Why do I run?
This page will forever be a work in progress! Check back for updates.
May 2, 2003
Sorry it has been so long. My career path has taken me more-than-slightly off my personal path of writing and coaching, but it has not cut me off from the saving world of running. Granted the winter in Cleveland began earlier than expected and in some ways is still a threat (40's tonight). Ah, the challenges of running icy hills in Medina. But spring is blooming and we are back on (the) track.
I must send Congratulations to Matt Norris for running your 100th marathon. You are a true inspiration to all of us. Also, congrats to Mark for your 10k PR at Rite-Aid this past weekend. You are *my* inspiration even when you don't want to be. And to Don -- who is building his mileage up every weekend and has a long run of 12 miles under his belt, stick to it, each week your training builds on itself until one day you just "get there." You'll know it when you look back to where you've been!
Run well -- and live well. With love! -- Suz.
September 16, 2002
Congratulations, Matt, on running an awesome first official 5k! And yeah to Marty for moving up to first place (age group) for the Hermes Road Race Series. Keep it up you guys!
September 11, 2002
{{{silence}}}
September 9, 2002
Congratulations, Marty, on knocking off 18 minutes from your best half marathon time! And for getting your 5k PR, all in one weekend. See, it is all about pacing. I knew you had it in you. xxooo. p.s. Many thanks to all the runners and supporters who made the River Run Half Marathon such a fun race to do each year. To Romeria, and Jack, and to pacers Aaron and Dale, to coach Kara (and near-in-spirit Gary), to Humberto for YOUR AWESOME TIME, to Stephanie for her most *excellent* finish, and to Kath for hanging in there TO FINISH (that took guts), knowing you enriches my life. Thank you.
September 4, 2002
And so the "schedule" begins again, or as I like to say, "getting back in the swing." After a relatively unregulated summer time schedule, it'll likely take me weeks to get used to all this responsibility again. Three classes this semester, (tail-end) training for the Wine Glass Marathon in New York state October 6th, pre-internship volunteer hours for grad school, my wonderful active loving girls and my full time(+) job all keep my schedule tight. There is a beat to life, like waiting tables, "get the salad while the drink is filling," that once you find the beat or get in the swing of things your life falls into place. September is most always the time to get predictability back -- palm pilots and assignment books filled. Find your beat -- but remember, the joy is in the getting there.
July 31, 2002
Just like a sports injury that needs to be “rested,” oftentimes we have setbacks or losses that leave an empty space of time to be filled in our daily lives. Think about what occupies your time now – and I even mean thinking time, like during the commute to and from work. If you are big into a sport or event or “thing” in your life that day, it may take the whole 30-minute drive thinking about it. Once that event or “thing” is put on hold or finished altogether, a sort of emptiness is left. If you are like me, you immediately begin to fill it with something, anything. For example, a minor injury comes your way and the doctor says “rest it completely for three weeks and then come back slow,” you fill that space of freed up time with another activity like board games with the kids, or reading, or catching up on the latest movies. Sound familiar?
But sometimes, when a person we care about leaves suddenly, we immediately find anger or hateful thoughts in order to deal with the loss and fill up the well that is left suddenly vacant. How long, though, will you let the anger be a part of you? And then, what happens once that anger is released? The right thing to do, surely, is to forgive and move on, but the flipside is that the emptiness is there once again – that space which once housed the person, inside your heart.
How quickly I ran to fill up the space you left… planning each hour, working hard on new projects, enjoying all the good I have in hand. Initially it was easier just to make you a “bad person.” But you’re really NOT a bad person, and I am not one to hold hate close; so I have let it go.
…Only now since my anger is gone, I realize so are you. I keep hoping the doctor will say this isn’t a permanent injury. “Rest it completely for three weeks, come back slow.” How are you feeling these days?
July 25, 2002
My husband called me a "jock" yesterday. Does he have any idea how that made my day?
July 23, 2002
Cross training is indeed a good thing! Cycling 25 miles doesn't feel like a lot of exercise in comparison to a "long" weekend run (where's the familiar burn, the rewarding exhaustion) but cross training does help to build muscles around and in support of muscles used primarily for running. I don't know at this point if I will ever run another marathon due to health concerns, but at this point in time running 3 days a week with 2 days of cycling and two "rest" days, I thank God for every day.
