Running for Two: Almost to the Finish Line
Below are two pictures that are exactly one year apart.
This one is from one year ago. Me, a BAMR, who was not pregnant and just kicked some Twin Cities 10-miler butt! I trained hard and I felt amazing! Even after running the ten miles, I walked another five chasing my brother-in-law around the marathon course. That day I was proud. I was proud of my accomplishment. I was proud of how I physically felt and, to be brutally honest, I was really proud about how loose my Saucony Bullet capris felt!
I was in shape and at the top of my running game. I didn’t have a stellar time but i was on top of the world because I felt so strong during the race. I danced while spectators played music. I stopped and hugged my family as they chased me around the course. Most importantly, I smiled the entire time, even on that giant hill at the end. These are the moments that I relish lately as I lace my Sauconys up.
My body has changed so much from a year ago. At first, I struggled to accept that those comfy capris were starting to cut off circulation and that the numbers on the scale were starting to move upward. Then I received some wise advice from a friend. “Clothes and scales are cruel, you are growing a human, embrace what your body is doing,” and that is just what I did. I turned my struggle into strength and started to embrace the journey.
This photo is me, a week ago, and exactly one year from the initial photo. I am a PBAMR who is still deliberately moving. I can barely see my toes and I am legit waddling, but I am still moving. I can tell you that my toenails desperately need to be painted; however, there is no way I can reach those tootsies to paint them. This belly is growing, just like the little human inside. We have reached the final stretch and, just like with any race, I am digging deep into the reserves to keep moving forward and finish strong.
This last month of pregnancy has given me time to really appreciate my body and what it is doing. I am making a human. I am deliberately moving. I long for the days of loose pants and not being winded from putting my shoes on — but I am impressed with myself. I wasn’t sure I could be more proud of myself, as I was the day I ran that 10-miler, but I am. With Reese, I stopped moving early. Right now, with BOB #2, I am 37 weeks pregnant and still deliberately moving.
On Wednesdays, We Wear Pink: Johanna’s Story
So many mother runners are already aware of breast cancer, including our own Katie, that it seems almost like overkill to devote October to becoming even more aware. Yet breast cancer remains the second leading killer of women and there are more than 3.1 million U.S women who have been or are currently being treated for it. Most of the women in the Tribe have been affected by breast cancer, as a patient or as a sister, daughter, mother, or friend.
We’d love it if you’d wear pink Wednesdays this month (yes, a few of us at Team AMR are Mean Girls fans). We’ll be reminding you on Tuesdays because, honestly, who can’t use a reminder? When you wear your pink tomorrow, take a picture of yourself and join us over on Facebook. We have easy-to-use profile picture overlays to show your support for BAMRs with breast cancer, increase awareness, and drive conversations. If you like to DIY your own overlays, click here.
We’re also sharing stories about having breast cancer from mother runners, like this one from Johanna, who lives in Edinburg, PA, and has three kids: Emily 13, Pacey 11, and Ryan 9.
Johanna crossing the first of many finish lines before her diagnosis.
My cancer was diagnosed in November of 2015. I turned 40 that October and had my first mammogram. They called me back and, after another mammogram, a sonogram, and a biopsy, discovered the cancer.
I had too many first thoughts and none at all. Within a week, I was in multiple doctor appointments, had another biopsy, and even more appointments. I was scared but trying to keep a positive attitude for the kids and family. I was worried about the kids and feeling very alone. No one in my close circles wanted to hear about my fears; they all just wanted to tell me everything was fine and to not be so negative.
I had just completed the AMR marathon training group and the Marine Corp. marathon. I was in my resting time so running was only in the back of my mind. Honestly, from that first week when they told me I needed to come back for a biopsy through Thanksgiving, I didn’t have any time to even think about running. I had no time due to appointments, trying to research, and figure out what I wanted to have done.
I was diagnosed with DCIS. The doctor that I originally saw recommended just a lumpectomy with radiation. Mastectomy was also an option with no further treatment. After lots of research, soul searching, and more opinions, I ultimately choose to have a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction. I had no further treatment.
I had surgery in January 2016, when I had a mastectomy and tissue expanders put in. My exchange surgery was in January 2017, which is when the tissue expanders were taken out and silicone implants were put in. In short, 2016 sucked! The tissue expanders are like bricks. Hard and very uncomfortable things that are placed under your pec muscle. Surgery screwed with all my upper body muscles and made everything uncomfortable, even running.
I am feeling wonderful now. Most days. I still have lingering muscle issues in my back, around the shoulder blades. This May, I started strength training, which I had never done before! Also, I am running a half this weekend that I have been training for. I completed two other halfs since my diagnosis, with one in 2016 because I needed to feel “normal.” I didn’t train; I was just was having a bad day and needed part of the old me back. So I just signed up two weeks before the race. Then I ran/walked it by myself and felt great (mentally,not great physically.) I did the same kind of thing in June, just because I felt sort of lost not training for anything and missed the rush of a race.
