My Most Important Mile: Alisha Perkins
Alisha looking like the badass mother runner she is. (She sprained her ankle during this shoot, but we think the pic is worth it.)
Today’s Most Important Mile comes from Alisha Perkins.
The Runner’s High: I heard people talk about it. Every time it was mentioned, I would just nod and play the part, act as though I was in the inner loop. I would smile, agree, and fake that I had been there too, that I had experienced that runner’s orgasm.
The truth was that I had not; in fact I had never even gotten close. I was still faking it and wondering what all the hoopla was about. I was running about 2 miles a day (the distance, I determined, where I could still eat chocolate and not get fat) and I hated it. I did it because my metabolism was not what is was when I was 18, so I had to do something to eat that Kit Kat after my kids went to bed.
I was not a running newbie by any means. I ran track in high school and for a very short time in college, but I was a sprinter who refused to do anything over 200 meters. Once out of college, married, and then a new mom I was running to stay in shape. But I had yet to love it.
That all changed one day in spring training of 2010. My husband, Glen, is a major league baseball player, and our family of four—two daughters, plus us—were in Florida without my family, friends, or babysitters. Day in and day out, my only break was the run I squeezed in when Glen got home from the field.
One day, I went out for my 2-mile run after I had more than enough of Dora and refilling snack cups. When it was coming to an end, I realized I was not ready to re-enter the world of diaper changes, temper tantrums, and the inevitable bedtime fight. So I kept running.
5 miles later—two miles further than I had even gone before in my life—I finally achieved it. The big running “O”. Something happened in that moment. I fell in love with running, which experts say can happen when you get that feeling (wink wink). I felt euphoric yet relaxed, motivated yet Zen, craving another run yet exhausted. I entered the house a better mother and wife—and my husband took notice.
That said, the effect of five miles on me was the most noticeable. Since the birth of my daughters I have struggled with anxiety, which became worse with each hormonal shift. I could not sleep alone in my house when Glen was on a road trip (which was often), so my mom stayed over. She wasn’t just in my house though; I made her sleep in the same bed with me. I was a 25-year-old mother and wife who couldn’t sleep at night unless my mom was cuddled up with me.
Talk about anxiety that had spiraled out of control. It took me a long time to put a name to it, but once I did I was proactive in getting the help that I needed.
On the day of my most important mile, I had been seeing a therapist regularly for three years and was on medication for a year, but I still felt like there was something more I could do to control the adrenaline and anxiety that coursed through my body. On hot Florida pavement, I found the last piece to my anxiety puzzle, the one thing I needed keep it all in check.
I found running.
Since that day, I’ve completed over 15 half marathons, several 10 mile races, and one full marathon—and I hope to cross the 26.2-mile finish line again.
I never take a Runner’s High for granted, as I know now that that release drains the anxiety from my veins; it is funny to me to think back to when I used to have to fake the running orgasm, I used to wonder how it could really be something so profound that people felt the need to talk about it. Now I know, I get it, and I am a better mother, wife, daughter, sister, and friend for it.
Question for you: Have you experienced the Runner’s High? Or do you just nod your head and fake it?
What was (or will be) the most important mile? Share it with us! Best way to submit is to email us your story with a picture: runmother {at} gmail {dot} com with “Most Important Mile” in the subject line. Please try to keep your mile stories around 400 words. Thank you!
One #FindYourStrong Marathon, Two Voices: Keeping Injuries at Bay
![MRTT in the [coffee]house - thank goodness for BRFs!](https://anothermotherrunner.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/MRTT-e1435537791543.jpg)
Cleveland Moms Run This Town in the [coffee]house – thank heavens for running friends!
Heather
First, let’s talk about how this recovery week didn’t feel like one. For one thing, I’ve been suffering from a whole lotta “first mile syndrome” (thanks, Martini for giving that a name!) It may just be random suckage, but I also suspect I’m still working out some kinks in my nutrition. For another thing, our radar all week pretty much looked like this:
That was Saturday’s run, when I wrapped my cell phone in Saran Wrap before putting it into its waterproof case. Pro tip: you can still operate your touch screen through plastic wrap! By Sunday (this week’s scheduled long run day) I was thrilled to have the badass, hilarious company of my MRTT (Moms Run This Town) gals alongside me as I slogged through yet another day of rain.
On other matters, there’s been a lot of discussion on the #FindYourStrong Strava and Facebook groups about strength training lately. How much, how often, how am I supposed to fit all this in?
