we are...Penn State!

I grew up not really caring about college football, major league sports was it for me. I then married into a die hard Penn State family (ex in-laws even skipped our wedding in favor of a Penn State game). I grew to love JoePa and the Penn State. I watched every game I could  on TV. So last fall when the shit hit the fan, I was devastated. I won't go into who I believe is at fault, but you could say that I agree with what I'm posting below that was written by an Ohio State fan. I love my Nittany Lions and I will continue to cheer and support them through the sanctions that I think are ridiculous (not all, just most of them). We are!

"As a graduate of The Ohio State University, I never thought that I would be writing about anything that related to Penn State. But, I can no longer take the ignorance and lynch mob mentality of many of the media outlets, as well as the general populace.

It has always amazed me that we (readers and listeners of mass media) have become so lazy that we swallow every morsel of so called news as gospel. Lest we forget that the media must sell their wares in order to remain in business. With the advent of ever evolving technology that task has become increasing more difficult. As a result, the media too have evolved.

What used to be a respected profession, where journalistic integrity and the reporting of the facts were not only the norm, but were sacred and guarded, has now become a mission to remain relevant and profitable. Their integrity and reporting of the facts have often taken a back seat to the sensationalizing of some facet of the news.

It’s no longer good enough to simply report the facts and allow the readers or listeners to form their own judgment or opinion. Many articles today are merely watered down editorials with morsels of the truth thrown in so one could call it a news article.

I believe that the media are the most powerful people in the world. We have been led to believe, in fact brain washed in a sense, to accept the words of the media as an unbiased and fair representation of the facts.

The Sandusky Sex Scandal, or as it’s better know the Penn State Sex Scandal… because the word “Sandusky” won’t sell as many papers or TV ads as “Penn State”, is a prime example of the media gone wrong.

I continue to be amazed by the irrational comments from generally intelligent people. Their naive acceptance of the media’s portrayal of the students/athletes, as well as Joe Paterno and other officials at Penn State is very bothersome to me and it should be to you.

For those of us who have actually read Louis Freeh’s report (which is the most comprehensive study about the Sandusky Sex Scandal) with an open mind, it must make you wonder about a number of things.

One of the most basic tenets of the entire document has been largely ignored by media. The report clearly states that in 1998 an investigation took place regarding Sandusky and alleged misconduct with young boys. The District Attorney along with the police department and several state organizations conducted numerous interviews. School officials, parents and alleged victims were all questioned. The investigation was closed and no charges were filed. Sandusky should have been stopped in 1998. He wasn’t.

The report went on to say that law enforcement and child welfare officials were ill equipped and not sufficiently trained to adequately recognize and handle adolescent sexual abuse. What? Why isn’t that the headline? Apparently, that won’t sell as many ads or newspapers.

That one sentence shines a whole new light on this entire tragedy. If the professionals who are hired to serve and protect didn’t have the proper knowledge, training and education as it pertained to adolescent abuse, what makes everyone think that a football coach or academic officials should?

However, not one media outlet picked up on that and reported the finding. Apparently, it wasn’t sensational enough. In 2001, having been through a Sandusky investigation just three years prior, Joe Paterno reported yet another incident to school officials. Knowing the result of the 1998 investigation, one might understand (not condone, but understand) why, after the initial report was filed, there was limited follow up on the part of Joe Paterno.

There’s no doubt that Paterno and school officials made some horrendous decisions. But, so did the law enforcement personnel and state agencies who were supposed to be knowledgeable about pedophiles and their characteristics.

I question why the media and many of you are holding a football coach and an administration to a higher standard than law enforcement and agencies whose job it is to protect all of us? Would you hold Child Protective Services, State Police or the District Attorney responsible if the Nittany Lions lost a football game? Of course not. It’s irrational and idiotic. I’m not downplaying the acts of Sandusky. They were horrific!

