Diary of a Newbie Runner: Life of Leisure Gone Awry

{By Ellery Sadler}

I never thought of myself as a devoted runner, or a very willing one. I always ran because it was something I just did. People in my family run, and while I occasionally felt the ‘runners high’ it was rare and normally only after a grueling hour and a half of misery. It was after one of these long runs (9 miles to be precise) I felt a twinge of pain in my knees... not really a twinge actually, more like a searing pain. And that was the day a tragedy happened.

At first I did not realize it was a tragedy – it felt like a wonderful little break from my running routine.

 My knees were actually hurting too badly to run. Tragedy? I don’t think so. My first week of rest was delightful, relaxing, and made me wonder why I’d ever run in the first place. I got up in the morning to beautiful days without any sweat or tears. (By the way I don’t normally cry when I run, except for once or twice when I was in extreme pain, but it sounded good in that sentence.) So the first week rolled around. Life as a couch potato was looking pretty good.

The second week came and I began to get a little desperate, after all, I had a half marathon to run in only four more weeks, so I started doing strength training two or three times a weeks, to at least keep up what muscle I had. That was all fine and good. I was planning on running the next week.

Week three. I tried to trot a little on the treadmill – trot, mind you, not even run – and the results were negative. I knew that my knees were injured and if I kept running they’d only get worse. They hurt for the rest of the day and I knew there was no way I was doing that again anytime soon. My heart began to sink. What if I never got to run again? It had been three weeks since that awful 9 miles … and they were still hurting. Life as a couch potato was looking pretty bleak.

By week four I was very desperate. I’d never wanted to run so bad in my life. How ironic is that? Me wanting to run?! But it was true and I had to face the awful truth: that silly saying ‘you never know how much you have until you lose it’ was right. I wanted to run. And I couldn’t.  Maybe I only wanted to because I couldn’t … whatever the reason I wanted to run. Resting for one week is bliss. Resting for two weeks is fine. Three weeks is ok. Four weeks is misery. A life of leisure is not fun or exciting. So I decided if I couldn’t run, I’d do something. I started doing P90X every morning and do you know what I discovered? You can sometimes get a ‘runner’s high’ doing strength training! And that is pretty cool.

By week five I knew I wouldn’t be able to do that half marathon. I was disappointed. This was going to be my moment of glory, the goal I at last, after hours of pain and heartache, achieved, my crowning moment, but I was destined not to reach it, at least for the time being. Now, since I am a Christian writing this for a fundamentally Christian blog, I could go all moral-of-the-story and tell you how this relates to more than just running, after all, we will always face disappointment in life, and this running experience is a wonderful cheesy analogy of …. But I’ll skip that.  The point is, much to my great surprise, I actually miss running. And if you learn anything from my experience it should be this: don’t train exclusively on pavement. It you have a soft, sandy dirt road right beside your house – use it. Oh, and don’t forget you never know how much you enjoy something until you can’t do it anymore, even if while you are doing it you think you hate it. Don’t believe yourself. You love it. 

Read more ...

Diary of a Newbie Runner: Crazy Resolutions and Lost in a Strange City

{by Ellery Sadler}

Smart people stick to conservative New Year’s resolutions, ones they know they can keep, or refuse to make them at all. Me? I like to go for the daring, the amazing, the unimaginably scary resolutions... such as sign up for a half-marathon! Yep that’s right: I, a timid runner, sane, and normal person just signed up for that crazy thing only crazy people do. And what’s more – I’m telling you about it. Now I can’t back out.

A week into my training plan we went down to South Carolina. I, hoping for a leisurely vacation, was surprised when my older sisters and mom enthusiastically prepared for a run that Saturday morning. What’s more, my dad was going along too. Determined not to be outdone, I grudgingly laced up my running shoes, grimly shoved in my earplugs, and covered my face in sunglasses. I love sunglasses - if they're big, they can cover enough of your face that even if you’re hot and tired you can still look good. I glanced in the mirror and saw a super-fit, chic, marathon champion staring back at me. Ok, this was looking good. 

As we headed out it was decided we would try a new route, a small gravel path along the marsh that our friends had told us about. They said it was only about three miles. Did that mean three miles there and back? Or three miles there and three miles back? I warily eyed the winding path through the woods. I’ll bet it was three out and three back. The path had large, southern-style houses and woods on one side, and a beautiful marsh on the other. It really was quite scenic but I wasn’t going to be taken in by its beauty. I’d had a scenic six-miler before and almost died.

