Time is just flying by so quickly! It is hard to believe that I am already nearing the end of my 4th week of "official" training. Almost 1/4 of the way there, it doesn't really seem possible.
This week has been an "easy" or recovery week; just three easy 5-mile runs. I can remember when 5 miles was a long run for me. The first time I ran 5 was just over two years ago, at a Dog Days Saturday morning run. I remember how excited I was. Funny thing is that now I don't really feel like I've done a whole lot if I run less than five. I guess it is all relative, huh?
For those of you asking, "what in the world is Dog Days?", check out the link to the website on the right. Basically it is a community workout group, with hundreds of participants on a daily basis, and over 2800 on a recent Wednesday! Don "Red Dog" Gardner has been leading this group, with help from his wife and a number of volunteers for more than 25 years. They do an incredible job and getting a "Dog Days" t-shirt is quite an accomplishment; one I have not yet attained, although several of my friends have.
The training plan I am using (I'm sure it has a name, but I haven't a clue) includes just three runs a week, each with a very specific purpose: an easy run, either speed work or a tempo run, and a long run. In two weeks, my long run will be the farthest I've ever gone - 14 miles. The long run will increase by 2 miles each week for three weeks and then I'll have an easy week like this one. Most often the long run is on Saturday, but occasionally it has to be on Sunday (or Monday).
A year ago in September, I ran my first half-marathon, followed in October by my second. Then in April was number three, which was here in Lawrence and the first time any of my family had been able to come watch. I was so excited to have them there, but I wish the weather had been better for them. I enjoyed the temperature while I was running, but was not so crazy about the wind. That last mile just about kicked my butt; uphill from 23rd St. to the Lied Center and directly into the wind, which was gusting pretty hard. I don't know for certain, but it seemed like at least 20-30 mph gusts. When I got to the finish line, my beautiful grandaughter Sierra asked me through her little chattering teeth, "What took you so long Grandma? Bless her heart; honey your grandma runs SLOW!!! One of the coolest things was my middle sister taping the race at several different spots along the way and then later presenting me with a DVD she'd made for me. Another was the support of some friends who drove over from Shawnee and from a special person who drove ahead to a number of different spots and would then run beside me for a while and tell me how great I was doing, and then jump in the car and drive to the next spot. I am so thankful for all of my family and friends; I hope all of them know how much they mean to me.
Some days are easier than others when it comes to getting my run in. This evening was great, since it was only 73 degrees when I ran, but the humidity was like 70-some % and I really struggle with breathing when the humidity is that high. Good thing I was supposed to be running slow. Sometimes if it is too hot or humid, I run inside on the treadmill; 8 miles the other day. Thank heavens (and a special person) for my iPod. Without the music, I am not sure I could run that far on a treadmill. Much prefer the outdoors. Looking forward to running on the trail tomorrow night - that's gonna be my "cross-training" since it uses differnt muscles. I really enjoy running the trails with the girls.
Some of you may have noticed the dedication in the upper right corner, and realized that last week my nephew would have been 11. Those days when it is hard to get out there, I remember that little guy we barely got to know and why this race is important to me and usually that is all I need to get me moving. Sometimes life (or migraines) get in the way; but thankfully I have someone who helps remind me that missing a day or delaying a run by a day (or two) does not mean I am a failure. Junk happens.
And sometimes what happens is good stuff. My sister gave me permission to share some special news: after 11 years of waiting, she is going to have another baby boy in December! He will be a very welcome Christmas gift for our family and we are all looking forward to his arrival. Life is full of blessings.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Why do I care about Safe Sleep?
You know how sometimes everything just seems to come together and somehow you know, "this is right; it's what I am supposed to be doing"? This is one of those times for me.
Safe Kids Douglas County could not have chosen a cause closer to my heart. When I first became interested in running in the Marine Corps Marathon as a fundraiser for Safe Kids, I didn't know one of the considerations was to use the funds raised to support the coalition's efforts to spread the message about keeping babies safe while they are sleeping. Once I heard that piece, I was hooked.
Many of the events and emotions from November 3, 1998 are still so vivid, while others are a blur. There are times when all of it comes flying back and smacks me upside the head; and next thing you know tears are streaming down my face. Of one thing, I am certain: if there is anything I can do to help prevent another family from having to go through a similar experience, then you can bet I am gonna give it my best shot.
