. Wanting to be the best person she can be, to be the best mom she can be is not selfish. HOW DARE YOU TRY TO MANIPULATE HER INTO FEELING GUILTY FOR TRYING TO BE HAPPY. It’s bad enough that you are completely incapable of being EVEN REMOTELY SUPPORTIVE. To be MEAN and SPITEFUL enough to call a woman a bad mother FOR EXERCISING and EATING HEALTHY is down right inexcusable. What gives you the right, please tell me? Are you so threatened that you can’t stand the sight of her getting stronger? Are you so demasculinated by the fact THAT SHE CAN NOT ONLY SURVIVE WITHOUT YOU, BUT BE HAPPIER WITHOUT YOU that you have to threaten to take away the one thing that matters to her most? You need to attempt to take her child from her simply to get even and make her miserable? A child you don’t even have the slightest idea how to care for, seriously? The fact that you would even consider tearing your daughter away from the person who loves her most, that she is most closely bonded to proves in itself what a flat out TERRIBLE PARENT YOU ARE.

That is the mother of your child and SHE DESERVES YOUR RESPECT. She is a beautiful person inside and out. You were LUCKY to have ever gotten her at all. You knew she was too good for you and were afraid of her realizing it, so you tried to tear her down to your level. But it didn’t work because despite all the garbage you tried to fill her head with, that girl still knows her self worth. Even if she doesn’t believe it 100% to the core yet, she will. You’re hold over her gets weaker everyday as she makes further steps to improve her life. She went and got healthy and it pissed you off. How dare she be happy when she has so much to fall apart over. I’m sure it just eats away at someone like you who could have the world on a plate and still manage to be miserable.

You can’t cut off her support system or keep her from the people who care about her. WE WON’T LET YOU. There are too many of us who love her way too much to ever let you get in the way. You have grossly underestimated your ability to control her. You can’t manipulate everyone into seeing her in the twisted light you do. We aren’t blind. We can see her for who she truly is. It’s too bad you are too busy seeing your own flaws in her to appreciate it yourself. While you’re still finding reasons to blame others for your problems, THAT GIRL IS GOING TO CONQUER THE WORLD. She will succeed IN SPITE OF YOU and BE STRONGER FOR HAVING GONE THROUGH IT. You just keep it coming because it’s all fuel to keep her pushing forward toward success and happiness. It won’t be long before she leaves you in the dust.

Sincerely,

Jenny

PS. These shirts are actually available for purchase. I just may get her one!

What is a Thriver?

“Sisterhood is many things. It’s a warm smile on a cold and rainy day, a friendly hug, a cheerful hello… It’s all that a good and lasting friendship is, only better. It’s treasured. It’s sacred. It’s knowing that there will always be someone there for you. It’s dreams shared, and goals achieved. It’s counting on others and being counted on. It is real.”

This post dedicated to all my Archangel Sisters. I love each and every one of you!

This morning I was charged with the task of defining what “thriver” means to me. I compiled a list of the first words that came to mind: self knowing, embracing life, living to the fullest, empowered, open, secure, unbroken, girl power, liberated, and vibrant. It was a good start. However, truly grasping the essence of thriving is not something that can be broken down and explained on paper. It’s something that needs to be felt.

The most wonderful thing happens when you attend the My Avenging Angel Workshops and follow-up sessions. You become part of a sisterhood: a loving, accepting, flaw embracing community of women committed to improving not only their own lives, but also the lives of others. That is where the thriver energy emanates. It comes from each and every woman.

The Angels are a diverse group- coming in every shape, size, age, color, and religion- a reminder that domestic violence does not discriminate. Yet, we do not dwell on our past. Instead, we celebrate the beauty of our differences and bond over a common experience. Surprisingly, it’s not the trauma or past suffering that brings us together. It is the desire to bring about change- in ourselves and in the world that binds us. Together, we see a future filled with limitless possibilities. In each of us there is hope, faith, and the courage to embark on a journey to a more fruitful and fulfilling life. We give each other strength. Our ties cross town and state lines across this country. We are feminism at its best- an abuser’s worst nightmare! Are motto: “Living well is the best revenge”.

