I recently went to the doctor to discuss my “blood pressure issue” (read = I have high blood pressure). My regular physician recently had a baby, so her husband (with whom she shares a practice) was seeing her patients. We discussed some lifestyle issues. I told him I had lost about 30 pounds over the last 2 years by eating less and exercising more. He asked what kind of exercise I was doing. I told him that I had done a Couch to 5K program. After a few more questions, he said he thought I had done what I could on the lifestyle front and that we should probably consider medication to bring my blood pressure down. Then he asked how much running I did a week. I shrugged and said, “Well, probably 20 miles a week. Maybe 25.” He looked surprised and said, “Oh, so you’re a runner.”
Then I laughed too loud (like this: “HA!”). He stared at me blankly. It was awkward.
I said, “No, no, no. I’m not a runner. But I do run.”
He looked at me quizzically again and said, “Well, 20-25 miles a week is a lot. I think maybe you’re . . . a runner.”
I laughed awkwardly again and we moved on.
I don’t feel like a runner. I don’t do hard things with my body (except for those darn kids I grew). I feel like someone who occasionally jogs. In July 2010, I couldn’t run around the block (not exaggerating). So I started a Couch to 5K plan, completed that, then did a local 5K, then a 10K, and then ran a team ½ marathon (I ran 8 and my friend Dayna ran 5.1). And since then I’ve been training to run on a Ragnar team.
I will turn 39 on Thursday and the race is Friday and Saturday. I’m in better shape at 39 than I’ve ever been, which doesn’t say a whole lot about my lifestyle during the first few decades of my life.
I am nervous. There are 12 people on my team. I met all of these people save one (my brother-in-law, who stepped in at the 11th hour when one of our team members dropped out unexpectedly) via the online Mormon world. I have met ½ of them in real life (after only knowing them virtually first). The others are “virtual” strangers.
We will meet up on Thursday afternoon. Then, in the wee hours of the morning on Friday, six of us will pile into a van and drive to the start-up line (the rest will join up later). We will run a combined 198 miles, around the clock, until we finish at some point on Saturday afternoon. Each of us runs three legs. I am Runner 2. My legs are one of the easiest. I have to do 7.6 “very hard” miles (ouch), then two other legs of approximately 3 miles each. My kids have made me a playlist that they called “Mom’s Beast Mode.”
I am nervous (I already said that, huh?). I am nervous about the altitude (hello! I run at sea level). I am nervous about the frequency with which pot-o-golds will be placed along the route. I am nervous about running in the dark, with a reflective vest and a head lamp strapped onto my head, in unfamiliar territory. I am nervous about getting lost. It’s never cool to be lost, but to be lost while running? Not cool.
And I am excited. I have never done anything like this. I’ve never run this far. I’ve never spent 36 hours with a group of virtual strangers, crammed into a van, sleeping on the side of the road (or wherever we end up) whenever the other half of our team is running.
My friend at work who has run several half marathons and one full marathon has told me numerous times to remember that I’m in this race to complete, not compete (and boy, that’s for sure, since I’m not speedy). And today, he reminded me that these kinds of races are supposed to be fun.
A shout-out to my fellow Ragnar team members. They are legitimate runners-not posers like me-and they’re still letting me tag along on their fun. They’ve even tolerated a year of comments and questions and complaints from me regarding running, training, etc. They are some of the coolest people I’ve ever met (umm, virtually).
So I’ll see you on the back end of this adventure. I’ll be the one hobbling along the side of the road-hopefully grinning.
As one of your Ragnar teammates, I would just like to state unequivocally and for the record that I am a TOTAL poser, as you will soon discover.
I am so very, very proud of you. You’ve always exercised since I’ve known you– reading a book while sweating it out on your own in-home torture device.) In the most recent year, I’ve watched you turn it up a notch and excel at adding distance and speed to your routes. I also do not feel like a runner– and that’s one of the first things I tell people. I hate running, but I do it because I need to do SOMETHING, have a goal in life (in my muddled stay-at-home mentality) and I also like getting “free” t-shirts, too. I’ve gone up and down over the past three years of struggling to run two miles (where I am right now) and running half marathons (what I’m training for at the moment). It’s good to have something to work towards, and I can’t deny the health benefits. Good luck to you on your big race! You will have a blast, I’m sure. Just try to get some sleep if you can, I know it’s gotta be tough crammed in a van. And, if you’re up for it, Courtney, Catherine, Amanda, and I are running the San Antonio 1/2 in November again. And this time, I know you can do the full thing!! You should come, too!
Me–poser
You’re going to have so much fun! It’s a total party! What’s your team name? I’ll keep an eye out for you.
Can’t wait to meet you, Heather!! Not all of us are real runners. But it will be fun to pretend. Shelah – hope to see you too! We are ‘jognitive dissonance”. what is your team?
HEATHER! You’re a runner. Own it. :)
I’m so proud of you, my fellow runner, and wish you all the luck in the world! Even when you’re feeling miserable! You’re still a beast! Wooooooooo!!
Go Heather- you are awesome! I’m already 39 and still at the couch potato stage (desk potato?) do you are amazing in my eyes. I’ll be virtually cheering for Jognitive Dissonance!!
I’m the 11th hour guy, and a poser. I loved reading this, and feel every scary thing you feel.
Oh, enjoy it so much Heather (and team!) It sounds like you’ll all be teenagers again piled into a van and cheering each other on at the 2am hour! SO fun!! I’ve always wanted to do a ragnar but never had one in my area. So many of us are so reluctant to call ourselves “runners” just because we haven’t run a marathon or we ran one slowly or whatever. Why is that? If we do it and we love it we should own it…work on that;)
and 25 miles IS a lot;)
As someone who did NOT jump up and volunteer for the Ragnar team (I loathe running in high altitudes) and is a jogger, I have to say that I am so excited for you guys, and am feeling…. jealous. Have fun, have fun!!!!
I was runner #2 at last year’s WB Ragnar!
You got this…
The 2nd leg was the hardest for me, well, . . . hardest run. The “hardest” part was trying to find a place to sleep. :)
Keep your eyes out for my husband who is volunteering at Exchange 13 (where YOU, RUNNER 2) will begin your 2nd leg.
Good luck and HAVE FUN.
GOOD LUCK! I’m a pretend runner too. I’ve always wanted to run a Ragnar. So fun that you’re doing this — you’ll kill it!!!
Awesome! Eventually though, why not run to compete? I am an unabashed “runner”. I think, if you are going to do something and put your heart into it, try to be the best. The 20-35 year olds will have you beat considering the fast-twitch muscles still working and what not. You can always try and win your age group though. Good luck and have fun! I wish I lived near a Ragnar relay.
I am also a runner with high blood pressure! I have managed to get my blood pressure under control through diet and lifestyle modifications. If you do go on medication for your blood pressure, don’t stop trying to improve your health naturally.
There are so many different foods, supplements and techniques which are proven to lower blood pressure. The thing is, in much the same way that some medicines don’t work for certain people (it is even trial an error to find the right blood pressure drug for you personally), not all the natural things you try to lower your blood pressure will work for you. I think the key is to keep trying different things until you find something that works for you personally.
The things that helped me the most were – dramatically increasing potassium rich foods in my diets, reducing salt consumption to 3g a day or less and taking a few supplements which after trial and error, I found work for me. Ironically I started running to lose weight and help with my blood pressure. I lost weight but it didn’t help my blood pressure all that much, although I do now absolutely love running and call myself a runner!