So I'm reading....

Yep, whenever I start something, I've got to find something to read. I found this book , Running for Mortals, by John "the Penguin" Bingham. I'm found this book after reading a quote Jim left in a comment. First of all, the quote was so good, "The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start.", that I had to look up the runner himself and found his situation to be much like mine: at 43, he found that he needed to do something about his health and started running (in a nutshell-- it's much better in his words). I was also inspired to read it by the title. I don't have a lot of claims to "fame", but I can say without doubt I am mortal. His co-author, Jenny Hadfield, is also inspiring and has given me some new things to think about. She's involved with things like adventure racing which sounds intriguing and exciting. I don't know if I'll ever get there (who knows), but the idea is so cool. I think the fun of reading this book and running in the Shamrock Sportsfest is figuring out that there really is fun and rewarding exercise out there for adults to take part in, outside of some organization (namely school). The motivation, fun, and rewards in organized competition does not have to end with graduation from high school (as it did with me) or college. In many ways, I've had to admit to myself lately, I am extrinsically motivated. This was a really difficult reality because I've always had a belief that the intrinsically motivated are more noble, but I've come to realize that that attitude has made me miss out on some really good things in life. Like most things, finding a balance between the two is essential. I'm really motivated by participating with other people-- even if I don't expect to be "in the public winner's circle"; I'm really happy being in my own circle-- but I do like being "out there" running for that goal with others good, bad, and indifferent. I was really jazzed when the start horn went off and I moved off in the mass of thousands of runners and walkers to finish the course. A thrill I look to repeat because, honestly, it is more motivating then some seemingly far off goal of "good health" and the loss of 50 pounds, which may as well be a million!

I'll be back later with more thoughts spawned from this book....

I am a machine!!!!

Yes, tonight I went on a three mile run and beat my really slow average of 13:30 with each successive mile. : ) 12:25, 12:00, and 11:53. I felt like a lean, mean running machine. I was breathing in and out so smoothly, my arms were pumping with percision, and my feet were lighter than air. The moon was high in the sky and the temps perfect. It truly was a thing of beauty.....

Some May be Wondering.....

about the numbers behind my run.  How long did it actually take me to run the 8K? I ran (yep, had to walk a little) in 1 hour and 7 minutes.  A pretty slow mile at 13:32, but I finished and under my 1:15 goal. There were 7,000 runners and I came in 4037, or somewhere around there.  From there the numbers (like age group, female) are bleak and I prefer not to look at them.  I do have a little pride!  I hear there's another 8k in June sometime.  I think I'll see if I can sign up and improve those numbers a bit because, after all, October 19th for theRamblin Rose Mini-Triathlon is a long way off and I need to keep up my motivation!

I did it! I really did....and I got the medal, too.

So there it is: the medal.  I have to say it was fabulous to cross the finish line and get handed a medal, just for finishing.  Where else in life do you get that?  I love it!  I'm ready to sign up for the next one.  But truly,  I did more than just finish.   I kept up a physical exercise program for four months. I persevered through the frustration of not losing weight, even though I was exercising.  I persevered through feet that hurt and sweat dripping in places that I don't care to mention.  I talked to myself a lot, but with purpose and effectiveness.  I have grown to love running...on most days, and I enjoy the fact that I seem to breathe much more deeply than I ever have....and I'm sure that has benefits somewhere.  It is great to go out at the end of the day and run under the stars or the early morning before most people are up.  I look forward to continuing the journey and getting up early with my family  on some other day to go to a race -- even if there isn't a medal at the end.  In fact, I'm so excited that I signed up with my cousin to run a mini-triathlon in Chapel Hill, NC in October.  Not only because I'm excited about staying fit but because I know that without a goal ahead of me I'll too easily slip back into my sluggardly ways-- despite my new found love.  Admittedly, while I love the running for all the above reasons and more...our couch is really really comfortable!

Blogging on my Mind....

Okay, I know what all 2 of my regular readers are thinking: she's not blogging; she must NOT be running. But I am here to tell you, I HAVE and I am READY for my 8k on Saturday-- barring that I DON'T CATCH THE FLU. Yep, my husband was down for several days with the flu that he brought back from that GERM FACTORY he calls work. So far, so good....mostly. I do have a bit of a scratchy throat and a background queezy feeling, but that often happens to me after he's brought home some kind of crud. Generally, it turns out to be nothing, and I'm thinking it will be the same way with this. So, yes, I plan to run 5 miles on Saturday; I will make it to the finish line. Yes, I will!
I've also been blogging a lot -- in my mind. So I've had a lot to say, just not the time to write it down. But over the next several hours, I hope to remedy that. I will tell you about what I've been thinking about as I run, give some slow, but healthier, runner reports and tell you what my ncxt venture is. I'll just bet you are sitting on the edge of your seat. ; )

Pushing MY Envelope....