Being a thriver is more than becoming a self-aware, self-loving individual. It is about belonging and becoming part of a community. The community is necessary to impact other lives. It’s the sense of sisterhood that helps to empower us. I could not imagine what a difficult journey it would be, or it even being possible to thrive without a strong support network. No one individual is self-sufficient enough not to need a shoulder to cry or lean on during hard times. A house is only as good as the foundation it is built upon, and the individual is no different. You are only as solid as your base. In this respect I have been very lucky (not only to have the Angels, but also the unconditional love of my amazing family, friends, and boyfriend who always back me 100% – equally in success and failure).

I am so grateful to belong to such an awe-inspiring group of women. Each is a blessing in a my life, a window to the possibilities of how the future could be. I am fortunate to not only have such a tremendous family (both by blood and bond), but to be part of one. Knowing that I play a role helping and healing others is more healing and empowering than anything I could achieve on my own.

If you reside in or near Connecticut and are interested in moving beyond survivor to thriver please visit Susan Omilian’s website for more information on the FREE My Avenging Angels Workshops. You can also email me at runningthriver@gmail.com.

If you do not live near Connecticut and are still interested in joining the Thriver community, check out the Thriver Workbook. In it you will find many of the exercises Susan uses in her workshops. You can also check out The Thriverzone.

As always, thank you for reading! Please feel free to share any of the information here if you know someone who can benefit from it (just give credit back to the site please 🙂 ) Comments and feedback are always welcome and appreciated. Good luck in your Thriver Journey!!!

Victories and Setbacks

“I assess the power of a will by how much resistance, pain,
torture it endures and knows how to turn to its advantage. “
Friedrich Nietzsche

Life is composed of victories and setbacks. Great victories are always eventually followed by setbacks, and setbacks by victories. It’s all a cycle. That’s just the way of things. Keeping this in mind helps me maintain perspective. When I’m doing well, I do my best to enjoy it knowing it won’t last; and when things get rough, I remind myself that it will pass.

In terms of my life and ongoing struggle with daily existence after trauma, I’d say I’m on the victory side of things. However, running has fallen into the setback zone. My entire life I have been plagued by knee problems. As long as I’ve been walking, my knees have popped out of place. The pain and other joint issues associated with this have always limited my running. When I started using the Vibram Five Fingers (don’t ask me why it’s “fingers” and not toes), I noticed a dramatic improvement in my joint pain. Basically, I didn’t have any. I was hurting all right, but it was all muscular. Everything was going fine and dandy until last week when, deluded with my new sense of limitless, I decided to up my mileage by a full hour instead of 30 minutes.

That is how I became rudely reacquainted with the nagging pain of IT band syndrome. It’s a running overuse injury that I am all too familiar with. Initially, I was not aware of its reemergance due to the new location of the pain. However, when it got to the point that even gently brushing anything against my tibial tubercle (the bony knob just under your knee) caused me to jump in agony, I decided to do a google search on “lateral knee pain” and then “pain, tibial tubercle”. What I found was my familiar nemesis IT band syndrome. Apparently, if you continue to run when your IT band is irritated, you develop terrible point tenderness –you guessed it– at your tibial tubercle. So after patting myself on the back for pushing IT band syndrome to new personal heights, I looked up the treatment: six weeks of rest and stretching. This was not an acceptable option. Six weeks of “rest” would have me in the loony bin. I needed to exercise for my sanity sake! More reading.. there was also a mention of strengthening weak muscle groups- this seemed more palatable.

At the moment, I am trying very hard to limit my running. I have been spending quality time with the stair climber and doing general conditioning/strength training. There was a moment or two that doubted I would be able to run the marathon in Oct., or ever. Of course, then I came back to my senses and realized I would never allow myself to quit. Plus, if I tried, my best friend Randi would assuredly put me back in line.

