My List

Last time I posted I wrote that I would make a list of some of the positive changes I've seen in myself over the last three months. So, here goes...

1. I can run almost 7 miles at a time.
2. My energy level has gone through the roof.
3. I am starting to eat healthier.
4. My house has been noticably cleaner.
5. My moods have been better.
6. I am more efficient at work.
7. I can chase after my kids when they try to run away and actually catch them.
8. I am seeing muscles I haven't seen since high school. Hello, my lovelies.
9. My double chin is more like a chin-and-a-half instead of a double chin.
10. My waist is starting to narrow.
11. My legs are becoming more shapely, at least around my knees...my upper thighs still need help.
12. I actually look forward to running.
13. I am tolerating the heat better than I ever have.
14. I love to sweat. But only when I am running. And only when it doesn't sting my eyes.
15. I don't feel complete if I didn't run on a planned run day.
16. My husband wants to run.
17. My children get excited when they see someone running or if they see me dressed for a run.

There are more, but this is a good start. I am pretty amazed that I've been doing this for over 3 months and I am still going strong.

Busy

It's funny how routine running has become for me. I used to look forward to just going home and vegging all night. Now, I look forward to my evening runs.

The last two weeks have been unusually busy for us. Last week was my mom's birthday, we've had after work doctor's appointments, there have been viewings to go to and deadlines to meet. All of these things have interfered with my runs. Twice I intended to run and at the last minute my plans were changed and I couldn't do it. One of those nights was tonight. I planned on running a 4 mile race (slowly) with my running group, but my husband has a deadline he has to meet for work tomorrow and things blew up a bit today. So he needed to stay late. And I missed my run...I did manage to get in 20 minutes, but not the 4 miles I was looking forward to. And it was quite possibly the most beautiful evening of the summer. Extremely mild, nice breeze, no humidity... Last week I missed a run because of my mom's birthday dinner. I intended to go beforehand, but time escaped me.

I noticed that on both evenings, I felt like something was missing...sure I ran tonight, but I knew I didn't get to do what I wanted. And it messed up my mood! I was in a really foul mood last week.

One of these days I'll post a list of all the positive changes in my life that running has brought. But not tonight. I'm too sleepy.

Still running

I'm still running, getting stronger (but not faster) every day. I notice that running is becoming a habit. Every morning that I plan a run, I automatically pack a bag. On days I plan to run but don't for some reason, I am annoyed.

I found another way to track my runs on here:



I have another run planned for tonight. I am looking forward to it.

24 Hours Later

Yesterday I went from being so down after my run to feeling amazing after today's run. I love my Nike+ program because I can see my progress. Today I ran my fastest mile to date (a staggering 11:40) and my average pace was the best it has been since I started.

I was only supposed to run 25 minutes tonight according to my program, but I ran 30. I am a rebel.

Hey, look!

The Mind Game

One thing I've learned over the last two months is that running is mostly mental. Yeah, the lungs have to get more efficient and the heart has to do it's beating thing, and the legs have to cooperate, but nothing can affect a run more than my mental state.

Take for example yesterday's run. It was my first LONG RUN, and I was pumped. I got up at the ungodly-for-a-Saturday 7:00, scarfed down a bowl of cereal, and went to running group. I ran just under 4 miles, which for me was pretty amazing, and I felt great. There were hills and hills, each one a little longer than the next, yet, I ran the whole thing pretty easily. I felt great, energized, and convinced that running would be a part of my life forever.

Then today came. I looked forward to running group all day. It finally came, and we went for a quick half hour run, and I felt like my legs were a ton of bricks. I don't know why. I don't know if I didn't eat right for dinner (chicken and mashed potatoes), if it was the tightness I felt in my calves (it loosened up nicely yesterday), or if it was something else. I don't know what it was, but I had probably the worst run of my short running career.

I spent half the time doubting myself that I could really do this for the long haul. I chastized myself for allowing myself (I feel like Austin Powers) to get into the shape that I am in now. I was just really frustrated. Afterwards, we all congregated for ice cream (Hoffman's, yum) and talked about goals. I thought about what my goals are for my little adventure.