This week I upped to 7 min run/2 min walk intervals. Monday was easy and I pushed a little by combining my first two intervals, just to see if I could. It was cake, but I felt just fine keeping my last interval to 7 minutes. I wasn't able to run again until Friday and it was a little rough; I was a little tired but was able to complete my three 7/2 intervals.

Today I went to Mt. Trashmore and ran while my husband and the boys played. I ran on a path around the lake there. The view was a nice change from the streets of my neighborhood. The change of pace was uplifting, so I think I'll try to run somewhere different on the weekends from now on.

While I normally try (Monday notwithstanding) to stay true to the intervals because it has worked so well and has kept me going, I decided to see how long I could go without having to stop on my first interval. I made it around the lake 1.45 miles without stopping. It took 17 minutes. I walked for two minutes and then went another 7 minute interval, which I think took me to .75 miles (after beginning a new loop). Walked a little ran a little more and walked the rest of the way. I think total walking and running I did right at 3 miles in 45.

So bring it on! I’m ready for whatever’s next. ; )

This week I’m going to start tracking my eating again—which I fell way off that bandwagon a while ago. Just doing that keeps me from eating too much and I was losing. But I haven’t lost a pound since running and not tracking-- hmmmm, go figure. The upside is at least I haven’t gained.

Progress...5/2 x 4

Well, I'm up to running 5 minutes and walking 2 minutes for four intervals and it feels good! Though I have to say it's getting easier to accept my days off now. ; ) When I first started this thing, in all my exuberance, I thought "recovery days are for wimps", but I grudgingly followed the advice of my trainer and took them. Now I see how much they are needed.....and its probably why I'm still running two months later. All previous ventures into running have ended in frustration and pure burnout; these memories kept me honest with the schedule. Now I look forward to my runs and I can feel myself getting stronger and gaining stamina. How cool. Progress; who woulda thunk it? making my way steadily to the 8k.

51

days

1231

hours

73886

minutes

4433181
seconds

Baby Got New Shoes!!!!

Well, it seems my shoe woes are over for the next little while. After my run yesterday, I vowed not to run again until I got new shoes. It had to happen; it seems after running that one day in my terrible shoes, my feet were ruined even for my "good" shoes. So I emailed my coach and she sent me to Running Etc... in Norfolk. I walked in a bewildered newbie and walked back out 20 minutes later, still bewildered but with set of Saucony, Trigon 5s -- and feeling quite pleased with myself. I was almost tempted to put them right on but wasn't ready to ruin their pristine beauty in the sleet. So they have one more day in their pretty little box for tomorrow I run!

Wrong shoes...bad move....

So yesterday I went out for my first run of the week. Though before that, I had to run my son up to preschool and I slipped into my slip-on tennis shoes, thinking I would remember to change them before I went out running. Think again. I came home and went right out for my run, not thinking about my shoes until I was halfway done with my warm-up walk. I almost went home to change shoes, but then decided not to. Bad move: bad shoes, bad run. Boy were my feet miserable! Whereas I was hoping to pull an extra interval, I ended up just barely getting my assigned intervals done...and being happy about it.

So, I will never run in those again....and despite the fact that I have better shoes at home; they really aren't much better in comparison. So what's a beginner to do? I am not ready to sink tons of money into shoes, but at my age I need support for my feet. I'll have to turn to my personal running guru to find out what to get. Honestly, I have no idea how to choose a running shoe. Somewhere in my past I heard Reeboks were the bomb, but really they don't feel that great when I run. Any suggestions from my reading public are welcome. Remember: Beginner, middle-age, not too expensive. I'll think about sinking some real money into shoes after I get through the 8K ; )

So lets talk schedules....

Wouldn't it be nice if we could ease into everything in life with the likes of Interval Training? My goodness...running is NOT the misery for me now it has been in the past. I'm actually ENJOYING myself. Who would've thunk it? Of course, I'm still new to it all and I've just completed a week of 3 minutes running and 2 minutes walking -- next week on to 4/2.

Another thing I have is a running coach. Check her out here. I've got a ways to go to get to 8k, but I feel confident that I'll be able to do it. Though I can't participate in in person training because of my schedule; I have the benefit of emailed schedules and encouragement. It's nice to be able to get my questions answered, too. I've found that a coach can make all the difference. Otherwise, I would've done what I did in the past; put on my running shoes and headed out the door running until I was exhausted and not seeing any improvement. Inside of a month I'd give up. Now I'm full of energy and ready for more. Bring it on coach Mary!

I Committed Myself...

I went ahead and did it. Instead of just talking about, I went ahead and plunked down the money to sign up for the marathon. I am now officially registered and COMMITTED. I'm really going to do it. I'm going to pick up my packet, wear a number, and a timing chip. My run will be monitored and timed. I am in! To the right you can see an official count-down timer. I'm counting the days, minutes, and seconds I have to train myself. It's exhausting just to think about it; I'm going to bed. Tomorrow I'll blog about my really cold run tonight.