ROTD: Beaker...finally!

Lori!!! I have been remiss in writing this...although I read your ROTD days ago!

I think so many people have given you great advice...but I think Moonie might be onto something about taking the time to get back to it slowly and without pressuring your body to do more than it can initially. Get a schedule together that works for you now...and stick to it as much as you can. You know what you are capable of...but just not yet maybe.

I think people's advice about running without music is an interesting one. Since I only listen to music as a diversion, rather than a motivation, I don't think it's as much an issue...when I don't have it, ehn, it's ok. When I do, well all the better. If you find you can't run without it, then learning to do without is probably a good idea.

In terms of pushing yourself overall? I'm no help there, my friend! I don't know how to do that myself! But I will say, running with someone faster, just slightly, is a good motivator...in my experience lately (and running with YOU in the past)...it's enough to get you to do it without discouraging you. If you think you run 10 min miles, find someone who runs 9:45 and run with them...you will get faster!

On a personal note, you know you are one of my favorite people in real life and I will help you any way I can...with running and everything else.

(((Lori))) just cuz you're awesome.

Beaker, it sounds like you have every excuse in the world to be a bit complacent about your running, so I want to commend you for being focused on something that will help you to be a better person, partner and parent. Having said that, most moms can't do it all. I think it's fantastic that you can incorporate time with Aiden into your exercising, and I would encourage you to continue that because it's good for you, and it will be natural for him to run around a ton when he's so used to seeing Mommy do it. I does seem reasonable, however, that life will intervene sometimes and running may need to drop in priority. I think this is ok, too, as you as you continue to fight for Beaker Time.

In terms of racing, I agree with the notion that pre-baby and post-baby PRs will probably be different understandably! Take this opportunity to reset your PRs and, who knows? After easing back into racing, you may find yourself back in your old neighborhood of PRs but without the pressure of beating them.

As everyone has said, you're a phenomenal person and athletic supporter. You seem to raise everyone else's game by your selflessness. Because I'm like this, I recommend a little selfishness. We've seen some amazing acts of solidarity among the people of this thread. Why don't you ask one of the fast local 30s to race with you and help you to push your pace? NO ONE would see this as an out-of-bounds request, but I hope it wouldn't be hard for you to make, given how you seem to put other people first. (Please don't be offended if I'm totally off-base!) Of anyone on this board, you probably have the most social capital amassed, so anything you ask will probably be accommodated. Please don't be afraid to ask.

I've stopped making sense, so I'll conclude. Good luck on your running comeback.

Lori

First off, thank you for writing your ROTD, Im glad I got to know a bit more about your running background.

I dont know what I can add that hasnt already been said. I think those before me have given you some good tools to work with.

I will echo what some of the others have said, you are such a great person. You have been so supportive in some way to each and every one of us. Dont change a thing!

You are definately one who I am looking foward to running a HM with one day!

Moonie you are so right, the next few months need to be about regaining some fitness, then worry about the rest! And I am glad you mentioned the TM. I also think it was a really good tool for me in the past, to feel what a certain pace felt like. Definately going to use it for that again!

Moe your progress lately has really been inspirational to me. What you have shared here and all of our conversations off the board have been a huge help for my mental and physical well being! You rock!

Holy smokes Prae!!!! Way to make me totally well up! I was actually thinking last night about how to find a running partner and you are so right! I feel bad asking someone to run with me! But I kept thinking about Solar and how she slowed down to run Midnight madness with us, and then thought Wow, so did Rand. And I realized how fantastic my friends are and that they would without a doubt do anything to help me. So watch out locals! And on a side note, your transition from beginner to HMer has been such fun to watch, I am so proud of all you have done in such a short time!

Oh Frankie, my buddy! We may need to run a full to get all our chatting in!!! Can't wait to meet up with you again! Thanks for always being in my corner!!!!

I love this. This is how I look at the vast majority of my races. I make a goal, I publicize my goal, and I go balls-out to reach that goal. If I don't make it, at least I know I left it all on the course.

Au contraire, my Greek friend. You made perfect sense.

Great reading your ROTD, Lori

Recently I've acquired a running partner that is both faster than me and patient with me. I showed up to meet him one day and freaked out internally because we were running with two of his friends that day and I knew they were much faster than me. I was looking at one guy thinking, isn't that the guy that lead the fastest group on our group run at the running store yesterday? WTF! It was teh suck run for me and I found myself apologizing to my running partner for slowing him down. He told me he went into the run knowing that I wouldn't be able to keep up with them but that is why he wanted me there. He said, "It is very difficult to improve if all you're around is people of your "level." (sorry Theia)When you run with faster runners, you become a faster runner without ever realizing it." At this point this guy wasn't my long time friend that had to have all the patience in the world with me but he did anyway. So if an almost stranger to me can be patient enough to help me out, I bet easily there are a ton of your friends that want to return the favor of all the things you've done for them (because that's just a given, you're that kind of person) and would be more than willing to help push you past your comfort zone and get you running at times you'd never push to on your own.

One of my current favorite quotes for ya...

"Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the slowest gazelle, or it will starve. It doesn't matter whether you're a lion or gazelle - when the sun comes up, you'd better be running."

Best wishes to you with accomplishing your goals, I see great things ahead for you because I see in you that streak of stubborn competitiveness I know is in myself... And let's face it, we don't really let anything get in our way, do we?

How about New York in 3 years. I might be ready for another by then I did day once that I would run another one when I was 40, thats three years away