Motivation and Perseverance

Hello, my name is Amanda Miles and I am a 20-year-old student at St. Norbert College in De Pere, WI. I first started running because I could see that it was something that both my Mom and my Dad did that made them healthy, happy, excited, and enthusiastic for life. Seeing my parents run races made me want to do it as well.  Under the guidance of my dad, I became a running fanatic and someone who loves to share the joy of running with others. My dad is my biggest role model and fan.

I ran my first race when I was 2 1/2 years old. It was a half-mile fun run that I did with my dad, documented by a picture of me in an oversized t-shirt nearly drowning, my head barely sticking out from the top. When I was 11 I ran my first half marathon and placed in my age category. I continued race in a plethora of runs, most of them with my entire family. In high school I ran Cross Country and Track, fast enough to make varsity, but nowhere near the top competitors. The accomplishment I am most proud of was completing my first marathon, the Florida Space Coast Marathon, at age 17 and taking first place in my age category. My Dad trained and ran this race with me, teaching me the basics of running, as well as dedication, determination, and the will power to achieve anything I set my mind to. My Dad was the one that would get me out the door even when going on that 20 mile run at 6:00 on a Saturday morning was the last thing I wanted to do.

When I went off to college, I missed running with my dad. I missed the simple, encouraging, motivating presence he brought. He kept me on track, he pushed me to my limits, and he allowed me to achieve all that I did as an athlete. I don’t think I realized how much I needed him, how much he was an essential part of my life, of my training, of my racing. I want to thank my Dad all for everything that he did for me; I don’t think I can ever relay to him how much of a difference he made in my life.

As much as I loved running, I never ran my freshman year of college. As something that was stress relieving, motivating, freeing, and a part of my daily life, this was a weird experience for me. I struggled with being motivated and pushing myself on my own. In January of last year, I signed up for the Cellcom Green Bay Half Marathon as motivation to begin training again. After completing the race, and despite the 40mph winds, getting one of my best times, I was propelled to begin my routine of running every single day again.

Now I have found my place again, I am running every day, training for my third marathon, and working to motivate others and myself just as my Dad did for me.  I can now be the role model, but it was my dad who graciously and selflessly passed on to me everything I needed to know about being a runner. Knowing how to run, train, and race, and being able to share that knowledge with others is one of my favorite things to do.

Most of the time it is as simple as finding friends who are active and all of us keeping each other accountable and motivated to get out there and give it our all; to a support group, and a source of strength for each other. We hold each other accountable and take the miles one by one, pushing each other, training, and most importantly- building a strong relationship that only comes through exercising together. 

I have found some motivation that works for me, to keep me on track every single day for the upcoming race.  When I run I love seeing other people out for their runs as well.  This keeps me motivated and gives me a reason to never stop running. As a busy college student, running everyday gives me a chance to slow down from the fast pace of life, either spend some time alone or catching up with a friend, relax, de-stress, and take a moment to be thankful for the beautiful world we live in.

I’ve realized that what you really, truly love doing shouldn’t ever be crammed and tucked away into that little place designated for “later”, when there is more time, when you are not distracted, when you are not to busy working. I have learned to fall in love with running again and to stick it out on days I would have preferred to comfortably sit at home, make some hot cocoa, and curl up in front of the fireplace, read, and listen to the crackling and intensity of the flames lapping at the wood. When I’m running I keep in mind that even though I might not love every minute of it, afterwards I will feel great. I know I’m not always the fastest runner, but what I lack in speed, I like to think I make up for in effort. In every workout I strive to leave everything out on the course, I never give less air than my lungs can squeeze out. If there is one thing I have learned from running, it is perseverance. I have learned to put aside the pain and finish the race. Perseverance is compelling. It motivates and changes passive dreams into working achievements. Good Luck with your training, I know you can do it!

 -Amanda Miles

And baby makes four: Ready to run again

New running shoes?  Check.
Agreeable Wisconsin weather? Check.
Registration for Cellcom Green Bay Marathon Relay done?  Check.
Finding the time to train?  Still working on that…

I remember the days when I could just put on my shoes, grab my trusty walkman and head out the door for a run. That was in 1994, when my love for long distance running began and I was training for high school cross country and track.

Fast forward 18 years, and getting out for a run isn’t as easy as it was once, although carrying an iPod versus a walkman is easier! Before it was as simple as finding my shoes, my music source, and some inspiration on those days when I just wasn’t feeling inspired to log some miles. Now it’s finding time with a growing family!

