so there's this muscle...

So there's this muscle called the illeotibial band a.k.a the IT band....well it's really a band of thick fibers that connects a whole lot of important muscles in your leg. Just talking about it brings back terrible memories of functional anatomy in college!! Apparently soreness and tightness is relatively normal for runners. Especially new/beginner runners. Well, my IT band and muscles around my IT band are TIGHT! Last week I started limping around the day after my long run because my muscles were just seized up. I finally called a chiropractor who I trust 100% and I'm getting better. I'm not hurt, my muscles are just rebelling. Not that I blame them, I've been putting my leg muscles through a ton of stress in the past few weeks. I've also become intimate with this thing I called a foam roller. I used to think foam rollers were a nice way to loosen up muscles, which is true...until you have really tight muscles...and then a foam roller becomes a torture machine. So you roll your body over a cylindrical dense foam roller, it looks almost like a giant rolling pin but without the handles. Your body weight massages tight muscles. Which is the point, but &#^!##@* I've never uttered so many swear words in such a short amount of time. 

But it helps! Foam rolling, ice and some good 'ole E-Stimm and I'll be back to running soon! Speaking of soon, my race is coming up QUICK! Have you been meaning to donate? Don't worry...there is still time...but not much!!! Fundraising deadline is March 8! Don't wait until the last minute, donate today! http://pages.teamintraining.org/ct/halfnyc13/kerrychomas

So this race is apparently a big deal. I just read an article that over 15,000 runners are expected. Let me repeat...OVER 15,000 RUNNERS ARE EXPECTED AT THE RACE. Let me put this into perspective. I grew up in Watsontown, PA....a quite sleepy little town with a population of 2,351. I will be running with all the people in my town....times 6. That's ALOT of people. Hard to visualize? According to Google....this is what 15,000 people look like.....

That's insane. 

I also was ready about all of the elite athletes and Olympians that will be racing with me as a tune up run for numerous Marathons. It cracks me up that what will be one of my biggest life accomplishments is a tune-up for some people. I guess it's all a matter of perspective. I am so excited to be a part of something so big. Not just the amount of people, but in my efforts to help cure cancer and raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Sometimes it's easy to think...how can I help...out of 15,000 people what does it matter if I run or not? How can $1 do anything?! I believe that the positive energy you emit from giving of your time and energy has just as much impact as the money itself. So thank you all who have cared enough to donate, you make a difference and I personally appreciate you more than you will ever know. 

Hope you all are having a great week! Spring is right around the corner...I hope!

<3 Kerry

p.s here is the awesome article I was reading! http://www.nyrr.org/newsroom/nyrr-news-service/2012-us-olympians-set-for-nyc-half

Strongman Competition

photo courtesy of David Salthouse

To start through my New Years Resolution "Year of Fitness" I participated in the Bigg Dogg Strongg Strongman Competition at Gold's Gym in Whippany, NJ. The Punch Belles as we like to call ourselves the are a bunch of us girls from my gym Punch Ketllebell Gym Norwalk, CT. The gym co/owner and trainer Stefanie Tropea does a lot of Strongman competitions, and she encouraged us to go. 

photo courtesy of David Salthouse

The Punch Belles are ready to go!

                                    photo courtesy of David Salthouse


We all competed in the Novice devision - because we are newbies and don't do this often. There were 4 events for us. First was the 120lb log press. Second was the 300lb Farmer's Carry. Third was 350lb deadlift. Fourth was 120lb Atlas Stones. My goal was to be able to complete 1 event, just one measly event. Surprisingly, I was able to do 2!! I almost got the log above my head, but not quite. When I went to lift the weight for the Farmer's Walk I couldn't budge it off the ground. It was HEAVY! When it was time for the deadlift (which was 50lbs heavier) I seriously asked Stef "how long do I have to try, cause I'm not gonna be able to get it". That's when the miracle of all miracles happened. It took 45 seconds of trial and error but I finally got that thing off the ground! It was an intense moment to say the least. The fourth event was the Atlas Stones. You pick it up, throw it over and repeat. I did 3 in one minute.

120lb Atlas Stones                                          

350lb Dead-lift

120lb Log Cl ean and Press

 

photos courtesy of David Salthouse

I had such a great time with the Punch Belles this weekend. Strongmen and Strongwomen competitors are wonderful people. Not only are they strong and good friends to have, but they are so positive and helpful too. Of course it is a competitive sport, but if you are struggling with your event there are a handful of people at all time willing to help you get the job done. I don't know of any other "sport" where your competition will lend you a belt, or wrist straps - or talk you through the right form. I had such a good time that I almost forgot about my 7 mile run with Team in Training the next morning!

