Ultra-Marathoner Interview: Moca, part 2

Last time, Moca talked about her family life and how it fits in with her runs and fitness overall. In part two, she gets into the nitty-gritty of her runs: the hows, and how-to-keep-goings. Read on for inspiration and tips, no matter where you are in your running journey (even if you're a not-yet-started like me!)

Look at that smile!

Interview with an UltraMarathon Runner: Moca

This awesome lady is Moca in 2009. I'm working on getting photos from a recent super-marathon (8 HOURS of running, folks!) to put in with this two-post blog post, but I am so excited to introduce her that I'm putting it up here now and worrying over pictures later! She is one great lady who is truly inspiring. Read further to get tips on how to get into - and stick with - running, no matter what your level. Part 2 will post on Friday!

Okay, I have to update this for a correction - it turns out that she is NOT a "Super" marathoner, but an "ULTRA-"marathoner. Either way, I'm inspired and plan to keep the interview handy to refer back to later on!

TFF: In what general "age range" are you? 

Moca: I have no problems telling you that I am 41. I am usually in the 40-49 age category in races. I didn't start running distance until I was 37. Age only matters in that I'm proof that age should not be used as a reason for why we aren't in shape or can't even start to work towards it. I am in better shape now than I was in my 20's. Youth only plays a small part in fitness; a 20-year-old isn't automatically healthy just as a 60-year-old isn't automatically arthritic. It's what you do with your body and life that matters. Get out and run.

Perseverance and Attitude

When I was heavier, before I started exercising, I had a bunch of handy excuses to be sedentary. I'd been using them for years.

I thought I had "settled" at my body's appropriate weight. I didn't want to join the gym at work because I didn't want to have to drag a heavy gym bag around (I park a half mile from my office -- literally, a half-mile), and I felt like I spent enough time at work, and I didn't want to join any other gym, because it would cost too much and be inconvenient. I didn't want my plantar fasciitis to come back. I didn't care if I was overweight, it wasn't a big deal.

I'm sure most heavy people have a litany of excuses! Well ... mine were easily demolished, once I got past the part of me that wanted to be obstinate. I was seriously my own worst enemy, and I am sure this is the problem facing a lot of people. The first words out of my mouth were "I can't, because...." I see this with other women, who immediately say "Oh, I wish I could run/lift weights/do yoga/etc, but I can't because--" That is the biggest roadblock. That instant "I can't," when it has nothing to do with real reasons to not do these things, but just plain obstinacy. We should just be honest and say "I don't want to!" I clung to the plantar fasciitis excuse like a lifesaver. "I can't ... I don't want my plantar fasciitis to come back!" It was such a great excuse to not do weight-bearing exercise (to be honest, I had a bad case that took years to heal).

Over the summer I gradually started to change, and to be honest, I have to say God did this. I have never known God to act decisively and suddenly -- more like nudge, nudge, nudge, until you finally do what He wants. He changed my heart, because I was miserable and I wasn't doing anything to help myself. So I put aside all the bad stuff, the excuses, and got on the treadmill. It sucked. I kept at it. It no longer sucks ... and now I love my gym days best of all. Sometimes I put that big heavy gym bag on my back and then stand on the scale in the locker room with my shoes on and my purse and lunch bag, and I laugh because even with all that on, I don't weigh as much as I used to.

When you have a roll of fat around your middle and you sit down, the fat pushes up and it makes you  uncomfortable sitting upright, because it's harder to breath with that fat pushing against your diaphragm. A few weeks ago at a friend's house, we all sat around the kitchen table for hours after eating, and I didn't have to ask if we could move into the other room where the softer, more comfortable chairs were ... because I was comfortable there! I didn't have to lean back to breathe. I could just sit with my friends and laugh and talk like everyone else.

I feel so strong and healthy now. I feel like everyone else must feel ... which is wonderful after so many years of being the fat one in my circle of friends, the one who couldn't go shopping with the girlfriends because they weren't plus-sized too, the woman who wouldn't ever wear shorts or tank tops in public. I very nearly cried the first time I tried on "misses" clothing and it fit ...I was in Kohl's, and I put on clothing from the regular section ... no "W" or "X" on the tag ... I was so happy. And amazed, because I'd invested so many years in telling myself I couldn't do it, and then I did it. There was no magic pill or potion or diet shake for me -- it just took perseverance and attitude.