July 8, 2002
The "extended exhaustion" turned out to be mono and for months I have had to deal with making excuses for my poor running performance. The body is NOT waiting til age 40 to fall apart. However, the amazing part of running -- particularly of marathon running -- is teaching yourself how to endure. I hope you, too, can find strength in the day.
April 17, 2002
This is more like it! 80's yesterday and today. From snow to swelter in 2 weeks.
We have moved... and I have not run for 5 days. Do you know what extended exhaustion feels like? Not fun. Living out of boxes presents its challenges as well. Maybe after class tonight, I can run up the dogwood-lined streets in our development and just breathe. Like the snow, this too is temporary.
March 27, 2002
End of March in Ohio, daffodils are blooming in my front yard, Easter is Sunday. The girls found sleeveless dresses shopping with Auntie Sharon, they will be proud to wear their new Spring attire.
Spring in Ohio.
Yesterday afternoon the predicted rain turned to snow earlier than expected, and northern Ohio got rewarded with the second snowstorm in two days. While fighting the sliding car and rush hour at 6:15 p.m., fretting over the ice-coated freeway, I couldn’t help but plan the miles I would run after getting home. Like a kid I couldn’t wait to throw on my snow-suitable clothes and get out in the midst of it.
“This is going to be fun,” I said. Still coming down in windy sheets, I appreciated the blanketed branches and sounds of snowblowers and how I actually had to step higher to run. Don’t we get extra “points” for running in 4-inch snow, I thought, this must be a better workout! Like running on the beach… well, only colder. Down one stretch of road the wet snow plummeted my face, but the next stretch I knew was the respite wind at my back. Hi neighbor, isn’t this GREAT? (“There’s that nut again, running in this?!”) Each mile around my footprints had become nearly hidden, as the snow never let up.
Returning home through the back door, my children stared in shock – “uh, Mom, do you KNOW what you LOOK like?” “SANTA!” Savanna yelled with laughter. “How can you STAND being out in that?” Alicia asked. My answer: after fighting the traffic and the one hour drive home cursing the usual “Spring” snowstorm in Cleveland, THIS is how I make peace with it. This is why I run.
February 24, 2002
Just a few thoughts... first, you know when you're recovering from an injury when you remember what it's like to run pain free... second, you know you're on a long run when the ice has melted on the way back... and third, you know you're a runner when you make time to run no matter what is happening in your life. Oh yeah, get well soon, Dad, Mom, and Jacquie. Prayers and love.
January 8, 2002
Writing from sunny, hot (NOT) Florida... muscles are yelling a bit today... but all else is "magical." Marty and I did it, together. Much to my dismay (and against every bit of urging I did to have him race his own race), Marty ran every mile with me, and we crossed the finish line together.
Minutes before the start, I stopped and looked around... took it all in... thinking, maybe, this is going to be my last marathon. Just being there, feeling the energy of 18,000+ runners, seeing my Team Diabetes team mates (some afraid, some having NO idea what was in store for them, all confident and happy)I thought "this is fun, I am going to enjoy the moment, every minute." Let me tell you how at 13 miles I was soooo close to opting for the half marathon finish line. At 15 miles I found the joy again, and kept it... even during the pelting rain and the cold winds. I kept to the right and went on to finish the full. Turns out Marty says that I kept **him** going, just as a coach should.
Well, the kids are waiting to go off to MGM Studios. Thank goodness they can put up with mommy's slower-than-normal walk. :) More soon, but thanks for visiting and checking in to see how it all went; Team D raised $1 million with 304 participants. We are proud to be members of the Team. Oh yeah, "have a MAGICAL day."
December 28, 2001
An injury is but one mile in the life of a marathoner. Thank you, Shar, for reminding me of this. See a barrier? Find a way
around it. Someone tell you "never"? Simply do not deal with ultimates. Can't get there down this road? Find another route. No one can
take away the successes you had yesterday... and the success of tomorrow depends entirely on
how you will perceive it.
Enough of the euphemisms.
May I just say though that I do NOT "jog," I RUN. And running is not a "hobby," it is a lifestyle. (Maybe you should
think more about taking up a sport, Dr. Nathan, it may de-stress you and in turn help improve your bedside manner.)
I've moved past the pity party. On to life!
Happy New Year to my wonderful daughters, family, and friends.
December 16, 2001
Who am I kidding, running hurts a little these days. But you know me, I will give my best to finish a goal
unless the thing itself gets the best of me. January 6th is looking like a marathon I may have a hard time simply finishing.