I woke up sore and ready to just say forget it. If it wasn't for Jay  (my wonderful fiancee), I would have skipped out on the Team in Training run. He bought me a heatpack, and agreed to run with me! I was so glad that I went, there were over 20 people in attendance! I was supposed to run 7 miles, but I went slow and just allowed myself to see how far my body would allow. When everyone else was done with 7 miles, I was just about to 6 - pretty good for what I had been through the day before! 
                                     5.7 mile run Walnut Beach Milford, CT

photo courtesy of Jason Sandly

This weekend I learned how incredibly important it is to not give up on yourself. I had 100% given up on finishing any of the events at the competition - but somehow I pulled through. I also learned a lot about people, you cannot judge a book by its cover. No one would ever picture me hanging out at a Strongmen competition, let alone competing in one, and yet I did! Before focusing on getting healthy I never would have even thought I could do anything like that. That leads me to my third life lesson of the month - always always ALWAYS try new things, and never ever give up. You never know what could happen =)

<3 Kerry

TNT Fundraising Letter!!

http://pages.teamintraining.org/ct/halfnyc13/kerrychomas

Happy New Year!!!

 Happy New Year!!! Have you been planning and fun any exciting resolutions? This comic cracks me up, because it is SO TRUE! My resolution this year is a little different. I am going to complete a 12 month fitness challenge. By committing to these 12 activities, I'll be able to keep myself in check and active throughout the year. Let me know if you would like to join me in any of these events.  Also, if there are any events you want to participate in and need a friend, let me know!!

January 12 - Strongman Competition NJ

February 9 - Cupids 5k Hartford, CT

March 17 - Half Marathon NYC

April 27 - Color Me Rad 5k Hartford, CT

May 5 - Five Boro Bike Tour NYC (pending me buying a bike)

June 1 - JesVic5k Watsontown, PA

June 15 - *My Wedding* - sure to be a marathon in and of itself =)

July 26 - Sunset Run 5k Trumbull, CT

August 4 - Walnut Beach Ice Cream 5k Milford, CT

September 8 - Run Around The Block 15k Block Island, RI

October 13 - Steamtown Marathon Scranton, PA

November 28 - Turkey Trot Punch Gym Norwalk, CT

December - TBD (it will be a surprise!)

It's almost midnight...this will officially be my last post of 2012!!

Love,
Kerry

p.s I'm watching CNN and I can't get enough of Anderson Cooper giggling...love him!

falling down, getting up, and lots of prayers

Saturday December 15, 2012

Today was rough. Physically. Emotionally. Mentally. In the wake of the awful shootings in Newtown, I didn't want to do anything today. I wanted to curl up on the couch, watch CNN, and cry.
 

But that wasn't going to fix anything. So I went on my run with Team in Training. This weekend I went to a new meeting place, at Walnut Beach in Milford, CT. There I met the event coach Cindy, and lots of new running friends. Jill, another coach, ran/walked with me. I was super nervous because today was a planned 5 mile course, and I had serious doubts that I could finish it.
 

I quickly learned that finishing wasn't going to be my biggest hurdle today. Not 5 minutes into the run I tripped and fell on the sidewalk. Not a dainty fall either, I felt myself going down, tried to recover, couldn't, fell onto my palms and drop rolled onto my back feet flailing in the air. It was definetly some double-o-seven moves. Thinking back it would have made a GREAT video...seriously funny stuff. After explaining to my running partner (and the poor concerned citizen walking on the other side of the street) that I was ok and I am no stranger to falling...I got up and just kept going. I am seriously one of the clumsiest people alive. I blame by big feet. I can't wait to tell my Mom about my fall, we love to reaccount all of my clumsy adventures growing up, numerous bicycle accidents, skinned knees, falling down stairs in college (completely sober inbetween classes), it's almost fitting that I would wipe out on my run too.
 