I don't aim to ever run a marathon, but if I do, that's the icing on the cake.
I don't aim to be fast, although I would like to run a sub 10:00 mile.
I don't want to raise my children to be sedentary. I want them to develop a lifelong love of exercise. And what better way to do that than to teach by example? I guess that is my main long term goal.
I do want to lose 25 lbs or so. That would be nice. And if I could fit back into a size 4, that would be even better.

Which takes me back to the mind game. My biggest enemy is myself. I have to learn to ignore that voice who starts doubting that I can do it. That doubts that I can go longer, faster, stronger than yesterday. My lifelong goal would be to hit the mute button on that voice. When it starts, ignore it and keep going.

I told my husband tonight that a bad run is still better than no run at all. I guess my saying that is a good start. Take that, voice.

Too effing hot

I really want to go out for a good long run. Problem is, the heat index is 105. I stood outside today with friends chatting and was as wet from sweat as I was last week after my 30 minute run. And we were in the shade.

When I was in preschool, I had a heatstroke. As a result, I don't like the heat. I don't tolerate it very well. I whine, I complain, I bitch.

I will run in the rain (I did last month when it was 45 out!) but I just can't do the heat. I wish I had access to a treadmill because I would actually do that, even though I hate them so much. Fortunately, the heat is supposed to subside around Tuesday or so, so hopefully my few days out won't be too much of a setback.

Contagious!

So, I've been talking about my new running program, and today someone came into my office and told me that she was inspired by me to go out for a jog this morning! And her sister went out yesterday afternoon after work to go running!

In other news, I ran 2.5 miles in 30 minutes yesterday! It's getting easier. My only problem is that my foot keeps falling asleep. I don't know if it's because my shoes are tied too tightly or if it's my sock or what. I bought a larger and wider shoe to try to combat the problem. But it's still happening. I just hope it doesn't happen during the 5K.

Shoes

I went to ladies night at Charm City Run tonight and spent a small fortune.

I wanted to know why my foot falls asleep toward the end of my run. Turns out my shoes are too small. That surprised me because I was already wearing a half size bigger than normal. She suggested I get wide shoes, because my current shoes were too tight around the toebox.

Now I can't wait to take my new shoes out for a test run. I would have gone out for a bit when I got home tonight, but there was quite a storm brewing outside. So I have to wait until tomorrow.

While I was waiting to pay for my goodies, I drooled over the 13.1 and 26.2 stickers. I almost bought a 13.1 but decided to wait. I need to finish 3.1 first!!

Me? A runner?

I've always been fascinated by those who run.

Back in high school, during field hockey practice, I hated running laps around the field, the suicide drills to increase speed, the cool down jog at the end of practice. I still remember one practice, my senior year, somehow I made it ahead of the pack. In front of all the girls who were faster than me. And I finished the warm up laps first. I was exhilarated. After the season ended, so did my running, for a time.

In college, I decided to go out for the track team. I considered myself to be fairly fast and thought I'd make a good sprinter. I wound up on crutches my first semester due to patellar-femoral syndrome, and after the first week of practice in the spring, it flared up. I decided that maybe track wasn't my thing. In the remaining years, I watched all the lacrosse players taking long runs before the season, the track teammates looking long and lean. Finally, senior year arrived. I had a burst of motivation one beautiful September day and went to the gym. On my way, I ran into Coach Medina. I felt a wave of embarassment flood over me as he walked over.

"Hello, Stacy!" He said, in his unmistakeable and endearing Dominican accent. "Come run with us again!"

I don't know what made me do it, but I did. I ran the 55M and the 200M indoor track and the 100M and 200M in outdoor track. Very slowly. But for the first time in my life, I felt like a runner.

And then I graduated.

And put on 15 pounds.

I made feeble attempts here and there to start running again. But I started too quickly...got too discouraged. And quickly quit.

So, here I am, 10 years, two kids, and 30 lbs later. So, am I a runner? Time will tell, but I sure hope so.

What have I done so far? I joined a training program to get ready for the Baltimore Women's Classic on June 22. I've been loosely following that program for a month. When I started, I was gasping for air after 2 minutes. Now I can run a mile without stopping. It is a very slow mile (average pace is approxmately 13 minutes per mile) but running a mile is running a mile whether you are fast or slow.