Tag: Runners

Know Your Body

Featured by runprdawn, posted in 50th Birthday, Cardiologist, Chest Pain, Elite Access Running, Heart Health, Philly, Run Happy, Running, Temple Health

Know your body. Take care of your body. Know your family history. Be your best advocate!

Many of us have heard the aforementioned statements before. These statements are apart of my testimony.

Know Your Body

As a marathoner, I know my body. I know that I can run for hours so if I’m getting pain two minutes into a run in my chest and having a problem continuing the run, that is a concern.

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Pure Joy! Displaying my medal after the Chicago Marathon.
Enon Photo1
Proud Moment! Winning the first place Age Group Award at the Enon 5 Miler.

My family history

My grandfather died from heart disease at a young age. He was only 45 years old.

My aunt passed away at 66 years old from a heart attack.

Knowing my family history was helpful for me to share with my cardiologist and it helps me to understand how important it is for me to live a healthy life.

Three days ago I had a life-saving procedure thanks to the doctors and nurses at Temple Health, Temple University Hospital.

My discharge paperwork indicated

Your primary diagnosis was – Chest pain due to insufficient blood supply to the heart.

You were admitted to Temple University Hospital because your exercise tolerance was down and you had an abnormal stress test. You had a left heart catheterization which showed that you had a 99% blockage in your LAD (left anterior descending) artery. You had a stent placed to open this up.

I knew something wasn’t right with my body since August after getting chest pain after a short run the day after I organized the annual NABJ 5K Run/Walk at the National Association of Black Journalists Convention and Career Fair.

Ironically, I originally scheduled an appointment with a cardiologist for a Stress Test in July as a way of practicing preventive care and the fact that I was more tired than normal going up steps at my trainer’s gym.  Also, I figured since I was approaching my 50th Birthday I would make various doctor appointments and practice more self-care.

In addition to the Stress Test, I did other tests to rule out a heart issue. My original cardiologist was referred by my primary doctor. The cardiologist, a fellow runner in Delaware said I was fine and his words — “Get out of here, nothing is wrong with you.” Even after telling the cardiologist about my chest pain he insisted that I see another type of doctor.

I am my Best Advocate

Thank God I didn’t give up. Based on my diagnosis, I could have had a heart attack.

Leading up to Friday’s procedure, I still worked out 6 days a week on the elliptical and I did strength training at the gym. I decided to stop running due to chest pain. My goal was to get answers by my 50th Birthday in November or before January 2020.  Goal Accomplished! I’m happy to share that I’ll be back to running this time next month.

Me - Front of Step and Repeat
Celebrating my 50th Birthday in November.

Along my medical journey, I got a second opinion by an awesome service, Grand Rounds, a healthcare company that connects patients with local and remote specialty care. During the process of getting expert opinions from two different specialists from Grand Rounds who encouraged me not to give up and they told me that the doctors in Delaware did not do enough. In addition, I consulted with my business partner and sorority sister, Kendra Todd Dixon who had a similar experience in Delaware. She received excellent care from Temple Health for her heart surgery five years ago. Kendra highly recommended Temple Health and I knew that I was in good hands after speaking to Kendra’s husband, Duwayne Dixon, a nurse at Temple and my new cardiologist, Dr. Sabrina Islam.

My advice

Keeping seeking medical advice even if the doctors say, “You are healthy.” “You are too young,” “There’s nothing wrong,” “It’s all in your head,” etc.

Take Care of Your Body

Eat Clean, Choose real food, not junk food. I changed my diet five years ago and it’s the best decision I have made for my life. I know that I have added more years to my life and I know that it made a difference in my health and recovery.

Eat Clean
#EatClean #ChooseRealFood

Move more, Get Active – The fact that I’m a runner helped save my life. If I wasn’t a runner, I don’t think I would have known about my heart condition.

It is so much that I could say. This experience has been life-changing.  I know that I am Blessed. I want to make sure that we all get healthy and stay healthy. I’m available if you have direct questions. I can be reached via email. ~ Healthy. Wealthy. Wise.