Everyone needs a good friend to hold a mirror up when you need it, tell you what you need to hear (even when you don’t want to hear it), and hold you accountable. Randi has been my best friend since high school; and while I have many incredible, amazing friends who I cherish, Randi is the one I can count on to do all these things. I, through coercion, begging, and even a little arm twisting, have convinced her to do the Diva Half Marathon with me. I have been “encouraging” her to do the Hartford Marathon with me as well. Every time she comes up with an excuse or says she’d never be able to run that far- I assure her that I’m convinced she can. When her motivation starts to wane or she gets discouraged by running injuries, I do my best to encourage her (like buying her cool running gear and books for her birthday).

I have to finish that marathon, IT band syndrome or not! I need to prove to myself I can do it. Plus, I want to show Randi that she can do it. After all, she is the athletic one! I would not only be letting myself down if I quit, but also my best friend. There’s just no way that’s going to happen.

In the meantime, I’ll be training for the NorCal Tough Mudder next month. On this afternoon’s agenda, time at the gym with my very own personal trainer (my boyfriend Adam- the seasoned marathon runner and Tough Mudder alum)

Another night, another nightmare

“Life is not about how fast you run or how high you climb but how well you bounce.”

~Vivian Komori

Last night I dreamt I was in my ex-husband’s house. Even though we were no longer together, I was visiting for some reason. He had a bunch of company in the living room. including some of his brothers. I was tired from having worked late and excused myself to go to bed. When I left, the rest of his guests decided it was getting late and left to go home. Enraged by the notion that I caused all his friends and family to leave early, my ex came after me upstairs and attacked me. He wrapped his hands around my neck and squeezed for all he was worth. I could feel myself being suffocated, gasping for air with no relief. Then out of no where, Adam (my boyfriend) came in and stopped him. I can’t remember much of what happened after that because I woke up.

That is just one example of the many nightmares that have kept me up at night over the past two weeks. They typically come in cycles, but this one has been particularly long. They don’t always feature my ex, and they are nowhere near as bad as the night terrors I had while I was with him. However, they are bad enough to wake me up all night and leave me exhausted during the day. On the bright side, this was the first nightmare I ever had someone come rescue me in, so maybe I’m making some progress.

Sometimes I wish I had a system reset button I could hit when this stuff happens, but instead I’ve come up with other methods (through trial and error) of dealing with it. The hardest one if trying not to focus on or stress about the sleep deprivation because the more I fixate on it, then worse it seems to get. Another trick I use is completely wearing myself out. If I go through a particularly tough workout, many times that’s enough to work out the excess anxious energy. Plus, it’s usually a great self-esteem boost! I also try not to eat, watch TV, or use the computer right before bed (typical sleep hygiene stuff). However, recently none of this has been particularly effective.

One thing that has changed dramatically over the past year is how much better I can deal with this situation now. I can acknowledge that it sucks, but it doesn’t send me spiraling backward with frustration and despair like it used to. I can reassure myself that it will be temporary, and I only need to work “X” more days until I have another one off to attempt to catch up on sleep. I am also more aware of my negative thinking, and the fact that it is just that. It doesn’t make me a negative person, it’s just a sign that I’m fatigued or processing more than usual. I am finally getting the point where I can cut myself some slack, and that is a MONUMENTAL step for me.

So, although I am currently being plagued by nightmares and had an absolutely terrible day of being run into the ground at work, I give this day an A+. My reasoning: it sucked...A LOT, but I made it through and held it together. I didn’t get down on myself, cry, or allow myself to become completely overwhelmed. Six months ago this day would have broke me, but today I made it through exhausted and smiling.

In other related news, I managed to drag Adam with me to the gym yesterday and conquered another 15 minutes on the stair master- and we did push ups (and by “we” I mean I and he critiqued)… It was terrible and wonderful all at the same time. 🙂

“I am woman! I am invincible! I am pooped!”

