Tag: fitness

Will I or Won’t I?

by Kimberly Frey, posted in Girls, Motivational, Running, fitness, Women

The last time I wrote, I shared that I was training for my 3rd Chicago marathon. Well, marathon training is ramping up with my first double digits run happening this weekend. I’ve been pushing myself to be consistent in my training in hopes of being able to – if not get a new personal best time – then to at least finish in under five hours. Seeing as the last time I ran a marathon in under five hours was over a decade ago, I know it’s a lofty goal. But, it’s one I’m still willing to work for.

I’ve shared here before that I love how running is truly an excellent analogy for life. We are all running this marathon called life together, and while there are always other factors at play, how well we do primarily depends on how much work we are willing to put in. We all have the same start and will all end up at the same finish. I’m not trying to be metaphorical here. We are all born, and we will all die. What we do with the time we have between those two points will determine how successful we are, just as the training I choose to do (or not do) determines how successful my marathon attempt will be.

As a former varsity cross country and track coach, I used to remind my athletes that they needed to focus on running “their” race. There were always going to be runners who were faster than them, and for some of them having a 1st, 2nd, or even 3rd place finish was not realistic. They needed to keep their own goals in mind as those were the ones that were realistic for them. Now, as a life coach for adults, I use a goal format where one of the tenants are for the goal to be “realistic.” It’s the non-running version of running your own race. While it’s important and necessary for us to aim high, if we consistently create unattainable goals for ourselves we will end up feeling defeated. I have always set high expectations for myself, my former students and athletes, and now my clients, but they have been designed around realistic outcomes. I never set a goal for a brand new runner who could barely run 10 minute miles to cut that time to 4 minute miles by the end of the season, but I would set the goal that they shave it down to 7 or 8 because while it would take hard work on their part, it was still something I knew they could accomplish.

So, I guess I said all that to say this – is running a marathon in under 5 hours a realistic goal for me? At this point and time, I’m saying yes. Now…ask me again a month from now, and we’ll see if my answer has changed. Follow along on my training journey to find out!

Also, I’m running the marathon in support of Girls in the Game, a fantastic organization providing sports programming and more for girls all throughout Chicago. If you’d like to make a donation, please click here for my fundraising page. Every dollar counts, and is fully tax-deductible.

Thank you for your support as both a reader and a donor!

Every Day I’m Shuffling

by Kimberly Frey, posted in Motivational, Running, fitness, Uncategorized

2018 was a year full of fantastic high points and absolutely devastating low ones. I know people often write their reflections on the previous year sometime in January, but I have only recently returned to blogging, so I missed the boat then. However, there are things about last year I need to share in order to fully write about the present or begin to look towards the future.

Tomorrow I am running the Chicago Shamrock Shuffle for the 6th year in a row. I love this race, and it is often the official start of racing/running season for me. Last year I almost didn’t participate in this event though, because approximately six weeks prior, on the day after Super Bowl Sunday, I was rushed to the emergency room with excruciating pain. I could barely swallow or speak. I thought it was a lymph node infection or something like that, but I didn’t believe it was anything dangerous. Boy, was I wrong! The speed and efficiency at which the hospital staff moved once they determined the danger I was in was impressive. Long story short, the infection had caused swelling which in turn had caused my airway to become constricted. I had to have an emergency tracheotomy performed in order to save my life and a complex surgery to get rid of the infection. It was the scariest health situation I have ever been in, but ultimately – I. Am. Here.

Last year I was cleared to run this race only a couple of weeks prior to the event. I didn’t care though. I was just ecstatic to be out there. I actually cried a little as I ran around the last bend before the finish line because I was so grateful to still be alive, much less running. This year, I’m trying to set a new personal record on this course as a testament to still being alive and a tribute to those who have gone on before me. Every day is such a gift. Let us use those gifts wisely as we shuffle on.

