That's Fit

As you may remember, I've been trying my darnedest to get back on the running track. For the past two weeks or so I've really been kicking it into high gear. See, I kept getting these emails in my inbox alerting me as to how many days I had left until the New York City Marathon, a race in which I was entered at first solely by luck, and now by determination.

As anyone can imagine finding the time to run with a new baby is difficult at best. Lucky for me I have a great husband who is as committed to fitness as I am and who is willing to sacrifice some of his running time for mine. Generally speaking the baby is OK with my periodic trips around the park although he mentioned to me he can't wait for me to invest in a jogging stroller. After all, the whole time I was pregnant I hoofed it around that park, and baby misses our trips together.

So everything should be going super well, right? Well, mostly it is, but one thing has been plaguing me more than an old boyfriend, and is equally unsuited to my style: cramps. I am no stranger to cramps; in fact, they've haunted me since I first got serious about running way back when.

The thing about the cramps is I've never been able to figure out what causes them (along with the medical community) nor have I ever really been able to get rid of one once I get it.

Well, this past week has been cramp-o-rific. I mean one day I hadn't gotten 100 feet and I got one. Usually they're more of a nuisance than anything but at times they can be so painful they are truly debilitating. When you are like me and have barely over an hour to get in a warm up and a run a cramp can really...cramp your style. Heh.

Seriously, though, these cramps are really starting to bother me. And throughout time I've really tried everything I can think of to ward them off or get rid of them. I've tried eating and not eating, an hour before, two hours before, three hours before. I've tried drinking and not drinking. I've tried drinking water vs. drinking Gatorade. I've tried just not thinking about it. I've tried stretching the area to the max or very little. Turns out the not thinking about it idea works best. Hmm. Perhaps there is something to that.

The only choice I've had is to either stop or run through them. I can't stop because I just don't have the time. I also don't want to let these cramps get the better of me. I'm a better runner than that. But it can be so very, very frustrating when I've been looking forward to a run--a little me time, if you will--all day long, then spent the time preparing the baby and the husband and stretching, etc. only to then be hampered by a silly little thing like a cramp.

If only I were as persistent with my running as the cramps are--I'd be marathon ready in no time. And that's just it--I have a timeline now, well, at least soon. If I am going to even try to run this marathon I need to get up to a good base mileage before I start serious training. That's not an easy thing to do period, let alone while breastfeeding a new baby and trying to get your life back together!

I am in a luxurious situation, however, and try not to forget that. I am lucky I get to try to run this marathon, to train for it and to be able to have the time to do so. I try to make every moment count, whether I have a cramp or not.

If I get a strong one that won't go away I just do sprints or hills, or, my favorite: sprints up hills. Oddly this seems to at least temporarily alleviate the cramp pain (maybe there is something to that, too). And best of all, when I go for a long run like I did today, it feels like nothing. Those hill sprints really work my legs and lungs, which need to work together to get me 26.2 miles down the road.

Today's long run first thing in the morning was oddly cramp-free. They come in waves, these cramps, so perhaps the tide has ebbed for now. I can assure you I'll be facing them again before too long. When I do I am not going to let them get the best of me. I will find a way to thwart them or at least work with them, as with the hill sprints.

We all have our hang ups, as I've mentioned before. Mine is a cramp. What's yours? Whatever it is, don't let it stand in the way of what you want, which is to be a fitter, healthier person. My story is as close to proof as there is that I, you, anyone can overcome whatever is cramping our style.

Also, can I just mention that my butt looks smaller? And my pants are fitting a little better? Take that, cramps--hah!