~Author Unknown

The amazing view on my run today.

Today I continued my quest toward running a full marathon! I figured it would be a good day for a long run because I have not run much this week and will be working the next two days without a lot of other opportunity to get mileage in. Earlier this week I had attempted a light, fast paced run; but my body was not cooperating, and I ended up at the gym instead. I was a little disappointed, but got some solace in the fact that I survived 15-whole-minutes on the stair climber- which I hate more even more than push ups (and that is saying a lot!).

None-the-less, I wanted to make up for my less than par workout and gain some ground. I got up early and straightened up the house a little before setting out. It was still cool and looked like it was shaping up to be a beautiful day. I headed over to the Bridle Trail, a relatively flat, gravel path not far from my house. I had not been there in several months, and thought it would be a nice change in scenery. The trail runs through the woods, so it stays well shaded and keeps the temperature significantly cooler than running on the road. I was actually a little chilly when I started, but quickly warmed up as I settled into my pace. I chose my beat up asics over my vibrams because I don’t like running over gravel (or pavement) in toe shoes.

Not long into my run, I was greeted by another runner with a happily meandering chocolate lab in toe. His companion lagged behind him enough to keep me company for a while before he wandered off again with his owner. I made a mental note to start bringing my lab, Penny, out on more of my short runs. (I used to run with her regularly; however, now that she is getting older, her endurance is not what it used to be. )

I had set the timer on my phone (which I use as an ipod) to alarm after an hour and forty-five minutes figuring I would just turn around and run back. I hoped to be able to cover at least 15 miles in that amount of time. For most of the way out I felt terrific. I soaked in the beautiful views and wondered why anyone would run on the road when they could have a much more peaceful and splendid backdrop. I was so absorbed in my surroundings that it felt like no effort at all, and I started to think that running a marathon would not be that difficult. I frequently joke to Adam that “running on a flat surface is easy. I could run forever it’s flat.”

I was just beginning to believe my jest was true when I brushed my hand across my leg and realized I couldn’t feel it. In fact, I could not feel anything from the small of my back down. I wondered if this was what an epidural felt like. Like any other endurance athlete (and I use that term loosely), I figured that if I ignored it long enough, it would just go away. Besides, I wasn’t having any pain. I tuned it out and kept going, but it didn’t go away. Instead, it got worse. Then my back and legs started to hurt. I looked at the time. I had only been running an hour! This was disheartening. I wondered if my asics were a bad choice. Yet, I kept running because it was not just about the mileage- it was about training my body to keep going when it didn’t want to. I knew I would have to get used to this feeling if I was going to get through over 26 miles.

By the time I was ready to turn around and head back, it was becoming increasingly more difficult to move my legs. I was afraid to stop and walk, convinced that I would not be able to get my body to run again. I began to doubt my ability to complete this task, and kicked myself for adding an additional 15 minutes each way. At times, I was distracted by butterflies and bright yellow birds who seemed to follow me along with curiosity. There were also a wide variety of wild flowers in white, purple, and yellows abutting the tree line. I tried to concentrate on the scenery: a lovely pond, tall fields, small cottages. However, my legs were aching and numb. I didn’t think it was right that they could be both at the same time. I kept plodding and hoping the time would go by quickly.

When I finally reached a stretch of the trail I remembered from early in my run I was elated- only to be crushed again by the long stretch before the next familiar site. I thought it was funny how quickly I went from feeling like I could run forever to feeling like I had been running forever. I dreaded the idea of doing this for over 5 hours and began to question why I ever thought it would be a good idea. Maybe I was capable of running 10 or 15 K thanks to my vibrams, but this was starting to seem insane.

