4: lacing up my shoes

Oh! Hello running, it’s quite nice to meet you again. Well, nice in that it-will-be-nice-eventually kind of way.

Remember that whole bit about March 1st? Well, I absolutely positively could not wait any longer. I guess March 1st was really like a deadline. A nice, round, perfect deadline saying I would have begun again by then. I wish I could say that I laced up my shoes and jogged out into the world calmy and peacefully enjoying a couple mile run in the beautiful weather and came back feeling refreshed. Alas, such was not the case. Why do I always forget how hard it is to get started again once you’ve stopped? It really makes ever stopping just. not. worth it.

Seriously though, I headed out and spent thirty minutes heaving and sighing and sweating like it’s nobody’s business [at least give me credit there, I do live in Florida and it’s already hotter than most places].

Here was where I was going to insert proof that it’s ridiculous outside – e.g. a photo of me looking flushed and gross post-run. But well, I looked flushed and gross post-run so I realized that that was never a good idea. Ah well, I tried. Errr… I thought about it. Kind of.

Actually, I shouldn’t complain about the weather – it’s really quite nice compared to what it will be in another month or so and compared to what most people are facing across the country trying to run in snow. I’m still contemplating how one does that. Then again, I suppose I’ll be facing that soon. Nevertheless, first run? Total success. Will I be sore tomorrow even though the distance was pathetic? Absolutely.

—–

Distance: 2.15 miles – yes, the .15 is critical.
Time: 23 minutes (don’t hate.)
Weather: 50s, bright and sunshiney!
Tunes: I don’t even remember. Is that a good thing?
Obstacles: Ummmmm the fact I haven’t run in, well, longer than I’m willing to publicly admit. Also, note to self, do not let your BPM get above 195. Even if you are trying to pass the crazy guy who is running and smoking in front of you and thereby blowing all the smoke in your face. BPM > 195 = dizziness, nausea, breathlessness. Just saying.

cooler than I realized

Dude. I’m so much cooler than I realized. Seriously.

So, first, let me tell you that rare sunshine now has a brand spanking new look to go along with the new outlook and the new goals. It seemed appropriate, no? Check it:

That’s right. Are you jealous much? It’s so… well… it’s so me. If you’re reading this in a Reader, you simply must click here and see it for yourself. But, who am I kidding? I must be talking to my whole like 3 subscribers. But still, all three of you. Come see for yourselves!

And…. now for why I’m so cool? I was playing around with templates and a tagline appeared under my blog title saying “…but it’s ok. I like it when it rains.” And I thought to myself whoah, that’s so appropriate for my blog title – how random that it would come up with something so fitting – too bad I didn’t come up with it so I could keep it! Then the more I thought about it I realized, that was just a little too fitting. I clicked around and realized apparently I’ve always had that tagline, I just had a theme that didn’t show it so I completely forgot about it when I made this blog like half a year ago.

Yes, I’m that cool.

And… I still haven’t updated my training schedule. I should probably do that. That would make me infinitely cooler.

planning and planning

See, I’m so excited about beginning running again that I can’t stop blogging about it. If only I were spending this time actually running instead of blogging about what I want to do when I start running again. Ha! But alas, it’s late late at night and there is no way I’d feel safe even at the gym let alone running at this hour. That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.

So, right now I’ve given much thought to my schedule and what I would like to take on as far as getting back into an exercise routine. And, confession: there is a workout video that I absolutely love.* So, I would really like to make that a regular occurrence as well. Given my schedule and knowing my habits, here is what I think will be most effective:

• Monday: Workout video in AM.
• Tuesday: Run in AM.
• Wednesday: Workout video in PM.
• Thursday: Run in AM.
• Friday: Workout video in AM.
• Saturday or Sunday: Long run.

And of course the OCD in me loves the mirroring of the schedule. Except for the long run, of course. Those darn long runs – always messing everything up! Now I just need to get a schedule posted in my tabs section for me to stick by and I’ll be set. (I say that like if it weren’t posted there that I wouldn’t stick to it. Which, now that I think about it, might have some truth to it and not be as funny as I originally thought.)