I immediately knew something was wrong when I heard my mother's voice on the phone. She was calling to tell me they were all at the hospital where my 3-month-old nephew had been taken when his child care provider found him unresponsive following his nap. This happy, apparently healthy baby boy was gone; just like that, with no warning and no real answers as to how or why. I think that is one of the hardest things about SIDS; it is unpredictable and we don't know what causes it to happen.
The long drive from Lawrence where I was working, to the hospital in Ottawa, was filled with a million questions and prayers, with my head just spinning and thinking this couldn't be real. It had to be a nightmare; please Lord, help them be able to save him. But he was gone before he was found and there was nothing anyone could do. Such an overwhelming sense of helplessness; I can't even explain, and so many questions. How were my sister and her husband going to explain to their 19-month-old daughter where her baby brother was? To me, K will always be my baby sister, and aren't big sisters supposed to be able to make everything ok? I certainly didn't know how to do that.
How would I tell my 10-year-old daughter that her baby cousin had died? I remember holding her that night as she tried to sleep, and not knowing how to help her understand when I didn't understand myself. I'd never seen my son look so dejected and I didn't know what to say or do. There was nothing that was going to make things better. I can still see him in the hospital hallway, sitting on the floor with his arms on his knees and his head on his arms and I clearly remember feeling so totally unable to function. How do you help your children when you can barely stay afloat yourself?
And the rest of my family. My parents, other siblings and their families. Although most of us had experienced some form of loss, as best I recall, this was the first time we had been through the death of a baby. One thing that stands out for me, in addition to our faith, the love and support of family and friends was the only way we all emerged from that time in our lives. Each of us was strongly impacted and would never want another family to experience such a tragedy.
Before that day, I'd only known one other family who'd lost a child to SIDS. Because of my job working with child care providers, I knew the "best practices" to reduce the risks of SIDS, but I don't know how well I shared that information. I also didn't know all of the reasons behind each of those steps.
Although it might surprise a few of my family members, some people refer to me as "the eternal optimist" (it is not always intended as a compliment). I tend to think well of most people, and I believe the majority of us want to do what is right, especially when it comes to protecting our children. I also believe that if we understand the reason behind recommendations (or rules, or laws, etc.), we are more likely to follow them.
In today's world, it is difficult with our busy lives to keep updated and make informed decisions about everything. There is too much going on and so much information about so many different topics. How do we find the time to take it all in? And not everybody has access to the internet, with its wealth of information; some from credible sources and others, not so much.
A couple of things about the Safe Sleep Initiative that sparked my interest and desire to support the program include the plan to develop and produce a short video (I think less than 10 minutes) which is made accessible to as many people as possible, and which is free of charge. Safe sleep for infants is about more than reducing the risks of SIDS; it is also about taking steps to remove hazards that put babies at risk of suffocation or strangulation. You can't put a price on getting the word out to everyone and if Safe Kids Douglas County can find a way to help do that, I can certainly run 26.2 miles (have I lost my mind?) to hopefully raise some money to help accomplish that goal.
When it was first suggested to me that I write a blog about this journey, I was a bit reluctant. I tend to be a somewhat solitary individual, and often it takes awhile for me to open up to others. Also, it was difficult to conceive that anyone might be interested in reading about what I am doing. Besides, as my kids remind me, I often tend to ramble. (I can hear you, you know: "No, not you...")
Then I realized, this is not about me. It is about raising awareness of some issues about which I care a great deal: keeping children safe, including safe sleep practices. Safe Kids does a tremendous job of helping support the efforts of caregivers and parents to keep children as safe as possible. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to help with those efforts.
So join me on this journey if you like. Besides helping raise awareness, there might be occasions when you suffer from insomnia and reading this blog will be just the cure...
But seriously, I do hope each of you will take a couple of minutes and click on the link to my page of the Team Safe Kids website and donate to support Safe Kids and especially the Safe Sleep initiative. The link is right up there, at the top of this page. Thanks in advance; your contribution is very much appreciated!
