Remembering Eunice Kennedy Shriver...and Martha Wylie

When Martha Wylie created ESP, she followed in Eunice Kennedy Shriver's footsteps by advocating for those with special needs.

No one more than Eunice Kennedy Shriver understood better the power held by the most vulnerable in our society.
Source: Renew America

"I suppose the fact that I had seen my sister swim like a deer in swimming races and do very, very well just always made me think that they could do everything."....Eunice Kennedy Shriver on the Special Olympics

Unwilling to let her so-called "retarded" sister and others with mental and physical disabilities be treated as inferior, Eunice Kennedy Shriver changed the world with her message of hope and inclusion by creating the Special Olympics in 1968. Mrs. Shriver is the reason there is a place called ESP; that Craig can go swimming in UGA'a Legion Pool each and every hot summer day; that he was able to go to public school; that worldwide, people learned, even me, that people with special needs are just that – people...with wants, needs and desires, just like everybody else.

"If you are going to doubt something, doubt your limits." Don Ward

Right now I'm running with my heart and my guts! Chicago is 8 weeks away, and training is almost at it's peak, as the week began with a long run of 18 miles, the longest so far. I admit I began the run with a hint of doubt that, for some reason, I wouldn't be able to complete the distance, or that something would go wrong. After all, the last time I ran this far was last year at the Atlanta Marathon. But like the quote says, if you are doubting anything, let it be your limits...what a lesson...I not only covered all 18 miles, but shaved some time off my pace! Yay for little victories! And the reward? Recovery and refueling in the form of a delicious breakfast over bagels with a dear friend!

The rest of this week will include two relaxed/recovery runs of 7 miles, a moderate long run of 9-10 miles at an easy pace, and a track workout for the purpose of recruiting those fast-twitch muscle fibers that come in handy at the end of the marathon.


By far, my most favorite post-run meal!

"If you're going to be passionate about something, be passionate about learning. If you're going to fight something, fight for those in need. If you're going to question something, question authority. If you're going to lose something lose your inhibitions. If you're going to gain something , gain respect and confidence. And if you're going to hate something, hate the false idea that you are not capable of your dreams.” - Daniel Golston

Ability is what you are capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it. --Lou Holtz

Today I resumed my normal training schedule, running 16 miles. The distance is a compromise for my week's long run--18 is scheduled, but I hesitated jumping up to that distance coming off the injury, however minor. This 16 miler, the 2nd I've completed so far, felt downright automatic and really comfortable.
The remainder of the week includes 2 easy hour-long runs, a mid-distance 8 miler, and a local 5K on Saturday with about 3-4 miles beforehand as a long warm-up to make sure I get in my needed mileage (total for the week will be around 41-43 miles).

easy does it...

"Poneytail" holders: $2.99

Dri-fit socks: $13.99
Tempo shorts: $30
Running shoes: $100
Marathon entry: $125
Running with no pain: PRICELESS

One week ago, last Sunday, I challenged myself to a mid-distance "hill" run in Clermont (about 30 minutes outside of Orlando). Usually going it alone for all my runs, I also decided to mix it up and run with a local running group for some company.

Driving over the rolling hills of Clermont on my way to the National Training Center, I knew this was not going to be your a traditional run with hills on the side...I would describe the run as quite the opposite...perhaps hills, with jogging on the side!

Marathon Training Lesson #463...go easy on the way down...

After 5 miles of hard running up and down hills, I had to stop due to a deep, dull pain in the soft tissue around my shin bone...having had shin splints before, this pain felt different, and I wanted to have an x-ray just to make sure it wasn't a stress fracture. (Stress fractures rarely reveal themselves on film so soon after injury, but I still thought it a wise idea to shoot one.)

I held my breath, but the x-ray DID come back normal, which is what I half-way expected anyway, right? But a certain relief accompanied the fact that I was going to be okay. I had not significantly damaged my leg, even though the pain indicated otherwise. With that pain came prescribed rest for a few days and then a "conservative" return to running.
Two days of rest, 220mg of Aleve every 8-12 hours, Arnica supplements twice per day, and icing in the morning and at night did the trick.

Remaining flexible I did not run the scheduled 18-miler this weekend, and instead, ran several 30 minute jogs at a comfortable cadence, along with two hour-long runs this past week...ALL with NO PAIN. It was the step-back in training that I needed and now I am assured that, somehow, the injury is healed. Tomorrow, I will resume my "normal" training and pick back up where I left off on the schedule.

Chicago...here I come!