Admittedly, this whole marathon training program thing has messed with my routine a bit. When I’m not running 30 miles a week, I usually try to squeeze in two bouts of strength. These days, I’m happy to get in one – but I do make sure I get it in.
See, eight years ago I ended up in some barefoot running shoes. Back then I was a social runner, and despite working for a major running company, I honestly didn’t know much about my own feet. As an over-pronater, barefoot shoes probably weren’t the best choice for me in the first place, and I definitely should have been more cautious building up my miles in them. But I wasn’t. And on mile 8 of a 12-mile cruise around Sauvie Island in Portland, I felt a sharp stab in the arch of my right foot, followed by pins and needles up and down my leg. Readers familiar with the Sauvie Island loop know that it can be an isolated route and has no shortcuts. I limped through the remaining 4 miles and took a few days off, but kept running. (Of course I did!)
Many months, several specialists, and a [relatively useless] pair of expensive orthotics later, I finally saw a physical therapist who figured it out. And broke the news that I had a whole bunch of cute little micro-tears in my arch along with a pile of scar tissue.
Certainly, running in improper footwear was at least partially to blame for the injury that kept me from running distances for several years. But I think it was also due to my lack of strength training at the time. The physical therapist that I saw gave me some exercises that to this day I incorporate into my weekly strength routine.
Below is the routine that I try to get in every week. Now that I know the routine by heart, I can knock it out in about 25 minutes. I usually do it on a cross-training morning while watching the early local news; my 3.5-year-old munches toast and scolds me whenever I block his view of the car commercials.
Even though my mileage varies, being consistent with this routine for the last three years has really worked for me. Each set consists of 12 reps of each exercise. I then do each set 3 times. (So, 12 squat-and-lifts; 12 push-ups; 12 rainbow planks; then repeat that 2 more times before moving on to the next group of exercises.)
– Squat and lift (I use a 10-lb weight. Squat, then clench those abs, stand straight, and extend the weight up and out)
– Push-ups
– Rainbow plank (from a standard plank position, twist at the waist to touch one hip to the ground, then twist the opposite direction to touch the other hip down. That’s one.)
Strength training is always more fun with a buddy
– One-legged squats (12 each side, and raise your knee when you straighten up for a little extra balancing action)
– Rows (I use 10 lbs)
– Flies (use a lighter weight here – for me, that’s 5 lbs)
– Inchworms with Theraband (With the band around your ankles as shown, stand with feet shoulder width apart. Step your left foot straight out to the left, then step your right foot to the left so your feet are back to shoulder-width. Do 12 each direction.)
– Step-backs with Theraband (Just like the Inchworms, but here you step back with each foot. Do 12 on each side.)
– Walking lunges (12 on each side. I’m demonstrating how to lunge around preschoolers in the upper right picture. )
– Sumo squat with bicep curl (I’ve got 10 lbs in each hand.)
– One-Legged Calf raises (12 each leg. I usually cheat a little and touch one finger to a hip-level surface to help with balance.)
– Triceps Dips
– Ab twist (12 each side; I hold a 10-lb weight when I rotate.)
– Heroes (Lie flat on your back with legs outstretched and arms above your head. In one fluid motion, curl up to a seated position with arms outstretched. Reverse the motion to lie back down and repeat 12 times.)
– Locusts (Lie flat on your stomach with legs outstretched and arms at your sides. In one movement, left your legs, arms, and torso off the ground – hold for a count of 3, then rest on the ground. Repeat 12 times.)
Marianne
Happy birthday to Rachel! We’re both pro-wellness and we’re both smiling. Coincidence? I think not.
First, I agree with Heather. Strength training has helped me run better, faster, longer, and with less discomfort. I think it is partly why I am successfully through 4 weeks of training having hit every required workout and even some optional ones.
I’m going talk about the other tools in my self-care kit. Writing about about it, I have to admit, feels indulgent because it highlights that wellness is a wee bit of a budget item. (Although, in my defense, my budget for things like clothes and shoes is pretty small.)
I also recognize that I have two advantages when it comes to time management. First, I have one child and she is in daycare 5 days. Second, I am an academic so my available work hours in summer are pretty much 24/7 with the exception of the occasional scheduled meeting. It’s easy for me to start working at 5am and get in an hour before I head out to run. Then I can use that hour later for one of the following.
- Massage: I get one once a month partly for the physical benefit and partly because my person of choice encourages me to think about what the tension in my body is related to in my life. I’ve gotten insights from these that didn’t pop up in traditional therapy. And sometimes a tender spot or two shows me where I need to put in some extra foam rolling time.