We will never know if my nephew's death might have been prevented. We don't know what causes SIDS, but we do know some things that help reduce the risk and also help prevent other tragedies. Babies spend most of their lives sleeping. It is up to us to do everything in our power to ensure they are safe.
Safe Kids Douglas County could not have chosen a cause closer to my heart. When I first became interested in running in the Marine Corps Marathon as a fundraiser for Safe Kids, I didn't know one of the considerations was to use the funds raised to support the coalition's efforts to spread the message about keeping babies safe while they are sleeping. Once I heard that piece, I was hooked.
Many of the events and emotions from November 3, 1998 are still so vivid, while others are a blur. There are times when all of it comes flying back and smacks me upside the head; and next thing you know tears are streaming down my face. Of one thing, I am certain: if there is anything I can do to help prevent another family from having to go through a similar experience, then you can bet I am gonna give it my best shot.
I immediately knew something was wrong when I heard my mother's voice on the phone. She was calling to tell me they were all at the hospital where my 3-month-old nephew had been taken when his child care provider found him unresponsive following his nap. This happy, apparently healthy baby boy was gone; just like that, with no warning and no real answers as to how or why. I think that is one of the hardest things about SIDS; it is unpredictable and we don't know what causes it to happen.
The long drive from Lawrence where I was working, to the hospital in Ottawa, was filled with a million questions and prayers, with my head just spinning and thinking this couldn't be real. It had to be a nightmare; please Lord, help them be able to save him. But he was gone before he was found and there was nothing anyone could do. Such an overwhelming sense of helplessness; I can't even explain, and so many questions. How were my sister and her husband going to explain to their 19-month-old daughter where her baby brother was? To me, K will always be my baby sister, and aren't big sisters supposed to be able to make everything ok? I certainly didn't know how to do that.
How would I tell my 10-year-old daughter that her baby cousin had died? I remember holding her that night as she tried to sleep, and not knowing how to help her understand when I didn't understand myself. I'd never seen my son look so dejected and I didn't know what to say or do. There was nothing that was going to make things better. I can still see him in the hospital hallway, sitting on the floor with his arms on his knees and his head on his arms and I clearly remember feeling so totally unable to function. How do you help your children when you can barely stay afloat yourself?
And the rest of my family. My parents, other siblings and their families. Although most of us had experienced some form of loss, as best I recall, this was the first time we had been through the death of a baby. One thing that stands out for me, in addition to our faith, the love and support of family and friends was the only way we all emerged from that time in our lives. Each of us was strongly impacted and would never want another family to experience such a tragedy.
Before that day, I'd only known one other family who'd lost a child to SIDS. Because of my job working with child care providers, I knew the "best practices" to reduce the risks of SIDS, but I don't know how well I shared that information. I also didn't know all of the reasons behind each of those steps.
Although it might surprise a few of my family members, some people refer to me as "the eternal optimist" (it is not always intended as a compliment). I tend to think well of most people, and I believe the majority of us want to do what is right, especially when it comes to protecting our children. I also believe that if we understand the reason behind recommendations (or rules, or laws, etc.), we are more likely to follow them.
In today's world, it is difficult with our busy lives to keep updated and make informed decisions about everything. There is too much going on and so much information about so many different topics. How do we find the time to take it all in? And not everybody has access to the internet, with its wealth of information; some from credible sources and others, not so much.
A couple of things about the Safe Sleep Initiative that sparked my interest and desire to support the program include the plan to develop and produce a short video (I think less than 10 minutes) which is made accessible to as many people as possible, and which is free of charge. Safe sleep for infants is about more than reducing the risks of SIDS; it is also about taking steps to remove hazards that put babies at risk of suffocation or strangulation. You can't put a price on getting the word out to everyone and if Safe Kids Douglas County can find a way to help do that, I can certainly run 26.2 miles (have I lost my mind?) to hopefully raise some money to help accomplish that goal.
When it was first suggested to me that I write a blog about this journey, I was a bit reluctant. I tend to be a somewhat solitary individual, and often it takes awhile for me to open up to others. Also, it was difficult to conceive that anyone might be interested in reading about what I am doing. Besides, as my kids remind me, I often tend to ramble. (I can hear you, you know: "No, not you...")