Nevertheless, a plan is progress. Now to putting it into action!
I’m lacing up my shoes (quite literally, because if I were using it as a cliche it’d be quite cheesy, yes? Yes.).

*More on this later.

oh, running

…how I miss thee so. Isn’t it funny how the best laid plans just, well, sometimes they just don’t work out? Let’s get things straight here: I certainly have run since my last post. But, if we’re being totally honest, not much. Especially in the last errrr… month. Or two. It’s quite sad, actually.

The post comes on the heels of some undeniable disappointment. Today was the day I should have been running the marathon half-marathon as a farewell to my beloved town of Gainesville. But, I didn’t run that race. And now I probably never will. The good news? There are plenty of other races out there to train for and get excited about!

But, the even better news? My running life is about to resurface. In another week and a half I will be free and clear and human again and actually have time to run and not feel guilty about it. That’s right. Running was making me feel guilty for not working. Pretty crazy, right?

Nevertheless, March 1st will be the start of a new venture for me. I do not have any goals yet in terms of races or plans as I have no idea where I am headed, but intend to run perhaps another half in the Fall, maybe two. And I am so excited about it! It’s been killing me especially with how beautiful this Florida weather has been…. in the 60s, low humidity… perfect, actually.

But until then…. I bid adieu. See you soon. xxox.

true story

I have a really hard time finding music that gets me pumped up. I’ve scoured for ideas but, you see, I am really picky when it comes to music and it’s not the type of music you’d run to. Counting Crows, Jack Johnson, Ben Harper. These don’t make for good running music.

Luckily, I’ve happened upon some Black Eyed Peas songs that work for me (Let’s Get it Started, anyone?), but I have a bizarre confession: I have a song. You know, that one song that when it comes on you feel like you’re in your element? Your song has the perfect beat for your pace. And, well, just gets you going. Well, what’s embarrassing about this short tale is that “my song” is probably not what you would expect…

Please ignore the ridiculous cheesiness of the video. And the fact that he like jumps while he sings. Weird. But it was the 90s, after all. So what about you? Do you have a “song?” Something that just fuels you while you run? I know I’m in desperate search for some new tunes.

reality strikes

This time, it’s not in the form of giving up. It’s just in the form of… errrr… modifying my goals. I think that the idea behind my first marathon being a farewell to the city of Gainesville is a sweet idea. In theory. But working two jobs – one being my own business, being a full-time graduate student, and trying to be a happily married individual who spends time with her husband and dog-child and a marathon-runner. Well, something has to give.

So, I have modified my plan to reflect the new schedule and it seems so much more manageable. But, more importantly, it seems so much more fun. I cannot remember where I read or heard it, but once upon a time I was told that if you are running and you aren’t having fun then you should slow down. I am taking that in a broader sense; if I can’t have fun on my runs then what’s the point? I am not giving up, I’m being realistic. If training isn’t fun for me then either I won’t do it at all or I won’t ever want to do it again. And, that’s just silly.

Today, however, I skipped my run with the promise I’d make up for it on my rest day on Friday. Do you ever do that? Trade days or split mileage between other days to get a break. Sometimes I feel a little like I’m bartering with myself. I just. couldn’t. do. it. Yesterday I did a work out video (yes, I said video like as in, in front of the TV) that quite literally kicked my butt. I’m sore everywhere. I have muscles I didn’t even know existed that are sore. More on that later. [Not the muscles, but the video.]

3: helloooo fall weather

Florida weather is, and probably always has been, one of my biggest obstacles. The heat. The humidity. Eleven months out of the year it is sweltering. Even last week I had an entire conversation with someone that walking outside in October in Florida felt a little like a sauna. The humidity was so thick you could slice it. You know, if you wanted to.

But today, yes today my friends, on my very first day of marathon training the weather opted to cooperate. Highs in the low 70s. Lows in the 50s. I went running at noon and it was delightful. Noon!!?!? That’s insane. Though my distance was negligible, today was indeed my day.