‘Cause everything you thought would last forever

Never lasts forever like you plan

Don’t let your now become another

So take life by the hands while you still can – Brothers Osborne

Back at the Races

by Kimberly Frey, posted in Running, fitness, Uncategorized

Yesterday I had the privilege to run in my first race since moving to the city seven months ago. It was unique in that it was a single loop course, completely indoors. Yep, you read that right. Inside. It was held inside McCormick Place Convention Center. Although it might not have been the most scenic course, it sure felt good to be out there again. Since this is my first winter as a runner, I don’t have a lot of cold weather running gear (although I’m starting to build up a collection). Plus, this has been the coldest winter in Chicago since…. Well…. Right before I moved to Florida. Apparently, this polar vortex is all my fault. Anyway, I’ve spent the majority of the winter running indoors (ugh!) on an elliptical (double ugh!). Since I’ve been focusing on getting my back strong and healthy again, I’ve been using the elliptical for cardio to lessen the impact on my body. I can say that it’s paid off. I ran the whole course without the run/walk intervals I had been using the last couple of years. I actually completed the course with a much better time than I thought I would. Of course, I also finished the course thinking about what I could’ve done differently to be just a little bit faster. And that’s why I love this sport. It pushes me to be better and not just physically. It forces me to not be complacent. It stretches me to reach my full potential. It encourages me to be the best me possible. Run on, my friends.

The Back Issue

by Kimberly Frey, posted in Parenting, Running, Fitness, Uncategorized

I believe that I have established the fact that I am passionate about running. It is an integral part of who I am. So, when I am not able to run, I do not feel like I am myself. And in the middle of all the turmoil in my life right now, not being able to run is driving me batty.
I have always had issues with my back since being injured in a severe car accident at the age of 15. Every once in awhile, it would act up more than others. I would visit a chiropractor, have some adjustments, and then everything would return to normal. Several years ago, my lower back started causing me even more difficulty. It would start to “go” more often. There are two specific incidents I can remember that foreshadowed the current conditions wherein I now find myself. The first was when I was rolling my compact refrigerator from my regular classroom to the room where I would be teaching summer school. There was a slight step up from the hall into the class. I went to lift the cart up slightly and felt a sharp pain in my lower back. It shot up my back and down my leg, but after stretching for a bit (once I recovered from the pain), it seemed to be okay. Then, right before New Year’s Eve a few years ago, I went to get out of bed and felt a pop. At the same time, pain shot from my lower back all through my body. I was unable to move. Thank God I had my phone right next to me. I texted my daughter, who was across the house in her room. I still remember how the color drained out of her face when she walked in my room and saw the pain I was in. It took almost 45 minutes to get me from the bed to the car. Then, the first walk-in clinic I went to wasn’t that helpful. I then spent the next few weeks going to the chiropractor three times per week getting my back fixed. However, I never visited a medical doctor, and that was probably a costly error on my part.
Fast forward to 2011. In October of that year, I ran the Atlanta Marathon. Somehow, the fact that Atlanta was so hilly had escaped me during all my training. I don’t like looking at course maps in too much detail because I don’t want my mind to start envisioning worst-case scenarios. I don’t pay too much attention to the elevation because I’m going to run the course anyway so why freak myself out? However, up until that point, I had ran (mostly) only flat courses. I had driven through Atlanta, but had never walked through the city. So I had no frame of reference for this race. It was 26.2 miles of grueling hills. I remember how disappointed I was at the finish because I didn’t set a new PR. Little did I know that that should’ve been the least of my worries.
After the race, I took off a couple of weeks to rest. Yet, once I started running again, something wasn’t right. I felt achy, but different from the normal, “I just ran a marathon,” achy. My running was sporadic at best, even though I had an upcoming half-marathon. Although I knew I didn’t train properly for that race, it was my favorite course, I had already registered, so I was running it anyway. Probably not the best decision. At the end of that race, I fell to the ground in such pain I knew I had to give in and go to the doctor.
Long story short, I eventually found out that I had two “severely ruptured” discs in my spine: my L5 and S1. My running, and all other physical activity, came to a screeching halt. I went through physical therapy and epidural injections. After what seemed like an eternity, I was cleared to “run” again. I had to start with strict walking and work my way up, just like I do with brand new runners that join my cross country team. I also started going to yoga as soon as I was cleared by my sports doctor. At this point, I have been running fairly consistently for almost a year, but not without setbacks. When they occur, I try to keep perspective, but sometimes it’s hard. Right now, my back seems to be hurting more than usual. The pain that runs down my right leg has been acting up quite a bit. So, I have tried to be smart and not force anything, but it’s hard. With everything in chaos around me, I yearn for the open road. Yet, since I want to run for the rest of my life, I will be patient, rest, stretch, and take care of my body. Therefore, if you are a runner, count your blessings and go run one for me today.