Then, before I knew it, I was back at the 2 mile mark. I remembered how I used to struggle to run from my car to this spot and back when I was first breaking in my toe shoes. Now it seemed like such a small distance! Over and over in my head I chanted “TWO MORE MILES, JUST TWO MORE MILES!!!!” I kept pushing; my body kept trying to quit. I wanted to finish running, not walking. I continued to drag myself until the sites became more familiar; and, finally, I knew I was almost there. I dragged myself all the way back to the car, and a funny thing happened. I didn’t die. I didn’t fall over. I didn’t even throw up! Instead I drove myself home and tried to stretch- until my lap was filled with a very happy lab and bulldog.

it got a little muddy

another view from the trail

You can’t always get want you want…

“You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need”

The Rolling Stones

Yesterday I completed the last 15 K of my YES Endurance Race journey. Adam and I had both been sick all week, so I was terrified that I would not be able to finish (although I told Adam I would drag myself across the finish line if I had to). Reducing the mileage was not an option. I wanted to complete the longest distance offered. Anything else would not feel like a challenge. I had been training for weeks, and I didn’t want to sell myself short. Unfortunately, the day before the race my throat was ON FIRE. I had taken decongestants all day to try to relieve the sinus pressure. That night I had nightmares about not being able to compete (and by compete I mean finish, as I have no delusions about my skill level at running).

When I awoke on the morning of race day, I was relieved to find I was feeling a little better. Adam and I both got up early, took our decongestants, and had some hot tea to soothe or throats before heading out. The weather for the race was beautiful, but a bit hot. Luckily the humidity had broke! It was not as crowded as at some of the other venues, but there was still a good turn out. I was one of 7 women who had signed up for the 15 K option. I recognized a few familiar faces, as the race has developed bit of a cult following.

After a few minutes idle chit-chat, all the runners approached the start line, and soon we were off. My body fought me the entire fist 5K, but I continued to force myself to run. However, by the time I hit the steep hills my legs were giving out. I wondered if I could survive 10 K let alone 15! I kept reminding myself that “what goes up must come down” and that this stretch of hills had to end eventually. I knew getting downhill would give my legs a chance to recover, and that (with any luck) the course would get easier. Still, it was one thing to think it and another to force my achy, virus ridden body to do it.

It’s funny something as simple as a cold can really affect your running performance. I was aware that the 15 K would be a struggle for me, having done a few lengthy runs on my own without hills as tough as the YES series offers. Yet, I did not expect for my symptoms to affect my running as much as they did. Frankly, it took almost all the fun out of it. As much as I tried to find my rhythm and enjoy the scenery, my body felt like it was burning up, and I was having trouble breathing. I sincerely wanted to quit- which is actually not unusual for me. It generally happens at about mile 4 when I hit the first “wall”. I had experienced it enough to expect it and to know that I would feel better if I push through it. However, this was not my typical 4 mile wall; this was like hitting the wall for the whole first half of the race.

When I caught up to Adam, I could see that he was as miserable as I was. This initially made me feel a little better; but when I lost him a short distance later where the course split, I became concerned that he was sicker than he looked. I wondered if he had opted for the 10 K path instead of the 15. Then, as I had hoped, the course got slightly easier. The hills were less steep, and I could finally feel my body settling into a rhythm. I was still miserable, exhausted, and my legs felt like lead, but I wanted to finish. I thought about how far I’d come, not just in the current race, but through the series. I had already covered so many miles. I knew that if I wanted to conquer the marathon in Oct. that I was going to have to get used to pushing my body through fatigue and exhaustion. I couldn’t stomach the idea of quitting, no matter how enticing it seemed at the moment. Besides, it was a long walk back to the start and would take significantly longer than just running and getting it over with. Plus, I really wanted that finisher medal!