Johanna (and two of her kiddos) finishing the race after diagnosis.
I think friends who want to support women with breast cancer should know that they need to be real. Don’t be afraid to upset your friend because those emotions are right there anyway. Talk to us about your life. It was nice to have friends come to me with their every day problems and treat me like they always had.
Don’t ask if anything is needed — but rather bring a movie over during recovery and watch it with them or stop by and say “let’s go for a walk.” Take them dinner. If you are very close, talk about the reconstruction process and how they are feeling with all the decisions, like what type of surgery they had. All the reconstruction options are sooooooo overwhelming, it is not even funny and don’t be afraid to tell them what you would do!
I don’t have my mom because she passed several years ago, so I still struggle with wishing I had a close female to speak to about the reconstruction options, how everything turned out, and how I feel about it all.
#281: A Conversation with Pregnant Pro Runner Alysia Montaño
Sarah and Ellison Weist delight in chatting with professional runner Alysia Montaño, a 2012 Olympian and 7-time (!!!) U.S. Champion in the 800-meters. Due with baby #2 next month, Alysia talks about busting the long-standing myths of staying active during pregnancy. Alysia shares how she is navigating her “shifting” body—and how she schooled her regular UPS driver in the power of a pregnant woman. She tells why she wears a flower in her hair when she runs—as well as how she gained her childhood nickname of Icebox! Find out what “drain the dragons” means in this pro mother runner’s life, and delight at her gotta-grab-life-by-the-horns approach to motherhood. Sarah is awestruck by an insight from Alysia, borrowing the phrase to fuel her marathon. Alysia even shares a bit of her birth story, complete with a BOSU ball.
In the intro, Sarah relates a bit more about her Twin Cities Marathon run, and Ellison talks about the books she’s read lately (see list). Dear Alysia joins the conversation at 26:50.
My Absolute Darling by Gabriel Tallent
Brewster by Bruce Slouka
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
The Child Finder by Renee Denfield
Dying: A Memoir by Cory Taylor
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My Most Important Mile: Jill Kelsey
Before we get to the meat of today’s post, here’s a brief glance at what would be your dessert! Registration is OPEN for the next Another Mother Runner Retreat: Run + Refresh! Join us in Ogden, Utah, May 17-20, 2018 for a little AMR R & R! Need to want to know every last detail? Click here.
And now, today’s post…
Another in our series of Most Important Miles to celebrate the fact that we are so grateful for your stories, our collective miles that send strength and love into the world, the community that brings us together, and the simple ability to run.
Juliet is on the left, Shannon is center, Cara is on the right, and Jill, the writer of this piece, is in the back. This was snapped after an early morning run
Whenever I have a loss, a solo run helps me work it all out. I unexpectedly lost Juliet, a dear friend, last week. She was 42. The cause of her death is still undetermined. She was recovering from pneumonia in the hospital, was released, then collapsed and died the following day at home. Juliet leaves behind three children — ages 14, 12, and 10 — and a husband.
We had both moved in the past year and, besides seeing each other’s Facebook posts and occasional text, we had hardly kept in touch. In the last week, I have had several runs trying to work out my grief and guilt, but it wasn’t until today, towards the end of a 15-miler that I realized what I needed to say to Juliet.
We’d become friends because our friend Shannon forgot her dress shoes and was wearing running shoes at a church event. It was 2011, the Rock’n’Roll marathon was coming to Savannah for the inaugural year, and Shannon had recruited me to help coach a local training group. At the church event, the always friendly Juliet walked up to Shannon and noting her work clothes and informal shoes asked, “Do you run?” It turned out Juliet was new in town and an experienced running coach, so naturally Shannon recruited her to help with the training group. Juliet ended up being our experienced leader.
As Juliet and I ran together on the weekends, we found out that we had a lot in common. Our kids are about the same age. We both have roots in Pittsburgh and were science teachers. In fact, Juliet completed her student teaching at the high school I’d graduated from. As a new runner, I learned so much from her. That year, she was tackling her first full marathon. Not only was she full of knowledge, she was fun and introduced me to sparkle skirts, which are a staple of my race wear.
The following year, I decided to run a full marathon and she was such an important cheerleader. I would constantly go to her for advice or to share news of achieving new mileage. By then, all her children were now in school and she felt like she was ready to leave the stay-at-home mom life. I encouraged her to start substituting. She subbed in my classroom and my students loved her. In the blink of an eye, she was a long-term sub and then a full-time teacher with me at the same high school! As we became work colleagues, we became even closer and often leaned on each other for support.
Jill (left) and Juliet after a mud run.
