Hopefully back in the action

I felt so tired after yesterday’s run! I had a nice buzz after the run, but my body was not as thrilled.

I decided to press my luck a bit further and got a mile in this morning before heading off to a swim meet. The mile felt good and I let myself relax on the lap back. The long strides for some reason scare me --- that I am pushing myself too hard or something.

I am glad to have gotten some time in today.

I randomly met a woman today who I later discovered is quite the athlete! She is so impressive and quite the inspiration.

Just a few more days until I get these damn stitches out!

Now that’s some distance!

I made sure to use my GPS to get to the park this time and left really early. I wasn’t about to run anything extra again this week!

Though I was nervous, I ended up running the entire time and finishing the distance!!!!

I started out toward the front of the pack and then let myself fade back toward the middle. As usual, I hold back because I am convinced that I will loose steam and die. I am convinced that if I know how much further I have left, then I am able to be more comfortable and lengthen my stride.

It is so weird to run without an iPod. Being alone with your thoughts, the sounds around you (bikers whizzing by, the sound of other pounding running shoes, heavy breathing, car stereos, etc.) and motivating myself to the finish line is something new to get used to!

Rounding the tip of Hains Point was intimidating. I was scared that I was not going to make it. Once again...once I made it to the turn around point and I knew how much further I needed to go...I was able to relax.

I am so proud of myself for finishing and for NOT stopping to walk!!

Preparing to jump back in

The guys at the gym reworked my strength program so that I wouldn’t put unnecessary pressure on my legs. Just a few more days of this shit.

The new program was hard as hell --- all core and upper body. I can barely hold my arms up. Joy.

Preparing for my run tomorrow, I ran a mile through the neighborhood today. It felt a bit tight, but I loosened up on the loop back. My stitches held so I’m ready (???) for tomorrow.

I am a bit nervous to have missed a Sat with the running group and now have to jump right into a 2 and a half mile run. My teeth are chattering!

4-Legged Coach

I have been able to walk and an unexpected visitor has helped to push me to get my miles in this week --- 6 miles today. I am dog-sitting a big and active Lab who needs to get out and about a couple times a day.

Happy to be on the road and getting some miles in.

Injured Reserve!

Just as I was getting started, I got sidelined with an unexpected surgery.

I ended up getting 15-20 stitches on my upper right thigh. The doctor said that I have to stay away from running and the gym until July 1. Since I am unable to follow directions that include limitations, I promised to be good for at least 10 days. The doctor then stitched me up tight knowing that I may be a candidate who could bust my stitches.

This is a total bummer. Luckily I am allowed to walk...which still counts toward my mid-week miles...but it is a little painful.

Doing it on my own

Yesterday felt so good that I decided to do a mile on my own.

I used the neighborhood path as my guide. I kept my pace slow and steady...and again finished the mile..

What a good feeling and a nice confidence booster!

Grateful that I have that behind me!

I did it! After a complete clusterfuck getting to West Potomac Park, I ran the mile and SURVIVED!

We left with more than enough time to get to the meeting spot, but since we had never been to Haines Point we relied on the Google directions I printed out. As luck would have it, the damn directions had a critical turn MISSING. Kind of a problem. It was like a version of I Love Lucy...we could see where we wanted to go...but just couldn’t get there. After a couple wrong turns, looping back and an illegible u-turn here and there...we finally got to the park!

Since we were a bit late, we ended up starting our run at a bit of a deficit. We ended up having to run a couple hundred yards to catch up to the back of the pack. Definitely not how I wanted to start my first run with the Roadrunners!

All in all, it was actually not bad. The worst part was not knowing how far our path was and therefore not able to pace myself. Once I was a couple hundred yards from our finish line, I kicked it up.

I felt great and so proud that I survived!

Nervous for tomorrow!

I have vivid and disturbing memories of the last time I had to run the mile. It was in junior high and it was in the dead of summer. I remember how I was winded and felt like I was going to pass out behind the baseball dugout.

The idea of having to run a mile without having run that distance in more than a decade is terrifying.

Though I played a number of sports growing up and am relatively active, I have never been a runner.

I am looking forward to tomorrow...just so that I can stop stressing about this first run!

Decision Day!

I have always wanted to run through a cheering crowd and cross the finish line of a race, but have never had the courage or frankly the motivation to commit to an event or a plan.

That all changed in June when I was casually chatting with a friend about how I would love to run, but I just couldn’t. I inserted all the usual excuses that I have believed to be true.

My friend quickly came back with the suggestion to join the Army 10-miler training group. His wife was a coach with the DC Road Runners and they offered a Jump Start Program in advance of starting the 10-miler training program --- for those without running experience.

I decided to jump in with both feet and registered for the training. I’m not exactly sure what I’m thinking, but decided I am going to try and do this.

As away to ensure that it will be difficult for me to back out, I told a handful of people about my intention. The guilt of disappointing them and myself may just be enough to keep me dedicated to this goal.