By the time I hit 10 K, I was pondering whether to take another shot blok or hold out a little longer when my body gave me the answer. Too tired to lift my feet over the rocks, I tripped and fell flat on my face. It took me a minute to get myself up and going again. I so badly wanted to be finished. I was desperately hoping there were no more steep hills ahead, as I was convinced they would be the end of me. I was also terrified that I would lose the trail again, as I had already managed to get off track once and had to double back. However, the further I ran, the more attainable the finished seemed. Then before I knew it, I saw the familiar path back to the start, followed by a cheering crowd. I sailed out the woods to the finish, elated to have found it at last. When I looked I at my time, I didn’t believe it. I was certain I missed a loop to the course. Then the race organizer announced that I had won the female ultra point series (they tally the number of people you beat and multiply it by the number of races- I won mostly owing to the fact that I was the only female to race all 4). I was in disbelief, and then overwhelmed by dread. I didn’t see any of the women that had been ahead of me. I must have missed a loop. I didn’t want to watch the other finishers, afraid I would see them and confirm my fear. I was so terrified of being disqualified. I didn’t even care about the ultra title. I just wanted to be counted as a finisher so I could get the medal I worked for so hard.

They never came. A few people finished after me, but not the ones I’d been following. The last of the group was Adam. He got loud applause, as a rumor had already been spread through the crowd that he was running with the flu. I wondered if someone had seen him throw up on the course to arrive at that conclusion. I knew he had to be sick not to have been way ahead of me. We stayed briefly for the award ceremony, but I never got the medal. I wish I could say this didn’t bother me; but, in truth, I was devastated. Once I got into the car, I cried (I’d like to think this was in large part due to a combination of PMS and exhaustion). I felt cheated. I pushed myself through pain and misery, through four races for a total of 46 kilometers and felt like I had nothing to show for it. Sure, I had the experiences; but I wanted something tangible that I could put in a frame and look at on a bad day to remind myself of what I achieved. Adam tried to reassure me that they would probably send it in the mail. Despite the fact that this made complete logical sense, I didn’t believe him. I thought to myself how silly it was that I would rather have a cheap medal than prize money and free race entry to an exotic race in Ireland. Then I thought about the Rolling Stones lyrics about how “you can’t always get what you want…you get what you need”. I realized that maybe, even though I really wanted a medal, what I needed was the experience of another challenge. I was slightly discouraged at the idea of a 100 K race. However, when I got home and looked it up online, I saw that they have a 50 K option, and that 2 nights lodging and a shuttle from the airport are included in the registration fee. I wondered if this was part of the “free entry”. Perhaps there is a trip to Ireland in my future…

Motivation

“The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.”

Walter Bagehot

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Finisher Medal for the YES Endurance Series

This week is exciting for me because Saturday is the last race in the YES Endurance Series and also my first 10 mile race. I am bubbling with anticipation for a few reasons. 1) If I finish I will earn my very first shiny medal. Not just my first running medal, but my first real athletic medal– a VERY big deal for someone naturally unathletic and pathologically clumsy. As a woman, I am naturally drawn to shiny things, so the promise of some serious bling at the end of the race (pictured above) would be enough to motivate me through 10 miles of tough terrain. 2) I love running on the trails and have not logged much running time this week; so, I am really itching to get out there and go for a run on a completely unfamiliar path. In fact, when I am out running these races, there is honestly nothing I’d rather be doing than taking in the scenery and the amazing energy of the people and course around me. 3) I love being around all the other running fanatics, who run purely for the joy of it. The people who organize this series do a great job at making the event social and fun. It’s like there’s a whole intimate running community associated with the series, and the people who come are from all over the spectrum of training, from super competitive to everyday mom’s and novices trying to get back in shape. Plus, there’s a ton of first timers for each distance (like me in this case!).

Having progressively longer races booked has really helped me stay on track with my training, and I has allowed me to successfully and steadily increase my mileage for several months now. When I find myself slipping, I add a tougher challenge. For example, while I was training for the Diva Half Marathon and recently reached the distance necessary several months ahead of time, I added the goal of the Hartford Marathon (only two weeks after) to keep myself on track. I also have set a goal to do a Super Spartan as part of the Spartan Chicked movement, in addition to the NorCal Tough Mudder.

