half-marathon

This upcoming Sunday, October 15, some familiar faces will be running at the Detroit Marathon. I’ll be running the half-marathon (one full was more than enough for me) alongside fellow Biggest Loser Season 7 contestants: Helen, Damien and new lovely wife Nicole, Carla. Some faves from Season 6 will also be running: Coleen, Amy C. and Shellay; and from Season 2, Pete Thomas.

Pops (Ron, my dad, if you didn’t know) is going to be doing the 5k, but is having knee surgery this month, so its all still up in the air. Renee, mother of Michelle from season six, will also be doing the 5k.

So, today was an interesting day. For the first time since my first of two difficult-to-heal injuries – I ran. And it was truly a pathetic thing. A humbling spot, and one I never imagined I’d find myself in again. After all, I’ve run several 5Ks, a few 8Ks, one 10K and a very memorable and torturous half marathon. I’ve been a runner for quite a while. I wasn’t always a runner, though – when I first began my weight loss journey, I couldn’t even walk around the block without stopping to catch my breath. (And cry – but we can just pretend that we never spoke about that, OK? Keep it just between the two of us.) I started walking a block at a time, added a small distance every couple of days, and one day, found I was covering more than seven miles. I could either walk further or start running, so I started running. And until I injured myself, I ran just about every day.

I will not even bother telling you what time it is as I type this. It’s way, way too late. Once again, I’ve done what I swore I wouldn’t – stayed up past my bedtime. It’s a bad habit I have, true, but that’s not the only reason I should break it. Plain and simple, your body needs rest. And, no, five hours a night won’t cut it. Recent studies have linked sleep and diabetes and proven that not enough good quality sleep impairs your insulin productions, increases cortisol (the stress hormone) and decreases growth hormone – not an optimal blend if you are trying to lose weight or gain muscle.

Even though I’ve never considered myself a runner, after being on the sidelines photographing for my marathoner/inspiration a couple of times, I signed myself up for the 2008 500 Festival Mini Marathon because everyone does it and it doesn’t feel overly competitive. It was my first race ever, and I was so impressed with myself. Starting back in corral Y I walked the first mile until I got through some of the mass of humanity. I started running and did not stop. Of course I signed up again!

In August I had surgery to repair a labreal tear in my hip joint from a 2006 injury. (Yes, I learned to run with that injury.) I told the surgeon and physical therapist that teaching dance is part of my income and I was going to run the mini again. Running had become an important escape for me. I probably started teaching dance before I should have and my recovery slowed. It was nearly Spring before I was allowed to start trying to run, and my training wasn’t very consistent.

Mini-marathon participants running through downtown Indianapolis.

In just under seven weeks, I will be running the Indianapolis Mini-Marathon for the second time. Part of the events leading up to the Indianapolis 500 each year, the Mini-Marathon is the largest half-marathon and the fifth largest running event in the United States. It is a major event for Indianapolis, including participants from all over the world, across age brackets, and of all speeds. I have fast new shoes and I am running more days than I’m not. I obviously have running on the brain. We write about the health benefits of running frequently, but there are several mental health benefits also.

1. Run when you are feeling angry or frustrated to burn off the extra energy. Research has shown that nothing relieves stress more than physical exercise.

2. Running increases endorphins which contributes to a general sense of well-being and mood elevation, so running can make you feel better when you are sad.