We ran. And ran. And ran. I was beginning to be in pain. My mom, the athletic running-machine, was encouraging me and my dad to keep going, Hailey was up ahead jamming to her music, Brittany kept sporadically reminding me of how ‘beautiful!’ and ‘gorgeous!’ the scenery was. It didn’t look so great to me. This trail never ends. I caught up with Hailey and voiced my concern in a low whisper. What if this trail literally went all the way up the South Carolina coast? I could already see the headlines: “Family Lost on Scenic Run Leaving Two Children and Three Guinea Pigs Stranded in Strange City.” It was looking pretty bleak.

We passed a young couple, a large group with a few dogs, and a dad with a toddler and they all seemed to know where they were going. We did not. We just kept running. The problem I’ve found with scenic places is that it all looks the same and it’s very easy to get lost. How do you tell one tree from the next? Did we turn at the big tree? Or was it that other big tree? I looked at my watch in desperation - we’d been out for forty-five minutes and counting. I whispered in a low tone to Hailey “I think we’d better go back.” She agreed!

But not my mom or Brittany. No, they decided that we should go back on the actual road and not the little path. We were forty-five minutes down a trail and they wanted to cut across the road and head back through a complicated neighborhood. Now, it is well known in my family that I have no sense of direction whatsoever, so if I ever say go one way everyone goes the opposite… but I could tell that neither of them knew where we were or how to get home either. This was looking even bleaker. We turned left down a pavement street. And left again. And again. Yep, we were lost. I could tell by that depressed feeling that came over my soul. I would have to run miles and miles to get home…if we ever got home at all.

But to my surprise after a few more turns we were right back where we started and Brittany, with a triumphant smile, headed around the lake for a victory lap, feeling too good to come home with us quite yet. I breathed a sigh of surprised relief and headed back to the house. A narrow escape. Sure death of either starvation or exhaustion was averted once again. I came. I ran. I returned. Glancing in the mirror I saw a panting, slightly crippled, red-faced me. Hhhmm. Normal. 

One week of training down. Thirteen more to go. 

Read more ...

Diary of a Newbie Runner: A 10K Worth Dying For... Or, 6 Miles of Scenic Misery

{by Ellery Sadler}

I just ran a 10k. Yes, much to my great surprise, I am still alive. I now have an even greater respect, bordering on hero-worship, of anyone who runs 6 miles or longer. So all you experienced, seasoned runners out there – you are my HERO. And I hope you’re still alive to read this.

After a night of nervous sleep, I crawled out of bed and we headed out to Williamsburg for our 10k. My two older sisters, mom, and dad were all running this too. I felt a little jittery and hoped beyond hope that my side wouldn’t cramp up for at least the first 3 miles… I stretched and hopped around feeling nervous but also pleasingly like a dedicated runner. I was out, early in the morning, freezing to death, jumping around, stretching in weird positions - all because I loved my sport. Yep, I was pretty cool. And then we started…

First thing, my iPod didn’t work. I thought I’d charged it the night before but apparently I hadn’t. It was dead. Great, I hadn’t even gone ten steps before I was nearly in tears. I can’t run without music. I’ve done it once before for a short run, and it was misery – pure misery. So now here I was stuck with running 6 miles without music and I already had a bad pain in my side. Really, really bad situation for an already nervous, under-confident newbie runner.

Mile 1 passed quickly, but then came Mile 2. Now, I’ve read that you don’t ‘hit the wall’ until Mile 18 or 20 but I’m quite certain I hit the wall at Mile 3, 4, 5, and 6. Or if not ‘the wall’ then a very hard, locked door. Thankfully, my wonderful sister let me borrow her iPod. I had MUSIC and distraction from my pain. I put my head down and tried to focus as we wound our way through a gravel path in the woods.

By Mile 3 the pain in my side left me so crippled I could barely walk, every step was agony (and I’m not exaggerating) it was the worst cramp I’ve ever had…and I still had 3 more miles to go. The rest of my family went up ahead while I hobbled behind. By now I was pretty sure this whole running thing was a really bad idea. I told myself never again – ever – was I going to run, but even as I crept along I knew that wasn’t true. I would run again. And I would finish this silly race.

I started running, side still hurting but determined with every bit of determination in me to keep up with the two, slightly chubby, middle-aged women ahead of me. If I, a moderately fit sixteen-year-old couldn’t keep up with them then… I kept up with them. Victory! Passed them. Kept running and passed a walker. Up ahead I saw a nine-year-old running with his dad. My new goal – keep up with the nine-year-old. My mantra became ‘Run with the nine-year-old. Run with the nine-year-old.’  

I didn’t see the red-gold leaves. I didn’t see the sun-dappled pond, or the beautiful scenic scenery around me. All I saw was a skinny little nine-year-old up ahead. I had to stick with the nine-year-old – even if it killed me, I was going to do it. Mile 4 passed with a torture-like slowness. Nine-year-old still up ahead. Mile 5. Look at the fat fifty-year-old guy in front of you wheezing with every step and be thankful you aren’t in that much pain...oh wait you are. I stopped comparing myself to the people around me and focused on just finishing the race. Just finish the race. That was my goal.