This year, I started running again after having my second child in October. We are still learning to function as a family of four, so that’s where my concerns about time management come from. A 4-year-old and a four-month-old keep us very busy! To help me focus on my training, I enlisted the help of four friends to join me in the Cellcom Green Bay Marathon Relay in May.

I thought it would be a fun race to train for, and I have the extra motivation to train since there are four teammates counting on me to finish my relay leg! I can’t wait to experience the excitement of the marathon with my team. My husband ran his first half marathon inGreen Bayin May 2011. I was four months pregnant at the time, and told him I wanted to have a relay team there in 2012.

So here we are, three months until race day. I have gotten some miles in over the past few weeks, so I’m off and running! But there are definitely days when finding the time is hard. Or maybe it’s more like finding the energy, because sleeping in a house with a baby is tough from time to time!  I am glad to be running again, and know that finishing the relay with my team in May is a great goal to shoot for as I get back to something I have enjoyed for so long!

So my next question is: To run or to nap? 

Amy Behrendt
Menasha, WI

To Be A RUNNER?

I had always wanted to be a runner. I envied runners. I hated runners. They were like the elusive popular girls in high school…who would occasionally smile but never fully look me in the eye. Okay, I ran track in high school during my freshman and sophomore years but didn’t enjoy running enough to devote my junior and senior springs to the sport. Between kids 1 and 2 (of 3!) I jogged and ran a bit. But runner was intangible. I would never be a ‘runner’. Enter my adult life…marriage at 19, three kids, a bachelor in Education, a Masters in Reading and there was no time for running even if I thought I could do it.

And then…one July afternoon I joined a gym. After 4 weeks of classes I was struggling to make it to the gym for a scheduled workout because of my Husband’s crazy basketball coaching schedule. One day, in desperation, I put the kids on their bikes and we took off for a run. It was stressful and crazy. I suspected that my seven-year- old had thrill-seeking issues because she had no bike sense, but—when I was done I felt…good?  I had to know so I threw them in the car and clocked our route. Two miles. Two?!?!?  I was amazed. Runners can run two miles. Right?  Am I runner?  Not yet. But there was suddenly hope.

Fast forward a few months. I signed up for a local 5K on October 1st to ensure that I jogged more. I. Was. Petrified. I was afraid I’d make a fool of myself.  For some reason I was OBSESSED with NOT being the last person across that finish line. Though…I’d never judge or think one negative thought about someone who RAN and crossed over last. I’m learning that real runners aren’t like that. They’ don’t judge…but that’s an entirely different idea I’m saving for a future date. After my somewhat successful 5K (I was 11^th of 22 in my age group) I was hooked.

A few days after my first race, a co-worker, Sarah, asked me to run in the evening on morning at school.  Sarah had this looping route that circled around the school where we teach. I was doubtful of my abilities because she was a REAL runner. She was so optimistic and supportive, not even mentioning her persistence…so I finally conceded. I wrestled with the idea of that run ALL day. My self-doubts hamstered on a wheel in my brain and I thought of dozens of reasons why I should cancel. I almost did.  At one point, I held my cellphone in my hand and thought, screw this. I’ll make a fool of myself.

For some reason I just couldn’t cancel. I think it’s because I kept wondering what if. I met Sarah on the front steps of our school with a belly full of butterflies and a head full of doubts.  We ran. We stopped halfway through and stretched while I tried to breath and fight my nausea…but we kept going. We completed her loop. It took about an hour which was the longest I had ever ran before. She smiled when we returned to the school. I was tired but happy. I felt purposeful and fulfilled. My body and insides seemed to be glowing and I felt wonderful. With the exception of those big givens in life: marriage, births, going to Disney World, I couldn’t remember the last time I had felt that good…and then she said it, the phrase that placed a big fat cherry on my already fantastic moment. “You just ran five miles.”  WHAT!  FIVE?  FIVE!  I couldn’t believe it. That run—that moment—gave me a glimmer of what it felt like to be a runner. There are days I still don’t feel like a runner. But now, at least I know how it should feel. Each time I lace up my shoes that feeling is what I am trying to catch…the more I lace the more elusive sunbeams and smiles I catch. I no longer think am I a runner. I declare, I AM a Runner.

