Holistic Medicine

Yesterday I decided to take a chance and go see my mom's acupuncturist. My mom goes for help while she has her chemo. Dr. Wang gets rid of any nausia and keeps her healthy (as can be). I took her there a couple weeks ago and talked to the doctor briefly. She said she could help me with my asthma. So I figured I might as well try. If it helps me run better and makes me healthier, I'm willing to try it.
I was a little apprehensive at first, but I got over the fact that needles were going to be stuck all over my body. It actually wasn't that bad. The nice thing about Dr Wang is that she's not just an acupuncturist. She actually has a PHD and then she studied acupuncture. So I feel very comfortable with her.
It was kind of weird at first seeing the needles protruding from different areas on my body, but I got over it quickly and took a nap. I don't feel immediate results, but I did feel very relaxed. She gave me some herbal tea to drink over the next 6 days. They are the strangest looking herbs, but they have a nice smell. I'm supposed to let them soak in water for 1hr and then boil for 5 min. Interesting.
I told her that I'm running the half marathon in December and so she has this goal to make me better or close to, within the next 21 weeks. Though that does mean I get to be a regular patient - like 4 times a week. But if it helps, then so be it. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

I'm Gonna Be A Mentor

So last night was the mentor meeting group for Team Challenge. I got to find out more about what the duties are and all that jazz. I think it's totally something that I can do. I'm good at motivation, right? I've experienced the ups and downs of training and fundraising and everything else. I think I'd be good at this. Most of the interested mentors are runners, so I think I'll be mentoring the walkers. Cristal is the walking coach, so I know for sure she's gonna need some help. I can walk. I can jog. It'll be good. I can do the walking at the training sessions and do some running training on my own time. It'll work out. This'll be fun.

Jess has also decided to start a Team Challenge committee and I'm totally going to join that too. I want to help with events/fundraising. I love party planning! Just ask all the people who have come to my themed birthday parties. :) I have a really good feeling about this.

The Kick-Off party for the race is Aug 22 and I don't think I'm going to be back in time for that. I'm leave for Canada Aug 12th to see Lea and drive back to AZ with her. I know we'll be back to AZ in time, but I don't think I'll make it back to San Diego. I believe my parents are going to drive out to AZ to pick me up at my Aunt and Uncle's place (who I intend to visit with for a few days). But Jess said it wasn't a big deal. She just needs to know who will or will not be there. But for sure, I'll be back in time for our first group training session on the 29th.

I'm getting super excited. This is gonna be a great season!

Testing The Waters

So I took Zoe out for a walk today. Not a super long one, but it was a good 30 min walk. I really need to do it earlier in the day, because at noon, it's just too darn hot! But we did it anyway. While walking, I got the urge to see if I could run without any ankle problems. It actually wasn't so bad. I didn't feel any tightness or soreness or anything to make me think I couldn't start running again. It was a nice feeling. Granted my lungs need work. I didn't bring my inhaler since I wasn't planning on running, but I survived.

I have to start taking the steroid inhaler again on a regular basis if I expect to run. I hate having this exercise-induced asthma. It really holds me back from doing what I want to do. And I never really found the inhalers to work that much. I'm thinking of trying out my mom's acupuncturist. Apparently she helps with asthma and I'm willing to give it a try. If she could make it so that I can run longer than 3 minutes without becoming out of breathe, I think I'd be in heaven. I can't remember what it's like to run without breathing problems. I've had this issue since I was 17 and I've felt that all it's done is held me back from any type of sport. I was able to survive soccer because it's stop and go running, but for me to run another half marathon, I'd like it to be a little easier. I'm very proud of myself that I was able to run a half in the 3.5 hours, and with 2 asthma attacks (mostly caused by emotions running high); but I would love to be able to do it in less than 3 or even 3 hours would be awesome! So we'll see.

Anyways, I have the Team Challenge Mentor meeting tonight. I still have to fill out the application, but I'm excited to find out more about the position and what it entails. Being that I'm not a "runner" per se, nor am I a full-fledged "walker," I'm hoping there's a happy medium. Maybe to be the "wunner" mentor. Ha! We'll see.

I should probably go hop in the shower now. I feel so diiirty. :) But good after a nice walk/run this afternoon. I know Zoe is completely pooped out and that's a good sign. She's got so much energy that she benefits from my training sessions too. She's a happy pooch.

At The Starting Line...Again

So I've been thinking about running another half marathon. There's this one in Las Vegas - The Rock N' Roll Marathon which also happens to have a half marathon too! My friend, Sara, is an avid marathon runner. She has this goal to run a marathon in every state. She's getting pretty far in that goal. But I guess she found this one in Vegas and it just so happens that the race is also affiliated with CCFA and Team Challenge. How perfect is that?! I can run again, this time with a long time friend, and raise money to help Crohn's and Colitis!

I got an email a few weeks ago from Jessica Johnson, the coordinator of Team Challenge. She asked if I'd be interested in being a mentor for this next race. How could I not? I get to train with a great group of people, encourage others to overcome any obstacles they have about running/walking a half marathon, and tell them my story about my first adventure. I think it's a great plan. I believe training starts in August so it works out perfectly.

I had an ankle injury back in March, which I injured again a month later. Totally sucks. I haven't played soccer in months. I haven't run. I've just walked and taken it easy. I'm trying to ease my ankle back into training mode. I've been doing some strength exercises for it so that I can try and prevent this from happening again.

I'm definitely going to have to invest in some new running shoes as I'm sure I've succeeded in passing the 300 mile mark on my shoes. I hate that they're so expensive, but my feet love that they are protected and comfortable. My running jersey from last year is all blinged out, PERFECT for VEGAS!!! Thanks Jessica! I'm pretty sure I can use it again. If not, I'll just have to enlisted Jessica's help again to sew on all the sequence, if she has some time. But I think it should be good.

I'm so excited!! This is going to be another awesome chapter in my life and this time, I hope my parents can come up and cheer me on. It's a little closer for them to get to. :)

Til next time!

This is Deb. And I'm running for you!