Runner Insight

My Marathon Book

Yahoo!  My new book is finished.  It’s called  “Running Blind: The Journey of a Blind Runner Training For Her First Marathon”

I got it done just before I ran the 4^th annual Missoula Marathon last month. The marathon I finished in July was actually my second time running the full one, cause after I ran the inaugural Missoula Marathon, I’ve run the half marathon the past two years.

When I was finished with my first marathon in 2007, I was convinced that I had no need to put myself through that torture ever again.

It wasn’t until I started writing my book about my first marathon experience that I decided to run another full marathon, so that’s how I ended up running it again a few weeks ago.

But let me tell you about my book – I’m so excited!  “Running Blind” is all about my first marathon experience. It includes everything from what lead up to my decision to run a full marathon, to the long months of dedicated and consistent training and finally to the running of the full 26.2 mile marathon, including all of the many lessons I learned along the way.  It’s full of great stories and the humorous tales of my journey.

I hope you’ll buy a copy for yourself, for friends and family, and be sure to tell everyone you know, too.  ’Cause it’s not just for runners – it’s for anyone who enjoys a great read. We all have obstacles to overcome in our life; this is just my story of how I took on the challenge of one of mine.

Right now there’s a couple of special promos going on to get a discount on the book – Purchase Running Blind: The Journey of a Blind Runner Training For Her First Marathon with 15% off with coupon code BEACHREAD305 or

You can get free shipping with a purchase over $19.95 with coupon code FREESHIP. So use whichever code works better with the amount you’re purchasing!

Just click any of the  links on this page to order your copy today! Click here:  Running Blind or download the first chapter for free at the top of the right hand column/sidebar!

And Enjoy!!

How ’bout it?

-Vision Runner

Popularity: 4% [?]

Don’t Worry, The Bridge is Still Standing

As you may know, I have been training for my 2^nd full marathon coming up in July.  After writing my soon to be published book, “Running Blind: The Journey of a Blind Runner Training for Her First Marathon” I decided it would be fun to run another full marathon to be able to put into practice all that I had learned from the first time around. 

So starting in March, I have been adding miles onto my long run on Sundays.  A few weeks ago, I ran the 18 miles that my marathon training schedule said I was to run.  Not really having a route that is long enough to run straight out and back, I had to come up with a plan that would allow me to get my 18 miles in somewhere around town, in areas that I was familiar with. 

It did involve me having to back track some of my miles, and run past my house again, which usually makes me want to head straight for the barn like some kind of out of control horse, but since it was only a few miles into my run, I didn’t have a problem passing the barn…err my house. 

I was now 6 miles into my run with another 12 to go.  I knew if I ran all the way down the Kim Williams Trail, an old railroad route turned into a bike and pedestrian path, I’d be able to get my full 18 miles that I needed.  I have always enjoyed running this trail, but since my eyesight has gotten worse, I have not run on it by myself in a few years. 

The main reason I don’t run it is because I have to go a lot slower and really watch out for tripping hazards such as rocks, fallen branches, and small children. 

Once on the trail, I remembered how much I loved running on the well traveled path. The mostly dirt trail runs right alongside the river.  It starts at the edge of the U of M campus and goes in about 3 miles.  It’s very peaceful and pretty, but as I said, lots of opportunities for me to get tripped up.

So on this particular Sunday, I had to be extra careful as I was running the trail with 12 miles already logged on my pedometer.  My legs were getting fatigued as I turned around to head back, the last 6 miles home.  

But it wasn’t on the rocky, family and children-infested trail that I “ran” into trouble.  The trouble was much less obvious to anyone with eyesight. It  came on the newly paved Riverfront trail that hooks up with the Kim Williams Trail.

I had deployed my white cane after coming off the dirt trail, and was weaving it back and forth on the shiny new path, thinking how nice it was.  The weather had been a perfect 56F degrees and partly sunny. All of a sudden a gust of wind and some light rain began to fall, just as I felt myself leaving the path. 