So besides that little "Snafu" the run went really well! Coach Cindy was awesome, she met us throughout the run with water and even let me try "power gel". I guess it's best to try out those sort of things before you do a real race to see what works with your stomach, I tried the chocolate power gel, which tasted sorta like raw brownie batter. I did intervals again, jogging 3 minutes, walking one minute. At around mile 4, we went to 2 minutes, 1 minute, but by the end we finished at 3:1 again. I felt great when the GPS showed us that we had gone 5.44 miles! Coach Cindy was waiting with chocolate milk and bananas and we took a picture by the beach.

 

 

I feel very grateful that I found such a wonderful and positive group of people to run with through Team in Training. We dedicated todays run to the victims of yesterdays shooting. I hope in the coming days the families of victims can find some peace admist the chaos.
 

Thanks again to all my friends and family for checking in on me throughout the past 48 hours. Keep praying, this area needs it.
 

Kerry

 

TNT Day 1...check!

They say starting is the hardest part. I think that's true. When I joined Punch Gym the hardest part was finding the courage to walk through the front door. Today, getting out of the car to meet these runners was an intense moment for me. Not just the scary fog, but just that moment of pure panic. Can I do this? Should I do this? What the hell is wrong with me? I'm not a runner...why am I here?! These people don't know me, I could drive away and they would never know the difference.

Except for Rachel. Thank God for Rachel, seriously having a friendly face expecting you makes all the difference in the world. Rachel goes to the gym with me, but I didn't meet her until the Fairfield 5k when she graciously let me run/walk with her the whole way.

So after pushing away all those negative thoughts, and seeing Rachel, I finally got out of my car. After introductions were made, we just started running. We ran 3 min, walk 1 minute for the majority of the 3 miles. The other runners in our group were "real" runners. I started to immediately get worried about holding them back because I'm slow...but again my pre conceived notions were wrong. At one point the coach Brian started running back towards us. I said are we turning around? Rachel says "no silly, he is just running with us". For the entire 3 miles the whole group ran together, the faster people would run head, then loop back around to make sure we were ok and so we all stuck together. I was super impressed.

Everyone was so nice too! No judging and so incredibly helpful and pleasent. I thought these experienced runners would get annoyed at me being so slow, bur again I was proved wrong.

When we were done and back at the cars the coach Brian gave Rachel and I purple Team In Training shirts. I was definetly sucking wind, and happy to be done, but this was a nice little surprise. And then the best part...."so you guys coming to the diner?!"

Hell Yes!!! I love diners and food!! They go every Sunday, which is incentive enough for me!! While eating I found out these runners were experienced beyond anything I could have ever imagined. Numerous half marathons, marathons, triatholons, and ironmans for all of them! I was sitting there with my bacon and eggs and all I could think about was how these are the people I need more of in my life.

I am so very excited about this new journey. I am still not very good at running, but I'm getting there. Surrounding myself with aTeam in Training people is exactly what I needed to do to start this next adventure :)

Thank for reading and taking an interest in my life :) Please consider donating to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society here --->  http://pages.teamintraining.org/ct/halfnyc13/kerrychomas

It's not what you are...it's what you're willing to become

This crazy thought has been running through my head for a few months now...and I've finally decided to do something about it. It all started when I joined Punch Gym, ever since I've had this need to one up myself in my fitness endeavors. First it was joining the gym, then it was participating in Battle of the Bells, then the push-up challenge, then a few 5ks, but now it's time for me to go big or go home.

On March 17, 2013 I will run the NYC Half Marathon. Reading over what I just typed is scary as hell. A half marathon is 13.1 miles....what am I nuts?! Yes, I am...but that was true even before I made this decision. What makes this less scary is the support I have through Team in Training. I've signed up with this organization because they will train and support me for free, and in return I will raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Now, I am still scared because well...we all know I'm not a runner. But I didn't used to be a fan of fitness let alone a strongwoman competitor, 5k runner, tire flipping, push-uping, bacon loving, paleo preaching, kettlebell fanatic either...and now I am. So I figure it really doesn't matter if I am a runner or not, right now...it's what I'm willing to become.

This blog has been an outlet for my thoughts and feelings since I joined the gym and started losing weight, now it is morphing with me and will become an outlet for my half marathon training. I plan to keep you all updated with my progress. I want to keep track of my progress, and more importantly be an inspiration to others. If I can do this, so can everyone else.

Please consider donating to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. It is such an amazing organization. You can simply click on the "Donate Now" widget below, or by visiting my fundraising page for more information.

Thanks for reading and sticking with me through my ever changing journey,

Kerry <3

http://pages.teamintraining.org/ct/halfnyc13/kerrychomas