Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Two Minutes to Win It! April's Monthly Challenge




Two Minutes to Win It! April's Monthly Challenge

Welcome to the April Challenge Event! Every month we focus on a few key things to keep us motivated throughout the month. This month we are gearing up for many amazing races, Run the Bluegrass, Ragnar, Derby Half-Marathon/Marathon and many more. Although Derby isn’t until May, it’s also time to get ready for the fastest two minutes in sports. So ladies, it’s time to see what you can do in two minutes!!! Select a few exercises from the list below and as many days per week complete as many repetitions as you can in two minutes. If you are not able to complete the exercise for the full two minutes, take rest breaks as needed. The ultimate goal is to improve the number of repetitions over the course of the month. Also look at your current training plan/calendar and estimate your miles for the month. Set a mileage goal, DECLARE IT, and crush it! 

This month we will use the same format for posting mileage: daily miles/total goal miles.
Feel free to post when you successfully complete your strength exercises. We suggest posting progress at least once per week, in the following format:

Week 1: Push ups – 6; Crunches – 27; Squats – 35
Week 2: Push ups – 8; Crunches – 35; Squats – 40
Week 3: Push ups – 10; Crunches – 40; Squats – 43

Options for exercises (feel free to select other exercises):
Push-ups, Crunches/Sit-ups/In & Outs, Pull-ups, Burpees, Squats, Lunges, Planks, etc...

Please remember, we encourage you to post your workouts and progress for accountability and encouragement in our Facebook event page. We excel at encouraging and motivating runners of ALL LEVELS. Although it can be challenging, try not to compare your journey to other runners. The only person you should try to be better than, is the person you were yesterday.

Monday, April 10, 2017

This Mother Runner's Piece of Advice? Chase Your Running Goals!


This Mother Runner's Piece of Advice? Chase Your Running Goals!
by Jeanette Dunlap, MRTT/SRTT Louisville, KY Chapter Member

Why do you run? A question, as runners, we often are asked. Our answers to this question are just as unique as our running journey. For some, it started as a way to be on the path to better health, others enjoyed competition, and others it is their few moments of the day to escape. For me, I run because I enjoy finding new challenges to train and test myself.  One of my favorite quotes: “There are no shortcuts, nothing is given to us; we earn every mile, and we earn every result.” If I want to conquer my personal goals, I have to work for it and be smart in the training process.


Being smart in the process, is not something that comes naturally to most runners - including myself. We see our “A” race that we our training for and pretty much any nagging injury is just ignored. I started down this path last year. As I was training with Marian and Dannielle, both who I met through MRTT, for our first trail marathon and first 50K, I started having knee pain. It got to the point where I could not run uphill or downhill, even biking and aqua jogging it hurt. Focusing on my running goals, I knew it was quite possible I would be earning my first DNS (did not start). I sought some advice from an ultra runner who recommended physical therapy.


My first visit to the PT was great. She thought for sure I would be running my trail marathon even with about 8 weeks left until race day. My second visit to the PT, she noticed the lump behind my ear. She basically gave me an ultimatum to get it checked out. I had that lump growing for a few years. I was not concerned about it. It was just a fatty cyst that didn’t hurt or bother me. Because of my love for running and wanting to continue to run, I got it checked out. My family doctor said it was an epidermoid cyst, referred me to an ENT who thought the same thing. Because of it size, the ENT suggested we just remove the cyst. I asked him what the recovery was since I had a race in a few weeks. He said just a week.


The outpatient surgery was scheduled for August 25, 2016. Everything went smoothly. September 1st, I drove to get my 9 stitches out, only to be told I have intermediate grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma (salivary cancer). I lost it. I was by myself having to call my husband on the phone to tell him that I have cancer, as he waits to get 2 of our 3 kids off the bus. The diagnosis even surprised the ENT. He told me my cancer journey was just beginning.


16 days post surgery, 9 days post stitches out and hearing I have mucoepidermoid carcinoma, I finished my first trail marathon  - Moose Mountain - in 7:01 crossing the finish line with Dannielle and Marian. It was one of the few races where I wanted to keep running, knowing I was going to now be focusing on my cancer race instead of my first ultra race.

Jeanette (left) crossing the Moose Mountain finish line.



With lots of research and opinions, I opted for another surgery over radiation to eradicate the cancer.  November 8, 2016 I treated just like a race day. It was my surgery day. I knew doctors and nurses were getting up to meet me at the hospital just like other racers on race day. I had done my training - I researched and prepared myself. The surgery was estimated to take 4 hours. They were removing some lymph nodes behind the ear and the superficial lobe of the parotid gland (where the cancer originated). My husband and Marian hung out with me for a bit while I recovered in the hospital. I knew my family, friends, and MRTT gals were all running for me that day and leaving me facebook messages to look forward to after surgery. I also knew my goal of becoming an ultra runner this year was not going to happen. My husband, brother, and Dannielle all become ultra runners in the race I was hoping to run the Saturday following my surgery. Unfortunately, Marian caught pneumonia a few weeks earlier and was not able to run the ultra as well.  We both knew we would get our reventure one day.


The recovery from this surgery was about the roughest recovery I ever had. I lost alot of weight from the difficulty and pain of swallowing along with not being able to keep any food down.   I had about 40 stitches that went from the front of my ear, behind it, and down part of my neck. Each day, I kept telling myself, tomorrow would be better just like recovery from races. Throughout this time, I had continual help from family and friends - even friends I met through MRTT helping with kids and food.  It was not until day 5 of recovery did I see any improvements. Once I saw that light, I focused on getting my strength and energy back. Then, I looked at what I was able to do. I can walk. So I walked. I have limited mobility in my neck so I didn’t try to run until 3 weeks post surgery. The first run, I ran just under 2 miles and my neck throbbed. It was hard and not fun.  The following week I tried running again. It went much better, so I gradually started building up my running base. One of my first trail runs in January was with my MRTT trail sisters, and I was reunited running with Marian again in the woods. It was bittersweet.

Jeanette post-surgery (with 40 stitches).

Jump ahead 4 months post cancer surgery and being cancer free, Marian and I became ultramarathoners! March 11, 2017, I finished Land between the Lakes 60K in 7 hours and 10 minutes! Not only was I able to finish, but crushed my goal time by almost an hour.  The race started in a snow shower that was beautiful and perfect running weather - my favorite. I knew I had three laps to run. Each lap the effort level increased. The trails became muddier. A few times I caught myself a little misty-eyed thinking about how blessed I am to finally run this distance after my first attempt went a different way.  How several of the other MRTT BAMRs I had traveled with were running first marathons and trail races as well.  What an unique experience to share with running friends.


I posted this last fall on facebook when I was taking on cancer: “Just like training for a big race, having cancer consumes you,  you learn alot about yourself, and there are ups and downs. I am feeling optimist that this cancer race will be but a memory in the near future.” Cancer is now a memory. My running is what helped me find it, fight it, and conquer it.

Jeanette feeling accomplished after Land Between the Lakes 60K!



Everyone’s reason for running is different. We all have different goals, bucket list races.  You never know when your experiences with running - how you have good days and bad days of running, crushing a bucket race - are going to help you get through life. How the people you meet through running - MRTT, races, etc will impact your life. I know for me, these people saved my life, supported me through my journey, and trained with me to reach my goals. Go chase your running goals! MRTT wants to be your biggest cheerleader!

“Believe in yourself. Nothing else will get you to the finish line. Decide before you start what will stop you. If that doesn’t happen, you continue to run. “ - John Morelock.