Another factor that helps me stay motivated is running for charity. I currently am collecting bottles and cans as a fundraiser for the Wounded Warrior Project in conjunction with the Tough Mudder, and also plan on using my future half and full marathon races to raise money for CT-ALIVE (the CT Alliance for Families of Violence and Their Families). This way I not only benefit myself, but also others who truly deserve it as well.

Other tricks that keep me inspired to run 1) Reading other running blogs or Facebook pages (I am hoping soon to add a page of links to my favorites and would love to hear some of yours) 2) Reading inspirational books like “The Perfect Mile” or “Born to Run” 3) Watching a movie about runners such as “Without Limits or Spirit of the Marathon” 4) Buying myself some cool new running gear (especially goofy shirts!) because then I will obviously want to use it. 5) Inviting a friend to go with me. It’s amazing how much longer you’ll run if you’re enjoying good company!

At the core, I would say my true motivation to run comes solely in the ability to do it. The same way a golfer plays round after round to enjoy the sweet victory of a hole in one, I train and run day in and out for the fleeting moments when it feels completely effortless- when my body is in perfect rhythm with the trail and it feels like running is exactly what I was made for. To me, it’s an absolute expression of freedom and the closest I will ever get to flying. Every mile I run is one the doctors insisted I shouldn’t be able to. It brings me a tremendous amount of pleasure and gratitude to be able to run farther than I ever had without pain or limitation other than my own will and determination.

It all started with a pair of shoes…

Marylin Monroe once said “give a woman the right pair of shoes and she can conquer the world”.

My "ugly" shoes have grown on me. Now they are always close by. 🙂

My boyfriend had been on my case for several weeks that I needed to switch over to vibram running shoes. I wasn’t paying him much attention. I knew my limitations. From the time I started high school, I had a multitude of orthopedists explain to me exactly why I wasn’t built to run and shouldn’t do it. They told me that my bone alignment was wrong, my arches were flat, my IT bands were too tight, I needed orthotics and knee replacements. One particularly delightful fellow (and by delightful I mean arrogant and dismissive) even explained that women, in general, are not built for running. He thought I should not only stop, but also avoid stairs and knee bends greater than 30 degrees. I have patellar subluxation (a fancy way of saying my kneecaps pop out-of-place when I move), so running for me was always associated with pain. However, the thought of not running was pretty much on par with not breathing in my mind. I tried physical therapy, ice, the whirlpool, medication, tape, stabilizing shoes, and cross training before, I ultimately learned to tune it out and run through it. However, I was still limited in my mileage.

All that being said, how could a 6’2″ naturally athletic marathon runner possibly think that eliminating the support in a shoe would help me- the orthopedic disaster? It sounded insane, but I had nothing to lose. He was so confident that I would love them, that he even bought me my first pair. I teased him at the time that he was just afraid of looking ridiculous by himself. Nonetheless, I was now the owner of an ugly pair of toe shoes with a date set to test them out.

The day we planned our inaugural run I had done a particularly hard work out at the gym and didn’t expect much. We headed to a flat, gravel trail and started jogging at a slow place. We were two miles into our run before I felt any pain in my knees, which was remarkable for me. By three miles, my calves and ankle muscles were SCREAMING. I was hurting in places I had never hurt before. We did another mile and called it a day. The following day at work I passed out. Yup, out cold- like dreaming and then rudely awakened to a room full of people staring… Maybe I overdid it a little. My calves were like jello for days, making walking difficult and stairs near impossible. It was amazing none the less. I had accomplished something I wasn’t supposed to do in shoes with absolutely no support.