This is what I wish I could tell all the women I see who are carrying so much extra weight, and they look so tired, and so unhappy, like they just can't wait to get home and put on sweatpants and take off the too-tight bra, and sit down and not move again until bedtime. I wish I could get it through to them how important it is to be strong not just in mind, but in body too. Sometimes when I'm on the treadmill, or running around the parade field on the army base, I feel awesome. I feel mighty. I don't ever want to go back to what I was before!

I went from this, in September 2010 ....

To this, in April 2012:

It was just a 5k ... but to me, it might as well have been the Olympics. 

(In that 'before' picture, I was in Anne Hathaway's cottage garden in Stratford-upon-Avon in September 2010. I took a bunch of pictures of that orange shawl, all over Wales and England. You can see them here.)

Healthy (-er) Enchilada Recipe

This one has corn, tomatoes, veggie chicken, GREEN sauce, and is topped with cilantro

My mother used to make huge trays of cheese enchiladas - half with meat, half without - and I loved them. To this day, enchiladas are one of my absolute favorite dishes to dig into. But until earlier this year, I wouldn't make them at home, primarily because I couldn't figure out how to roll the corn tortillas without them cracking. Thanks to Slick's hubby, I now know that you have to heat them on a griddle first. Then I started thinking about it and while those cheese enchiladas are totally tasty, they are not quite as healthy as I would like. For a family with six kids, they're inexpensive, easy and tasty enough that they'll be eaten without fuss. But here are the requirements I was trying to meet with this meal (in no particular order):

• gluten free
• dairy free

Slick's Rock-and-Roll Half-Marathon Adventure, Part II

13.1 Miles later…

Okay, I know this is extremely late…but I am a bit of a procrastinator. 

Anyway…When you register for some races…especially the big ones, they want to know what time you expect to run it in.  I was at an eleven-minute-plus pace when I registered back in October, so I entered an estimate of 2:30.  As my husband is my biggest fan and supporter, he also put down 2:30.  Unbeknownst to me. this put us in corral 21.  I don’t know how many corrals there were total, but I counted at least 28.  This meant we were in the 21^st wave of people to start.  To put this into perspective, it was 30 minutes after the starting gun fired before we crossed the start line.  Fortunately we could hear some of the music and at some points we could hear the MCs.  In thirty minutes the weather warmed up…actually it could have been the other 20 thousand runners that warmed me up. 

Before the first mile my husband and I separated.  We had discussed it beforehand and had agreed to meet at the finish line.  If I didn’t make it in by 2:30 he was to meet me at the designated meeting area.  This was fine with me.  I didn’t want to hold him back, and I didn’t want to push myself too hard too soon in the race by trying to keep up with him.  Another reason we separated so early was that the race started uphill.  This wouldn’t have been so bad, but as I was to learn, it ended uphill too.  

There were so many people dressed for St. Patrick’s Day with green running gear and also tutus, hats, and jewelry.  It made the whole experience very festive.  Another great thing about the run was that there were hundreds of people showing their support through the whole run…with signs, music (both from radios and live bands), and cheering; there were even people handing out drinks for the 21 and over crowd.  

The run itself was more difficult than I anticipated.  Most of my training had been on a mile track with one subtle hill.  As I learned while running the half-marathon, DC is very hilly. Somehow I never noticed this before.  The music was okay…sometimes the bands were not playing when I ran by, but I had my ipod, so I didn’t mind.  My husband, who had forgotten his ipod headphones and was looking forward to the live music, was very disappointed; he said that the majority of the bands were not playing when he ran by. 

The hardest part of the actual course was between mile 10 and mile 12.  At some point I passed the sign for mile 11 and didn’t notice it.  So I couldn’t figure out why mile 10 was taking forever.

There were many good things about the run.  Part of the course runs by the Washington Monument and the flags were flying and it was very pretty and inspiring.  I also ran through neighborhoods I had never been in before and will probably never have a reason to drive through.  The crowds were invigorating and it was great seeing all the other runners.  There were plenty of water and Gatorade stations, as well as GU and bananas.  The best part was crossing the finish line.  I was so proud of myself and I felt that my training and dedication really paid off.  Getting the medal itself was icing on the cake. 

The medal was awarded immediately after crossing the finish line.  Then they herd you through the food handout area.  There was something for everyone.  Greek yogurt, bananas, bottles of water and Gatorade.  One of the last items was Refuel, a chocolate milk that helps with muscle recovery, but it was too sweet for my taste.  My husband enjoyed it.

Once we got through the food line, we went over to get our free beer.  Michelob Ultra was one of the sponsors and every participant 21 and over received a free 5 oz beer.   This didn’t mix well with the Refuel and I ended up giving most of my free beer to my husband.  

