BHAG - My First Marathon

It was scorching hot in Iowa but Minnesota was showing cooler weather off the lake for the weekend. Race morning a significant storm came through Minnesota and with it came a lot of humidity so while it was in the 50s at race start, it was super muggy. All the mugginess really made the race a lot harder than I was expecting.  It was in the 70s and sunny by the finish. 

Here is a story about an inspirational MS warrior. I love her last quote: "There’s only all in as an option for me. There’s no plan B. There’s no plan C2. It’s all in. Embrace life and go for it. And that’s what I’m here to communicate. That’s why I want to be an inspiration for other people — to take that leap of faith, if you will, with yourself, and get out there and just create your dreams — because it’s never too late for that."  https://multiplesclerosisnewstoday.com/video/carolyn-ms-story-messiah-to-marathons/

In my effort to embrace life, I plan to keep going for my goals.  This year a goal was running and completing my first marathon.  The stats are below but they don't really tell the story.

I had been running well enough training since the half marathon we did in April.  Probably did almost a half dozen half marathons or longer leading up but was malfunctioning the weekend I was supposed to do my last long run so rest it was.  I knew I was going to be able to finish no matter but still bummed me out as I was still dialing in race nutrition.

At the start

My salt savior

I had come up with a race plan that integrated more hydration and electrolytes but the humidity had me running in soaked socks (everything) by mile 3 and I was pretty sure I was not going to have what I needed on my belt (holds six gels) or in my baggies in my pockets.  I have to carry everything I need with me so as not to upset my tummy.  Thankfully I had left extra nutrition with Steve who was injured and not able to run, so he found me on the course around mile 14 and helped me load up more on my belt and feed me some mandarin oranges.

Despite the weather I was able to keep my pace between a 10:30 and 11 minute mile pace, but I had also depleted my reserves faster than expected.  Inevitably that caught up with me and by the time I reached town around miles 18-19 I was on the struggle bus.  Shortly after that another triathlete caught up with me while I was walking and commented that I looked like I needed some salt.  I was also starting to get a headache but thankfully there was a tent with ibuprophen ladies (hallelujah). I know now that is an electrolyte imbalance which I have struggled with for years but that salt tablets can help ward it off.  Between loading up on meds and some salt capsules from the tri lady I was able to start righting my system.  I also took some time to walk with a side of run for a couple of miles with the tri lady, but ultimately feel like I did that too long. 

Once I had found enough pickle juice and watermelon on the course I started to feel a lot better.  I got my butt back in gear and finished the last 3-4 miles pretty strong.  I did run walk through downtown where it is largely concrete and asphalt so it was warm.  Then we were over the freeway into the port area for the last mile to the finish line.  I was pushing my pace as long as I could and then power walking on repeat until the last to corners to the finish line where I gave it all I had.

While I felt like I finished the last 5k strong, I was disappointed with the nutrition based struggle and not getting back into a run walk rhythm fast enough once I started to feel better so I am pretty sure I could have had a time closer to 5 hours but was pleased to finish and feel strong.  I'll not soon run another marathon but now I know I can and didn't have the MS malfunction that I did the last time I ran a grandma's race in 2023 when I did the half marathon.

The only other thing I was bummed about is my cheer squad got held up and no one saw me finish the race.  I was feeling strong and badass but it ended up just being for me.  I was glad to have them all there but annoyed the bridge was up.  I recovered pretty quickly aside from my feet.  I'd had feet discomfort as early as mile five that got more uncomfortable as the run went along.  After I finished I saw three toes with blood blisters and one nail that had come loose finally (residual from the half marathon in April).  I ended up losing three toenails due to my swamp feet.  They aren't the first and wont be the last I'm sure.

Marathon FINSHER!

Ultimately I am proud of myself for doing the work, and meeting that goal.  It's the first big test in my prep for doing an full Ironman.  Next up a half Ironman in September.

A little post race funning at the Twins game the next day with my honey.

Brain Marble - Plans for the Future - Bucket List and GO!

