Week 3-Hitting my stride

I have the need, the need for speed...or rather the need to just simply cross the finish line in October, but nonetheless, I felt fast today after running 6 miles.  I'm not sure why these 6 miles felt like such an accomplishment because I've done a lot more before but I guess after the week of running that I've had, I wasn't sure I would make it all 6 today. 

I started the week at Urgent Care with one eye swollen shut from some mutant poison ivy that apparently lives in the bushes around my house.  After waiting for over two hours with a toddler who was screaming incessantly because he thought that he was there for shots and a "doctor" (and I use that term very loosely) that had to look everything up in a pocket "doctor" dictionary, I was certainly not in the mood to run but I forced myself to get it done.  After what seemed like forever, I finally finished my run and a crappy Monday.  The rest of the week I ran on the treadmill while my little guy napped because he was in no mood to sit still in the running stroller with a 100+ degree fever and without sleeping all night. I do believe that running is, in large proportion, a mental sport and running on the treadmill mile after mile is not exactly the greatest for one's mental health.  Even after being sucked into a Lifetime Movie about a runaway teenager who gets pregnant at 14 and then has to change her identity in a new town, I still can't push away the fact that I am running and running and not going anyway.  The outside run is where it is at!!  

When Saturday morning rolled around, I was ready for my run and couldn't wait to get outside.  As much as I really wanted to stay in bed I knew the sooner I started, the sooner I would be at home playing with my little guy, so I hit the road.  After my Nike plus announced that I had 3 miles to go...I will admit that I started to feel a little dejected, but then I decided to run through a new neighborhood and new scenery seemed to be what I needed to kick it up a notch and get the job done. I felt a renewed speed and a second wind, and I was really enjoying my run.  I also saw another runner about three times during my run, which gave me a sense of camaraderie and the push to keep running, if she could do it, so could I...although she does look like she is an excellent shape and quite an avid runner.  She has so many gadgets...mental note: get more running gadgets.  Anyway, I digress, the run went well and I feel pretty good!

*Mental Status is positive and physically I'm feeling great!*

Bonus Section: In my infinite need for order and continuity, I have decided to include a song of the week that in some way inspired my run. This week: "Defying Gravity."

Week 2-Revisited

I thought it appropriate to briefly post after my "long" run for the week, which is in quotation marks because this week it was only 5 miles and that is no where near long compared to what I will encounter on future Saturdays, but nonetheless, I did it!  I have to admit laying in bed this morning I was not looking forward to running, but I knew if I could just get out there and get going I would not regret it, and I was RIGHT!  With the help of my new shoes (which I'll have to admit I am becoming rather attached to already) I ran 5 miles with ease this morning.  This was the kind of run that makes you think you can run forever, it was amazing and empowering, and well, a little addicting...I think I've found a hobby/workout that I cannot live without...distance running.

That is definitely not something that I ever pictured myself saying because I am the girl that used to DREAD the 1 mile run in elementary school that was required in gym class.  I would literally try to cause injury to myself or fall "ill" on the days of those runs. In fact I am fairly certain I was the reason they stopped announcing the days in advance and now I'm running...for fun!

*Still geared up and excited to run this marathon! Physically I'm feeling great!*

Week 2

I know it is still a bit early into week two to post my progress for the week overall, but this is more of a sentimental post because today I realized that I have to give up my current running shoes for a new pair that I bought more than three months ago but have yet to wear.  It's not that I don't like my new shoes...its more like I LOVE my old pair.  I mean I've literally run hundreds of miles in them, and we've been through a lot together...snow, rain, mud, the occasional roadkill.

Forget the fact that I've gone way too (embarrassingly) long without a new pair or the fact that I can feel the pavement when I run in them, they are great shoes with the perfect fit, and I don't know if I'll find that great a fit ever again. I would even be so bold as to liken them to a fine wine, and who in their right mind tosses out a fine wine??? Not this girl!  So I will wear the new shoes for the sake of my feet but just know that I will be wishing I was running in the old ones...

*Mental Status: Shaky at best with the departure of my old running shoes but still upbeat and positive about my pace and ability to complete this marathon.*

Week 1

Welcome to the beginning...the continuation...the beginning...the continuation...no, the beginning to my training for the Columbus half marathon. I hesitate to call this the beginning for two reasons: one, because I have already unofficially trained for a half marathon with a neighbor friend for fun (yes, I said fun...who does that?) but I didn't actually run the marathon to complete my training, so as you might have guessed, it was rather anticlimactic, and two, because I am extremely indecisive.

I guess I should start by explaining a couple of things because not only am I very indecisive, but I am also obsessed with the order in which I post/discuss things in this blog (I feel that you already know so much about me), so I decided to document this momentous event in my life because I love to journal everything...seriously everything, and because I know I will inevitably need advice and/or many encouraging words along the way, I have decided to post this journal on the internet, which I hear all the cool kids do now.

You may now be wondering why I even want to run this half marathon, but the truth is that I have had a love for running for several years now and I feel like I need to keep that love alive by doing something new (kind of like the seven year itch in a marriage...its time to mix things up a bit, by the way, honey, if you are reading this...we are 5 years in to it so we should start thinking on that ). For awhile lately I have been wondering what the purpose of my running is...yes, I love to stay in shape and yes, running is therapeutic and calming and empowering to me, but really where am I going and when will I get there??? So here I am ready to embark on this 10-week journey that I hope will culminate in the completion of a half marathon. I know there will be some physical pain but I figure that if I can give birth to my son...this is doable :) By the way, being the perfectionist that I am, I wanted to go straight for the full marathon, but was advised by many experienced runners that it best to start with the half to avoid killing my "love" for running in one foul swoop. My final rationalization for this blog and the marathon for that matter is that I seem to be lacking a bit of purpose in my life right now...so here goes nothing.

I cannot promise that I will post every training session but I do plan to post every week or so by my count that should be about 10 posts or so unless I follow in the footsteps of the Harry Potter and Twilight series and split the last post into two very suspenseful posts (will she make it or not?)...who knows...are you on the edge of your seat yet??? I also plan to close each blog with an update about my mental status and my likeliness to continue training.

*Mental status this week is GREAT because I am excited and geared up to run...not to mention I can run 3 and 4 miles in my sleep at this point! Likeliness to continue training is 100%, so its a good week!*

This week's schedule:

Monday: 3 miles

Wednesday: 3 miles

Thursday: 3 miles

Saturday: 4 miles