So you want to be a runner?

Some time ago, I decided that I wanted to be a runner. I have never been one really, the most I've run continuously is probably a mile and that was because a PE coach was making me. My fastest mile I ever did was when I was in 7th grade (a bagillion years ago) under 8 minutes. That has yet to repeat itself and it may never but that isn't why I made the choice to become a runner.

I've Done That

I've always enjoyed the thrill of accomplishment and being able to say "I've done that!" I've been sky-diving (oh yeah, so fun!), I've jumped off cliffs into the water, but I wanted to be able to say, "I ran X many miles without stopping." I can't say it until I actually do it so... here goes nothing!

A couple of years ago, I ran the Running of the Bulls 5K (3.1 miles) race in Houston with my friend, Mariela. We ran without GPS (this is crazy to me now) to tell us how far we had gone and how much left we had but I actually think that was a good thing. We psyched ourselves out but saying, "it's just one more turn" when we were tired. Turns out, there were LOTS more turns but we pushed through.

When we RAN across the finish, our faces were red, we were sweaty and we were BEAMING. We did it! We ran 3.1 (don't you dare take away that tenth of a mile!) miles WITHOUT STOPPING. After that, I was hooked on that feeling! I wanted more!

Red face and all but thrilled!

Mud Runs were becoming popular at the time and so of course, we had to jump on that bandwagon! We signed up for the Warrior Dash near Austin, TX. We stayed up late having fun at my friend Bonner's lake house near Austin and then got up early for our run! (Smart, yeah!)

Here we are: Bonner, me, Mariela, Jen, and Tiffany pre-race and then post-race (Bonner, me, Mariela and Jen)!

 

We had an absolute blast and ran nearly the whole thing, laughing and pushing each other in the mud in water. We were very proud to wear those medals to school (work- remember that Mariela, Jen and I are educators) on Monday.

We did a handful of other 5K's, each time increasing our pace! They included: the Gritty Goddess in Galveston and the Color Run (two weekends in a row mind you). 

Gritty Goddess

Houston Skyline during Color Run

Smile with Caution

Next thing I knew, Mariela signed up for a 10K and posted it on facebook. I couldn't be left out so I immediately signed up too! We ran the Houston Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving day this past year. We all managed to run continuously for the 6.2 miles! I was so proud of myself for sticking it out and running the whole thing. At this point, I had never run over a 5K without stopping. 

Another friend of mine, Angie, talked me into signing up for a bigger race. She downloaded a training program for me to start building my running base and answered so many questions for me. As I was trying to train, I noticed my knees were aching so I went to Luke's Locker and got shoes that were better for me and they helped me correct my stride- no longer were my knees sore from running!

This past April, I ran my first HALF MARATHON. For you non-runners out there, that's 13.1 miles! The most I had EVER run prior to this race was 7 miles continuously so I was a bit apprehensive but I was fortunate to have a running buddy (who not only talked me into this but also happens to be an experienced marathon runner) and she inspired me to keep running 99% of the race. We walked through each water station and stopped to use the bathroom once and stretch a couple of times. Our finish time was 2:36, not too shabby for my first half marathon!

 Angie's Half Crazy Half Marathon 2013 

After we crossed the finish line, we grabbed our goodie bags and signed up for a free massage! I had heard the horror stories about missing toe nails and crazy blisters following a long race so I was pleasantly surprised that my feet had no blisters and I wasn't devastatingly sore the days following the race. As a matter of fact, I ran with my dog just two days after this race!I then promptly came home and signed up for 3 more 1/2 marathons... Yes, I might be crazy but man, what a feeling of accomplishment! I can now say, I did that! I ran a half marathon AND I am going back for more!

Treat the problem, not the symptoms!

It's been a long while since I have actually posted... ya see what happened was I drafted a post nearly a YEAR ago and when I went to post it... it didn't save and I lost everything I had worked on for over an hour. SO, I threw up my hands and applied myself to work instead of the blog. I apologize profusely for my lack of follow through and I am going to catch y'all up now...

Physical

In March, I finally scheduled my yearly physical (they've been calling to remind me since December). The first thing my doc says to me when she comes into my room is, "So, have you been trying to gain weight?"

WTF?! NO but thanks for asking! Ya see, I HAVE been gaining weight (about 8 pounds according to my thoughtful doc) and even with counting calories, I have not been able to reverse it. I consider myself to be pretty healthy and I work out- I mean, I just did my first half marathon in April... it's not like I am sitting on my butt on the couch every day and eating fast food every chance I get. So, I am frustrated with my body but I chalk it up to aging and possibly to not working out hard enough and not eating clean enough. Turns out, my blood tests come back and I am hypothyroid with the addition of an autoimmune response called Hashimoto's disease <-- means my body attacks the thyroid that is produced. Awesome.

Thoughts?

I am pissed. Seriously. I have to take a pill to regulate my body's hormones EVERY day at the SAME time. It has to be taken on an empty stomach, I can't eat for an hour after I take it (or it will affect the uptake of the drug by my system), I can't take vitamins within four hours (for same reasons)... all these "rules" and I hate them. I don't want anything to be wrong with me. I mean, who does? So, after my little pity party... which mind you, didn't last THAT long... I dive head first into research. There's GOT to be some alternatives. What can I do to make this better since I have to live with it?

I am frustrated with my diagnosis... however, it does explain a lot. These are some of the normal symptoms you can expect if you have hypothyroid:

• Fatigue
• Increased sensitivity to cold
• Constipation
• Dry skin
• Unexplained weight gain
• Puffy face
• Hoarseness
• Muscle weakness
• Elevated blood cholesterol level
• Muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness
• Pain, stiffness or swelling in your joints
• Heavier than normal or irregular menstrual periods
• Thinning hair
• Slowed heart rate
• Depression
• Impaired memory

I didn't experience all of these symptoms but a couple of years ago, I visited the doctor with GI issues and never really found a solution. They gave me some pills and there, problem solved, right? Wrong. I bet I've had this since then and instead of my Doc finding the solution to my actual problem, he treated the symptoms. I am dumbfounded with why he never ordered a blood test. So, here I am years later and at least I know what's up. 

After researching ways I can help my body with this condition, I found a lot about gluten. Gluten is a protein found in most grains and it also hides in many of our foods as a binding agent. What I've read is that gluten's molecular structure is very similar to thyroid... with Hashimoto's disease, gluten triggers the autoimmune response, attacking the gluten and thyroid along with it as it cannot differentiate between the two.

JJ Virgin

I was referred to JJ Virgin and her book by a friend of mine. JJ highlights 7 foods that are the most common to cause inflammation in your body and then for 21 days, you avoid those foods like the plague. The foods are: corn, soy, peanuts (all three are highly GMO- genetically modified), eggs, gluten, dairy, sugar and artificial sweeteners.

Now, after the first cycle (21 days of avoiding these foods), your body's autoimmune response to these foods is virtually gone thus now you begin cycle 2 of her diet. For one week at a time, you reintroduce one of the foods and document your body's reaction. If you have an adverse reaction, you continue to avoid that food. If you are at all interested (even without hypothyroid or Hashimoto's), please read the book. It was eye-opening.

Right now, I am on day TWENTY of cycle 1. I've lost 12 pounds since my diagnosis. My GI system is functioning normally and I feel great! My doctor didn't treat the problem. I did. That's empowering. I am gaining control of my body again and you can't beat that.