Packing Pressure

by Kimberly Frey, posted in Parenting, Empty Nest, Running, fitness, Uncategorized

Moving is never fun. Even when the move is a happy occasion, the actual act of moving is something we all dislike. Sorting, cleaning, packing, loading and unloading boxes…it’s exhausting! Last year, I had the daunting task of packing up eight years’ worth of belongings to move across town. The house I left was the first house I had owned. It was also the longest time I had ever lived in one place. I had forgotten about how terrible moving was. Plus, I was downsizing. Therefore, I had to decide what to keep and what to discard, give away, sell, etc. This time around, I am moving across the country. I actually am moving all my belongings into storage for a month before I then load it up in the Uhaul to lug across state lines. Even then, I will first go to my daughter’s new apartment at her college, unload her half of the items, unpack her storage, and drop her off before I ultimately end up at my destination. Once there, I will then have to put my things back into a storage unit until I find a permanent residence. By the time this is all done and over with, I will have moved enough to last me for quite some time. Craziness. I know in the end this will all pay off, but right now, the sea of boxes and piles of belongings is just a little ridiculous. It also can be just a little stressful. That’s where the running and yoga take over. I have tried to maintain a consistent schedule with both, even through the chaos, because I know that if I don’t, I will probably spontaneously combust. Just today, I realized I was feeling slightly more agitated than usual. I also realized that I haven’t had a good long run for awhile. There have been short jaunts and (almost) daily yoga classes, but nothing long enough to work the kinks out. So, that has been added to the top of my to do list. I know I need to hit the road to release some of the pressure I am feeling. Out there, it’s just God and me. I pray, meditate, reflect, and just let myself be. That is why I agree with the words of John Bryant, “My feeling is that any day I am too busy to run is a day that I am too busy.”

School’s Out for Summer

by Kimberly Frey, posted in Running, fitness, Uncategorized

This past Wednesday was the last day of school. Even though I had already spent quite a bit of time going through file cabinets and bookshelves, it still took me almost two days to sort through my belongings and pack up my room. You can only imagine how difficult it is to go through a decade’s worth of teaching material. Plus, I do not yet know what I will be teaching (or if I’ll be teaching) when I move, so of course I don’t want to get rid of anything. I did put together a couple of boxes that I am donating to new teachers, but everything else is now sitting in the corner of one of the portables on campus until I actually move at the end of July. This is also the first summer ever that I have not taught summer school. So now I find myself with 8 weeks to alternate my time between the beach and getting ready for my move. I have some really great plans: spending time with my family and friends before I leave them, reading all the books that were neglected during the school year, continue job hunting, and training for another half- marathon. The first one that I ran post-injury was in March. While I accomplished my primary goal of completing the race, my body definitely wasn’t anywhere as strong as I would’ve liked it to be. Shortly after that race, I recommitted to my yoga practice. I will say it has helped tremendously. I am excited to see how this race compares to the one I ran in March. I’ll keep you posted. 🙂

Spinning Plates

by Kimberly Frey, posted in Parenting, Empty Nest, Running, fitness, Uncategorized

My son is graduating from high school in six days, my daughter is halfway through college, I’ve turned in my letter of resignation, and am trying to pack both a classroom and a house in order to move across the country in less than three months. My brothers will be here in two days, and I have not yet cleaned my house (partially because I’m trying to pack it!) I have a graduation party to host, along with my track team’s annual awards picnic. (Did I mention I am the head coach?) Wow. That’s a lot for one person to absorb. Oh, did I mention that I don’t have a job lined up yet when I arrive back home to the Windy City? The funny thing is that, since I am dual certified to teach both English grades 6-12 and Special Education K-12, that whole job thing is the least of my worries. However, everything else? A little overwhelming. My mind feels like it’s racing continuously. I have so many to-do lists, they are on the verge of being counterproductive. I feel like the entertainer who spins plates for a living, constantly running from one plate to another to make sure that none of them come crashing down. Today, I actually almost fell asleep for real in yoga class as we were in our relaxation pose! Afterwards, I was briefly tempted to skip my run because I knew there was so much to do. But, I didn’t. I laced up my shoes and hit the road, and thank goodness I did. As I inhaled the cool evening air, I could feel my load get a little lighter. As I ran, I began plotting out a course of action – what to do, when to do it, etc. By the time I finished those three miles, the world was conquered, and I was at peace. This is why I run. Because even when my life is jumbled, my running declares that I am still here. I am alive. I am strong.

