Growing up in Michigan I ate a typical mid-western diet that consisted of a lot of meat, potatoes, and chocolate. Oh, and ice cream. My parents shuttled me between dance classes, piano lessons, saxophone lessons, choir rehearsals, tutoring sessions, and basically whatever else my heart desired. We spent weekends in the summer at our family cottage in northern Michigan (more beautiful than you can possibly imagine if you've never been there) picking blueberries from our patch, tubing behind the powerboat and taking garden tractor rides (homemade) through the woods. Oh yeah, and eating s'mores! I was not physically fit. I was always the pudgy kid in class and the last one to finish the mile in gym. I never played a team sport. I didn't start running until I read a letter from my soon-to-be band director and his co-hort (aka drill sergeant) after my senior year in college saying that everyone should be able to run a mile in 8:30.
Pre-season drills my freshman year in the Spartan Marching Band wash harsh. 12-14 hrs a day of drills and music rehearsals. I dropped 12lbs in one week. The SMB kept me from gaining the notorious Freshman 15. Throughout college, the SMB was my main form of exercise, although I did start getting to the gym more frequently throughout the years. Running on and off, but only a few miles at a time.
I moved to NYC with two weeks notice in 2004. A job opportunity came up and I showed up on a stranger's doorstep late one Sunday evening about to start work the next day. This stranger (a friend of a friend) welcomed me to this big crazy city with her sweet southern drawl and big smile! The next weekend my Dad flew out to help me find an apartment. It was small, very small, but it was mine. I was on my own for the first time in my life. Without knowing many people in the city, I spent most of my weekends alone exploring the island. I walked and walked. I also ate and ate. There are too many restaurants and bakeries in this town for my own good. I was lonely, didn't know how to cook for myself and was stressed out by my new job. Over the next few months I gained about 15 pounds and did not feel good about myself. Soon, I joined a gym and started going a few mornings a week, paying closer attention to what I ate, and the pounds slowly started coming off. Soon I was at the gym 5-6 mornings a week, getting there by 5:30am when the doors opened (believe me or not, people were already in line to get in). Then I realized I could walk to and from work.
Soon I found out about the New York Road Runners race in Central Park, got a membership and started running short races. I fell in love. The high energy atmosphere, the enthusiasm, so many people in one place being active and enjoying the beautiful park. The ING NYC Marathon literally ran past the end of my street the first Sunday of November each year. I would get choked up to see the dedication, hard work and determination shown by everyone running that race. One day it would be my turn.
By November of 2008 I was on course to run my 9 qualifying races to run the 2009 ING NYC Marathon. That same month I was diagnosed with Cushing's Disease. A rare condition that is caused by a tumor in the pituitary gland that increases cortisol production. (For me, this also has brought on Osteopenia, a precursor of sorts to Osteoporosis. Through daily Calcium and Vitamin D supplements, I'm hoping to reverse the bone loss.) After discussing my options I decided to have brain surgery to remove it at the beginning of 2009. I wanted to enjoy the holiday's but I also wanted to run the marathon. My husband and my parents (taking turns) supported me through my very difficult recovery that included a five day stay in the recovery room at Weill Cornell/NY Presbyterian Hospital and an overnight stay in the emergency room after I had returned home. Brutal. At some points, I didn't know if I'd ever recover. If I'd ever be able to walk on my own again, let alone run a marathon.
Ten months later, after many short runs, long runs, cross training sessions, and a few slight injuries, I found my way across the finish line in Central Park. My family and friends cheered from the sidewalks. I actually saw my family twice and each time I cried. We found each other after the race and made our way onto a bus to take us back across town. When I stood up to get off the bus, my foot gave way. Two days later I found out I had fractured it during the race. This has lead to almost a year of recovery from that injury and other foot injuries. Now, I'm on my way back to running. Through it all, I still go to the gym 5-6 days a week and have recently started taking a weekly yoga class.
Because of my diagnosis, I have realized just how precious our life is. I have tried to appreciate things more, and enjoy life. I have also realized how important everything we put into our bodies is to our health and well being. Because of this, I'm trying to cook more, eat a more healthful diet and treat myself better. I actually enjoy going to the gym every morning with my husband, it's our few minutes alone together in a quiet city, and experimenting with healthy foods. We now have a tradition of visiting a farmers market whenever possible when we go on trips. It may sound corny, but I truly believe that we need to treat ourselves and our lives, and the ones we love with respect, all the time. That includes the things we eat, the things we think, how we treat people, how we react to the world around us. I struggle with this every day, I'm human, but I do try to do right.
I started this blog as a way to share my marathon training and other healthy tips and ideas. It has somewhat morphed a few times since then, but I hope you find something interesting or helpful as you follow me on my journey.
I'd love to hear from you, so please feel free to email me with questions, comments, or suggestions at lmhansen@hotmail.com
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My parents and me at the finish line during race week
My husband and me at the Leland Wine & Food Festival