I feel honored that I got to be a friend to her when she needed it, because she was always that friend to everyone. When I told my kids that Ms. Juliet had passed, my daughter asked, “The one who I spent the night at her house and we biked to Dairy Queen?” Yes, sweetheart. She was a friend that I trusted enough to keep my kids overnight and a kind enough person who I was not afraid to ask a big favor of. She had such a big heart and everyone knew it.
As I slogged through the last mile of my long run, I was grateful. Grateful for the opportunity to be able to run, grateful to Juliet for introducing me to the sport, and grateful to have her in my life for the past six years.
Jill Kelsey teaches at Wade Hampton High School in Greenville, SC. She has two kids, ages nine and six. They did a color run this weekend for WHHS Spirit Week and are still trying to get the color off of themselves.
Triumphant Treadmill Training
Before we get to the meat of today’s post, here’s a brief glance at what would be your dessert! Registration is OPEN for the next Another Mother Runner Retreat: Run + Refresh! Join us in Ogden, Utah, May 17-20, 2018 for a little AMR R & R! Need to want to know every last detail? Click here.
And now, on with our post…
Dimity gets her treadmill groove on.
For most mother runners, the weather outside isn’t frightful yet — but we can feel the snow and ice and cold lurking. Before winter gets here, Coach MK Fleming offers up some tips for terrific treadmill training runs:
You have probably heard runners complain about “dreadmills” and “insteadmills.” I don’t have patience for either term – treadmills are fantastic tools and should be embraced.
I live in Denver and it’s a toss-up which is more brutal around here — winter or summer! If you care about your training and have your sights on a particular finish time, you have to embrace ALL training tools at your disposal. If you don’t have a treadmill handy, you’re doing yourself a disservice and have one tool fewer in your runner’s toolbox. Here’s why:
- Treadmills tend to be located in controlled environments – rain, snow, and crazy heat/humidity can’t affect your run indoors! Treadmills also tend to be conveniently located near toilets, which is super helpful if you’re under-the-weather or pregnant.
- The biggest setback to training plans is injury. Even if weather is fine, road conditions may not be. I’ve learned to be wary of sunshine the day after a snowstorm; melting snow has icy layers underneath. If it’s icy outside, think carefully about the risks. If you wipe out, you could set your training back several weeks; that is far less likely to happen on a treadmill.
- When it’s stupid hot outside, do you really want to risk running in 95+ degree heat and dehydrating or getting heat stroke? Heat stroke recovery requires two nights in the hospital for acute care, then two months to a year to fully recuperate. That’s longer than my wildest training plans!
- Does your race have hills? Even better, is it one big screaming downhill like the Revel series, Big Cottonwood, or Jack and Jill? Unless you plan to roll down that hill in a barrel, you need lots of practice running downhill; gravity only does so much. If you don’t live on the side of a mountain, you need access to a treadmill with serious incline/decline functionality. The ability to create a 3 percent grade is all you need.
- Are you an ultrarunner? Those tend to be on hilly trails. Same logic here as above – unless you live right next to a steep, technical trail you can easily access several times per week, you’re going to need to embrace a treadmill with an incline/decline function. Otherwise, I have no idea how you expect to adequately prepare.
- For many of my clients with demanding jobs, small children, or visual/auditory impairments, the treadmill in their basement is a solid guarantee that the run will get done. Be it at 4 a.m. before the kids get up or at midnight after that 1-hour video conference (that actually took 3 hours).
If you want more gems of knowledge from Coach MK, check out her Treadmill Tips! And if you’re looking for more wisdom about treadmills from other runners, this blog has you covered.
But we want to hear from you! Are you a treadmill-only runner? A treadmill-never runner? Or somewhere in between?
Move of the Month: Nordic Hamstring Curl
Welcome to a second edition of our new column: Move of the Month.
Each month, we are going to showcase one (interesting, fun) move from an expert Train Like a Mother Coach that most runners can easily add to their routine to make their bodies more prepared for the miles.
This month, we’re hitting the hamstrings with Coach Amanda Loudin, who leads the traditional challenges in the Train Like a Mother Club. The Nordic Hamstring Curl, a move she does herself, is simple yet effective move to strengthen your hamstrings, crucial to a healthy stride.
(Miss last month’s BOSU Wibble Wobble? Grab it here!)
A few pointers from Coach Amanda, who learned this move from her PT, Gene Shirokobrod from Recharge in Columbia, MD.
First: Ensure your lower legs/feet are secured to the ground, either via someone holding onto them or by sticking them under the end of your bed, a fixture at the gym or some other piece of stable furniture.
Two: Avoid hinging at the hip–you want one straight, firm line from your head to your legs as you perform the movement.
I recommend doing this move two to three times each week, whether to fatigue or in a couple of sets of 8-10 reps. Do it just prior to a run for the added bonus of engaging your glutes.