Bethany Nelson

Prevea On the Move – Family Services of Northeast Wisconsin

Are you one of the hundreds of runners who show up at the Prevea Training Runs on Saturday? Have you noticed those friendly faces standing outside in the cold, excited to give you water along the route? These people are volunteers from Family Services of Northeast Wisconsin, Junior Achievement and Unity, the three marathon-chosen charities, to help you have a successful, free training run. Please consider donating to these organizations as a token of your appreciation.

Donation bins are available each Saturday at the Prevea Training Runs for you show your support to these volunteers. Cash or check only (payable to: Cellcom Green Bay Marathon Charity Fund). You can also “Run for a Reason” for any of these charities. Click here to learn more about that opportunity.

This week’s Prevea On the Move takes us to Family Services of Northeast Wisconsin to learn more of what they offer and how your donation benefits the community.

Catching the Running Bug

I am 36 years old. I am a teacher in Appleton. I am married and have 4 kids(ages 12, 9, 2 and 6 months).

I have never been a runner before. In my school age years, my asthma was so bad that I couldn’t run the mile for gym class(I had to get a doctor’s note to walk it) or play basketball without my inhaler on the sideline. I have always been into fitness, especially weight training. I met my husband in the gym during college. He is an inspiration for our family to exercise and eat unprocessed foods. I did one 5K and one short Iron Man in college. I didn’t catch the running bug then and continued with my weight training.

After my fourth baby was born this last July, I decided to try running as way to lose the extra baby weight and exercise without having to bring all four kids to the gym. I started out walking ½ mile when he was two weeks old and worked my way up to running 7 miles before my maternity leave ended. I learned my lesson about over training. My pelvic bones separated during my pregnancy and that wasn’t comfortable during running at first. I also developed a very sore knee and a pulled calf muscle early on. Once I got on a good training schedule, things went much better and I felt great. I’ve run three 5k’s this year, setting a PR with each one, and am hooked. I have also lost 54 pounds (all 35 pounds of baby weight plus some) so far! 

A friend of mine from the gym, Megan, encouraged me to do the marathon with her and here we are!  At first, I was really hesitant and not very confident that I would ever be able to run 26.2 miles. Once I saw the training schedule and realized how gradual it was, I decided to give it a try. We are up to running 15 miles and I am all signed up for the marathon-no turning back now!

Megan (left) and I after an "easy" 10 mile run.

My kids are definitely an inspiration for me to do this. Both of my older kids want to run a 5k with me this summer and my 2 year old loves to say, “You did it Mommy!” and “Mommy ran 8 miles!”  It doesn’t matter how far I ran, he always says 8 miles. I can’t wait to hear that at the finish line!  He also loves to take a ride in the double jogging stroller. He pushes me to run faster and further since he wants to see the cows and horse that are further down the road. And Baby Enzo…well, he’s the reason I started running in the first place. He’s not crazy about the stroller quite yet. Megan is also inspiring as she has done this before and is able to answer my questions as well as run the long runs with me even if it means slowing down her pace.

My goal is to finish the marathon. I’m not very concerned about my time, but I’m hoping to keep around a 10 minute mile pace. My biggest challenge is fitting all this running into my crazy schedule. I’ve found ways to get my run in each day even if it means getting up at 4:30. There is no excuse of “I don’t have time.”  My husband works varying hours in retail so I need to be creative. I do most of my weekday runs on the treadmill so the kids can play in the daycare at the gym. My biggest fear is that I won’t be able to finish because of an injury or that I will pass out somewhere along the way. Another concern is what to eat as I am allergic to almost all foods (soy, nuts, chicken, fish, pork, lima beans), so I need to be very careful about what I eat before and during the marathon. I am going to check out some of the gels to see if those will work for me. If not, there’s always Gatorade. I think I will be more confident once I get through a 20 mile run. I desperately needed new running shoes (I bought my last ones when I was pregnant with my two year old) and just got fitted with a new pair. What keeps me going?  I am very determined to never give up on anything. When the training gets tough I just push through it knowing that each day is a new one.

 

Keep going!     
Brenda Russell

Off the sidelines, on the streets

I always told people that I never really liked running. I like how I feel after a run, but that’s about it.  That crazy, giddy feeling where you know you pushed your body to its limit. 

I’m not one of those people who gets excited before a run or who finds it fun and enjoyable. It’s definitely not a hobby.  I can think of much more enjoyable activities that involve stomping on the concrete while my lungs feel like they’re going to explode.

I don’t look like a runner. I have curves, and they are not conducive for running. I don’t have fancy running clothes or own any Thermax, CoolMax, Gore-Tex, Supplex or anything else that ends in an “x.”

