Using my best asset....

READER DISCRETION ADVISED- ;-)

   I am so excited!!!! I just had the best run I've had ALL year! I had absolutely ZERO pain in my 7 mile run, and I also took ~1 min off my average pace! I have not had a run, free of pain, since last February. This sheds all new light on my training!

   It all has to do with my greatest asset, no pun intended really, my glutes. Today I read an article in the September issue of Running Times that changed everything for me. The article is titled 'Hibernating Heinies' and it talks about how leg, IT band, hip flexor, front of the knee, tight calves, and even foot pain can be caused by the glutes not firing. I never thought that my hip/leg pain could be coming from NOT using my butt!! Turns out my butt has just been along for the ride this whole time...not any more. No ifs, ands, or BUTTs about it! (sorry, I had to put that.)

    I've looked for this article online, to put on here, but they have not posted the September issue online yet. As soon as they do, I'll post a link to it!!!

WooHoo! Let the pain free running continue!!

I'll leave you with a quote that Caballo Blanco used to sign off on some of his emails:

           "Close the gap that separates thought and action...you simply must do things." (Ray Douglas Bradbury)

My fight for a cure to Preeclampsia

TOMORROW I TURN 40!!!!!

I'd like to run a mile (or 2, 3, 20 etc.) for you!! Dec 15, 2012 I will run the LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN 50 mile trail race in honor of The Preeclampsia Foundation. 

Please go to www.preeclampsia.org and make a "tribute donation to Tina Harris." Then LET ME KNOW ON FB OR ON MY BLOG- www.mommasgonnarun50@blogspot.com, 

which mile # or #'s I can run for you! That way, when I run the 50 mile race in Dec, I will know each mile who I am running for. 

You may not have been personally affected by Preeclampsia/Eclampsia/HELLP SYMDROME/PIH, but you may know someone who has. Together we can help save lives! Thank you for your help and support!

www.preeclampsia.org http://youtu.be/bvQna6NXKS4

Let it rain...

Two days ago I started back running. Just 2 miles but it was great. It felt so good to be back on the road, by myself, going for a run. And pain free too!! It has been a good long while since I have had a good, pain free, run. I've missed it tremendously.

Today I ran 3 miles in the rain. I loved hearing the rain falling around me. This area has needed it so badly, it was comforting just to be out in it as it fell. I had another run free of pain in my hip and I savored every second of it. I'm praying that I can ease slowly back into it and keep running without injury.

I still have 5 of the Momma's gonna run 50 dry fit T-shirts for sale. 50% of the proceeds will go to the Preeclampsia Foundation. Please message me if you'd like to purchase one. Thank you!!!

http://www.preeclampsia.org/

Make friends with pain...

On May 19, 2012 I ran my 1st ever marathon! And it was a TRAIL marathon! I loved every minute of it. That would be 430 minutes of love. A lot, I know, but it was still very cool. I had been dealing with this hip/leg pain that slowed my training before the race and definitely slowed me down during the race. I've done some physical therapy (not as much as I should tho) and I've had 1 round of oral steroids. I've held off on running to give it as much chance to heal before starting my 50 mile training plan at the end of this month. Anxious to see how it feels now.


Yes, now it's time to get down to business! I hope & pray I can take the heat and the pain! I've been reading the book "Born to Run." Very great book. There is a quote in there that says this:

        “Make friends with pain, and you will never be alone.~Ken Chlouber, Colorado miner and creator of the Leadville Trail 100 mile race”


I believe that this shall be the quote for me to live by for the next 25 weeks or so.  ;-)

Not a good blogger

One thing I have realized with this whole experience is that I'm terrible at keeping up with a blog!! Oh well! I vow to myself (not sure if anyone is reading it anyways) to keep up with it better.

Training has been going well. I am realizing just how hard it is to fit it into my schedule. That's very frustrating but understandable. I just do what I can. My brother introduced me to a new word. I am now hooked on LSD. It's how I have to approach my running from now on. Long Slow Distance. And let me tell you, I am slow, that's for sure!

I have been fighting some sort of pain down the front of my left quad. Hurts when I put impact on it. I can't seem to stretch it out. I'm thinking maybe it's my hip flexor or it's a nerve in my back. I just keep thinking that maybe it'll just go away. I guess that I should see the doctor if it doesn't go away on it's own. Just gotta find the time to go. Ughhhh!

I don't feel like I'm doing enough to raise funds for the Preeclampsia Foundation. Does anyone have any idea what I can do? Help me please!!

It has been a long time...

Wow, can't believe it's been so long since I have posted! I have been so busy that by night time I am just too pooped to blog.

I have been teaching 7 classes a week and running 3 times a week. Our house was hit by the dreaded stomach bug but we recovered. Had to take a few days off from everything. I think a few days off are in order anyways.

2 weekends ago Brandon and I ran a 23k trail race at Land Between the Lakes. That was so much fun and so very beautiful. Oh, and it was a challenge too! The great thing about trail runs is that you don't realize how far you have gone. The time flies by!

Don't get me wrong, towards the end of the trail race it gets really tough. It gets even tougher when your body gets tired, your feet get lazy, and you start to drag your feet. And when you drag your feet, you trip, and when trip numerous times, eventually you fall! Fall all the way down to the earth...THUD! Really it's not a good thing when an adult falls, it can only turn out bad. Luckily, soreness was the only BAD that came out of my fall. I know that it could have been so much worse. My brother ran an ultra at that race. His fall caused his legs to go into massive cramp mode, locking up his calves so he couldn't flex his feet! He, being the machine that he is, got up, ran through it, and crossed the finish line!

I have 2 purple toenails to show for that race. This means that soon I won't have a nail on my Rt big toe, and no nail on the one next to it! You may ask yourself why would a person put themselves through something like this. That is a very good question! The only way I can answer that is to say that it's just something inside that drives me to do it. I love it, especially running on the trail! There's nothing like it and I'm just not a sit still kind of person. The fact that I'm running for a foundation that is so very close to my heart, well, that just makes it that much more special to me.

When I'm running I think about the time when I was in the hospital and I was trying to make the walk around the nurses station. I think about the women that have and will experience Preeclampsia/Eclampsia. I think that maybe, somehow, I can help to make a difference. I hope I can.

It made me smile,

Right after I finished my last post, Brandon handed me a letter I received in the mail from the Preeclampsia Foundation. I opened it and found that it was from the Executive Director of the Foundation!! She wanted to thank me for what I'm trying to do and to wish me luck on my training!
Wow!!! I feel so good right now!
The past couple of days I have really been questioning if what I'm doing is right or even worth the effort. Thank you, Ms. Tsigas for reassuring me in my journey. You really made my day!www.preeclampsia.org