- Chiropractor: Lucky for me, my health insurance covers a few dozen visits a year. These adjustments, exercises to take home, and warnings before things turn ugly have kept me injury free for several years. I have learned it is good to get in as soon as I start to feel off, even if I know there will be some discomfort to get things back in shape.
- Reflexology: This is my newest addition. I started based on recommendations from our local Maplewood/South Orange message board and due to paranoia that it was my feet that would be my undoing during training. So far, my feet are tense but not injured. I plan to keep it as such.
- Yoga: I try for one class a week. I’m lucky to have a studio very close by that offers a variety of classes and even hosted two Yoga for Runners workshops. My ideal self throws in some of the poses from the worksheets from these classes after every run. My actual self averages every fifth run or so.
- Sleep: If I want to eat well, run well, parent well, or work well, I need 7 hours. Sometimes 8. It is no coincidence that “well” rhymes with “yell” which is what I am prone to do if tired. On tough days, I am known to put Joyce to bed and then crawl in myself and turn out the lights before it is fully dark outside. I love mornings, especially when I am up before everyone else. And yes, that means I now get up when I sometimes used to go to bed in my 20’s.Anything we’re missing that works for you? Tell us readers, what we can do to keep feeling ready to add more and more miles?
A Mother of a Bike Ride: 2,000 miles
1,000 miles down! Pam, a mother runner, and her husband Tony are rolling through the Western half of the US.
With summer the time for adventure, we wanted to check in with Pam Serpico, a 54-year-old mother runner who lives in Elizabethtown, KY, who is biking 2,000 miles from Portland, Oregon to Colorado Springs, Colorado to benefit Heart Strides, the AMR non-profit partner that supplies running shoes and gear to mothers of kids who are critically ill or have special needs. She’s biking with Tony, her husband; together they have two boys, ages 22 and 20.
Before two wheels, the history of her two feet: I started running when my oldest son was in preschool and I was home with my youngest. We’d walk Jon to preschool, the Nathaniel, in the jogging stroller, and I would take off for a run. Another mom at the preschool noticed what I was doing and asked if she could join me. We were both brand new runners, so we started off running 5 minutes and walking 5, for a total of 20 minutes. Little by little we started running more and walking less, within a year we were doing a min of 40 minutes and up to two hours. We became close friends, as running partners do; we discussed everything under the sun. Highlights of my running career include running my first marathon (Rock & Roll in Nashville in 2007) and running alongside my BRF for her first marathon in Carmel, IN last April.
The family that rides together: Tony and I love to do bike trips together; it’s extended, active time together with no distractions while seeing beautiful countryside and having amazing experiences. We did bike trips together before kids while in Europe—we lived there for 15 years through the military—then with kids in a bike trailer, and kids on tandems. Now it’s back to just us!
All I need is this bike, and these three water bottles…
Best Meal: Ha! Every meal. Seriously, waitresses love us. Every time we eat it’s like, “Oh my gosh. This is SO good!”
Best Sleep: In the cool mountain air in our tent. The hotel nights are a treat, but I never sleep as well as I do camping in the mountains.
Fastest Speed: 37 mph. I’m a chicken. I feather my breaks on descents. Tony would just fly down, but I’m not that brave! He’s amazing, he always rides behind me so I don’t feel pressured to ride faster on the ascents, descents or flats.
Hotel room AC. Sometimes feels like heaven.
Mantra: “I can do this!” I’ve needed to repeat that to myself over and over, many times on this trip!
Coolest person met so far: Charles, the 90-year-old camp host we met the first week. He has a big motor home that he uses to work as a host in the summers, then drives to Arizona to spend his winters. He’s active, positive and has a goal to live past 100. He told us that he wants to, “go out being shot by a jealous husband!” What a feisty, inspirational guy!
Most innovative shower: After a recent 80-mile day with crazy winds, I was covered in dirt, dead bugs and salt when we finally made it to Lander, Wyoming, only to find that every hotel was booked. The town offers free camping for bikers in their city park, so we were set! However, there wereno showers. And I really needed a shower. So I did what any upstanding 50+ year old woman would do; I took a sink shower in McDonalds bathroom! Washed my hair and everything!
Taking a break for a much-needed drink.
Her extensive wardrobe—and a little TMI: I get to choose between one biking skirt or one pair shorts and two biking jerseys. I’m loving the skirt, it has the BEST padding to keep the butt somewhat comfortable. And this may be TMI, but the “store” is rarely open for business because it’s just WAY too tender!