Overcoming the physical barriers was only part of the sense of triumph. As a survivor of domestic abuse, I had suffered from crippling anxiety and nightmares for well over a year. Just waking up in the morning was enough to provoke a sense of the world closing in around me . I was miserable, exhausted, and completely drained both physically and emotionally. I never reached the point where I wanted to die, but I certainly wanted to disappear on multiple occasions when facing another day seemed like too tremendous an effort to stomach. I saw counselors, therapists, and even a psychiatrist who all reassured me that I was experiencing a “completely normal reaction to a traumatic experience”. It certainly didn’t feel normal, or even remotely acceptable. I was prescribed medications to help me sleep; but the first one made me completely sedated and irritable. The second one caused me to outright hallucinate (which made nightmares seem not so bad in comparison). By the time an antipsychotic called seroquel was suggested I threw in the towel and fired the shrink.

That was when I found Susan Omilian (creator of the My Avenging Angel Workshops) and decided to attend one of her 2 part sessions. I desperately wanted to feel “normal” again and move on with my life. I knew there was a happier and more carefree person inside, but didn’t know how to let her out. Like she has with so many other women, Susan allowed me to get in touch with the part of myself that wasn’t “damaged”. She helped me rediscover what I am passionate about and establish short and long-term goals for myself. She and the other women in the group also made me realize that I was not alone, and it was the first time since my world turned upside down that someone told me I was going to be okay and I actually believed it.

So in a sense, that 4 miles was more meaningful to me than any other distance I had ever achieved. I was redefining myself and my limits, and I didn’t stop. I registered for my first 10 K with my boyfriend. It was last-minute and a distance I hadn’t run or even been able to run in years. However, it happened to be a trail race at one of my favorite cross-country venues from high school; and I (in a viewing myself as the center of the universe sort of way) took at as a positive sign. During the run, I was convinced that if I did manage to finish it would be well behind everyone else; yet, that was not the case at all. I not only finished, but also managed to finish ahead of one other runner. It was a slow pace, but I was moving and moving pain free at that. Plus, it was a great experience to realize that most of the people I was running with were struggling as much as I was. Luckily, that race was part of a 4 race series and I was hooked. I did the second and third 10K and then decided it was time to set my sights on something higher. The final race offered a 15K option, so I signed up and kicked up my training. Then I registered for a Tough Mudder in NorCal with my boyfriend and the Diva Half marathon in Long Island. I was excited at the opportunity to combine two things I loved: running and helping other people. I started a bottle and can drive to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project, then I approached Susan Omilian about using the Diva Half Marathon as a way to raise money and awareness for other victims of domestic violence.

Currently my plan to use all my future half and full marathons to raise money for CT-ALIVE (the CT Alliance for Victims of Violence and the Families). I would encourage other runners to find a cause to run for as well. It is a great way to give back and an opportunity to make the whole experience richer.

So, that pretty much brings us up to present date! If you hadn’t figured it out yet, my purpose for this blog is to encourage other people, especially women, to get out there and do whatever it is that makes you feel alive. I love running because I feel like it’s the only time I get to be alone and selfish and not feel guilty for it. It’s my quiet time. Plus, it’s hard to waste energy being anxious when you are using every ounce to push up a tough hill.

I think many people discount themselves thinking they can’t run, and that women specifically short change themselves instead of realizing what tremendous inner strength they possess. Distance running is a women’s sport- especially ultra running- because women are built to endure better than men. They are the glue that holds their families together. They deliver babies. Running a few miles is no big deal compared to that!

That is why I am here to tell you to get out and run because if I can do it, you can too!

Angels

When God gave man free will,

She knew the world would be filled

With heartache and suffering.

So she sent us angels to help ease the pain.

To carry us when our wills are weak

And our minds and bodies are weary.

Not only angels from the heavens,

But those here on earth

Who find their way into our lives and hearts.

When we happen to need them most

They pick us up, wipe our tears,

And remind us who we are and where we are going.

So it is at our toughest moments

That we come to realize how truly blessed we are,

And that even the darkest clouds have a bright silver lining.

Why Me?

Some people ask “Why me?”

I say “Why not me?”

Why shouldn’t I achieve my dreams?

What is holding me back, really?

If other people can achieve success and happiness,

Why not me?

I am capable of creating opportunities.

I am resourceful and committed.

I am no less deserving or able bodied.