Running to Comeback

Okay - I've been pushing through these 4.5 runs - getting used to run in colder air - I'm uncertain on what racing goals to target to be honest - what I can get motivated for - and whenever I'm in this boat - I need inspiration - and that woman in the photo on the right. That's 36 yr old Kim Fitchen-Young (also below on the right). I was reading about her comeback effort and she's not letting diapers, sleepless nights deter her from her goal of making the Women's Olympic marathon trials. 6 Months she gave birth - her son, Eli - “I think it makes me a better mom,” she said. “It’s pretty much the only time I’m away from Eli (when she's training). It’s nice to have that little break.” Kim made the Olympic marathon trials in 2000 and 2004. She had the 2008 trials as a goal long before getting pregnant, it may be her last chance to go. Then Eli came along, and she said everything changed except her goal. “I have so much respect for moms who are athletes, and just moms,” - “It’s different for men. They don’t have to go through all the physical part and the recovery and the breast feeding and all that. It really makes your body strong, I think, because you have to be able to carry the baby, but it is challenging." Despite all the physical differences, the biggest change, she said, has come in her focus. As an elite athlete, Kim admits she often thought about herself first. Now her own needs have been surpassed by her son’s. “It’s not just about me anymore. He comes first,” she said. “It’s more challenging now because my day is not planned around my running, it’s planned around Eli.” Kim still manages to log an incredible amount of miles, thanks to the cooperation of her husband, Paul, and her mother, Sue. Six months after giving birth by cesarean section, she’s gotten up to 90 miles a week — an average of more than 12 miles a day. Kim walk-jogged late into her pregnancy. After giving birth, she took about five weeks off before getting the OK from her doctor to work out. Then her marathon training started in earnest. She submitted a training program she had devised to her running coach, thinking he would tell her it was too aggressive. Instead, he’s holding her to it. Kim is on track to run her first marathon in January or February. She’ll need to complete the 26.2 miles in less than 2 hours, 42 minutes to qualify for the Olympic trials. They will be held April 20 in Boston. There she is on the left in her '02 form and when she ran the NYC Marathon @ 2:38, other races I have in common with her are the SF Bay to Breakers and the Santa Cruz to Capitola Wharf to Wharf race! So I'm rootin' for her y'all. She knows it’s a short time frame to prep for....but Kim says she’s not overdoing anything. “I have just enough time to come back, but I don’t have time to get injured. So, there’s this fine line,” she said. “It’s like ‘OK, this is my shot,’ but I may not have this shot again.” “Paula Radcliffe had this saying, she was saying when she’s happy, she runs well, and she’s never been so happy,” “That’s the way it is with me. ... I just can’t describe it. It’s the most wonderful thing in the world.” Okay - I'm going to have to find out which Jan or Feb Marathon Kim's going to run in to try and make the trials so I can root her on - she is running to come back! If you read my blog you know Men are out here "cherry picking" and "drug cheating" & all sorts of nonsense - whereas Women time and time again just keep puttin' it down in this running game y'all - doin' their thing. It damn near makes me think it migh be prudent to vote for Hillary over Obama, but that's another issue. With no further delay let me get my butt up and go push my 4.5 miles @ a 7:00 pace. Maybe I will be confident enough w/my speed to race this 10K in 3 weeks - - Have a great day and c'mon get happy!