Distance: 2.00 miles
Time: 20-ish minutes
Weather: Lovely. 70s despite mid-day. Shockingly little humidity for Florida.
Tunes: Black Eyed Peas Let’s Get It Started
Obstacles: First run in a long, long, long, long, long, long, long – oh yeah did I mention long? – time.
Notes: It was short but sweet. Most important thought: don’t ever go that long without running again. Also, a few hours before the homecoming football game in a college town is perhaps not the best time to run. But, I’m afraid that is a topic worthy of a whole other post.

No map. This is my “regular run” just around to the corner and back. Nothing interesting to show here.

…as I finish off my ice cream…

…I re-write my training plan. No, but in all seriousness, I really am finishing up my TCBY – the last I intend to have for a while – and just updated my training plan. The lovely Lindsay from one of my favorite running blogs, Chasing the Kenyans, suggested that I checked out Hal Higdon’s marathon training plans. And, boy was she right.

In case you couldn’t tell from one of my previous posts, I was wildly confused a little lost as to where to begin. The Novice One plan from Higdon is perfect. I am one week short, but I am sure I can cut a week out from somewhere, right? The only thing that seems weird to me is the idea of only running 20 miles before running a 26.2 mile race. I know it’s normal, it just… bothers me. But, I’m putting my full faith in the experts on this one.

Higdon also suggests, like many other experts, to define a goal from the beginning. And so I will. Not to disappoint, but as it is my first marathon, I’d love to finish. Sure, I might have a personal time or two in mind, but nothing that I’d be disappointed to miss. Not for my first time at least. Did you have a goal for your first full?

But now, I’m mapping out my run for tomorrow. It’ll be my first run in a few weeks and I.am.so.excited.

with the pack

So, I have been told – over and over and over – the best way to prep yourself for raceday is to run several smaller races during your training. Since I’ve only been in one race [aside from high school track, which totally doesn’t count anymore] this seems like a logical step. But, my money and time are limited. So, I knew I would have to limit myself to the events around here. Lucky for me, Gainesville is a hubub of fitness freaks gurus, so there is no shortage of 5Ks, 10Ks, and other Ks to fulfill my running pleasure.

After comparing my availability and researching a little more on the events themselves, here looks to be the line up:

October 24, 2009: Trinity Trot 5K [possible]

October 31, 2009: Gainesville Pumpkin Run 5K [possible]
This race involves running holding a pumpkin. I’m a little skeptical.

December 13, 2009: Hogtown 10K

January 23, 2010: Newnan’s Lake 15K

What do you think? Is it too much? Too little? I’ll be honest here: I had to even look up the kilometer to miles conversion to figure out how these might fit into my race plan.

2010 five points of life

So, the goal is the 2010 Five Points of Life. It is to take place February 14, 2010. Valentine’s Day. “Hunny, will you come cheer me on from the sideline on Valentine’s while I sweat like a wildebeest?” How romantic, right?

Nevertheless, my fabulous husband said “of course” and so that’s where we’ll be. Right now, I’m just on the fence as to whether I want to do the half or the full. My heart, mind, and spirit were set on the full. But, well, my personal obligations as of late lead me to believe that perhaps the full might not be the best idea.

Or, maybe I should shoot for the moon and if I’m lucky I’ll land among the stars? Perhaps.

But the real question: why? Why this race? Why now? Why here? Why why why? Well, the truth is that I’m leaving Gainesville – and Florida altogether [cue hallelujah chorus here] – in early May next year. The full marathon Gainesville version of the Five Points of Life involves essentially a run all the way around the city. And, since I have been here for 6+ years I thought it might be a nice little tribute before I left.

Plus, I have loftier goals in mind for the future* and I think starting with a full marathon of a place and roads I am intimately familiar with would be a nice change of pace – no pun intended.

Have you done a marathon around your home digs? If so, was it better or worse than your other races?

*Again, more on that later.