I caught up with my mom and dad and continued running. My mom, a running machine, looked at me and smiled encouragingly. All I could muster was a bleak mimic of something vaguely like a smile. We ran and ran and ran. How long is a mile? About long enough to make your heart pound and your head throb and your side ache and your legs feel like lead. We finally made it to the home stretch, only one more mile to go. I flipped the iPod to ‘If You’re Going Through Hell’ by Rodney Atkins, which was the only song that remotely comforted me at this point. I passed the nine-year-old.

Eyes glazed over, not even strong enough to pretend to smile now I sprinted across the finish line. There were my sisters, who had finished before me, waiting to give me a high five. “Hey how was it?” they smiled and asked. “I’m dying,” was the only answer I could give. Not to discourage you, but the first ten minutes after a grueling run are the worst, you feel lightheaded and weak and dizzy and drained. I sank to the grass with a bottle of water and gulped it down as if I were dying of thirst instead of exhaustion.

After a while to recover comes my favorite part, feeling better, smiling at the people passing by, eating a cinnamon-sugar bagel and being casually athletic – yep, I just ran 6 miles. I finished a 10k and I’m ALIVE! And I’m going to do it again. 

Read more ...

Run Long (And Love It!)

{by Rebecca Florio}

On September 10, I crossed the finish line of my first half-marathon. Even though I had trained for this moment all summer long, I could hardly believe it had come. Only six months ago I could barely squeak out three miles, and now I had just run 13.1 with an official time of 2:08.

It was a journey, to say the least. One I wasn’t sure if I would ever see the end of, but now I’m so glad I did not give up.  I learned so much along the way -- about perseverance, my limitations, and God’s strength in my weakness -- that was worth all the aching muscles. You can read my full recap of the race at my blog.

If I could go from virtually not running at all, to running thirteen miles at a time, I believe any one can! Trust me, I am no one special -- I just needed to overcome my fear of long runs. To my great surprise, my long runs became a highlight of my week! Here are eight simple tricks to increase increase mileage and learn to love it.

1. Start small. Don’t try to jump into seven mile run right away if you’ve never run more than three. Trying to reach an unattainable goal is just going to lead to frustration and burn-out. I like to focus on increasing running time rather than distance. So if right now you can run for twenty minutes, try to work up to twenty-five and then thirty and so on. Small changes really do add up! 

2. Go slow and steady! A huge part of running longer is learning to pace yourself. Think of your energy as a piggy bank. You don’t want to spend it all during the first ⅓ of your run, but you need to spread it out evenly so you can make it to the end. Keep to a breathable pace where you can hold small conversation.

3. Learn to fuel. If you want to run far, you’re going to need to give your body the energy it needs. 1-2 hours before you run, eat a carbohydrate-rich, low-fiber snack or meal (depending on how much you’ve eaten today or how long you expect to be running). Choose something you know your body digests well. This isn’t the time to try a new Chinese dish or spicy taco. Some of my favorite pre-run foods are banana with peanut butter (the potassium settles your stomach and the PB offers some staying power), banana toast, or a homemade trail mix of dry cereal, dried fruit (dates are great!), and almonds. Make sure to give yourself plenty of time to digest -- there is nothing more unpleasant than having your breakfast sitting like a rock in your stomach. And of course on of the best parts about running is refueling :). After your long run, focus on protein to rebuild and repair your muscles. A huge fruit-yogurt-protein powder smoothie is my favorite post-race snack.

4. Cross-train. You can’t go on a long run every day. Your muscles need time to repair and rebuild and you need a break from pounding the pavement. When training for the half-marathon I averaged about four runs a week --  1-2 long runs (seven miles or more) and 2-3 shorter runs (anywhere from two to five miles). It’s a good idea to designate a few days a week for other types of exercise -- biking, hiking, walking, weights, abs, etc -- to target different muscles. The stronger your whole body is, the farther you’ll be able to run without pain.  

5. Go early! I don’t know about you, but one of my favorite excuses for running is “I don’t have time.” And it’s true. Running takes time. I’ve found that setting my alarm and setting out for a run first thing in the morning is much more effective than trying to squeeze out a block of time once my day has started. It’s also the best way to beat the heat of the sun! I’ve really grown to love morning runs for the energy they give me the rest of the day.  

6. Find a running buddy. I am so grateful for my sister Elizabeth who trained with me and for three other friends that met us every week for a long run. The motivation and company was invaluable.