Number of flat tires in the first week: 6.
The bigger purpose: I first learned about Heart Strides while listening to the AMR podcast with Denise, the founder, during a run on the dreadmill on a cold, snowy day. I was in awe and knew immediately that this was a cause I wanted to get behind. I’m a special education teacher and I’ve seen moms struggle as they pour all of themselves into caring for their kiddos. I know how much running/fitness has helped me as a mom, and I can only imagine how much more someone facing these struggles would benefit from the gift of fitness. I rallied my Sole Sisters running group and we put together a large suitcase of shoes and running clothes, which I took to Denise when I flew out to visit my BFF in Colorado Springs last April. After meeting Denise and chatting over coffee, I felt even more inspired to help out. A few weeks later while biking with Tony, I thought, I can dedicate my tour this summer to raising funds and awareness for Heart Strides. It seemed like a perfect opportunity!
If you’d like to donate to Pam’s ride, you can do so through her campiagn here. Also, here again is the Heart Strides main page if you want more information and/or to donate to their general fund. Thank you!
#167: Summertime and the Working out is Easier…or Harder
SBS last summer, about to embark on a steamy summer run with a load of Portland-area mother runners.
Sarah and Dimity go guest-less this week to discuss whether it’s easier or tougher to fit exercise into the family summer lifestyle. Early on in this fun, meandering conversation, it’s evident the two mother runners fall on opposite ends of the summer-is-sweet scale. With input from the Another Mother Runner Facebook community sprinkled in, the gals talk about whether longer daylight hours make for more time to work out—or fewer hours of shut-eye, making it tougher to rise and shine for 5:00 a.m. runs. Both gals admit they are more adventurous in their summer workouts. Along the way, find out how Dimity’s husband did at Grandma’s Marathon (and how that race as Dim, “crushing hard on Minnesota”); what recent athletic endeavor was “an exercise in patience” for Dimity; and hear reminders why running can the a rock in your life.
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Martini Fridays: On Pins and Needles
Here’s the short version of my 12-mile run last Saturday: I didn’t die. So – hooray!
Given that it is a) June and b) I live ten miles from the Catskill Mountains, my choices for a super long route was to pick one that was either a) flat and sunny or b) hilly and shady. I picked option b because the day was looking like it was going to be a scorcher. After that, it was merely a matter of strapping on Herr Garmin, plus a water bottle belt, water, phone, a couple of Gu, and a tissue or two and skipping out the door. I miss runs that don’t require four extra pounds of stuff. If anyone is up for being my personal aid station, let’s talk.
After that, it was just a simple matter of the running for 2.5 hours. Up the hills, down the hills, and twice around a flock of Canada geese who did not like the look of me.
These geese did not like me.
I burst into tears around mile 11 because a podcast about a song written about the space shuttle Columbia crash hit me in the “feels,” as the kids say. Apparently, I am that kind of geek. Plus, something about pushing through double-digit mileage in super-humid conditions makes me extra emotionally vulnerable. My brain must think that if I won’t just sit down already, despite how heavy its making my legs feel, it will make sure I can’t see well enough to keep going and will finally stop already.
But I prevailed, then spent the rest weekend doing as little as possible, which is as it should be. Also, my right leg was feeling a little off. Nothing awful, mind. Just kind of like things weren’t lined up quite right.
My preferred recovery position, which includes a corgi and Pro Compression socks.
Monday was an easy recovery run, which was OK but never felt completely comfortable. I had first mile syndrome, where everything sucks just a little, the entire time. When I woke up on Tuesday, my right lower leg, which contains the calf that always bleats the loudest, had moved from generally grouchy to actively painful. I’d developed a little bit of a limp. So I called my acupuncturist friend Laura — you remember Laura — and she squeezed me in.
No, there isn’t a bruise on my ankle. Just had to really bump up the contrast to see the needles.
A quick disclaimer about the sticking of needles into one’s body: I find it incredibly helpful and I was a super-sized skeptic before I tried it a few years ago. It helps that the practitioner and I know each other well — so well, in fact, that Laura took my 12-year old to the Peruvian rainforest with her 12-year old — but I’d still do it even without that connection. Your mileage, of course, may vary. And that’s cool, too.
By Wednesday morning, the leg felt good enough to run on but not awesome. Still, five miles with the middle three at my race pace of 11:22 went well. On the weekend’s long run, I found a penny — and then had my dog steal the remainder of the Chomps that fell out of my pocket when I pulled out my phone for a picture.
