WHOOT WHOOT!

Sorry I did not blog on Sunday... I got a wonderful burst of energy that allowed me to clean my house like a mad-woman after the 4 mile run!
Sunday's run was wonderful... yes, there was black-ice, no, my tracks didn't work 100% BUT I was out there at 8:00am on a Sunday, running.  And when I could look up and take in the scenery, it was a beautiful morning! 4 miles is the farthest I've ever ran.   We did 20 second runs, 60 second walks on this run.  It was a brisk 30 degrees and I wore a long sleeved shirt with a t-shirt over top (I promised myself I would log that so I could remember what to wear in the future).

Tonight's run was AWESOME! It was about 40 degrees, no ice, and comfortable! It was our 30 minute maintenance run and it felt really good! My wonderful sister in law and I get to talk education and kids and family life while we run and it's a really great time to just relax and just run/walk/run! Gallaway-it-up BABY!

So Maggie suggested I write about the smell going up to the meeting room above the Runner's Edge.  It reminds me of a little babydoll I once had.  When I was little, there was a fire at the clinic my dad worked at and all of the toys in the waiting room came to live with us while they cleaned up the clinic.  One toy was a little babydoll that I loved! Since the store next to the Runner's Edge just witnessed a fire as well, the smell going up to the meeting room reminds me of that babydoll and it's strangely comforting!

Doubt

So Tuesday we went out and had our 2nd run... 30 minutes, warm up your muscles, play with your walk/run intervals... just run.  It was a little icy, a little cold, but I got out there and I ran.  And to be quite honest with myself, I had fun!

Wednesday I got up and got ready for work.  I knelt on the couch to pick something up under the couch and TWANG! OUCH! Hamstring pain like no other.  I remembered my brother's basketball injuries in high school were treated with a 30 minute ice, 30 minute heat rotation, so I did that on Wednesday night and did not do any running on Wednesday... but it scared me a little bit.  So I went out gingerly today and did another 30 minutes and then I called that old basketball player turned trainer...

My brother the trainer talked to me about my shoes... yep, that's right.  He knew I got ShapeUps for Christmas and he asked me if I had been running in them.  Yes I have.  He said there have been numerous injuries connected to the ShapeUps and there are even lawsuits connected to them...Thanks Mom and Dad for the wonderful present :P.

Alrighty, I'll change my shoes! So I talked with my husband today about the "shoe" issue and he said "Well isn't there someone that can help you, ya know, find a pair of shoes" and I said "Yes of course! I can go to the Runner's Edge but it will probably be expensive if I go there" He says "Well I'm sure if you tell them you're a beginner and you... might not... I mean you haven't done a whole lot... I mean maybe they can help you find a cheaper pair so that if you don't..." 

LIGHT BULB! He doesn't think I will stick with this! He doesn't think that I can do it! HE DOESN'T THINK THAT HIS WIFE WILL RUN/WALK A MARATHON! I don't want to tell my dad for this reason, but my husband? 

And a-waaaaay we go!

So this morning was the first morning of the marathon training group.  Turns out, since I have been running a bit and doing interval training anyway, I pushed myself a bit and ran with the marathon trainers on a 3 mile run.  The half marathoners ran a 1 mile run this morning.  

This morning I decided that I'll go with the marathoners until I feel like I can't do it anymore... I had fun this morning.  I can't lie.  We did 30 second intervals (30 seconds walking/30 second running) and they really stressed with this class that you are to go at your own pace, do not push yourself because those are the times when you get hurt.  This is much more my philosophy in life.  I really like to do things at my own pace and they really stressed that even if you are running a 15 minute mile but you're having fun and liking it, then GO FOR IT! Who cares how fast you're running?!?! LOVE THAT!!!!!

I heard all kinds of stories this morning.  My inlaws are "pace group leaders" and so I've heard all about the rubbing and the chaifing... Things I didn't even know, like it's not a good idea to wear cotton socks on long runs?!?! I've got so much to learn but I'm so willing to do it! It's going to be a great experience! 

Written on January 19th

Yeah, that's right.  I am going to go out there and make the goal of "running" the half marathon in July.  I say "running" because I'll be doing the Jeff Galloway (www.jeffgalloway.com) method where you run walk at intervals based on your projected race times.  There are a number of reasons why I decided to do this and I thought I should probably write them down for those times when I am really struggling to get out there.  

#1 Get ready for baby weight!

~Yeah, that's right, we're getting ready for a little one... but those of you that know me, know I'm a planner and so we will continue practicing for a little while. You can look for pregnancy posts in the future but NOT NOW! So I joined the marathon group to help me lose some extra weight.    

#2 Some sort of Social Life!

~ My inlaws are the ones who really inspired me to do this.  They're both in their 60's and did this program last year.  They have had a run every week since they signed up and enjoy all the benefits of working out AND have a social life to go with it.  It's amazing the amount of people they have met and have connected with.  Plus, the beer runs on Wednesday nights sound like A LOT of fun.  

#3 To accomplish something big!

~ How many people can say that they have run a half marathon (okay so the numbers are growing but still)? Now is the time for me to really put some effort into this before life gets really busy and things get in the way.  I can put aside my Sundays and a couple evenings a week right now, and I don't know how long I'll be able to say that.   

#4 To "test" the benefits...

~I know this one probably sounds a little strange, but many of my reasons for running this HM is because of all the benefits I've heard. 
boost confidence
eleminate depression
relieve stress
 it's a life-long exercise... 
ETC!
And I want to test them out.  It's also been said, in many of the talks I've heard, that if you do this with a group you are more likely to stick with it and have better results, which is what I'll be doing.  

So ladies and gents, these are the reasons I'm committing myself to run a Half Marathon in July.  Please join me soon for updates on this process.  BTW the first run is on Sunday... and we just got 14 inches of snow!