Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Important mid-week update!

I mentioned on a previous blog, one of my 2011 goals has been to "kick up into handstand" before the end of the year.  Oh, I've been working on this for years, but I've felt like this year, it was attainable," if "I practiced from time to time.

On Tues.,  I decided to run in Bent Creek and Dandridge for my "planned" 14 mile run.  I started the run around 6:00.    This area is challenging for me, especially on a longish, run.   I started in Bent Creek, which was my first mistake.  I ran most of the roads in the area and headed back to my car at 8 miles for a sip of Gatorade.  Then I headed down the road to Dandridge, my 2nd mistake.  Dandridge has very little protection from the sun, and the hills are more challenging than Bent Creek.  Immediately, I'm thinking...."YOU SHOULD HAVE"......

The hills become more and more challenging.  These are not long hills, but for me, they are steep.  Short, steep, rolling hills - unending rollers that beat me down.  I begin to walk up the steepest offenders.  Around 10 miles I decide I've had enough on the hills.  I make it back to the flat area and then I realize "THIS RUN IS DONE".  I stop at 11 miles, way short of my 14 mile plan.    In the recent past, I would  "gut it out", no matter what, to get the mileage of the day.  Yes, there is a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment in doing that.   Maybe it's age,  maybe it's early in the distance season, maybe it's a new found freedom, maybe it's being smart, maybe it's giving up,  one can look at this many different ways.  

This is how I look at this one.   This run does not define me, this run means VERY little in the long season of distance running.  We have good runs, we have bad runs, it's just part of it.  Thankfully, these runs are rare for me.  So I head home and with the bad run in the rear view mirror.

Later in the day, I'm working.  I'm waiting for my embroidery machines to finish stitching hats.  I decide to work on kicking up into a handstand.  I've been working on this for years at yoga class.  I've never even been close to doing it until this year.  Earlier in the year, I made it a goal to "kick up into handstand" before 2011 ends.   So I try a couple of times, not real close, but I'm feeling strong.  I try a few more times and get closer.  Then.......
I DID IT!
I kick up against the wall, and was able to hold the pose for a short while.  I worked on getting my heals off the wall, so that I was totally in a handstand, with no assistance from the wall.  I was able to hold it for a few seconds.  

So after the failed attempt at 14, a sunny part of the day, a 2011 goal achieved, MUCH earlier than expected, with 5 months to spare.  Totally exciting!  As you can see, I'm a VERY simple person, with simple goals in life.  So how will I remember yesterday?  I may remember the bad run.  I still remember awful runs from years ago, they stick out in my mind.  So I may remember the bad run, but more than that, I will remember that I had a BAD run, but later in the day, I achieved a new goal that I had been working toward for years.

I did get those other 3 miles later in the day and the battle at Bent Creek and Dandridge has only just begun.   The up side of a bad run is the fire that burns to conquer it another day.  
I call that success! 

15 comments:

Jennifer said...

Yay! I know that has been bugging you for a long time. Maybe IF you had run 14 you would have been too tired to try the handstand. Anyway, everything works out in the end.

I have been making plans for the 1 mile challenge and want to do some practice runs. Probably weekday morning, on the Trace at Jackson Rd. I don't want to do it on the track, I want to run it in a straight line. What do you think?

Lisa said...

Good for you! Couldn't agree more. As cliche as it may sound, bad runs help us identify (and celebrate) the good runs. I also say that its better to have a bad run during training rather than having a bad run during whatever race you're training for.

misszippy said...

Great attitude Ginny. You've got this running thing down!

Happy Feet 26.2 said...

Jen - yes, I'm interested for sure! Will email you!
Lisa - so TRUE
Thanks miss zippy!

RunToTheFinish said...

woot woot!!! Handstands scare me, silly but I'm totally sure i will really hurt myself.

i agree any run can be defined however we choose.

Lindsay said...

no photo evidence? hmm not sure if we can accept this... ;)

congrats! i used to throw myself into a handstand when i was younger but now it seems so 'scary' for some reason.

as for the 11 in this heat... you're just crazy.

Jill said...

What, no pictures of the handstand? How are we to know for sure this is real, huh?? :)

That's really cool, Ginny. I saw a guy at the gym yesterday doing in a handstand position doing pushups. All I could think of was how I couldn't even do a handstand anymore to save my life! And I'm not sure I should even try - ha.

I'm not sure how you run 1 mile in heat. I know you are acclimated more than wimpy me but this heat stuff really zaps your strength!! Kuddos to you for the 11!!!

Emily @ Journey to the Center of Manhattan said...

great job - you are awesome!! keep it up!

HappyTrails said...

Ha! Simplicity is good! I agree with Jennifer - if you would've finished your 14 miler, you would have been too tired for the handstand. No worries about cutting a run short - it is only one day and you've got so many days and so many miles in your legs, it's fine. It was your body sending a message and you wisely listened. That 'run-cut-short' may make the difference between becoming injured or not. Tomorrow is a new day (albeit a hot one, for you!). Awesome on the handstand - I think I might hurt myself attempting that at this point (or something like a cartwheel - LOL!).

Chris K said...

Hah, I can do a one-handed one for like, 10 minutes. Kidding. That is awesome Ginny. You must have some big "guns".

BTW, seems you didn't bring much to drink on that brutal run. You went back for a "sip" of Gatorade after 8 miles! You don't need to reply, but if that's true, then please think about a hand bottle.

Happy Feet 26.2 said...

Chris K - do not worry, I'm the queen of hydration. Ever 20 min. for me. I wear a backpack with water, or drop waters along the way. Added the Gatorade starting at 8 miles, but had a gel at 1 hour. hydration and electrolytes = check! :)

Gracie said...

I could never do a handstand. Never. I'd probably break something trying.
I am so glad you tried the cookies, even if they were gooey! They are definitely easy to make and a little too easy to eat, too!

Jess A @cajunrunnerjess said...

Congrats on accomplishing your goal!

Tina @GottaRunNow said...

Congrats on the handstand! You're tough!

Cory Reese said...

This is awesome - way to go!!!