Further, I’m not defending anyone, but simply pointing out the fact that the mob is trying to condemn Penn State’s current students, athletes and officials for grievous acts committed 12 or 14 years ago. For the most part, today’s student body at Penn State were just getting out of diapers when these acts occurred. How is it rational or just for them to be punished?

One final thought. During the same time frame of 12 to 14 years, the students at Penn State have raised and donated nearly $100 million dollars for research and a cure for pediatric cancer. Thousands of young lives have been saved or made better because of the students at Penn State. Let’s stop casting aspersions and not forget all of the good they have done.

So, before you jump on the band wagon, perhaps you should know the facts and not just what the media want you to believe.

I’m proud to be a Buckeye, but feel very sad for the victims, students and everyone who calls Happy Valley home."

in which Katie walks and runs

Mentally, Tuesday and Thursdays runs just sucked. I can't even think of any redeeming qualities from either run. They frustrated me to no end. The one benefit was the Orange Leaf after Thursday's run to celebrate Krissie's anniversary. So needless to say, I was dreading my weekend runs. Kids were going to their dads on Friday (and the girl child screamed and cried "but I want to stay with you mommy!"...nothing like breaking my heart. sigh...love that girl.). I had plans to run Saturday in Midway and Sunday at the RunTheBluegrass course.

Saturday's run was supposed to be 8 miles. I had considered doing it at RTB, but decided I didn't want to do all those hills. So Midway it was. I ended up running with a new friend. I had set my Garmin to run 4 minutes, walk 1 minute. That lasted a good while, but we eventually just started walking when we needed to. It was a great run. Not awesome, but MUCH better than my weekday runs. The almost two hours that it took seemed to go by so quickly. I rarely had company for any long runs when I trained for RTB, so to have someone to chat with mad a huge difference. I honestly don't think I would have gone the whole 8 planned if I hadn't had company. The best part was that it was her first run at the 8 mile distance and watching her feel that accomplishment at finishing, was pretty damn awesome. 

The rest of the day consisted of donating blood, stopping at a yarn store, going to the library (picked up info about being a soccer mom, really just the registration though). Went home and tried to nap, that didn't work as well. Went to a friend's house for girl's night and stayed waaaaay too late and ended up getting home at 1:30am and after getting stuff ready to run in the morning, got in bed around 2am. 

Sunday I had decided to run 4, but had originally been open to doing the 7.5 mile route as well. Though after the lack of sleep, I decided the 4 mile course was a better option. I woke up a little after 5, left my house a little after 5:30, met someone who lives near me and we drove together to Keeneland. The run started out bad again. For some reason my legs just don't want to move when I first head out. My body started to get with the program a little better for the second mile. I stopped and took some pictures, it is such a gorgeous course. I honestly don't think there is a more beautiful place to run. The third mile rocked. A little into the fourth mile, passed someone who had started out before me, it was nice to know that even though I felt like my legs were lead, they were still going strong even at the end. The last quarter mile of the run, I was busting my butt, trying to be just a little faster in the fourth mile than I was in the third. It was worth it, I consistently had negative splits the whole run. 

I got to thinking about why I'm going much slower than I used to. I never had a chance to acclimate to the heat with the weeks I had to take off. Which is another good reminder to be okay with going slower now. I'll be good come fall when the weather cools down some.

the week thus far

So Monday I did Bob Harper's Totally Ripped Core workout. Oh. Em. Gee. I dripped sweat. More than I do when running for the same amount of time. I wasn't that sore...so I think I need to work on tightening my core a bit more when doing the exercises. There were some that were extremely difficult for me, but I figure it'll come to me in time.

Then later? Spent two. Yes, two hours at the pool with my kids. I really don't know how to mark it in MyFitnessPal because I'm not swimming consistently for two hours, but there was time that I did swim some laps or I was treading water or doing aqua exercises. So far I'm just counting half the time I spend in the pool.