My time, 2:22:49, wasn’t too bad for my first half-marathon…definitely have to work on my speed, especially since we have already signed up to run the Virginia Beach and the San Antonio Rock n Roll Half-Marathons. Hope to see you there!

Lessons Learned:

1.       Thin socks work best for me…my poor toes

2.       Hills hurt a lot and DC has a lot of hills

3.       Large races have lots of wait time

4.       Layers, layers, layers

5.       Don’t wear anything you haven’t worn running before, saw people carrying socks, and tutus getting caught between legs

Spinster Beth's Irongirl 5K Adventure!

in·au·gu·ral
 in-aw-gyer-uhl, -ger-uhl
adjective
1. of or pertaining to an inauguration: Harding's inaugural address.
2. marking the beginning of a new venture, series, etc.: the inaugural run of the pony express. 
(dictionary.com)

The inaugural Iron Girl Half Marathon and Coed 5K in Columbia, MD, also marked my first (inaugural, get it?) real 5k. I attempted one before, last October, but I walked so much of it that I just couldn't consider myself to have actually completed one. The Iron Girl was this morning, and I have now finished, jogging from start to finish, a 5K.

And I have the bling to prove it! 

I'm tempted to wear it to work tomorrow, like a necklace.

Here I am before the race, in the bracing 45-degree morning ... about 0715. The half-marathon (all female!) took off at 0700.









The half-marathoners were preceded by some of the most kind-hearted, generous, and awesome women I've ever seen ....

These ladies were pushing two disabled girls in wheelchairs. Can you imagine? Half the course was uphill (particularly a very memorable 1/4 mile stretch of it), and they were pushing wheelchairs while they ran! I was just bowled over. Wow! I imagine it was even harder going downhill.



 I didn't see these ladies coming back on the 5K course, so they were either relayers (7 miles) or half-marathoners. Amazing. They were part of a special program that helps severely disabled people to participate in athletic events. The two girls in the chairs were delighted.


Columbia is a lovely area, and we were running around a place I'm very familiar with -- the road between the mall and the library -- and it was a chilly morning. But sunny and everyone was smiling and eager.

I didn't do as well as I hoped, but not by much; I came in at 39:06, which is 5:08 better than the 5k I tried to run last October.

Here I am ... puff puff .... downhill, I can do it ... ignore the idiot in the foreground, he was picking up a penny or something.

Look! My feet aren't touching the ground! Just like a pro! 

Whew! I'm pretty tired, but I can see the finish line. The lady next to me seemed to be struggling, but she left me in the dust not long after this picture was taken. She found her inner beast, I guess.

There she goes! Buh-bye! I was trying to wave and smile at Slick, who was taking my picture. I was also trying to look all cool and refreshed, like I wasn't exhausted. I was just so thrilled to have done it.









That one hill just about did me in, and the halfway point was at the top of that hill. I actually didn't realize how long it was till I was running back down it. I am amazed that I was able to run up a hill that far. If it had been much longer, I don't think I could have done it without walking some of the way.

And that's my story! Thanks to Slick for motivating me to run, for coming out with me at 0-dark-thirty, for waiting while I ran, and for taking the pictures. I had a blast. The half-marathon actually sold out, so perhaps some more events will be coming out this way.

Now I've got to try to get in under 39:00. 

Work Out Review - T-Tapp "More" Rehab Program

I have had this DVD ... well, for about a month! Yikes - a long time to go without even cracking the seal to look it over. BUT I finally got around to it and here is what I think.

T-Tapp MORE Rehab Program ($56): 

Created for Those Who Have MORE to Lose, MORE Health Issues to Overcome or MORE Birthday Candles on the Cake

The Reason: I bought this DVD to review for others in my life who are struggling to lose "more." Well, that's only partly true - I looked up T-Tapp because of a glowing recommendation on another blog. My fellow stay-at-home-mom blogger really raved about Teresa Tapp's system of strengthening and weight loss. So I looked it up and for a week or so, I followed the try-it-free workout clips she has on her site. Then I bought the "More" DVD to pass on to a friend who is really working hard to get in shape and lost "more."

Let me say that Teresa Tapp is one of those perky, happy people that are irritating - in the same way that Richard Simmons is irritating. Perky but - more importantly - memorable. That is: I remember her face, actions and admonitions, even when I'm not watching her videos. When it comes to overall weight loss, that can be a helpful. And for the record, I am a huge Richard Simmons fan because he has helped so many people in his lifetime!