I don’t think like a runner. I don’t obsess about training or think about how eating will affect my running. I don’t strategize over what I’m going to wear or when I should take a water break, if I choose to take one at all.

I don’t feel like a runner. I don’t run very fast, and I’m pretty sure power walkers could lap me on a given day. I’m not a fan of major stretching, before or after a run.

So why did I sign up for the Cellcom Half Marathon?  I’ve cheered on the runners for the past few years.  The race route has either gone directly past my house or just a block over. And as I’ve watched the runners fly by, something in my brain said, you could do this.  Maybe you can’t go as fast or will break any course records, but with the proper amount of training, you can do this.  Even if you have to cross the finish line crawling, you can do this.

I signed up the first week in January, sort of as a New Year’s resolution.  I wanted a goal for the Spring and something to work toward.  As of two years ago, the longest distance I ran was 4 miles, and that was 20 years ago.  Currently, the most I’ve ever raced is 6.2 miles, and that is a struggle, too.  I had to think about how completing 13.1 miles was going to work. Would I run 3 minutes and walk for one?  Would I run a few miles and then walk? Would I be able to run the whole thing? 

Now it’s the beginning of February, and a month of training is under my belt.  I must admit that it has been doable.  The Prevea training schedule recommended works well for me – one medium run, one easy run and one long run per week. There is no way I will run more than 3-4 times per week, and I don’t think many training for their first half would.  I’ve been running (without walking) all the distances, and it’s something I hope to keep doing.  

I don’t time myself. I read that Jeff Galloway suggests not setting a goal time for a first half, because really, to what can you compare it?  And for me, finishing this will be an accomplishment in itself.  When people ask me what my goal is, I tell them, “to not pass out.”  

Slowly, I’m noticing some changes.  No length of run is ever easy for me, but now doing 3 miles seems as normal as brushing my teeth.  And I don’t find myself dreading the longer runs.  I don’t get a nagging pain in my back or stiffness in my hips.  I might even somewhat, kind of look forward to going for a run.  

I’ll have to make a few adjustments to the schedule, like when I’ll be in Spain for 9 days at the end of March. As a solo traveler, I will most likely not get in a “long” run in a foreign country, so I’ll have to make up for that.  I also plan on running a full half as part of my training at some point, just so I mentally know I can “do it” come race day.  Because the race is in my area, I might run the actual route.  

So while I still might not look, think or feel like a runner, I am looking, thinking and feeling stronger.

Who knows, maybe by the time the event rolls around, I might even like running. 

-Jamie Matczak

Prevea On the Move – IT Band and Foam Rolling

Do you have tightness or pain from your hip to your knee? Maybe just pain on the outer side of your knee? You  could have Iliotibial (IT) Band Syndrome which is inflammation on the outer side of your knee usually caused from your IT band rubbing repeatedly over the outside of your knee bone (femur). This repeated rubbing can cause tightness and pain in your IT band. This week’s Prevea On the Move offers helpful tips for reducing these symptoms using a foam roll.

 

IT Band Syndrome Handout

Walk before you run

My name is Paula Meyer. I am a 46 year old married mother of three children, ages 18-24. While I did run track in high school for a couple of years, and ran sporadically during college, I got away from it as a parent of young children. Wanting to get back into it, I took the advice from a runner – that you need to walk before you run…and that’s what I did.  I put two kids in a stroller, one on a bike, and I walked.  When I felt able, i started a walk-run regimen (thank you Jeff Galloway) and I was on my way. I got stronger, decreased my walking and increased my running. I remember the first time I ran an entire mile – without stopping – from my house to my parents. It was exhilarating! It’s been basically non-stop since. Some years have been injury plagued, some years have been lacking in motivation or focus. I’ve had running partners from time to time, but mostly ran alone. Now I’ve got an awesome new group of running friends that has brought me to the next level – and I couldn’t have done it without them.  

I’ve done races from the one mile Santa Scamper to as long as a marathon, completing my first one last fall. I have helped others complete their first races as well. It is so rewarding to cross the finish line with a first timer. The hugs and high fives, tears and cheers are so worth it. I’m a high school teacher and have shared my running with my students. This lifelong sport welcomes everyone, and hopefully some students will join our ranks!

I’ve done the Cellcom Green Bay Half Marathon a few times – this will be the first full marathon in Green Bay for me.  I’m so excited about the challenge of training through the winter, which thankfully has been mild.  I look forward to sharing this journey with others, hoping to inspire them to join us!