Run Like Me … Thoughts about the Run!

by runprdawn, posted in Destination Running, Marathons, Philly, Run Groups, Running

Run Like Me … My thoughts on my run … Train your mind! 

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#Truth #Trainyourmind

Today’s run almost didn’t happen. My excuse, it’s cold. Yes, it was a little chilly but I ran anyway.  Of course, I warmed up.

As a runner, half the battle is getting out the door.

Post Run Selfie
Post-Run Selfie #RunLikeMe

Yesterday, same thought, different day. Yesterday was beautiful temperature wise, but very windy with a little rain. I ran anyway. The little voice inside said it’s too windy to run, but the voice I listened to said the weather is perfect. Let’s take advantage of this beautiful day.

The point, train your mind. I’m so glad I listened to the voice that encouraged me to run. No excuses … You will not feel like running or working out all the time. Some days will be better than others. There will be days when you have to talk to yourself a little more. You will have to encourage yourself a little more.

Train your mind! What is your motivation? Perhaps you have a race coming up, after all, it’s race season.

 

How to Train Your Mind and Body and Lose Weight Fast
#TheBodyAchieves … #Believe!

 

My motivation … I have two races this month, the Rutgers Unite Half Marathon & 8K, I’m racing the 8K. And I have the Mud Hen Half Marathon, 8K and 5K, I’m racing the 8K again.  After my 8K races, I have a 10-mile race in May, the Blue Cross Broad Street Run.

What is your motivation? Please share, I would love to hear from you. 🙂

Please feel free to message me here or visit my Facebook page, Coach Dawn or email me, Dawn@eliteaccessrunning.com.

Dawn Angelique Roberts is a USATF Certified Running Coach training athletes in Philadelphia and around the country. Dawn is the co-founder of Elite Access Running, LLC, a full service running company that specializes in coaching services, pace team coordination, race management, public relations, social media and destination race planning for athletes and organizations. Dawn serves as volunteer endurance coach for the American Cancer Society, DetermiNation program in Philadelphia.

 

 

 

 

Black Girls Run! in Philadelphia September 29 – 30 for the 2017 Sweat With Your Sole Conference and Race Weekend!

by runprdawn, posted in Destination Running, Run Groups, Running

 

 

Sweat With Your Sole Banner 1

After four successful years of the Black Girls RUN! National Race and Conference weekend, Black Girls RUN! will host the 2017 Sweat With Your Sole Conference and Race in Philadelphia, September 29-30, 2017.

“We are excited to bring our signature race and conference to Philadelphia this year,” said Toni Carey, co-founder of Black Girls RUN!. “We have made this year’s conference two days, but still jam-packed with fun workshops, dynamic speakers, and a great race route. Philadelphia is a great, neutral location to take a drive or fly in for the conference on Friday and you can be back home by Saturday evening.”

The weekend will kick off with a one-day conference starting at Noon on Friday, September 29. The conference will include interactive workshops with nationally recognized trainers and fitness instructors and speakers, and a vast amount of knowledge-sharing on running, health and nutrition.

On Saturday, September 30 the weekend continues with a 5K and 10K run/walk along the Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.  Following the race, the weekend will conclude with an Awards Brunch with award-winning writer and speaker, Luvvie Ajayi. Black Girls Run! will recognize four national Black Girls RUN! Ambassadors and Run Coordinators during the brunch as well.

“Having Luvvie Ajayi as our keynote this year is spectacular,” comments Ashley Hicks, co-founder of Black Girls RUN. “Her wittiness, intelligence, and beauty is the epitome of what we do on the pavement each day… motivating each other through humor, humility, honesty and sometimes saying the things we do not want to hear. She will be a special touch to this year’s conference.”

The Sweat with Your Sole conference is open to Black Girls RUN! members and women who are interested in attending. Men and women are invited to attend the brunch and participate in the road race.

In previous years, Sweat With Your Sole has been hosted in Atlanta and Charlotte, bringing more than 3,500 men and women to the area.

