The Swiss Runner That Could

By Guest Blogger Karen Keller

I have never liked the word “can’t”. Ever since I can remember I was told “You could not”. It has always been my encouragement to prove everyone that I could.

A lot of people have asked me “Why do I run?” “Are you running from something?” The answer is, I run because I enjoy it and I still can. I  love how it feels under my feet and can get out into nature and experience the beauty around me.

I started running just to get in shape and when I met my husband, he encouraged me to run. I ran around the block, my husband way in front and I thought to myself, this is not fun and I was going to die. As I got better I began to enjoy it more and entered my first 5K. When I was a Caregiver to my mother I was so emotionally drained, and running became my escape. Whenever I could I would run the trails and streets of Tucson and then started to realize that I could handle life better and that it was okay to take care of myself. I always thought I had to take care of everyone else first and myself last.

In the spring of 2006 I was training for the San Francisco marathon when I discovered a lump, two weeks later I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. I went numb. I could not function. I was in excellent health, working out 5 days a week and no sign of cancer in my family. The treatment: 6 months of chemo followed by surgery and 6 weeks of radiation. Was I going to die? All I wanted to do was run from my life. This is where the real race started for me. My life changed from then on. From fear, I became angry then accepted the reality and finally was determined to fight. I was not going to let this disease overtake me. The plan…I was going to do the treatment and then run a Half Marathon the following year. First round of Chemo began and 4 days later my hair started to fall out, but I was ready to fight to the end. The days became weeks and the weeks became months and when the going got tough and I could not get out of bed or eat, I decided I needed something to change my thoughts and look forward to. I decided that once treatment was over I would run the San Francisco Half marathon. I studied the route, read inspirational books and when I was in pain and wanted to give up, I would run the route in my head. July 2007, I found myself at the starting line. I was going to celebrate life and enjoy every step of the way even if it meant walking. I was happy to be alive. It was then that I decided that I was going to enjoy life to the fullest and do the things I enjoy the most. Life is short and you never know what will come your way.

Ever since that day, I have enjoyed every step of my running journey. My husband has supported me through this journey that I have taken.  He still thinks that I am nuts, running at the crack of dawn but he know I am safe and he is happy that I enjoy what I do. He is my rock and is always looking out for me. You may find him at the finish line with his camera in toe ready to snap some photos.

I am still that quiet, shy gal running at the back of the pack but I am catching up, turn around I might be right behind you. I have big goals and dreams. I still dream of running the Boston Marathon, who knows, maybe someday it will happen. For now I am running for the pure enjoyment of running and to see how far I can challenge myself.

One thing is for sure, do what you love to do. Life is short. Nothing is impossible. Why not go after your dreams and goals, I certainly am. Training may be hard but you put one step in front of the other. Yes there may be that time when you feel discouraged but you know what, you pick yourself up, and continue. There is a whole TRP family cheering you on, every step of the way. They will never judge you and they will pick you up when you are at your lowest. Do the things that you enjoy now.  My next big goal: An Ultra, hey, why not 

6 and a Half Months Equal a Year and a Lifetime

By Guest Blogger Naomi Sweat

I’ll start with the basics.  Strictly in 2016, I ran 993 miles and completed 7 races, which is 211 miles and 1 race more than I ran in 2015.  The races: Arizona Rock n Roll half marathon, Sabino Canyon Sunset Run, Meet Me Downtown 5k, San Diego Rock n Roll 5k, San Diego Rock n Roll half marathon, Desert Boneyard 10k, Everyone Runs, and Everyone Walks Veteran’s Day half marathon.

Now, the title.  My 2016 year of running really began when I joined TRP last May and ended when I completed my first full marathon this January.  There is so much that changed for me regarding my running in 2016, so it is fitting that I am writing my first ever “Running Year in Review”.  First, what’s the same?  I am still so determined to achieve my goals.  I am still, for better or worse, a slave to my training plans.  I still wake up at the crack of dawn to get my runs done before the normal person has even finished dreaming...most days.  I still love running most of the time, but dread running sometimes.  I still feel incomplete when I skip the occasional training run.

So, what’s different?  Just about everything else.  In order to train for the Arizona Rock n Roll half marathon last January, I used the plan from my previous running group session (which was pretty darn similar to the FREE Hal Higdon plan I downloaded to train for my first half marathon), and followed it to a T.  In 14 weeks, I skipped only 1 training run, and it paid off big time!  I PRed that race by almost 13 minutes.  I felt great, and I had my friend Stephanie there with me to celebrate my success.  But, aside from Stephanie, there wasn’t really anyone else there.  Josh had to work so he couldn’t come with me; a couple other people from my running group were there, but that was it.  It was still exciting to PR in such a big way, and Josh had bought a balloon and desserts for me for when I got home…perfect!  The Sabino Canyon Sunset Run was awful, really awful.  I got a calf cramp like I’d never experienced before and had to wait almost 5 minutes before I could get moving again.  I finished, but it was disappointing.  When I finished that race, there was no one there to cheer me up or talk me out of my funk.  And lastly, the Meet Me Downtown 5k: I was there with a group of my running friends, and the race went pretty well; not a PR, but fairly close and a fun time.  Wait, did I say “lastly” regarding the Meet Me Downtown race?  I did.  I said “lastly” because that was my last race before becoming a TRPer.