Tuesday I spent an hour in the pool with the kids, then headed to West Sixth for their Run Club. Got in 3 miles. The first one, was awesome. The last two...not so much. Ended up walking almost the whole last mile. I don't think I was hydrated enough.

Today, I set my alarm to get up for Bob Harper's Yoga for the Warrior DVD. Yeah, didn't get up. Headed to swim with the kids in a little bit and will either get it in after lunch or I'll do it tonight after they're in bed.

perseverance

Despite my fears, I shall persevere. I went out for a bike ride last Wednesday and decided while I was out, I might as well throw in a short run. I ran 2 miles. This time last year? That was a long run. While the run it self just sucked, my leg hurt, it was hot and humid at 4:30pm (what was I thinking?) and I didn't bring enough water...it made me feel better about running in general. After I ran, I hopped on my bike for about 5 miles. My knee bothers me somewhat so cut my ride shorter than I had planned. But I did it. I was afraid to do it, but I did it.

Today/yesterday (the 15th) started my re-training for the Iron Horse Half Marathon (IHHM). While I don't get the 16 weeks that I want, I have 13 weeks. Not the optimal amount that I wanted, but I will do the best that I can with the time that I have. So I will start posting about my runs, cross training, etc...

Sunday- Rest day (swam with the kids, did some mini laps of freestyle in between carting kids in the pool)
Monday- Cross training: Bob Harper's ripped core workout
Tuesday- 3 miles
Wednesday- Cross Training: Bob Harper's yoga dvd
Thursday- 4 miles
Friday- Rest/swim
Saturday- either 4 or 8 miles or more...who knows.

Once I started doubting myself, friends who aren't runners kept coming and telling me how proud they are of my running. That they're so glad that I do this for myself and commented on the weight I've lost this year (18 lbs since January, almost 30 lbs from my heaviest 3 years ago). I know I can do this and I will do it.

fear

Last week after the Bluegrass 10,000...I felt like I was on top of the world. I was happier finishing that race than I was finishing RunTheBluegrass. I felt more accomplished with that race. Maybe it was because I hadn't run in awhile? Or maybe it was because I felt I had conquered my injury? Whatever it was, in the last week I feel that I've dropped to the bottom. I'm afraid to run. I know I can do it, I proved that last week. But...now I'm afraid of re-injuring myself. I'm afraid I won't be able to meet my goals that I set. I'm afraid I won't love running as much as I did prior to injury if I can't perform as I was.

Maybe its time to rethink my goals.

I had planned to start my training for the Iron Horse a few weeks ago. Do a 16 week training plan. I felt the 12 weeks I did for RTB wasn't enough. Now here I am looking at only having 12 weeks again and it scares me that I won't be as ready as I want to be.

what I want to be when I grow up

Unemployment gives you a lot of time to think about what you want to be. What you want to do for your life's work. I love nursing. Blood doesn't bother me. Giving people a bath doesn't bother me. I'll admit that I love poking people with needles whether for a shot or to draw blood or start an IV. There are very few things I don't like about my chose profession. But, when you have your first nursing job for less than two months, it really makes you question if you were cut out for it.

Someone asked me this week what kind of nursing job I was looking for. I said that right now, I'd take whatever would pay me. And honestly? I would. Do I like pediatrics or OB? Not really, but if that was who hired me, I'd do it in a heartbeat and do it to the best of my ability.

I've also been thinking about where I want my nursing career to go "someday." I wrote a paper last summer during nursing school about Diabetes in Kentucky's Children (if anyone wants to read it, I'd be more than willing to send it to you via email). That is the population I want to work with. I want to teach kids how to fight off diabetes, how to prevent it, and if they do have it...how to treat it the best way possible. As a person who is at high risk for diabetes (overweight, paternal grandmother had type 2, I had gestational diabetes twice), the disease scares the living daylights out of me, almost more than any other disease.

That is where running comes in. I'm running and losing weight to lower my risks for diabetes and I want to teach others to do the same thing.