Becoming a runner

I did not start this journey as a runner. Remember in gym class when you had to run a mile as a test? Most of my friends ran as fast as they could, trying to beat their times from previous years. Maybe you were one of those kids but I certainly was not. I inexplicably had a side cramp, or claimed it was too hot, or thought, isn’t it cooler nowadays to walk? I was the chubby kid with excuses. Plus, running looked hard. Whenever I saw someone running I never thought that person enjoyed what they were doing. You wouldn’t find me doing such a thing.

Alas, a lifestyle of inactivity and an aging metabolism started its toll. In college, pulling all-nighters eating sweets and coffee to stay awake coupled with weekends of drinking and eating pizza helped me gain 35 pounds before I graduated. I didn’t even notice until I started looking through post-college pictures. I didn’t like what I saw and I was determined to change.

Over a year ago I started a diet plan based on moderation, smart eating, and hard work. I knew the best way to lose weight was intense cardio and running would be a necessary evil. So, I started running out of necessity, not out of love for the sport. I spent a few months running on a treadmill before my boyfriend, Nick, and I started running together. I distinctly remember telling him when we were dating in college that I would never run with him. “It’s just never going to happen. I’m not a runner,” I’d say adamantly.

I couldn’t imagine running outside. What propels you forward?? There wasn’t wind resistance when I was on the treadmill! And I couldn’t imagine running through the winter. The cold made it hard to breathe! Running outdoors seemed so different than running on a treadmill. A mile seemed longer out there. But we started slow with what Nick calls a shuffle. Most people walked faster than we “ran” but it was a start. We went from running a couple times a week to 5 times a week and while I couldn’t run more than a half mile at a time before, we’ve increased to week-end runs of up to 7 miles!

Four months ago I married my running partner and it wasn’t long until we decided to add the Cellcom Green Bay Half Marathon as our next milestone in life. Running this half, after losing 50 pounds, will be one of my greatest accomplishments to date. It hasn’t been easy; I’ve been injured along the way and getting up before the sun rises doesn’t always put a smile on my face. But I have learned so much about myself in my first year of running and I know can accomplish any goal I set for myself. I will complete 13.1 miles on May 20^th because I love to run. I am a runner.

-Ashley Roche

Let Me Try Again

If you had told me in August 2008 that I would someday lose 70 pounds and complete six half-marathons (plus a hundred other races), I would have gotten a huge belly laugh out of it. Literally. I was 39, weighed 242 pounds, and aside from a brief mountain biking phase after college I had never exercised regularly in my life. I was fat and happy, and the thought of ever being fit never occurred to me.

Then one Sunday afternoon I watched a Gene Kelly movie. I was awestruck as I watched him leap onto the fountain in “An American in Paris” at the same age I was then. Here he could wear a skin-tight jumpsuit and I could barely waddle across the room.  

It took a few more months to get moving, but I haven’t stopped since. My first event was a 3.7 mile non-competitive walk around a lake in Wisconsin Rapids in June 2009. It was especially non-competitive since I got lost on the way to the starting line and began seven minutes late. But I still managed to pass a few people that first time. Racing became a way to explore other towns and help some fine causes at the same time. Eventually I started mixing in a little jogging, and moved towards longer distances.

Then a bomb dropped. I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes in March 2010. The first thing I needed to know was if I could still do the half-marathon in June. Absolutely, they said. Conquering 13.1 miles became a metaphor for beating the disease. I was going to kick its sugary little behind. At first, it kicked mine. Thanks to low blood sugar and a training injury, I fell twice and bloodied my knee and elbow at mile eight. But I was determined to finish, so I picked myself up and kept moving on. While I did become an official half-marathon finisher, I really wanted to cross the line with a little more dignity. That Labor Day weekend I did complete a very drama-less half over part of the same course in Stevens Point.

I’m not sure why I chose the Cellcom Green Bay Half Marathon last year, but I’m so glad I did. It was great fun in spite of the wind, and I loved that spectators were still out there cheering us on. As I wasn’t happy with my time of 3:24, I decided I had to try it again. My personal record in the half is 3:07 at Fox Cities last fall, so my goal is to finish in less than three hours, preferably closer to 2:50 (weather permitting.) Then there are the same goals I have at every start line: to represent myself and the southern Wausau metro area the best that I can, and to get to the finish line and back home in one piece.

A good four mile outdoor training session yesterday really has me asking: is it May yet?

Patty Grove
Rothschild, Wisconsin