Holly's Blog: Back to work, back to running, and Grand Slam Training! :)

Long time, no blog! It's been since June since my last blog mostly about my sprained MCL (not, NOT running related). Due to staying busy with my new job at a new school along with a new grade level, needless to say, I'm adjusting! I am LOVING it though! Our fourth grade theme is "Wild About 4th Grade", so I have hints of animal print along with my decorated monkey lockers! The kids really like it, and I do too! :)

The staff, 4th grade team, and my administration have been soooooo helpful and encouraging, and my students make my day every day! I am enjoying teaching 4th grade math. After teaching Kindergarten for two years and 1st grade last year, I am already spoiled to a 4th grader's independence...I am used to babying, dealing with tattling, fussing, and kids wetting their pants...haha! So, needless to say, it's been quite a change for me! I am so thankful to be a part of the Harvest Elementary family!

Holly NOT in running clothes...who is that?! lol

STRONG GIRLS 5k/My "comeback" race!

Being on injury is rough for a runner...whether it's weeks or months. I felt like mine felt longer due to me being off work in the summer. I did very well about not getting depressed...I kept myself busy volunteering, working on my Rosetta Stone Spanish lessons, spending time with family & friends, and preparing for my 4th year of teaching. And of course, physical therapy along with my own exercise plans with NO running kept me busy too. Thank you Dr. Franklin & the physical therapist at Sportsmed for your honesty, your encouragement, and for pushing me on the days that I was frustrated and I didn't want to work on my knee.

On July 11th, I ran the Strong Girls 5k with the Ainsley's Angel's team for the first time! Wow...what an experience! I loved our captain, Amberly. Her positive and sweet personality kept us all going during the race; it was an honor to be a part of her first 5k race! I'm thankful for the sport of running, and I'm very thankful when I am able to experience another person see that joy of racing for the first time! She's a natural athlete and such an encourager! Here are just a few pictures from a GREAT race day! I will be running with the Ainsley's Angel's team at the Hartselle Half Marathon next month, and I'm looking forward to it! I can't wait to race with Amberly again and to hear her say "go! go! go!" ! :) :) :)

During this race, my knee was hurting (honestly, I think just due to not running/walking for so long), but I made it through. I have always been thankful to be out on the pavement or trails to run, but this knee injury renewed my thankfulness to a whole new level. It feels sooooooo good to be out running again, and I don't care that I have to slow down, walk, stretch, etc...I'm getting my miles completed to prepare for...

2015-2016 Grand Slam Race Series!

Yes...it's official...I've lost my mind. I've said for the past 3 years that I would NEVER sign up for that insanely difficult race that they call Mountain Mist, but here I am waiting for it to open up on ultrasignup.com. It is the most difficult race out of the four races. To complete the Huntsville Track Club's Grand Slam, you have to finish the Dizzy 50s 50K (mid-November), the Rocket city Marathon (mid-December), the Recover for the Holiday 50k (late December), and the beast called Mountain Mist (late January). I ran and completed the Dizzy 50k last year along with the Rocket City Marathon, but I have never attempted the Recover for the Holidays 50 or Mountain Mist 50k. Yes, you complete all four races for bragging rights and a Grand Slam Jacket. You better believe that I will be wearing that jacket for a month so I can brag as much as I want...haha! :-P I'm nervous and excited about it, but I know I have a training plan that will get me in shape and ready for the challenge! I love distance running! I'm using this along with this from Hal Higdon to create what I will be using to help me complete the Grand Slam Challenge!

From an injured runner,

It was easy for me to want to be depressed, but I chose not to be. Once again, I kept myself busy with what I mentioned above. Getting back into running is tough. What my competitive self misses the most is the average pace that I have lost, from my 5k distance to my half marathon distance. I have gotten slower, and once again, I'm so competitive with myself that I get discouraged at times. I've even gained weight during the summer because of being less active along with eating more (which I know better and I am changing that as I speak). During those times, I mentally take a step back, and I think of this...

As cliche as this sounds, I think about my journey and how far I have come. I remember a recent college graduate with horrible eating habits along with constant swings of depression and anxiety. My stomach was constantly having issues to the point where I had to go for colonoscopies. I remember dreading going to the doctor because I knew he was going to say "We need to up your thyroid medicine dosage" or "Hey, we need to lower your medicine dosage" because my thyroid was NEVER consistent. I think about the day where walking/running a mile on the treadmill hurt, and I remember crying that first week of couch to 5k training and thinking "I can't do this", but being encouraged by friends like Katrina's Runkeeper posts kept me going.

What has running done for me...

*I'm an early riser. (no, I'm still not a morning person! :-P)

*My synthroid medication for my thyroid has stayed leveled for the past three years.

*I'm able to have regular bowel movements (TMI...but hey, I'm being real and honest about my past health, so I hope this helps someone!) when I was told that I wouldn't be able to without the help of medications from two different doctors and two different colonoscopies (by the way, those doctors NEVER recommended exercise when someone like me needed to HEAR IT because I was that clueless/ignorant; needless to say, I don't see them anymore!).

*I don't have headaches on a weekly basis (one of the many symptoms of hypothyroidism). I can count how many headaches I have had in the past six months on one hand.

*I lost 25 lbs during my first year and a half of running. After I lost that weight, I didn't have serious shin/knee issues while walking/running.

*I've gained training buddies and lifelong friends that have been so helpful, encouraging, kind, and irreplaceable...

*I've gained confidence that I never thought I would have in myself. Depression and anxiety are under my feet like the devil is (STOMP!), and I DON'T let that demon win like I used to allow it to! To this day, running still helps me clear my head, and hey, those long runs are the perfect time to pray and praise!

*I've completed distances, paces, etc that I NEVER thought possible...