No Pain No Gain

Did you know that people use to think that women physically could not run more than a mile and feared that if we pushed ourselves in physically challenging sports, that our uterus would fall out? Ya, people actually thought the uterus would just pop out. Push multiple babies out, no problem, but sports? YIKES, major damage to the uterus.

So, I would like to take a moment to talk about my uterus falling out. Friday morning I was cursed with horrible menstrual cramps. Most men can't even begin to imagine what this feeling is like. I have determined it is like being kicked in the balls. I obviously don't have balls so this is a guess on my part, but the description of what that sensation feels like is the closest I can draw a correlation to. So, now that everyone can understand the pain I was in, I will continue my story.

Friday is my long run, so regardless of pain, fatigue and the possibility of my uterus falling out, I headed out on my run. It was slow, but I did it. What I realize is that in this time of equality, we over look some facts, like the fact that doing the same activity with added pain, and bleeding should in fact give you extra points. Wouldn't it be amazing if a guy was kicked, hard, in the balls and then ran 8 miles or 26 miles? Wouldn't we all say "whoa, what determination?" but instead we are expected to do it and not complain. Of course I am complaining to all of you, but that is why you all read this blog...to hear me complain about running.

I propose that at the Olympics and other races they should include this information in the commentary..."She won gold, set a new Olympic record and all while on her period! Can you believe it?!"

Oh and by the way, running my long run while suffering in pain, I did wonder if my uterus would fall out.

-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
www.VivacWinery.com

Angry Running

Something many people don't realize, is that running makes you angry.  Ya, that's right, angry.

As you train for a race, the constant push on your body both mentally and physically, can mount to a fevered pitch and erupt in sweat, tears and snot all over your running shoes. It isn't something you see coming...unless you understand that the signs are irritability mixed with frustration. Each long run pushes you quietly to the breaking point. After the run, simple tasks seem to crawl under your skin and slowly your irritability grows. Why are you so annoyed by everything?! Then suddenly a simple run is the straw that broke the camel's back and BOOM! You have a revelation you didn't expect and it is as if each cell in your body regurgitated every secret emotion or negative self talk you have had in your entire life and there you are standing on the side of the road weeping, bent over heaving and gasping for air, dripping sweat and snot on your running shoes. It isn't pretty.

Brace yourself, you WILL hit a distance at some point that brings this out in you. Then a stillness. A stillness that quiets even the noisiest voices in your head. The volcano may have gone silent...for now...but the tension will build again in its angry fashion. The irritability will come back and drive your loved ones crazy. But just know, you are doing a running style toxic cleanse and you will be better off for it.

It won't always be this way. You will "exercise" out all the emotional demons. You will be one of those people that seem to posses great life perspective, but then the hunger will set in.

When you couple your "crazy" with bouts of indescribable hunger...you will be able to proudly call yourself a Runner. We aren't talking about "gee honey, I'm hungry, what should we do for dinner?", no no this hunger is like lightening striking out of the clear blue sky and you are devastatingly hungry and sure everyone around you is trying to keep you from getting the nourishment you need! Anger will spike and you'll fantasize about eating raw meat, your hands will shake as you clutch handfuls of nuts shoveling them ferociously into your mouth...and that's when you catch a glimpse of yourself in the reflection of the toaster oven and you don't recognize yourself. You are an angry beast.

You may go through a period of shock as you discover this new you, but don't worry, you are becoming a runner and runners are angry.

-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
www.VivacWinery.com

Community Giving...or NOT

It is few and far between that something can shock the pants off me, but it has happened! In this idyllic, small community of Dixon, it has happened. I may actually have to run down the street minus my pants just so everyone can see how shocked I am...and it would not be pretty, I need to do a lot more squats to be in nake-butt-running shape.

For people that love to run and those that love to support their community, for those that love their community's children and the schools they go to, it seems a no brainier that these people would support, promote, participate and sponsor an event like the Dixon 5K Fun Run. So that is just what the owners at Vivác Winery set out to do! (ahem...that is me, my husband, his brother and his brother's wife).

Seems our money isn't wanted. Seems our massive amount of emails, our loyal fans, our booming running society partners and organizations were not good enough for the Dixon Fun Run. Seems our money, being "directly linked to wine sales", is not good enough to help school programs, give our children needed supplies or deserved field trips. It seems having the taint of the devil's juice on our hands spreads the disease of alcoholism onto the money that passes through our hands and directly to the children. It seems if we give our "dirty money" to the school, we will raise juvenile delinquents. I always wondered where alcoholism came from!

I find it amusing that over the past couple years, our love for running has turned to sponsorships of races ranging from 5K to Marathons and Triathlons of every length, many of which held their award ceremonies on school grounds. We have never been asked to NOT participate, never have our donations been refused, rather we partnered to explode in every way the possibilities of involvement and fund raising opportunities. Never were we stricken from the shirts because we are a winery.