For all “Sweat With Your Sole” conference and race updates, visit www.sweatwithyoursole.com. You can also follow Black Girls RUN! on Twitter at @BlackGirlsRUN, and Instagram @officialblackgirlsrun, or use the hashtag #SWYS17.

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About Black Girls RUN!

Black Girls RUN! is a national running group launched in 2009 by Toni Carey and Ashley Hicks. The organization has grown to include more than 70 running groups across the nation with more than 225,000 members. The group was created to combat the obesity epidemic among women in the African- American community and dispel the myth that black women do not run. The groups include beginner and experienced runners and provide a support system to help members reach their fitness goals. Black Girls RUN! provides a community and inspires all women to run. For more information about Black Girls RUN!, visit www.BlackGirlsRUN.com.

My Philadelphia Marathon Weekend!

by runprdawn, posted in Destination Running, Marathons, Philadelphia Marathon, Run Groups, Running

Hey fellow runners and friends,

Ready or not the holidays are here. ~ I hope you had a Wonderful Thanksgiving Weekend! Before you know it, we will be celebrating Christmas, with December right around the corner.

Stepping back a bit to last weekend… The Philadelphia Marathon was another memorable weekend for me over 20,000 other runners and spectators.

The highlight of my Philadelphia Marathon weekend was working and volunteering at the 2016 Philadelphia Marathon Health & Fitness Expo. On Friday and Saturday, I worked in the Seminar Area, introducing and presenting awesome speakers and presenters like marathoner and author, Bill Rodgers, Deneen R. Young, YoungLife Coach~Beyond Fit and Mark Sullivan, coach with irunicoach.com and LEGacy runner with the Philadelphia Marathon. And I was the announcer on Saturday encouraging runners to attend the Seminar Area.

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Marathoner Bill Rodgers and I after his memorable talk about his awesome running career. 
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Deneen R. Young, YoungLifeCoach ~ Beyond Fit and I after her inspiring conversation on fitness and positive self talk.

On Saturday, I was blessed with the opportunity to serve as a Half Marathon Pacer with Philadelphia Runner on Saturday, November 20, 2016. I was joined by fellow Pacers, Leslie and Molly as we lead runners to a 2:15 finish on the new half marathon course. As a Pacer for half marathoners, the experience is truly rewarding, while the race was challenging, due to the back to back hills the downhill and the flat course after mile 10 was welcomed after we tackled the tough second hill that felt more like two hills.

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Leslie Russell Winder and I after pacing our group of runners to a 2:15 finish.

I was happy to serve as a Pacer this year to help runners accomplish their race goals, after running the 8K in 2010, the half in 2011, the marathon in 2012 and the half again in 2013. Last year and the year before were my first year not running the race (2014 and 2015), since I was a part of the Marathon Internal team and worked behind the scenes on race day. This year I just worked onsite at the Expo.

Also, this year was different, because we ran on a new course. As I mentioned above the course was a challenge, especially if you don’t think of yourself as a hill runner or if you didn’t train on hills. Another major thing was if you were familiar with the previous course, it had less hills and it you had the opportunity to run on Chestnut Street in your own personal parade among Philly fans and friends.  At least it feels like a parade when you are running through the Philly streets. Fond memories from my previous half and full marathon.;-)

As I wrap up my thoughts about the half marathon, a word that comes to mind is perspective. Some people loved the new half marathon course, some people preferred the previous course. The great thing about running and life, it’s all about what you choose to focus on. Some people chose to focus on the beautiful fall day. We had sunshine and warm weather, despite it being a little chilly at the start, it felt more like a spring day after the race got underway.

The marathoners on the other hand had a cold windy day. Despite the colder temperature it was actually a better day temperature wise for the marathon so much so that the men’s winner, Kimutai Cheruiyot set a course record of 2:15:53 and the women’s winner, Taylor Ward finished with a time of 2:36:23. Also, several of my friends that ran the marathon set personal records. ~ Great Job marathoners!! ~ I am looking forward to 2017 already and marking Philly as my 4th marathon.