13.1 Miles

Well damn.  That went by fast.  November 29th came and went and I successfully ran my 1st half marathon. When I started this tab I had every intention of sharing every joyful and painful moment of my training journey.  I haven't checked but I'm pretty sure I have about 4 entries on this, this being the 4th.

The actual training to me was mostly a blur.  Kim, my friend who has done 3 Iron Man triathlons, several marathons and even more half marathons typed out my perfect training schedule which was to start in August.  I started training in June.  I would agree that I was a bit ambitious however my training came to a halt after 7 miles.  I'm not too nifty about figuring out how many miles a roundtrip run around 20 city blocks is and I max out at 5 miles on a treadmill.  Therefore my training consisted of a run up and down the Seattle waterfront where the beginning of the pedestrian trail is clearly marked "1 mile to fishing pier". I ran that thing up and down religiously all summer.  Then autumn came.  If you don't know autumn in Seattle it's dark and grey and misty.  I started working full time.  I this, I that.  You see where I'm going with this.  As mentioned 5 miles is my max on the treadmill anything more than that and I would rather  "cut my eyelids off and eat nothin but sleeping pills". Therefore I felt I had nothing training worthy to write, let alone actually have the ability to complete it. 

November 29th: 3 days after my tamest holiday weekend yet.  The alarm goes off at 5:15 am since I want to eat my eggs and toast 2 hours before the run.  I've barely slept since my nerves have been waking me up every hour or so.  6:45 Kim and Sarah come to meet me.  Lucky for me I live blocks away from the Space Needle and starting line. I have my performance wicking gear, cheap gloves that will be tossed after I warm up and 2 packs of energy jelly beans in my little pink pouch.  The butterflies in my stomach are enough to carry me to the finish line.

7:30 the masses are moving down 5th Avenue, we pass the arch and it's so overwhelming that I'm trying to take it all in and vow not to turn on my ipod until mile 2.  I do it at 3.

9:05 am (I know because I just checked my sent messages) I text my sister and husband that I am past the 7 mile marker.  This is what I've trained for now I'm running on faith and God's will.  I down some energy beans.  Any hill after this point is a challenge. I hit my stride and honestly take in everything around me.  I can't believe I'm actually running this thing.  Everyone from Jersey thinks I've gone granola.  I haven't really but people from Jersey don't run.  I know this.  I was there.  

I told my husband I expect to finish at 10:30.  10:15 I turn the bend and I see him there.  He has flowers!  I run off course and hit him on the forehead with the brim of my hat as I lean in for a kiss.  I grab my tulips and run off.  I see the finish line and the timer 2:45:00, 01 *sprint dammit!* 08.  I did it.  

There's something to be said for setting nearly impossible goals for yourself and having the determination to accomplish them.  November 29th was a good day and 13 will never be an unlucky number in my book.

3 Miles

My first half marathon is 3 1/2 months away.  My shin splints were a huge set back to me but I'm back to training as best I know how.  I am now up to over 3 miles per run but should be at 6. 

As little as 2 months ago I was running at 1 mile intervals.  Although I'm not where I want to be just yet, it is rewarding to note tangible markers.  That's just what I needed when I signed up for this. 

Although I'm not entirely happy with where I am, I'm working on getting there.  In our microwavable society it's easy to become impatient.  But I'm still trekking along one run at a time.

Shin Splint

Aw maaan.  I have a shin splint.  Just one and it's kept me from running for 6 days now.  By the way, when I say run I really mean jog.  I was alternating the jogging/walking thing for weeks then decided I needed a boost and ran 3 miles while my husband was away on business.  It felt damn good bragging to him over the phone and he was proud of me.  Shoot, I was proud of me.

The next day I walked around my apartment and made breakfast with ease.  Then I walked to the bus tunnel which is probably about a mile away.  Ouch.

So here I am - still hurting (well actually it only hurts when I walk) because I'm walking the damn mile every morning and afternoon.  This minor set back is stressing me out.  I need to do 3 miles on the elliptical tomorrow or I'll never be able to do this marathon!

Just a Jog

Today I ran, well more like jogged.  It is the 1st time in months I've run outside and just like the advice I've received I did the run/walk intervals for 40 minutes. 

I think about how impossible running a marathon will be, albeit a 1/2.  And it makes me sad and brings me to a place I've been before.  Then I think about the 600 lb woman I see on Oprah and how she's down to a svelte 150 now and I wonder what miracles I can make happen for myself.

Things suck again, must be that time of the month.  But I'm starting to take control and change things that I can.  I've got a laundry list of things I need to do more of and things I need to do less of. 

So today I jog.

Running for Hope

This is interesting.  My 'add text' options on my other tab changed long ago.  I've been limited but dealt with it.  Therefore I can't italicize, underline, bold or add images.  I see with this page design I can do all of the above!  Therefore please bear with me as I try to find a new design for my other tab.  Sorry, I know some of you are like "what the hell is she talking about?" it was bothering me so much I had to put it out there.

I signed up for a 1/2 marathon this November.  I am by no means a runner.  To date I can say that I run if running is getting on a treadmill, jogging at 4.8 (5.0 miles per hour on a good day) for half an hour tops.  Then yes I run.  I have the occasional cigarette and I probably drink too much.  I have never done a 5K and only run outdoors when the sun is out.  Being that I live in Seattle, you do the math.

I signed up for a number of reasons.  The most important is, being unemployed I miss structure and goals.  Who knew.  I love Fridays, but not when every day is Friday.  If there were ever a time to train for a marathon it would be now.  I have the mental and physical capabilities to make physical changes as I proved to myself before my wedding.  I started working out on a daily basis 6 months prior and whittled my way down to a size 4 on a good and bad day and lost a total of 17 lbs.  I was pretty tight.  Those were the good ol' days, just 6 months and couple of cheeseburgers ago. 

Losing my job and having no prospects in sight has done a number on my ego.  I think that if I can properly train and complete this marathon then it will give me a tangible sense of hope that I've lost.

The past few days I have been mentally preparing to change my lifestyle and wholeheartedly dedicate myself to this task.  I haven't worked out in days and I've been indulging in culinary pleasures more so then I normally would.  I'm a little sad as I really feel that I'm letting go of an old friend that I call laziness.  Once I begin training, I know there's no looking back. 

I'll record triumphs, blisters, burns, bounce backs and probably tears and fits of defeat.  But tonight is Friday according to the calendar, so I'm heading out for a drink.  Perhaps I'll toast farewell to binge drinking Fridays and pray for the divine intervention and discipline that I'll need.  Cheers.