The miracle isn’t that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start.-John Bingham

Reclaiming Saturdays

by Kimberly Frey, posted in Parenting, Empty Nest, Parenting, Running, Fitness

I have recently fallen in love with Saturday mornings. Anyone with children knows that Saturdays tend to be as hectic as a weekday. You get up early, maybe do some housecleaning before you run to the grocery store or take the kids to whatever activities they have going on that day. Then, your kids hit the point where they can drive themselves to their activities, but as their mom you are still obligated to attend. However, not too long after that, they reach a point where they no longer have activities for you to attend. At that point, you wake up on a Saturday morning and think, “Wow, I have nothing going on today.” Although I work nights at my part-time job on the weekends, I am currently at that point, and I don’t feel guilty admitting that I’m enjoying it. I wake up on Saturday mornings, go to yoga class, and then go run the causeway spanning across the river. Often, I am rewarded for my efforts with the sight of dolphins playing in the water. Occasionally, after I’ve put in all that hard work burning calories, I’ll stop at the local coffee shop and enjoy what they call an iced heroin (with skim milk AND whipped cream. A girl’s gotta have priorities!) At those moments, I feel so refreshed, in tune with myself, and at peace with the world around me. If your children are currently at a stage in your life where Saturdays are a whirlwind, don’t worry – your time will come. It will happen faster than you could ever imagine, though, so cherish your time with them while you can. For those who are facing those empty Saturdays, use them to find yourself again. Go for a run, take that painting class, or curl up in the hammock and read a book. Above all, don’t feel guilty for being happy to have those moments back to yourself. You deserve them. Namaste.

I am a Runner

by Kimberly Frey, posted in Parenting, Running, Fitness, Uncategorized

It is fitting that my first blog about running is being written tonight. Tomorrow morning, I am running our local art festival’s 5k race. Seven years ago, this is the race that started it all. I have ran at various times in my life. I was on my middle school track team; I ran for fun during high school (too bad my tiny private school didn’t have a track team); I ran for fitness. However, that first 5k is when I became a runner. I loved the camaraderie, the challenge, and then the thrill of finishing. I was hooked. Later that same year, my marriage began to fall apart as I found out that my now ex-husband was seeing another woman. It crushed my spirit. Even though this was my second marriage, I had poured myself into making this family work so my children could have the stability of a two-parent home. Their biological father had all but vanished from their lives due to his struggles with mental illness and addiction. My son didn’t even remember him and considered his step-father to be his “dad.” I thought, although we had our struggles, overall we were a happy family. Imagine my shock to find out this wasn’t the case. In the middle of this heartbreak, I turned to running. Out on the open road, it was just me and God. As I ran, I would pray, reminisce, sort through my thoughts, meditate, and just be. My runs were a respite from the circumstances in my life I couldn’t control. I could control every aspect of my runs- how far, how fast, how frequent. A year later, I ran that same art fest 5k. This time, there wasn’t anyone waiting for me at the finish line. But I ran it quite a bit faster than I had the year before 🙂 And I felt like a load had been lifted off me as I crossed that finish line. I knew I was strong. I knew I could overcome. I knew I wanted more. So I signed up for my first half-marathon seven months later. Training for that first half gave me so much strength, physically, spiritually, and emotionally. So of course, when I completed that one, I a) signed up for another and b) signed up for my first marathon. Running my first marathon was an experience that deserves its own entry, but suffice to say for now that it was one of the crowning achievements in my life. And here I am, seven years later….still running. There have been obstacles along the way – a fractured foot, ruptured discs, grad school. Yet, I always return to running. A happy life requires balance. My family fuels my heart, my faith fuels my spirit, but running fuels my soul.