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August 18, 2005
Graduation Day
Not for me, for my mom. Today was her last day of treatment. She actually got a diploma for completing radiation! My dad had decided that we would have some champagne tonight, because we can't celebrate too many times. One of the things that my parents have learned from this entire experience is to not take things for granted. They need to take some time and enjoy the moment when it happens. They are both very hard working and driven, but sometimes that takes a toll on the enjoyment part of life. I have seen that growing up and like to think that I take a more balanced approach to life, although I have not really been on a vacation in years. My brother is coming home for a celebration dinner on Saturday, but we had a small celebration for just the three of us. This celebration meant that I had to hurry home from the workout tonight, but that was OK since we had a small group and pretty much everyone had to get out quickly.
So, tonight's workout. Hills again, this time four. This is probably not the best attitude to doing a workout, but when I know that I have four hills, mentally I think "push the first two, just get the third one in the bank, and push the fourth one". I do this whenever I do more than three hills, I give myself a break on the one before the last one. In reality, I probably do it just as hard because I am not as fatigued, but the mindset that I don't have to work as hard makes it easier to get up. It was cool today, if you want to call 85 degrees cool. The humidity was down slightly as well, which made the conditions all the more tolerable. I ran the first two hills with M, who said that her goal was to run the first two with me (she was only doing three) and the last two by myself. I felt suprisingly good on the hills. I felt pretty strong for all four of the hills. Each loop is just over a mile and I finished in 28:15...I'll have to see how that compares to previous years in my old log books, not that I am that obsessive or anything. It is just that these workouts are a bread and butter type of workout that I can use to determine what kind of shape I am getting in. There is no way to "cheat" on these hills, they are that steep.
I can honestly say that things are coming along for me now. There was a point, maybe a month ago, when things seemed to be going down and getting dark. My body really was not responding and I felt pretty awful all the time. The things that I wrote may not have sounded as bad as they felt, but it was a really low point for me. J reminded me the other night that it can take up to six months to recover properly from a marathon, so some of how I have been feeling is considered normal. I think the reason that it was so difficult for me to take time off is that I recovered really quickly from the other marathons that I did.
I have to book my flight for my October race soon. My credit card has seen way too much action this past month. Last weekend was particularly bad with the doctor, medicine, the wedding gift, gas, and shopping at the beach. My brother also wants me to pick up a spa gift certificate for our mom tomorrow and will pay me back, but yikes, that is a ton of money that I have been charging. My parents will pay for the doctor's visit and medicine, but the number on that bill still freaks me out!
Happy Friday all!
Posted by Blondie at August 18, 2005 08:17 PM
Comments
Hey congratulations to your mom!!! That is an AWESOME achievement!
Posted by: Nanda at August 19, 2005 11:34 AM
that is fabulous blondie. what a REALLY great day for your mom and your family. i hope she gets all of her strength back soon.
-audrey-
Posted by: Audrey at August 19, 2005 12:02 PM
That is great news Blondie!! Congratulations to you and your family. I hope that your mom continues to feel better and better.
I am dying of curiosity about the October race... that is exciting that you booked your flight. I hope it goes well when the time comes!
Posted by: Barb at August 19, 2005 06:10 PM