26 Weeks to Half Marathon
My goal is to run the Valley Harvest Half Marathon, on Sunday, October 11th, 2020 in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. 21.1km.
Everything About This Week Was Out-of-Sorts
This blog won’t follow my usual format of writing about my weekly exercise progress, getting to October and running the Valley Harvest Half Marathon. I did manage to get some exercise in!
Stress & Anxiety – How it Affects the Body
Everyone deals with stress in their own way. I used to turn to alcohol. Now I live a clean life, no alcohol or any mind altering substances. Exercise has become my go-to to maintain my mental health, as well as my physical health. I am still not able to run, but have adapted to a 40 minute high cardio, low impact exercise video on Youtube, as well as cycling.
However, there came a point this week that I started to feel overwhelmed with the level of stress I was experiencing in my personal life. This level of stress had nothing to do with my not being able to run or how I have had to adapt to changes in how I exercise. This stress was life stress. I had an anxiety attack and my very rare arrhythmia became much more regular.
The arrhythmia continued into the following week. My level of stress had increased to the point of my arrhythmia becoming aggressive, and I had to go to the hospital. It was here that doctors confirmed my heart is healthy and that stress was indeed the trigger.
Helping the Mind to Help the Body
The good news is that my body and heart are healthy. Moving forward, I will continue with my commitment to aerobic exercise videos and cycling. But, to help relieve my body of the effects of stress, I’ve upped my self-care game. For my mental and emotional health, I added the scaffolding of counseling and I’ve started using the app Calm for a daily meditation practice and to improve my sleep. There is only one thing in this world I can control – and that is me. I can control my anxiety, my stress level by taking care of my body, my thoughts, my emotions and my very spirit and soul.
Today is a new day. Today I will focus on what I can control to take better care of myself and let go of the rest.
S, 🏃🏼♀️
Half Marathon Training – 2020
Half Marathon Training – Week 1 – In Total, 30km Goal Achieved
Half Marathon Training – Week 2 – Goal – 6km Achieved
Half Marathon Training – Week 4 – Goal – Long Run – 7km, Holding at 6km & Speed Increase – Achieved!
Half Marathon Training – Week 5 – Goal – Long Run – 8km, Finding My Pace – Achieved!
Half Marathon Training – Week 6 – Goals – 9km & Yoga Achieved – Week of Mishaps – Yup!
Half Marathon Training – Week 7 – Plantar Fasciitis Halts Running – So I Bought a Bike!
Half Marathon Training – Week 13 – No Running. Week 14 – RUNNING!!
Half Marathon Training – Week 15 & 16 – Getting My Groove Back
Half Marathon Training – Week 17 – My First 10Km!
Half Marathon Training – Week 18 – My First Race!
Half Marathon Training – Week 19 – ‘Till I Collapse Kinda Week!
Half Marathon Training – Week 20 – The Significance of Music
Half Marathon Training – Week 21 – The Importance of Stretching and Laughter
Half Marathon Training – Weeks 22-24 – Badass and Heart Centered
Half Marathon Training – Weeks 25-27 – New Sneakers, Warrior Walk & Gluteus Medius
Take care of yourself. Can you get a stationary bike/trainer to workout ?
Hey Maggie! ❤️ I re-read my blog – and edited it to help clarify that my stress and anxiety was not because of my inability to run – it is just life throwing more stuff. So. I updated my blog to clarify that I’ve added more scaffolding to my self-care to include more emotional and mental support! Last week and the start of this week was a bit messy – but everything is coming back on track… ❤️❤️❤️
Plantar Fasciitis is such a pain, pun meant. I have it, and when it flares up, walking hurts! I wear orthotics which help a lot. I wear them in my walking shoes. Later, I discovered that KURU shoes are great and I didn’t need to wear my orthotics in them.
I’ll have to check out the KURU shoe!!!! Thank you Julia!!!!! ❤️❤️❤️
Thanks, Julia. Never heard of KURU shoes!
I love my KURU shoes!
It takes inner strength and wisdom to seek out counseling as a way to help with unexpected “life stuff”!🤗 along with daily meditation😴! You are on a wonderful journey to heal body, mind and spirit 🙏🏼 We are so very proud of you….
mama👵🏻and dv👴🏻💜💜💜
Thank you mama and DV!!!! ❤️❤️❤️
I have a similar problem with my heart. I was having seizures from it. The beta blockers help me, but I hated giving in to that. I hope things will improve for you.
From what I’ve read of your blogs, your history is not a pleasant one. Your struggle today is to move through, what sounds like PTSD and heal your heart, soul and spirit and step into your authentic self. This has been and is a stressful journey. Knowing what I know now, how stress can effect the heart, I understand how you wouldn’t want to take medication – and be able to lower your stress level enough – to be able to control it on your own. I totally get that. That is the struggle isn’t it…. be able to handle life without alcohol, or medication. To have the inner peace and confidence needed to know we can handle anything that life brings our way. ❤️ ❤️🙏🏻🙏🏻🌼🌼
Thanks for the comment!
😘
Dear Stephanie, I am so glad your heart is okay.
Take care if it beautiful one!
<3 <3 <3
❤️❤️❤️
This statement you made says it all: Today is a new day. Today I will focus on what I can control to take better care of myself and let go of the rest.
Stay healthy, positive, and sane!
Cheers!
Thank you!!! I whole-heartedly appreciate your positive support! ❤️ Anxiety is a struggle for sure. At this time, I am taking CBD to help manage my anxiety, as it became too overwhelming to implement mindfulness, emotional regulation and CBT tools to be able to let go of the rest. With CBD, I am now much more successful using all the tools in my anxiety management tool box, because the edge has been removed to give me enough calm, to help myself when I need to.
With heart and joy!!
Stephanie, 🌻🌼❤️