Sarah Schieber's Story

This is a new music artist who talks about running the Chicago Marathon in 2007 with her husband, who collapsed and died at mile 18 (sorry for the downer here), leaving her at age of 33 to raise their 3 children. Her story of faith, come back and the doors that have opened to her ministry by sharing her story. All 3 of her YouTube video's are shared on this blog:

http://www.rebeccafmtalk.blogspot.com/

The Power of Rest

A few weeks back, maybe a month ago - a few Facebook friends suggested I take a rest because I was overtraining. What!? No flippin' way. I'm on fire, logging the miles, losing the weight - goal in my sights.

The next day I read some running info about the power & necessity of rest AND the risk of injury by overtraining. So I took a few days off. And my next run was better than before. I finally realized why after 3 days off, my runs are always awesome. Because my body is rested and ready.

Today is my 9th day off running (ugh) because of the snow/ice storm that hit here Monday and just melted yesterday. I'll be back in the game on Monday but for now, I'm enjoying the warmth of my house. Had an excellent Thanksgiving at home w/our 5 kiddo's. Enough food for 3 families so plenty of leftovers to go around for days. I hit 11 lbs lost on Thursday morning and the scale today - well let's just say the food did it's work.

Someone asked what rivals being out there on the road and immediately I had to respond that I wouldn't have traded cooking with my family or sledding this week w/the kids. Nor would I trade staying in my flannels all day yesterday during movie marathon with 2 of our 5, for being out on the road running. Also, as I consider how many runners go in the morning and I am just not a morning person, this past week my other half & I have been able to have a few mornings of pillow talk time. Something that used to be a frequent weekend event but now has been lost with the hustle of our busy family of 7. This past week we woke up & instead of rushing out the door, we discussed a number of topics, some serious, some not, laughed, & laughed some more. It was good soul deep reconnecting that rivals the best run out there.

No, I do not lament over 9 days of lost running time while I've been connecting to my family.

But I am, as I type this, feeling a yearning in my legs & feet for the feeling of pavement on Monday.

Run 100 Miles before 2011 - Start NOW!

http://www.dailymile.com/challenges/2149-run-100-miles-before-2011?cr_id=OkNoYWxsZW5nZToyMTQ5&ur_id=MTU5NzUy

Aimee Mullins - TEDTalks

Running on Light

Today's Run Like a Mother blog for some reason brought a lump to my throat & tears to my eyes. Running is the one thing I've done for myself and has brought me a tremendous amount of self worth. As a woman that does struggle with depression, is on the go 24/7 with little sleep and a lot of pressure, running is the one place I feel truly good about what I'm doing and it fuels my mental creativity (I've developed alot of things out on the road, created movies, written books, blogged, solved life's problems). My best friend told me today she is in awe of me and I do not know why. Because it's a life of pure survival. Either get up & go or sit down and lose with those around me paying the price.

So I get up, I go - I get up and run. And often, the light of my soul is found there.

There is where I feel "I CAN".

Hood to Coast Movie

Being an Oregonian and ex Portland resident, having done the Portland to Coast (walkers do PDX, not Hood), I've got to 1) share this 2) see the movie 3) DO THE HOOD TO COAST!  First a Half, then this.  Dude!

Hood To Coast Movie Trailer from HoodToCoastMovie on Vimeo.

We are committed - and committed

This is in response to a Run Like a Mothers Facebook post by a reader about how running is selfish if it takes away from your family time.  Oh yea?

I thought the other day, during a late day run, that I was running during my sons practice. I had missed the day before because our schedule was jam packed w/life. And it had been my birthday, which was given up because, our life is full. So, I was wondering, okay am I still a mom running during his practice? Half jokingly. Yes, I am. Usually, I'd be right there watching. But when I don't squeeze in the 60 minutes, out of a 24 hour period (on 5 hours a sleep a night), for myself, to unwind, to run it out, to listen to my 80's rock music or my christian rock music, to be inspired, to energize my brain cells, get the blood working in my legs - I am not my best for my family. I have 5 kids. And a husband. And a job. And family. And obligation. I would think most of the readers here are not selfish and when, have we been asked to give up everything about ourselves for our family, as if that is best? What inspires my teenage girls the most? Seeing their mom succeed and smile when she gets back from her longest run ever. If I think my husband looks irritated after he's been home all day & I have to fit my run in during family time (hardly ever happens though - he is uber supportive), I sweetly remind him he enjoys the outcome of my long runs ;) - he agrees. 

I have had to get over feeling guilty because I, as most mothers, give my soul to my family. So when I train for the half next year, my family knows - it will be a priority. They have the rest of my life.

Why I do it

Often I have to tell myself to just finish. Forget about the clock, regulate my breathing, look around and that I CAN do this. I've had the talk w/myself about people recovering from cancer or some severe life trauma, illness, etc. who have done more than I am accomplishing at this moment and I can. I have to be stronger than my mind & sometimes body, proving that I am in charge, not them and will control if I finish or not. I run, because it is something that is pushing me beyond my limits, my comfort zone and I want to be on the other side of the finish line, successful - for me.

Voices in my head

PMS says:

"Why the Hell are you doing this?"

I say:

"Get over it.  You'll feel better next week.  Finish the job."

RLAM "Today I ran"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7ZUOfDLe4o

Fueling yourself off road

This year I’ve definitely brought the run into a more mental realm. Before it was just trying to make it through physically and ignoring my tired mind. But I discovered actually reading about running and amping up the information in my brain about body, mechanism, mentality, fuel, distance – pure information that powers me while I’m pounding the ground. It’s made me very aware and stronger physically as I use the information I’ve gained while I’m running. It’s validated the need for strengthening both mind & body during off hours. Instead of feeling pain, I now can place the pain to a muscle or joint or body part and have a visual of what’s going on and maybe how to fix it. How to run differently next time for a better result. What fuel I need to not crash. Etc. -
We nurture our kids & families – I’m learning how to nurture both my mind and body

A New Beginning

About 2 months ago, I decided to start running again. After taking about 18 months off due to knee issues, back issues and general, I'm a mother, a wife, an employee, person of multiple responsibilities, sick of pounding the pavement burn out - it was time to stop whining & get back down the road.

Damn.  No socks.  A moment or two, standing in the office bathroom, half dressed.... I'm here, I'm ready, crap - do I run?  Blisters are for sure without socks.  Mentally living through the burn of my flesh across the course worn fabric of the inside of my Brooks Glycerine shoes.  You know, nothing is going to stop me from running today.  This is committment, screw it - I'm going sockless.

Hit the pavement, thinking about the recent runners blogs I'd been reading, the women in their cute running skirts, clean socks... (damn socks - how did I miss them this morning in my rush out the door!???? I am SO particular getting my running stuff all together!) - thinking about what people would say if they knew that not only do I not wash my running clothes weekly, that I actually wait until I can't stand the smell of my own visor & sports bras before washing them, but that I was also actually running without socks today.

Grungy.  Grunge Running.  HEY!  That's me!  A Grunge Runner!  Not a cute, cuddly, sweet smelling girl, but a forget about the makeup, sweat it all out & get out there, doing it runner. 

And a new blog was born.

The next week, I flipped on my pod, opened a new playlist of rockin' music I had made the night before.  Turned the first song on, thinking back to my husband helping me name it.  It was "Grunge" music!  I smiled & laughed out loud as I realized it was another confirmation to the name of my new blog.

Welcome to GrungeRun, where when running is not so pretty and frankly, stinks - hopefully you'll find something to smile about.