I find it sad in a time where school programs are being cut left and right that a small group within the whole would take it upon themselves to alienate a community business. To alienate the business owners, 2 of which were born and raised in Dixon! Evidently the Dixon Elementary has plenty of revenue, they don't need more, they can be choosy.

It makes me want to fill my water bottle with wine and run the race in nothing but my "Fueled by Vivác" running shirt! And shoes, definitely  want to wear shoes too. Pants will be optional.


-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!

Valentine's Day Run Around

Valentine's Day. The Holiday that creates the deep need to consume mass amounts of chocolate and wine. Well it happens to have fallen on my long run day. Being that I am in training (which means I have a sheet of paper barking orders rudely at me) and an avid hater of running, this gave me the perfect excuse NOT to go running. After all shouldn't I "love" myself with a breakfast of chocolate and maybe a morning nap?

Here is the clincher, I may have run this distance before on previous marathon training schedules, but each time it feels new. It is a new year and a new me. You can think of it as the horrifically painful gift that keeps on giving. 

The truth is, skipping running, while appealing, will not make me feel better. Skipping a run will make me feel worse. Not because I feel good while I am running or because I am full of energy after my run, but because I feel like I have accomplished something and on long run days, that something feels huge. It doesn't matter if your long run is 2 miles or 22 miles, running farther, pushes you further than you will ever know.


So, today's Valentine's gift to myself, was a sense of accomplishment...and a box of chocolates...and a bottle of wine. OK, who am I kidding, 2 bottles of wine.

-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
www.VivacWinery.com

My Valentine

Today's post is part running, part relationship advice, part self help...it must be that Valentine's Day is in the air...or that I am drunk.

Today was a "sprint" day. This means that unlike my usual running THROUGH the pain...I enforce greater pain ON myself. Ya, not my favorite day of the week. Why do this? Because 1) it will actually increase my speed (who wants to run a 5 hour Marathon? Oh wait, ya that was my slow ass Marathon time), and 2) "Pu-ti-pi-cation" (this is "purification" said in the voice of my dear Tibetan Lama friend's sweet voice...in my head). When you push your body, your mind is challenged as well. Think of it as fast forward meditation. And today was a good one.

Most days, the ho-hum of chores and work weigh on you. It is easy to fall into the trap of bills to pay and annoying piles of socks. Your relationship with your spouse can start to feel like a list of critiques. But today, I headed out on a run and it all changed.

As I ran, I listened to an NPR podcast (yes I am still listening to NPR and it is actually really growing on me). This week, my hubby lovingly selected a collection of stories that he thought I would enjoy, today's podcast was different kinds of love stories. As I sprinted up a hill, my heart thudding in my ears, my eyes suddenly burst full of tears as I reached the top. The body/ mind breakdown was in full effect. I thought about my hubby waking up early to get his run in before our son woke up, all to squeeze in family time before work. In addition he also found time to select a week's worth of podcasts he thought I would like and load them on my ipod. I thought about how he has stopped drinking coffee, but made some just for me. I thought about his constant encouragement of my running and goals. I thought about my nagging over his socks and my frequent bad moods. I thought about how hard I am on myself and how hard that is in turn on our relationship. I thought about how much fun we have together, how much I rely on his friendship and how wonderful our marriage is. I thought about what a wonderful person he is and just how lucky I am to be with him 13 years after our first date.

At this point, I think people driving by thought I was weeping on the side of the road because I hate running. Fair enough, it isn't that far from the truth, but this wasn't why I was crying, it was "pu-ti-pi-cation". Through these Oprah like 'Ah-ha' moments, we grow as individuals. The individual growth spills over into your relationships which in turn alter who you are at work or in your community and little by little we can change the world. I know about now you are thinking "wow, she must have found the runner's high", but appreciating things around you can lead to changes in your thinking which is profound. (See mom, I have been listening to all your great advice)

So I leave you with this to ponder: let Valentine's Day creep into all the little things in your life this week. Show gentleness to those around you and more importantly yourself. I plan to turn that judgmental voice in my head off this week...ok at least for today...maybe just for this hour, but it is a start. I'm also going to find something nice to do daily for my hubby, because he is so much more than piles of dirty socks around the house, he is the man I love, respect and want to spend the rest of my life with and that is something to celebrate every day.

Now strap on your running shoes and go run your little heart out, it will do you good! At the very least, it will earn you a giant glass of wine.

-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
www.VivacWinery.com

Poetry of Running

Today's run...

A dark grey sky gave a hush to the dusted snowy road and neighboring houses. Lights flickered in cozy homes, perhaps filled with people cooking stew while the fireplace sparked and danced with fire. As I ran out onto the main road that whines through our quaint town, a lazy fog moved over the mountains, as if wrapping the valley in a thick blanket. The pavement glistened black like the night sky and my feet hit the road in a steady rhythm. Tall trees, like crystal gleamed while gentle white snow flakes floated to the ground. The sound of my breath echoed in my ears and I felt great appreciation for the abundance of love and beauty in my life.

Now I'd like to give appreciation for a big 'ol glass of wine! Seriously, where is my wine?

-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
www.VivacWinery.com