I was on a downward slope, and I knew I had gone off the path, and was preparing to stop, when a very large and very hard concrete pillar stopped me instead! 

Imagine my shock and disbelief as I did a face plant into concrete.  My nose and upper lip took the brunt of the impact.  Thankfully my running hat and white cane kept me from hitting it super hard.  I’m not saying I didn’t hit it hard, but at least I didn’t knock out any teeth or break my nose!

This concrete pillar is attached to a major bridge.  Yup about the only obstacle on this path, and I run right in to it!

So I stood there licking my wounds….well, not really licking… I used a tissue, and made an assessment of the damage.  Other than a fat lip and a small cut on my upper lip, I would live to run another day.  I debated with myself whether I should call home.  But since I was not hurt too bad, and I really did want to finish my run and get my 18 miles in, I pulled myself together and continued on.  I’m just glad I couldn’t see the people’s faces as I ran by, I’m sure I was a sight to see.  I did stop and run cold water on my lip from a water fountain.

Sometimes it sucks to be a blind runner!

When I got home we got an ice pack for my lip.  I said, “At least I didn’t come home without any teeth.” 

T replied, “Just come home, we’ll deal with the teeth later, just come home!”  We  both laughed, what else could we do?  I know it’s scary for her to let me go out and be independent, especially when I do things like this, but she knows that I’m doing what I love, and really I am careful, and now I know not to run into pillars…Yes I knew it before, but now I REALLY know!

How ‘bout it?

-Vision Runner

Popularity: 7% [?]

When I first started writing my marathon book back in 2008, I really didn’t think I would ever run another full marathon again.  But as I wrote each chapter of the book, it seeped back into my bones, and eventually it became clear to me that I would indeed run another full 26.2 mile marathon.  Why? 

Well for starters, I really do believe I can run a better race.  Through the process of writing and reflecting on all the aspects of my marathon training program, I came to realize that I’m still learning.  And it would be a shame to not put into action all those valuable lessons that I learned from training, running and finishing my first marathon. 

I now know what it is like to put it all on the line: to dig for and find the will and determination to see something all the way through. To find the infinitely amazing spirit and drive that is buried deep within myself to be gathered up when I need it most. 

Until I was put to the test, how did I know if I truly had these qualities in me or not?  I had never really been a quitter before, but I’d also never really challenged myself to such an extreme degree, either.  

I hoped I did, but it was not until I was at my lowest and most desperate point in the race – the point where my fatigue and delirium were screaming at me and praying “Please, God!” for relief – that I came up against the question – Should I continue on or should I quit? 

My feet had been pounding relentlessly on the pavement for 20 plus miles, my body reverberating from the never-ending percussion; my right calf was cramping up; my leg muscles felt like the overcooked-to- the- point-of-charred, dried-out, roasted wienie barely hanging on to the end of a hot dog stick.  I was overheated from running in the 90 degree plus temperatures, probably dehydrated, and most definitely delirious with physical and mental exhaustion. It’s actually kind of surprising that I wasn’t reduced to the point of singing the ABC song while following a hallucination of a baby elephant down the street. 

Although there was no hallucinating, there was a point where I was feeling defeated and ready to quit, and hearing the confidence and support on the other end of my call for help, the absolute belief and encouragement emanating from my cell phone, pretty much wiped the defeat out of me, and kept me from repeating the thought that I was ready to quit. 

It was then I knew I had it in me – what it took to finish – not only the marathon, but whatever else life could throw my way. I continued on, definitely slower and in pain and misery, but with the knowledge I was going to complete my journey and the strength in my heart to carry it through to the finish line. After all, I had to make it to the balloons!!   

Running a marathon for me was the best life lesson I could have ever had…and I’m going to go back for a refresher course! 

How ‘bout it?

Vision Runner

Popularity: 8% [?]