Why I Run

Well, now that my P90X/Canine program has officially fallen victim to the oppressive heat of summer (yes this happened weeks ago but denial is strong) I have decided to recommit myself to P90X Lean/Running hybrid.  This will be my third round of P90X but my first running hybrid.  I’d like to get a really good time (under two hours) for my first ½ marathon in October.  While it’s true that I’ve completed three full-marathons – the last one was in 2003 – I’ve never broke five hours and I’m returning from a knee injury so yes, this is a challenging goal for me.

Anyone who knows me (and my running love affair) will probably scoff at my next statement.  As much as I love running, I absolutely hate the first seven miles or so.   I have some of the most undermining inner-dialogue taking place at the beginning of a run and it starts at the very first sign of discomfort:  “Why are you doing this to yourself?”, “C’mon, just walk, you know you hate running.”, “You’re never gonna reach your goal so just take this run easy – don’t push yourself.”  It’s an endless barrage of negativity that takes place, without fail, on every run until I get to about the seven mile point.

You might ask, “So why do you run?”  Because it was my first love – the first thing I felt pride in being good at doing.  As a young girl, I was fast; at least over short distances.  It was a speed born of necessity.  When I wasn’t invited to a classmate’s birthday party, running hard eased the disappointment.  When the bullies down the street tried to beat me up, running hard kept me from physical harm.  When my grandfather died when I was in high school, running hard was an outlet for my anger.  No matter how often I quit running or how long I stayed away from running it was there, waiting for me when I returned.

But, poor lifestyle choices – namely 18 years of chain-smoking – robbed me of my speed and as an adult, my relationship with running changed.  If I couldn’t run hard, I reasoned, I’d run long.  I became a distance runner out of spite and my affection for running  deepened.

Looking back over the recent past, I’ve made most of my major life decisions during or immediately after a long run.  Unlike many runners, I don’t hook up to an iPod when I’m running outside.  Maybe if I did, it would drown out my inner nay-sayer.  But for me, that’s part of the appeal.  I have to conquer my my fears, doubts, and past demons in order to run past the point of negativity.  Once I break through that purely mental wall, I’m open to the positive forces of nature.

As examples:  After my first marathon at age 35, I was filled with such a belief in the power of possibility in my life that I changed career fields and returned to college;  over the course of several long runs, I came to the sad conclusion that my 11 year relationship was beyond repair and very unhealthy – that it was time to move on.  During  long runs I’ve decided to take a leap of faith and give romance another chance,  begin work on my masters degree and even to remain committed to my 14-year old foster son, who my husband and I hope to adopt soon.

Sure, I run for my health:  to strengthen my abused cardio vascular system, to maintain a healthy weight, to decrease my risk of cancers (my mom had breast cancer) and to have more energy and stamina.  But more than that, I run because over the years, running has been my faithful friend; absorbing my anger, drying my tears, sharing my joys, and helping me to find answers to questions I wouldn’t dare to ponder alone.

Deb’s Beachbody Hybrid Challenge

Human/Canine Hybrid Program

Okay, not what most folks expect when you mention a Beachbody hybrid program.  Usually it’s P90X/Insanity or another combo of exercises, but bear with me here.   As a newly-minted Independent Beachbody coach I work out regularly and do my best to eat right. Of course, I’m human and I don’t follow the nutrition plans to the letter, nor do I make every work out session. But my habits are good enough that they’ve made a significant difference to my overall health and physique. Anyone who knows me, knows that I sing the praises of Beachbody, and in particular, P90X to just about anyone who will listen. Why? Because it works despite my being a fallible human being.

And, little by little, my lifestyle changes are being adopted by my family. My husband, who does most of the meal preparation and all of the grocery shopping at our house has quit buying soda, cookies and chips adding more fresh fruits to the cart instead. All’s well that ends well, right? Not so fast…what about my two “babies” Jake and Gidget?

Jake and Gidget are two “middle-aged” lab mixes, our poochies have packed on the pounds over the past few years. Gidget used to be my running partner when she was younger and I was a more regular runner. Jake had free access to a large back yard through a doggie-door. Several years and a move later, both of them are essentially now lap dogs, albiet large ones. Sadly, my pets are not an exception to the rule. In 2006, it was estimated that the combined population of overweight/obese of dogs in the United States is between 23% and 41%. Like humans, dogs that are overweight are susceptible to health problems ranging from musculoskeletal disorders, glucose intolerance, cardiovascular problems and diabetes mellitus to bladder and mammary cancer.

Now that the family is getting fit, it’s time to come out of denial and change the lifestyle of my pets. Here is my simple plan:

* DIET – No more loving my poochies to death by giving them table scraps. Dog food, nothing but dog food – in the amount recommended for their breed and size.

* EXERCISE -
o Ease into the P90X doubles program by walking the dogs during the cardio component.
o Or – replace the cardio component of other workouts (like Brazil Butt Lift Cardio Axe) with walking the dogs for the same amount of time.

Sounds easy right? Easy for them because they’ll follow the program if I lead them. Perhaps not so easy for my family and I. Years of sweet faces wanting just a nibble of our steak have worn us down to the point that we’re wrapped around their tiny little paws. It has got to be tough love for them and for us! Beginning June 9th, I’ll be tracking our progress!