And that is when my pre-TRP year ended.  For 2 and a half years, I had participated in another group’s half marathon training programs.  I ran with some really great people, and, because of the commitment I made to my running and the friends I made (in particular, Stephanie) during that time, I will be forever grateful that I was part of the group.  However, being part of the group was demoralizing.  A particular leader of the group made me feel like I wasn’t a “real” runner because I don’t have the “runner’s body”, I am slow, and I have some mobility limitations because of an old but severe break and dislocation in my right ankle.  I felt minimalized and unimportant, something I hadn’t felt since I was 18 years old.  The final straw came when I told the group’s leader that I had signed up for my first full marathon.  She responded with, “Do you REALLY think you can complete a full?”.  That was it; I was done with that group, but one of their amazing coaches led me to Geoff Schmidt, who directed me to TRP.

My first run with TRP was a track workout.  Intimidating much?!  I had no clue what was going on, but I quickly found my way into a group with Karen, Dee, Susan, and Randi.  Randi so casually said, “We’re the slow group.  We won’t be running much faster than a 9:00 mile.”  A 9:00 MINUTE MILE?!  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!  I thought I was going to die, but I didn’t, so I became a TRPer.  I was very new to TRP when I ran the San Diego Rock n Roll 5k and half marathon, but Shokofeh still included me in the “Good luck” and “Congratulations” TRP posts.  That was when I really knew I had found a family in TRP. 

When I told Keith and Shokofeh that I had signed up for my first full marathon, they were both so encouraging and genuinely excited for me, so within a month of joining TRP, I decided that I would begin the coaching program.  We chose a start date of August 15^th (my sister’s birthday) to have a full 5 months to train for the marathon.  During that time, I ran two more races.  It was super hot the day of the Desert Boneyard 10k, and a couple thought it was perfectly acceptable to run the 10k with their children screaming, wailing, and hitting each other the entire time.  My time wasn’t a PR, but I had Dee and Denise there with me, so it was still lots of fun.  My last race before my marathon was the Veteran’s Day half marathon.  Initially, Keith told me just to treat it like a training run, so all that would matter would be time on my feet, especially since I was scheduled to run miles the next day, as well.  When I showed up race morning, however, Keith decided, in true Keith fashion, to tell me that he really wanted me to go out and PR the race, preferably reaching my first sub 2:30 half marathon.  I freaked out for a few minutes and then decided that, if Keith thought I could do it, I probably could.  I ended up not getting a PR; the temperature warmed up very quickly, the distance for the race was off, and I had a bit of trouble towards the end of the race…until I saw my TRP family there to run me into the finish.  It started at the corner of Bowles and Snyder; I saw Keith, Erin, Brian, Roi, and Chris.  They started cheering for me and running with me towards the school entrance.  On the track, Chris and Cassie took over, running with me for my last tenth of a mile or so.  I know other people were there, too, but all I really remember is Chris screaming at me, “Come on, Naomi!  Push it!  This is what you do track for every Wednesday!”  My legs started moving faster either because I knew Chris was right, or because I wanted the race to be over so he would stop yelling at me.  Either way, it worked!  I finished strong.  I was so full of gratitude, excitement, and love.  Somehow, I had found my way to this amazing group of people who I truly consider my family.  It was a good day!

Now, fast forward a month and a half to Christmas Day.  I was had my last long training run scheduled.  24 miles.  Alone.  In the cold.  On Christmas Day.  I started at Craycroft and River and ran the path all the way to Thornydale.  I could see the highway from my turn around point.  It was incredible to me that I had run that far on my own 2 legs, on legs that the leader of my previous running group probably didn’t think could take me 14 miles, let alone 24 miles.  I turned around and was doing well until mile 19.  My inner quads cramped.  I had to pause, stretch, and walk.  I tried to run again, but my legs just didn’t want do it.  I decided that 3 weeks before my marathon was not the time to push through pain.  I speed walked the last 5 miles, finished slower than I had hoped, but was still glad I got through it.  That last run made me pretty nervous for my marathon, though.  What if the same thing happened on race day?  I had an A goal of 5:40, a B goal of 6:00, and a C goal of just crossing the finish line, but, really, who wants to just cross the finish line?  Never in my life had I been so excited for taper.  The decreased mileage was incredibly refreshing.  I spent a few days prior to the race in Scottsdale with my husband and parents, who flew in from New York to watch me finish my first full marathon (aren’t they great?!). 

The night before my race, I slept like a baby for a full 8 hours.  Race day morning, I had coffee, a good breakfast, all of my gear…I was set.  I saw Keith before my race, and he sent me off with positive vibes and a hug.  I ran the first 1/3 of the marathon before forcing myself to take a walk break.  I ran another 1/3 of the marathon and took another walk break.  My pace was great; I was on track to beat my B goal!  Shortly thereafter, my inner quads cramped, not quite as bad, but similar to what happened during my 24 miler.  I had a momentary freak out session as I worked out my cramps, and then remembered what Teri said, “Forward is a pace.”  As long as I was still moving forward, it would be fine!

I slowed down a little bit in the last 10k or so, which I know had Keith a little worried.  When Keith came out and met me 1.25 miles from the finish, I knew I could make it!  Keith ran me in for all but the very last little stretch.  I saw my husband, my parents, and my TRP family there cheering me on, and I got a little extra spring in my step.  I finished just under 6:15.  I AM A MARATHONER!!!  I consider that race to have been my B goal, even though I missed the time by just shy of 15 minutes.  Actually, I consider it to be my A goal.  I felt amazing after that race!  I was still walking, I didn’t hurt too badly, and I was surrounded by and engulfed in love.  Never again will I run a race, good, bad or ugly, where I don’t have family there to celebrate with me or cheer me up.  So, in the 6 and a half months I had been in TRP I achieved a lifetime goal in completing my first full marathon, and I had more of a “year” of running than ever before!