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Why Wednesday – Why I Wouldn’t Do Hood To Coast Again

Why Wednesday – Why I Wouldn’t Do Hood To Coast Again

Lisa Eirene

About Lisa Eirene Lisa lost 110 pounds through calorie counting and exercise. She swims, bikes, runs, hikes and is enjoying life in Portland, Oregon. Her weight loss story has been featured in First Magazine, Yahoo Health, Woman's Day and Glamour.com.

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23 Comments

  1. Lisa

    Hmm…I usually never post on any blogs and here’s my scond this week! I just have to give a shout out to my home town marathon/1/2 marathon. The Missoula marathon was named the best in the nation by Runner’s World. I did the half two years ago and am planning to do it again this year. It’s in July, has beautiful weather, great support, perfect organization…everything you could want!
    http://www.missoulamarathon.org

    1. Lisa Eirene

      I can imagine running in Montana is gorgeous!

  2. Aj

    I’m so glad you posted this! I’ve heard the same thing said about marathons and other long distance running events – people who loved to run before lost their passion or were too injured afterwards. It’s great that you were able to accomplish something from your Bucket List and it seems the committment was not only the preparation but the recovery too!

    Despite knowng how tough running can be – especially on my body for some reason! – a full marathon is on my Bucket List. I’m delaying it until I truly have time to train properly.

    16 miles in 3ish hours IS epic! That’s amazing!

    1. Lisa Eirene

      AJ, I never even thought of looking at it as 16 miles in 3 hours! You are right!

      I was having doubts about posting this. Honestly this post came from 3 different writing sessions –all of which I was feeling depressed about my injury. I delayed posting it because I felt like it would be seen as a negative, or like I REGRETTED Hood to Coast. Which I don’t. I’m glad I experienced it. It’s just a hard reality to be faced with after the fact that I may never be back to my old “running glory.”

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  4. Amanda

    I did the Ragnar relay last year. I think its the same as Hood to coast. I had such an amazing time. During my first leg I questioned my sanity and by the end I was asking where ot sign up for next year LOL. With that being said several of my teammates said they would never do it again and there is nothing wrong with that! It is a lot on the body. I’m glad you are so honest so many people wouldnt do the same.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      If I hadn’t gotten an injured and hadn’t had such a SLOW recovery time, I may have a different answer then what I posted today. But I do think there’s a Half Marathon in my future. It just may not be this year.

  5. Steena

    You have such a strong heart. Just to be able to boldly say you WILL run again. I’m not convinced I will myself, it’s inspiring to see you say you will after 4 months of rest.
    I’m rooting you on, it will be a happy day when you’re back to running!

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Thanks Steena! I thought of you and some other runners that are suffering from the same dang IT band issue…I hope that 2011 means we all get healed and back to running!

  6. kalin

    there are things in life where you can do them once and feel pretty rad about it, but never want to do it again (i was in a pageant once in college!)
    it’s ok to do it and be done. and doing it once is more than most people can say they’ve done 🙂

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Kalinin thank you 🙂 hugs!

  7. Susan

    Oh Lisa, I cannot put into words how much I GET this post. I did my first triathlon a year and a half ago. From my experience, people do races like these and get hooked. But for me, I finished and said “well I’m never doing that again.” I’m all for challenging yourself physically and mentally, but never when it puts your physical health at risk. Something I try to hammer into the heads of my clients all the time! I’m more about finding those few activities you truly love and doing them in MODERATION 🙂

    Excellent reflection xo

    1. Lisa Eirene

      I’m glad that some people out there feel the same way, Susan. I haven’t posted this because I felt like I’d be an outcast in the “running” community. I want a challenge and there’s lots of things I want to do, but I don’t want to have to do months of rehab afterwards!

  8. Suzanne @WorkoutNirvana

    Nice honest post, Lisa. You’re right, running is very hard on the body. The endorphins make it intoxicating, but I’ve found that high in other ways. My body just can’t take the pounding and it’s not worth it. I get a high from intense weight training and circuit routines. Most runners I know obsess about their “times.” I just don’t get it… I love planning and tracking my routines but I can honestly say I don’t obsess about it. Oh well, just my opinion.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Suzanne you bring up a great point about the endorphins. They are very addicting and I DEFINITELY became a running junkie. I didn’t get the same runner’s high from anything else so I thought all other activities weren’t worth my time!

  9. Beth @ Beth's Journey to Thin

    I love your brutal honesty Lisa. I think its important to recognize when something pushes you way beyond your comfort/pleasure zone and to a point where you’re just like, well I’m glad I did that, but never again.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Thanks for the support Beth. That’s how I feel…I enjoyed it, I am glad I did it, I don’t want to do it again.

  10. Jennifer

    Thanks for your honesty, Lisa. I think I need to own up to the fact that my body may not be able to physically do what I want it to do, at least not yet. But I have to say, I run, but I more run/walk, but I still consider it running! Sometimes I may be slow…really, really slow, like “jogging” 13 minute miles. But I still consider it a major feat since a year ago I weight 275 lbs. and couldn’t run 1 mile, much less 3. I know weigh about 230 and I have completed a 5k, an 8k, a 10k, and I’m doing my first 10-mile run this Sat. Sure, I’m going to walk some of it, and sure it will be tough on my body. But it still feels great. So I’m glad you want to run again! I think I need to follow your lead and listen to my body to know when it IS ready to run, and when it’s not.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Congratulations on your weight loss! And good for you doing races. Who cares if you walk some of it? You’re still getting out there and doing it!

  11. Amber from Girl with the Red Hair

    Read this on my blackberry last night and really wanted to respond!

    That’s a bummer that you had such a crappy experience with it. I thought my marathon was a crappy experience but in hindsight it really wasn’t – it was pretty amazing – I just had super high expectations that were let down. I definitely will do another marathon one day, and hopefully more than just one more!

    I can totally see why sitting in the van in between running shifts would NOT be good though. It wouldn’t give you a chance to move or stretch out your legs which could definitely lead to injury, and clearly it did for you!

    Thanks for such an honest post 🙂

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Thanks for commenting Amber. I just want to be clear that I had a great time during Hood To Coast. The challenge, the energy, the amazing runners…everything was great…until afterward. That’s the part that sucked (injury).

  12. The Little Bit of Everything Post » 110 Pounds and Counting

    […] thank you all for the support on my post about Hood to Coast. There were so many great comments! Suzanne said: “Nice honest post, Lisa. You’re right, […]

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