Apparently, she needed some fast energy.
The rest of the runs during the past few days have been more or less uneventful, with one exception.
This past Monday’s interval day, which was six two-minutes at 85 percent of my maximum effort with a one-minute recovery, with a mile warm-up/cool-down on either side, was, simply, terrible. So terrible, in fact that those two minute fast bits wound up being closer to 1:30, then one minute fast bits. Which made my Type-A soul shrivel and die a little.
It was humbling how crappy that run was. And it led to the doubts that always creep up when I’m this far into any training, where the race is still a few weeks off, taper hasn’t yet begun, and I’m at my most tired. Right now I’m fairly certain that my goal time of a 2:30 half is sheer craziness. I can maybe string together four 11:20ish miles — but to add 9 more? Inconceivable.
And, yes, that word does mean what I think it means.
However, I’m equally certain that a little rest would go a long way towards making me feel better about all kinds of things. Once I get past this weekend’s long run — which is 13 – 14 miles (!) with the last two miles at race pace (!!) — I’ll be all about the hard core relaxing, even though there will be a couple of short speed sessions scattered in.
Right now, I just need to push through Saturday’s killer workout. Any tips for getting through a daunting-but-achievable training day?
In Her Shoes: Running 100 Miles on the ‘Mill
Run EMZ during her second hundred-miler.
Our final—waaah!—In Her Shoes features the endurance monster Run EMZ, who has done two 100 miile runs on a treadmill. If you can’t pick up your jaw off the floor after reading this and want more details, we had Emily on our podcast in 2013. Here is her episode.
I run in San Francisco for my second 24-hour treadmill run, which benefits Effect.org, an incredible non-profit building affordable, high-impact schools for children in India. (I ran my first 100-miler to help Arizona’s Sojourner Center, a shelter for battered women.)
For the first eleven hours, I am inside a gym, where the scenery (obviously) doesn’t change. Even so, I don’t understand the boredom a lot of people feel on the treadmill. As crazy at it sounds, I find it very stimulating. Running on the treadmill, I lose myself: My mind can go anywhere, and I don’t have to worry if I’m going to stumble on a rock or if a car is going to come barreling down the street.
When the sun comes up, I move outside to Market Street, a main city thoroughfare. I’m out in public, with people walking by and starting up a conversation with me to figure out what I’m doing.
When the run gets challenging, I start thinking outside myself. That’s one of my favorite ways to run. If I’m doing a 20-miler, I’ll write twenty names on a Post-It Note and stick it on the treadmill display. I think about each person through a whole mile, then I move on when I hit the next mile.
During one of those hard times during my first 100-mile run, my best girlfriend, who stayed with me the whole time, said, “I think you need to get out of your own brain and think about something else.” I asked her bring over a pamphlet for the shelter, and I looked at the faces of the women they’ve helped. I also looked at the families they hadn’t helped, the ones they had to turn away because they didn’t have enough beds. It’s pretty hard to give any concern to your legs or whatever is ailing when looking at faces like that.
I keep a towel covering every number on the treadmill. I never look at any of the numbers, even on runs I do at home. I just run for a certain amount of time—it could be twenty minutes or two hours—then I’ll see far I’ve gone.
My stomach’s pretty solid. I don’t have the issues a lot of runners do, only being able to eat certain things. I eat full out during this run: a 10-inch tempeh sandwich, with all sorts of stuff on it. A couple of bagels and peanut butter, and plenty of other calories.
Every four hours or so, I pause the treadmill and use the restroom, even if I don’t have to. I want to make sure my fluid intake and output is okay. I step on a scale and make sure the in-and-out is balanced. It makes me feel better and keeps my head clear to know I’m doing everything I need to do to take care of myself.
A smile–and finish line–worth 108 miles.
On Market Street, one gentleman just stands and stares. It isn’t a creepy stare; his brain is just turning. He comes over and he says, “Do you feel okay? Do you think this is okay for your body?” I smile. “I honestly feel really good. I trained for this. I didn’t just pop up on here. “ He says, “Your smile is amazing and I cannot believe you’re smiling. I know you’ve been running for nineteen hours already.”
“It’s all about the charity. It’s all about raising money,” I explain.
He shakes his head, smiles, and donates $500. He says, “You, my friend, are amazing.”
Once I hit a little over 100 miles, I start to feel my lower back. I hadn’t experienced that sensation before. My team decides I should cover 108 miles and call it.
—Emily (Motto: “You’ve Freaking Got This!”)