Bluegrass 10,000

First run in 3.5 weeks.

First 10k race ever.

First time trying out a compression sleeve.

First race in almost 80 degree weather.

A lot of firsts. It was good. I felt good. I didn't sleep well last night. There's been a lot of that going around for me. So when I woke up around 5ish, I just wanted to crawl back in bed. Then reminded myself I need to use my heating pad for my calf before leaving. Then I needed to stop and get coffee (caffeine, don't own a coffepot) and pick Jaime up.

I got Jaime, we drove downtown and parked at one of the elementary schools. We missed both photo ops with the Striders and LexRunLadies. Next time. By the time I found Jenny, the coffee had kicked in and I had to jog to the port a pots. Thankfully, there wasn't a long line. I got back and put the compression sleeve on. I hurt jogging back and forth to the bathroom, but once I started running with the sleeve...no pain. Miraculous! I started out near the back and slowly made my way forward. It wasn't as crowded at the back as I expected, less weaving in and out than at the Throo the Zoo...but maybe because the roads were wider?

About a half mile in (I think), I found Krissie and her Big Hand or a high five. I saw her again around 2 miles I think?

I started out running 4 minutes, walking 1 minute. Then decided to just run as much as I could and walk when necessary. There was no pain other than a little twinge in my ankle. Nothing to complain about. At mile 2.7, I came across the Striders cheering group on Richmond Road. They were the bomb, though sad I missed out on the frozen water balloons they had. But a hug and some water from Jaime and I was back on my way.  There was a lot of shade on the way out, then we hit the sun. It was bearing down on us. there were people out with their hoses spraying us off. There were a lot of water stops, thank goodness. Finally turned back on Richmond Rd and there was a bit more shade. Came across the Striders again around mile 4.5 and got their last bottle of water I think.

I slowly made it the last 1.75 miles. Felt like it took forever. Passed a guy from my church who had already finished, his wife and daughters screamed my name. Felt good. I saw Krissie and the hand again at mile 6 and I started picking the pace up to finish the race in style.

I finished in 1:26:38. When I signed up for the race, I was hoping to finish in 1:10:00, but with the shin splints/calf strain...I was thankful to finish in no pain.


I went to find my group, got an awesome cookie from John. Then made my way to McCarthy's for a post-run beer. Then we went to watch the awards. Son #1's 1st/2nd grade teacher placed first in her age group. There was a lady who was between 90-99 who finished the race in 1:41:00ish I believe. I hope, that when I'm her age...I'm out doing a 10k in 80+ degree weather. What a woman! I want to be like her.

Jaime and I then meandered back to the car and got this fun picture on the way out...

My splits via Garmin

Split	Time	Moving Time	Distance	Elevation Gain	Elevation Loss	Avg Pace	Avg Moving Pace	Best Pace	Calories
1	12:53.5	12:31	1	32	0	12:53	12:31	6:54	121
2	13:35.2	13:05	1	10	40	13:35	13:05	5:31	107
3	13:02.1	12:49	1	69	0	13:02	12:49	10:37	108
4	14:10.4	13:47	1	0	34	14:10	13:47	10:13	97
5	15:19.3	14:42	1	39	12	15:19	14:42	11:00	95
6	15:01.5	14:35	1	0	68	15:01	14:35	11:52	92
7	02:48.4	2:41	0.25	0	0	11:16	10:46	8:31	33
Summary	26:50.2	24:10.0	6.25	150	154	13:54	13:28	5:31	653

I dropped her off, got gas in my car, got some tea at McD's, got home, made lunch, showered, and put on Scrubs Season 1 for a marathon while I vegged.

It was a great day. I really really really enjoyed the race. I hated the weather, but we all made the best of the situation. It reminded me of my love for running and to be thankful that I CAN run, despite injury. I just need to take it slower.

And to end it all...my favorite picture taken, just shows the joy of the day.