7. Listen to a sermon/audio book. Use your running time wisely! Download a sermon, Bible audio, or recorded devotional to your playlist. Sometimes, I zone out once the eighth song starts playing, but I’ve found that a dynamic speaker or story keeps my attention off my heavy breathing and aching feet and gives me other things to think about. Win!  

8. Everyone has bad runs. The day before our half-marathon, I went for one last run. It was just going to be a quick and easy three miles, to release some pre-race jitters. Well, it was awful. First of all, the only time I had was 2:00pm, the hottest part of a very hot afternoon. I had been out all day and not eaten for hours (note to self: a pumpkin spice latte does not adequate fuel make). I got a side-stitch during the first mile and ended up having to walk up most of the hills. Bad runs are frustrating, but they do happen, for any number of reasons. The best thing we can do is not give up, but lace up our sneakers and head out again.

Thank God for the strength that He does give you and ask Him to help you not focus on your own weaknesses for on His grace. We can run for God’s glory!

“I want to compare faith to running in a race. It's hard. It requires concentration of will, energy of soul. You experience elation when the winner breaks the tape - especially if you've got a bet on it. But how long does that last?....If you commit yourself to the love of Christ, then that is how you run a straight race.” 

- Chariots of Fire 

Read more ...

Unbeing Dead Isnt Being Alive: InsideOut Health & Sports

{by Hailey Sadler & InsideOut Team}

Something inspiring would be a very nice way to start this blog. Something to convince you that healthy living is a vital commitment, which you ought to make in your life. But then, I realized, you probably already know this. I mean, I know it, and a Chick-Fil-A sandwich with two packages of sauce oozing down the sides still gets my mouth watering faster than a spinach smoothie [although Rebecca Florio, our Health & Sports writer will probably be able to convince us otherwise!]. The problem isn’t knowing. It’s doing. So I’m not going to try to persuade you of something you already know about, and know you should do. Instead, this blog’s purpose is to offer encouragement and insight into actually doing it. Actually living healthily. Living vibrantly alive.

Accordingly, to jump right in… what are 7 things you can do this fall to jumpstart a healthier lifestyle? As school and schedules pick up and life gets a little bit crazy, it can be more difficult to make good choices but here are some ideas to get us started…

1. Challenge yourself to make a healthy dessert. With so many bakers in our house, it’s pretty much sweet tooth central around here. It can be challenging to find healthy substitutes that don't trigger the “what did you put in here?!” response, but try digging around in cook books or browsing for recipes online and see what you find. Or tinker with a favorite and experiment with how you can make it a little bit better for you. Of course, if you find something fabulous, be sure to share it with all of us here!
2. Try a new sport. See what’s available around you and sign up for something you’ve never done before. Running, basketball, soccer, tennis, golf…. stretch yourself.
3. Sign up for a race. Nothing motivates you to lace up your shoes and hit the pavement like the knowledge that in a month or two you will be doing this amidst a host of other athletes in front of crowds other people. Even if you’ve never run before, pick a distance, grab some shoes and go for it. I promise you running is one of the most rewarding things you will ever try.
4.  Get creative with salad making: think of those lettuce leaves as a blank green slate. Skip the ranch and try a fall themed salad with craisins and walnuts, topped with roasted butternut squash. And don’t forget the warm vinaigrette.
5. Set aside time to do something active. Purposefully schedule a time  in the afternoon to close your computer, take a break from schoolwork or whatever it is that consumes you, and enjoy an activity. Ride your bike, go for a walk, play a sport, do push ups [if you can… don't ask me about that.] Or maybe run around with your siblings instead of just playing referee. For you study-aholics [not me of course] a break for physical exertion of some sort will actually increase your productivity!
6.  Get new music. If you're cross training, strength training, running, walking, or working out in some other fashion, a new playlist can sometimes be the best thing to get you going. Pick somebody or some band that gets you're blood pumping, spend the money, then plug in and turn up the tunes.
7. Take the focus off you. This is not about us, or our image... because God has called us to seek after something different – His image. That turns our whole view of health, fitness, and outward appearance upside down and inside out. These things are not an end in themselves; they are a launching pad for the greater things He will do through you and in your life. 

So let’s enjoy this amazing gift of life that He has given each of us; let’s take advantage of every adventure that comes our way. Let’s eat healthy [and still make time for ice cream.] Let’s run and not care how fast we are. Let’s play hard and not worry if we don’t win. [Hmm… scratch that. Let’s do our best to win, but still try to smile when we don't! Ok, so I might be a little bit competitive…] Let’s cook creatively and not be afraid to throw away those whole grain and spelt muffin failures. Let’s go outside and spin around until we fall down for no reason except that we feel like it.

He came that we may have life, and have it abundantly [John 10:10]. Let’s live like we believe that. Let’s live life with vibrance.

Read more ...