Well if you've been following me for a while you might have see this post. https://blaesing-thompson.blogspot.com/2021/05/a-look-to-future-tough-decisions-ahead.html where I talked about the golf ball in my head.  I get annual MRIs as part of my MS care and we have been tracking this the last 5-6 years.  My MS is stable for the most part so long as I manage my stress and diet and get enough rest.  My brain marble is still growing...

I met with my neuro surgeon to get an update earlier this year.  The brain marble is getting a little bigger but appears to be encapsulated in its own sack. The neuro surgeon who is also a former Ironman recommended surgery in the next couple of years unless the situation worsens. It would likely effect the same side of my body as my MS so may not be easy to tell. He said lets monitor the situation in the meantime and to go attack my Big Harry Ambitious Goals. 

I told him I was looking to do one last distance of triathlon I hadn't grabbed already a full Ironman. He said that I need to knock that goal out. On the way home I was thinking of the other future goals in the next two years.  Abby's graduation from college next fall, Joshua's graduation from high school the following spring, a trip to Europe with the boy after graduation.

It's important to knock out what I can before the brain disruption as no one knows how that will go and what the impact might be so ... goals.

This year I was focused on trying to get stronger, starting to build a little speed, strengthen the weak bits and pieces like my ankles after the breaks, and then push some distance.

I successfully ran my first marathon (26.2 miles) in June and finished my fifth half Ironman (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile jog) in September.  Click the links for more detailed race reports.  Already making plans for 2026 including hiring a triathlon coach.

More to come.

Setting Goals, Getting the Season Started 2025

I started the season with no broken bones as I tried to maintain some fitness through the holiday season.  I kicked things off with the Girls on the Run fundraiser indoor triathlon in Des Moines.  My swim felt okay (a little slower than two years ago), my bike was about even and my run was solid but total time was a little slower than previous ones (this may be the fourth time I’ve done this one?).

This was a year to push my body and see how it responded to new challenges so I queued up a series of running races.  We did the rosy cheeks 5k in Story city and since our run volume was supposed to be closer to 8 miles we ran almost four before the race start on a blustery but not super cold morning.  My goal for the 5k was to hit 30 minutes so I pushed as hard as I could and came in around 30 minutes and a few seconds which was not easy on a cold day after running more than that before starting the speed.

Next up was Drake relays half marathon.  I was supposed to run this last year but since I broke my ankle in January I was only able to train up to the 10k in time.  This year I was ready to go and wanted to hit a 10:30 pace just below where I was at for the HillBilly Hustle 02:22:42 that I ran last November 2024. 

Final outcome was 2:20:07 Pace MIN/MI 10:42, Ranking Overall 841 / 1050, Female 320 / 452 Female Masters 82 / 143, Female 50-54 14 / 20  I wasn't last,  

The run felt pretty solid and I was on track for doing harder longer things later in the season.  I got to see my honey finish his half and then we had free jerky and chocolate milk to celebrate our finish.  :)

Not winning today

This week has been a lot.  Honestly the last nine months have been a lot with tons of work travel and responsibilities.  More to do than I can possibly get done at home and at work.  Today, right now, I am supposed to be in Clear Lake do a triathlon.  I’ve struggled with what to do all week.  First with lordy it’s going to be dangerously cold on the swim with water temps around 62 and air temps around 50.  I knew there was no recipe for success just to get through the swim, which is always a challenge for me, not for the swimming part as that is usually my best leg, but for the cold part.  It always leaves me gasping and last year I ended up doing most of it back stroke.  Thursday the race team following USAT rules decided the swim was going to be unsafe and opted to change the tri into a du which meant two runs and a bike.  One level of stress down.

That would have been fine however Wednesday I went home part way through the day as I just felt really off emotionally and physically. Last week Abby had left for her summer job and I am missing her pretty hard this week. Monday, I onboarded some new interns which can be overwhelming especially when I haven’t had time to work up our summer task list yet. Tuesday, I had a dr appointment where I really didn’t feel heard related to all thing perimenopause. And by Wednesday midday I was spent.  I went home and spent the afternoon emotionally finishing a book.  By Wednesday evening an MS flare had caught up with me and my left arm and leg were on fire.

