Athletic Supporters

Ah, jock straps....   Ha! No, I'm kidding.

When I first started running, I sought out other runners.  I went onto Runners World and browsed through the message boards until I found a place to hang my hat.  Since then, I've branched out to groups on Facebook, and now the blogesphere and Twitter.  I've surrounded myself with other runners, and have laughed, cried, and cheered with them.  They have become a second family to me.

This past weekend, I made an impromptu trip to Wisconsin to visit my grandfather, who is in the hospital.  It was a stressful, whirlwind trip, but it was also an opportunity to meet one of the girls I've been talking to online for over a year now.   We had coffee and went for a walk, and it was just as comfortable as if we'd been doing it all along, instead of just chatting online.

Now I'm back home and I'm tired and sad and just kind of numb from my trip.  I don't feel like running, I don't feel like talking, I don't feel like doing much of anything.   Fortunately, I know that when I decide I need a kick in the pants, my friends - online and otherwise - will be there for me, and will remind me that even if I don't feel like going for a run, it may just be the thing I need.

Everybody Gets A Trophy?

I have two race medals.  They are both finishers medals, one from a 10 miler, and one from a Half Marathon.  I am proud of both, and feel they are each symbols of my accomplishment, and all the miles I ran in preparation of those two races.   After a conversation with my 5 year old, however, I realized that not everyone may feel the same way. 

Last night, my son's t-ball coach told the team that they had one more game, then they'd be having a get-together with the other teams, and trophies would be given out.  My son was really excited - until he realized that everyone would be getting a trophy.   "All the teams get trophies?" he asked.  "Yup!" I replied enthusiastically.  "But... why?  That's weird."   He frowned at me, and looked rather upset. 

I tried to explain to my son that at this level - the 4 to 6 year old t-ball crowd - it's more about participation and doing your best.  And that everyone gets a trophy because everyone came to all of the practices, listened to the coach, cheered on their team, and had fun.  I was met with complete silence.  My son was not happy.   Winners should get trophies.  That is his line of thinking - and generally, I agree with him.  I do think that children need to learn that sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and you don't always get to go home with the trophy, no matter how hard you tried.  That's the nature of sports - and of life. 

Yet I'm sitting over here in my corner of the world, surrounded by my sport, and I'm in possession of two medals, even though I've never won a race.  Or, truth be told, even placed in the top 50%.  

I will likely never win a race, or even place in the top of my age group (unless I'm the only one in it).  "Finishers" medals are probably the only kind I'll ever get - and honestly, I'm ok with that.  I love my finishers medals.  I am proud of them.  They're pretty, and I don't want anyone to take them away from me, or tell me that I'm not deserving of them.  It makes me a little sad to think that my son may one day realize that the only reason Momma came home with a medal was because everyone did - but I'm also hoping that one day he'll understand that it doesn't negate the experience, and it doesn't make my medals any less important to me.  

I hope he'll be excited when he gets his trophy, and put it somewhere special in his room so he can look at it and remember how much fun he had with his friends this spring.   Or, if not, then I hope he'll at least say "Thank You" to his coach before he tosses the trophy in his closet and moves on to the next big thing.  

*****

What do you think of race medals? Do you keep yours? 

Running, Period.

I'm lucky enough to have female runner friends to talk to, ask questions of, swap clothes with, etc, etc.  I know others aren't as lucky, so today I bring you - "The Joys of Womanhood." 

For any men reading, if you think a women's menstrual cycle is "icky," feel free to skip this post and go watch Sports Center.  (Then again, if you're a woman reading, and you likewise think the topic is icky, I also direct you to Sports Center.  Who doesn't like Sports Center??)



Ok, now that I've successfully cleared the room (hopefully not of everyone)...


I never pay attention to my period.  Seriously, I don't.  I'm on Ortho Evra (birth control patch), so I'm fairly "regular," but I really don't pay any attention.  I don't usually notice if I'm more bloated, crankier, more tired, etc, etc.  I am completely out of tune with my body.  It bleeds for 4 - 6 days every month, and yet, as my husband "jokes," I don't die.   Whatever.  No bigs.

Except, now that I'm a runner, I've started to pay more attention to my body, and have begun to question things.  Why does this run feel so hard/slow?  Is it what I'm eating/not eating? My sleep patterns?  Or could it be, just maybe, that my period is starting soon, and that's why I'm feeling so sluggish while I'm chugging along on an "easy" three mile run?

So, like I said, I asked my female runner friends.  Turns out, feeling sluggish during runs in the days before your period is pretty common. Doing a little Googling, I found a bunch of articles on the subject.


So how about you?  Do you notice any differences in your running during certain times of the month? When changing birth control?  While pregnant?  After menopause?