Then I realized, this is not about me. It is about raising awareness of some issues about which I care a great deal: keeping children safe, including safe sleep practices. Safe Kids does a tremendous job of helping support the efforts of caregivers and parents to keep children as safe as possible. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to help with those efforts.
So join me on this journey if you like. Besides helping raise awareness, there might be occasions when you suffer from insomnia and reading this blog will be just the cure...
But seriously, I do hope each of you will take a couple of minutes and click on the link to my page of the Team Safe Kids website and donate to support Safe Kids and especially the Safe Sleep initiative. The link is right up there, at the top of this page. Thanks in advance; your contribution is very much appreciated!
We will never know if my nephew's death might have been prevented. We don't know what causes SIDS, but we do know some things that help reduce the risk and also help prevent other tragedies. Babies spend most of their lives sleeping. It is up to us to do everything in our power to ensure they are safe.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Here is my fundraiser link
In the "Links" box on the right is the link for my fundraiser page on the Team Safe Kids website. I've not personalized it yet, but will try to do so this weekend.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Getting started with The Blog...
As if training for a marathon wasn't scary enough, now I've agreed to blog about my experiences and why this is important to me. Please be patient, this is new for me.
I am gearing up to run in the US Marine Corps Marathon in Washington D.C. this October. My run will benefit Safe Kids Douglas County (Kansas) and their Safe Sleep program. All proceeds from the fundraising effort will go to Safe Kids toward the Safe Sleep program and the mission of Safe Kids Worldwide, to prevent accidental injury and death to children ages 0-14.
Safe Kids Douglas County is currently working with several local and regional agencies to increase the public's knowledge of safe sleep practices for infants. Babies that normally sleep on their backs but are placed on their stomach to sleep by someone have an 18 times greater risk of sudden death. A key component of the Safe Sleep program is the production of an educational video for families and child care providers. The video will clearly outline proven safe sleep strategies to help reduce the likelihood of SIDS and other sleep related deaths, including suffocation and choking.
The issue of safe sleep is a very personal one for me. I lost a nephew to SIDS, and I am dedicating my run in this race to his memory. Follow along with me as I train and raise funds to help support this cause that is very near to my heart.
If you would like to help with this initiative, the first thing you can do is help spread the word. Teach parents and all caregivers safe sleep practices for babies. Know the "ABC's"; a baby under one year of age should sleep "Alone, on their Back, in a Crib". Also, watch for announcements on this blog and on the Safe Kids Kansas web page www.safekidskansas.org with the link to the website that will allow you to donate to the cause. If you would like to help in any other way, please contact Safe Kids Douglas County Coordinator John Drees, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, 785-505-3067, or email him at john.drees@lmh.org.
I am gearing up to run in the US Marine Corps Marathon in Washington D.C. this October. My run will benefit Safe Kids Douglas County (Kansas) and their Safe Sleep program. All proceeds from the fundraising effort will go to Safe Kids toward the Safe Sleep program and the mission of Safe Kids Worldwide, to prevent accidental injury and death to children ages 0-14.
Safe Kids Douglas County is currently working with several local and regional agencies to increase the public's knowledge of safe sleep practices for infants. Babies that normally sleep on their backs but are placed on their stomach to sleep by someone have an 18 times greater risk of sudden death. A key component of the Safe Sleep program is the production of an educational video for families and child care providers. The video will clearly outline proven safe sleep strategies to help reduce the likelihood of SIDS and other sleep related deaths, including suffocation and choking.
The issue of safe sleep is a very personal one for me. I lost a nephew to SIDS, and I am dedicating my run in this race to his memory. Follow along with me as I train and raise funds to help support this cause that is very near to my heart.
If you would like to help with this initiative, the first thing you can do is help spread the word. Teach parents and all caregivers safe sleep practices for babies. Know the "ABC's"; a baby under one year of age should sleep "Alone, on their Back, in a Crib". Also, watch for announcements on this blog and on the Safe Kids Kansas web page www.safekidskansas.org with the link to the website that will allow you to donate to the cause. If you would like to help in any other way, please contact Safe Kids Douglas County Coordinator John Drees, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, 785-505-3067, or email him at john.drees@lmh.org.
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