Most of the time when people look at me, they would have no idea that I’m struggling with an incurable but mostly manageable chronic illness.  I work hard to stay fit and take care of my family, but my MS can have a mind of its own and it forces me to take care of me.  This was one of those weeks.  I can usually tell I am overdoing it when Dysesthesia (an abnormal sensation, often described as a burning or prickling pain, that is triggered by nerve damage) kicks in.  It feels like I have a bad sunburn that won’t go away.  I also have neuropathy with pins and needles in my hands and feet.  Both come and go or are more intense anyway, when I have been overdoing it.  The Dysesthesia has been with me for a couple of weeks but intensifying to the point the last couple of days my topical nerve cream and Tylenol have been my saving grace.  Things touching my skin like my shirt and shoes hurts, swimming every time my arm goes in the water hurts.  Most of the time I just ignore it as it is kind of naggy but not very intense.

Clear Lake Tri last year

With the flare kicking in Wednesday, it also meant my mobility was challenged as flares make my left hand and leg does not want to do what the rest of me wants to do.  It is one of the few times people can tell I am struggling with my disability as my gait will be off, and my use of my hand may look not quite right.  Thursday I was feeling pretty low, but the universe must have known I needed some love.  One of my favorite racing friends reached out to see if I was racing this weekend, and two of my good friends reached out to see what my plans were for my birthday on Sunday and lifted my spirits. By Friday morning the flare was starting to subside, but I was still struggling with a fair bit of pain, but I went about gathering gear and making plans to still race.

Friday night sitting on the couch with my honey I decided to factor in the rest of my weekend into my decisions.  Getting up at 4:30 in the morning to drive up to Clear Lake and race.  Spending almost 3 hours racing and then driving back home were looking like a daunting task.  My training focus has been mostly gearing up for my first marathon in June, so this race was not high on my priority list, but I had been looking forward to challenging myself and seeing my race friends.  I know there will be more races, and this was at best a B or C race in my overall plan, so I opted to pull out.

My activities for the weekend also include babysitting Steve’s adorable grandson Bodie who is two on Sunday (I am BG - bonus grammy).  Sunday is also my 51^st birthday.  Since I plan to spend time with family and friends and have more than enough activities here to keep me busy like finishing planting our garden, getting the house painting restarted, and working on my huge pile of books.  Those activities this weekend feel like time better spent, and emotionally/physically what I need to be doing this weekend.

So, this blog isn’t about asking for sympathy, but about being honest with myself about the limitations MS puts on me sometimes.  There will always be more races, and for as long as I am able, I will be toeing the start lines with my friends, but I know it’s okay to step back.  This isn’t the first race I’ve DNS and probably won’t be my last and I am okay with that, but I will keep showing up when I am able.

Me at the finish line last year
With my honey Steve.

Have an awesome long weekend everyone.  Please consider donating today to the MS Society on my behalf, so we can someday find a cure, and reverse some of the damage done by this currently incurable disease.

https://events.nationalmssociety.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donordrive.participant&participantID=604229

A No Excuse Life - What this Garmin Means to Me - Goals for 2025

From A No Excuse Life by Chris Norton

"Call to Action: Starting today, let your actions speak for you. Reflect on your values and what you want to be known for, then align your actions accordingly. As you consistently live out your beliefs, watch how your identity transforms and how your impact on the world becomes more profound."

After my 2023 Grandma's half marathon I had all these thoughts, not all good, banging through my head. Really pretty negative for me.  

Over the years I have run over a dozen half marathons, done four half ironman triathlons (the last one in 2019 - 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run), and have always had a goal of completing one full ironman (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run).  My 2013 MS diagnosis knocked me back and 2014 was both a hard year, and an amazing year as I got to race on the Kyle's Bike team (they picked me before I knew I had MS for sure).  Three of my half ironmans and most of my half marathons have come after Dx, but for some reason 2023 was hard for me.  