Yet for all the team diabetes "kids" (as I lovingly call them, since I feel like I am taking care of them and their marathon dreams)
I will help to get over the finish line, this one is for YOU.
Happy Holidays to my wonderful friends and family. And thank you so much for loving me.
November 20, 2001
"Once he started running, he never stopped." -- Quote about Steve Prefontaine, from the movie "Prefontaine"
Thanks so much, Shar, for all the joy you have given me. And the energy. And the support. You are a special, beautiful lady. Remember: You get what you give! And YOU ROCK, LADY. And WooWoo with his marigold.
And "I LOVE HILLS"... and My Girl. "This is how you remind me..." the mistake WAS giving them a heart worth breaking. Mr. Right is running behind you -- you didn't beat him, he's just coming up behind you... slow down a bit, he'll catch up.
I proved something to myself in Philly, that I can qualify for Boston someday. What a strong race, what a **FUN** race. And therein lies the key.
November 9, 2001
Okay, so I lied. I AM indeed running the Philadelphia Marathon on November 18th. I told you that I'm tired, that this one
will not be attempted. But like you said, never tell anyone your race goals.
If you are reading this now, you KNOW my race goal. But please be silent about knowing. I cannot stand to disappoint you.
Columbus was slightly -- okay, majorly -- disappointing for me.
Sure, a PR is always good (I came in **30 minutes** faster than at CVS in April, do you realize that?). Still, I wanted Columbus to be my
Boston qualifier. I fell short for myself... not for you, but for myself. SO -- dear Sharon is driving with me to Philly, to support me in
improving on Columbus. If that means I run strong after 20 miles and don't see pizza-mirages along the way, then I have improved. If
that means not setting out too fast, that's improving. If that means coming in at 4 hours, that's improving. If that means coming in at 3:45, THAT
is a celebration. THEN I will tell you my race goal... again, and again. Because I will have achieved it.
September 20, 2001
For all of us, this past week has been difficult. We all handle stress in different ways -- some with anger, some with dissociation, some with tears, some with physical exertion. Some of us may even shut down, doing only what we need to do to get through the day.
My question is how do we continue to concentrate on marathon training, or running in general, when world issues seem so much more "important"? Tuesday, September 11th, I could NOT move from the television. Track work seemed like a sin. Wednesday I finally got out on to the road, but waited til dark so no one thought me unpatriotic. By Thursday running was the only thing that centered me.
I am relying on this sport to keep me healthy and positive so that my kids will have a strong hand to hold no matter what the future holds for them.
God protect and guide all of us. God bless America.
September 8, 2001
Hope you had a nice summer. This has easily been one of the BEST summers of my life, thanks to a few important people. You know who you are -- of course my Alicia and Savanna, all the quality people I am honored to work with, and all the inspiring friends I run with (especially you, Mark!). Thanks for the constant support and motivation, and thank you for a summer I will never forget. I will love you always!
July 1, 2001
Do you run? If you do, you know how it is life altering. Why in high school did I ever slip on those new hot pink sweatpants and have my Dad shadow me around the block jogging for all of 5 minutes? Just to have him shadow me in the Metroparks 20 years later while I ran for 3 hours? Why in college did I ever think running around the ice rink would make me a stronger figure skater? Just to have me drop the figure skating but keep the running? Why at Baldwin-Wallace College did I ever attempt to even look like a cross country runner, never running more than 8 miles, at a painfully slow pace? Just to run that first 9-mile race 15 years later to say "hey, I finally competed"? And why did I go from a casual runner to a marathon runner, January 2000, that life changing day I called Jill at ADA and said yes, I want to run a marathon and raise money for a good cause. Who was I kidding.
But look at me now. Training six days a week, four marathons successfully under my belt, looking toward hopefully qualifying for the Boston Marathon with Columbus on October 21st. Who would have ever thought that Suzanne Armbruster would be asked to train a group of hopeful runners who have no idea what mental and physical strain that kind of running can do to a person -- or how that strain is really a THRILL in disguise.
So, why do I run? Originally, to fit in a pair of jeans. Then, to eat ice cream whenever I wanted to. Then, to lose weight after my babies were born. NOW? Because it has become me, it guides me, it calms me after it excites me. It has helped to form me from head to toe, inside and out. It simply IS me.
This too, can be your's. Let's talk soon.
