'Tis All a Blur!

You may think that everything is a blur because I'm running so darn fast, but you would be sadly mistaken. No . . . it's all a blur because I've been a busy girl of late and I barely know where my head is. Let's see if I can recap:

Wednesday, July 1 I felt like a total badass because I went for a run despite the fact that it was raining. No thunder or lightning (because I'm a badass, not invincible), but still inclement weather. I started to wonder why I feel so badass in the rain when I usually train in snow (as in snowdrifts, falling snow, icy patches, subzero temps, and ice balls on the eyelashes), and I realized it's because I like snow better than rain. It's much easier to maintain a comfortable temperature during winter runs, and any snow that falls on you can just be brushed off. Rain soaks in and makes me uncomfortable. It also makes me look all scraggly and pathetic, I realized, upon catching a glimpse of myself in a store window.

Thursday, July 2 I was so very, very tired, so I just walked. I didn't even pretend that I was going to run . . . I just walked. Got the correct number of miles in, just did them walking.

Saturday, July 4 I was on a date, so we went for a walk. I don't know if I even came close to the number of miles I was supposed to do, but I can tell you that my heart was beating a bit faster than usual.

Tuesday, July 7 was moving day. All my stuff had to go from my house (which will hopefully be sold one week from today) into storage, so I spent the day taking care of that. I had movers to do most of the heavy lifting, but I'm pretending that all the packing and nervous energy and the trauma of having the UHaul truck break down is as good as a workout. So there!

Michelle Runs 9 Miles...And Likes It!!!

NINE MILES! NINE MILES! I got up this morning and went for a nice 9 mile run. Why was it nice? Well, I thought about why I run. Here is what I came up with:

Running helps me think, I can clear my head, put things in perspective. Basically, it keeps me sane.

I love to be outside. I love running and taking in the environment around me. I love seeing the flowers, turtles, frogs and trees as I run on my normal route around the lake.

I like to challenge myself. I need to have a goal or something that I am working towards. Running in various races gives me a reason to set aside time to run.

So once I reminded myself why I run, the rest of my run was just enjoyable. I ran at a super easy pace and reminded myself it is not how fast I go, it is that I get the miles in and have fun. FUN! F-U-N! It actually makes me happy. The sunshine. The birds chirping. The breeze. I love it.

So I am going to have fun while I train for this marathon. It is going to be time I set aside for me.

Yeah...that counts as training....right???

So I will admit to poor training. I do nothing...and I mean NOTHING for several weeks and then I go out for a run to test how far I can go. I did this with the river bank run (3 runs in the 8 or 9 weeks before the race) and with the reed's lake run. So my goal...and I am putting it out there into the world so I will somehow have to be accountable is to make a training schedule and somewhat stick to it. There is NO WAY I will be able to run a marathon with just my competitiveness in tow. SOOOOOO- this weekend I am going to plan and plot and scheme...oh yeah...and go for a run. This is the start. READY! SET! GO!

Why Am I Doing This Again?

Well, today was one of those days where I really didn't want to get out of bed, much less "run" for three miles. I was very tired and petulant, but I kept telling myself that I'd be thankful later. Am I thankful now that it's later? Hmmm . . . not so much. I mean, I'm thankful that I don't have to make myself go out for a run when I get off work at 8:00pm, but I'm not really feeling like I accomplished something wonderful. In fact, I just sort of feel old--like my body is a collection of old and creaking bits that cause me pain but don't really do what I want them to do. Why didn't I start running when I was younger and it might not be so hard!!!

Anyway, I will say that I was extremely grateful for the cooler weather, as it's probably the only thing that kept me from lying down in some nice person's lawn and having a nap. Particularly since my lack of laundering of late led to my having to wear big-girl long-pants. So, I got my distance in and I didn't even fall into the wood chipper that I had to pass.

New Girl!!!!

Ooooh, look! Michelle gave me permission to post on this blog, so I guess I should start doing so. Of course, all my posts will say "Went x miles, am slow, walked a lot more than I ran." It will get boring after a while, so I'll have to spice it up.

Actually, maybe I'll provide the yin to Michelle's yang, as she is super-competitive and sporty, and I take my inspiration from that "Short, Fat Marathoner" girl (is anyone familiar with this girl? She wrote a book about how she was chubby and ran a marathon, but I can never remember what the title is). I'm all about getting through the 26 miles, even if I have to crawl, so my training is all about getting through the miles, even if I have to crawl. I'm also working really hard to remember that I do like to run, so I can't let it get to be too much of a chore.

Back in the Game

Well.....I'm back! I am back in the marathon training game. Myheather is moving to India in a few weeks. She thinks I am insane for still wanting to do a marathon. (She says she wants pretty feet) I think this is the time I actually accomplish my goal.

The wonderful Cory is also training for the marathon. We are also in different cities so we are not training together...but we are "training together"- we are doing well. OK really SHE is training well and I am spaztically doing random runs...but writing this blog is pulling me back into the training game. YES IT IS.

Training thus far:
5th 3rd River Bank Run- I ran the 25K in May. I did a poor job training but I came to the race ready to run. It started raining 5 minutes before the race. I got a blister in mile 4, it popped in mile 5 and I looked at it in mile 6. GROSS! I took pictures. This did not stop me. I ran the whole 15.5 miles and ended the race happy and with a bloody foot. :)

Reed's Lake 10K Run- I ran this just this weekend. I think it is one of the most fun races to do because 1. It is through the community I work- so I get lots of "Way to go Miss Michelle!" 2. There is a huge community party afterwards. (there is nothing better than to eat a hot dog at 10am after running) 3. 10K is the perfect distance- 6.2 miles...not too short...not crazy long. Just lovely

Now, I have a new training schedule figured out. I am going to attempt to run in the morning as it has been so hot. When I get out of work I just do not feel like running. My plan is to beat the heat and go out early. We will see how that goes.

Please feel free to kick my butt in gear.

I may still be sucking...but that is ok!

OK...so the guy at the gas station says to me today "You haven't been running lately" and I immediately feel guilty...like I am letting the gas station down by not coming in on Sunday morning to buy a protein bar...I immediately thought "Bad Michelle"...it didn't take long to get over that...but then I spent the rest of the day thinking about running and trying to make a plan. I can't run for another week and a half (new tattoo on my foot) but I think I will be able to start riding my bike sometime soon.

Yes- I got a new bike and I adore it. I kind of want to ride to work when I can...that would be a 7 mile ride one way...once my foot is A-OK I will try it.

So- I need a new goal...something to motiviate me to actually run. I am open to any and all suggestions...I apparently cannot be bothered to run without some carrot dangling over me.

My plan thus far:
run
bike
P90X (my random infomercial purchase at 2am...)