Maybe because it was my first big race post covid, post racoon attack, post broken foot, post IT band nonsense that fought me for four years.  Maybe I needed a couple more long runs in my training plan, maybe my head space was disrupted once I got into the Duluth city limits with all the crowds, but all I know is the last mile of that race nearly beat me.  I stopped having fun and had to dig deep to keep shuffling... like an old lady... to find my way to the finish line.

During that last mile my inner dialog was about whether to invest in myself and my race equipment, or to give up doing long races and on that LONG time goal of doing an Ironman Triathlon.  Maybe MS had beaten me after all... but I couldn't stop thinking about getting a real, proper racing watch that could see me through 15-17 hours of racing.  Something that could track my data effortlessly instead of using my phone and a hand me down apple watch.  Something that could be with me while I keep setting and meeting my goals.

I finished 2023 with a 10k run that went well, and made goals to do more races in 2024, and while I had a few setbacks related a broken ankle, I ended the year on a high note with a solid half marathon and my new Garmin.  With the start of 2024 came a sale on a newer model of Garmin the forerunner 255s (over $100 off) so as a gift to myself for turning 50 and believing in my future goals I invested in myself.  It arrived after I swam as part of an Ironman relay team with my triathlon club in June, but I had it in play for my favorite triathlon in Ames and along for that successful 13.1 run in November.

Me on my 50th birthday at the Clear Lake
Triathlon in 2024

So here are my 2025 goals:

Drop 10 pounds of fat and gain 5 pounds of muscle (go to weights class each week or work with a trainer).  Continue my PT rehab, add some yoga. HAVE FUN!

January - Girls on the Run Indoor Triathlon - have solid legs especially on the bike where I have languished in past years.

April - run the Drake Half Marathon (I was supposed to run last year)

May - Clear Lake Olympic Triathlon (.9 mile swim... mind over mater with the cold water, 25 mile bike, 10k run)

June - Run Grandmas Marathon 26.2 miles (MY FIRST MARATHON!!!)

September - 1/2 Ironman Wisconsin (This will force me to bike train over the summer as it is hilly, but I've done it before so I know what I am in for.  Excited to have my teammates on the course with me.)

Oct/Nov - Half Marathon Grand Rapids, MI - hoping to race with my Run A Myelin My Shoes MS race team in Michigan if it works out.

2026 - IRONMAN!  Course/Date TBD

So there it is, out in the universe for all to see.  Hopefully I collect a cheering section along the way but I am determined so who is with me?  Ironman at 52.  You betcha! GOALS!

MS Update - 2024

It's been a while since I have checked in here.  I keep queueing up ideas on things I want to share but haven't taken the time to collect my thoughts. It’s been over ten years since my official Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis.  I've had a lot of ups and downs the last six years but it seems most of them are accident related (racoons, foot fracture, IT band issues, shoulder angst, migraines, ankle fracture, etc) and while my MS effects me every day it is minor in the grand scheme of things.

I came across the word disABILITY on one of the MS blogs I read and thought it was a good summary of my MS and me.  I am fighting to retain my ABILITY with my disability.  I learn new things about my illness each year.  This year I had a lot more good days then bad, but found I don't have the stamina I'd like especially when going to multi day events or activities.  If I don't build rest into my schedule then it makes it hard by day three to keep going.

The link below was very relatable for me.  I am working hard to stay present.  Focusing on my goals and not letting the worry of the future with MS ruin my now.

https://multiplesclerosisnewstoday.com/columns/2024/05/21/feel-like-ive-lost-time-living-multiple-sclerosis/

This year as I said has been mostly good. My neurologists say I am stable, my MRIs are holding same with no active disease progressions showing on the scans.  I am on a great med with very few side effects and only slows me down two days a year.  I am still doing physical therapy to continue to work through my deficiencies and am doubling down on doing my homework for that each week.

I am doing better at managing my energy, as the funny thing about taking on a part-time teaching gig while working full time, is I spend at least one day every weekend on the couch working on class stuff so it rather forces me to be in a resting state instead of a working on the house or running around doing chores.  The house stuff gets done eventually, and I have a wonderful partner that is a great cook so I contribute when I need or want to in the kitchen.

I've been diligent about putting my fitness activities on the calendar and following through.  I need to get back to monitoring my nutrition as the holidays have lead to a few more pounds to my bits and pieces.  I have big goals though so diet and exercise will be driving me in 2025 which in turn supports my MS journey.  So I have set my intentions to focus on the now, live life to the best of my ability, and adjust plans as I need to to live my best life.  As they say in my world, I have MS but it doesn't have me.

Fitness 2024 Recap

Clear Lake 24

I am a data person so of course I have data on my fitness activities.  Per a cousin that got me started on this 12-15 years ago I decided to revive my annual fitness recap.  At the beginning of 2024 I was feeling good.  I had some solid focus on fitness, body health (working through aches and pains) and nutrition through the fall of 2023 and was feeling pretty good.  I was at my goal weight and feeling trim and ready for a great season of races and activities.

My house had a different idea in mid January, and minutes after giving myself a pep talk about being awesome for hitting my goal weight, and trimming down into my size ten pants, I had a foot shoot out from under me going down the stairs in my race to finish my morning chores before heading to class.  

Drake 10k 2024

The result of my tumble was a broken ankle.  Well, this is a place I have been before as I broke the same foot in the spring of 2022 (I was finally back in shape from that ugh). Once the initial shock wore off and I had a visit with the surgeon, I realized I was in a good place and determined not to slide too much this time.  The break wasn't a load baring bone so I could walk in a boot, and it also did not require surgery.  Bonus points, the surgeon said I could start swimming again right away (pulling only), and riding a stationary bike once the swelling was down enough to put on an ankle brace and peddle.  So for 8 weeks that is what I did.

Clear Lake Tri - 50th BDay

I missed our annual indoor triathlon in late January, but it was a fundraiser and they had my funds already.  I was supposed to do a half marathon in April, but wasn't cleared early enough to train for that, but was determined to do the 10k (6.2 miles) instead.  I was able to get some decent, slow runs in to get ready and felt pretty good on race day.

Next up were two triathlons, one on my 50th birthday at Clear Lake was supposed to be Olympic distance but training three sports with only a month for that distance was not going to be feasible so I dialed back to the sprint.  The swim (my best event) was tough as it was cold, but the bike went as well as expected (so so slow), and the run was fine.

The second one was Ames Tri, which is my hometown fun in late June.  I had a pretty good swim for that one, and an okay bike, and solid mostly run where a young woman doing her first triathlon and I were run walking together at the end of the run.

Ames Tri finish 2024

After that I pretty much don't do races through the heat of the summer so not much happening but I kept up with my run, swim and weights activities.

The next big activity was giving another half marathon a go.  My last one was in June of 2023 in Duluth and the last couple miles of that one were rough for me with some foot drop.  I got lucky with this one as I started near a couple going about the same speed as me with music playing.  Their song choices were fun and kept us all entertained until their pace dropped with about 3-4 miles left so I pushed ahead and had a solid run and met my goal for the day.

So here finally fitness data is my recap.  These are rough numbers as i didn't always have my phone or watch with me so missed recording some of the workouts.

Swim - 53 miles, with 40 hours in the water

Bike - 200 miles, with a big chunk of it indoors, 17 hours

Run - 280 miles, with 57 hours in a mix of roads, trails and treadmills

Weights/Yoga - 14 hours

Kayaking - 8 miles - 3 hours

Walking - 235 Miles - 116 hours mostly walking the dogs (I didn't track all my walks)

Hiking - 13+ miles, several hours

2025 goals include more biking outside, more kayaking and hiking.  Likely a lot more running and swimming as I have some big races lined up.  More to come on that.

Last Kayak on Clear Lake with Dad 2024