This Week...

This last week was crazy...

I ran on Monday, out of sheer emotional necessity... gotta love those endorphins. But, I was so tired that all I could manage was my little 1.6 mile loop. And then the week got away from me, it made the great escape and spun off into the wild oblivion of lost time (perhaps I carried that metaphor a little far). Pretty much what happened was that I locked myself out of my apartment Tuesday night which prevented me from running that day, from being on top of my school work, and led to a great degree of anxiety which didn't help anything.

So, by Friday I had not managed another run. I had planned on running 15 miles this week, and since my planner goes Monday - Sunday, I've decided to construe my week that way. As a result, when I took stock of the situation Friday morning I had to average three 4.5 mile runs to get my total up from 1.6 to 15. The amazing thing is that despite the fact that none of my runs previous to this week were even 4.5 miles... somehow I managed to achieve my goal.

On Friday, I ran down Briarcliff -> Johnson to Lenox Rd. and back and then ran around the neighborhood a bit to get Friday up to 45 minutes or approx. 4.5 miles. Ideally I would have run longer on Friday to increase my chances of success but I really wanted to run before I got my haircut so I would be able to enjoy my freshly styled hair for the rest of the day, and 45 minutes was all I could manage to squeeze in before my hair appointment.

Saturday, Su and I went to Piedmont park and ran for thirty five minutes. We circled the park several times and saw a few cute runner boys and a lot of cute dogs. I couldn't decide which species I wanted to take home with me more :-) I think the dogs won the day... especially since we discovered the dog park. I want a dog that I can take to the dog park and that I can take on runs... Anyway, I digress. Su was feeling a little injured and cramped up so she only went for thirty minutes, I managed an extra five so that I would have a little less mileage left for Sunday. After our run we went to the Flying Biscuit and gorged ourselves on french toast, biscuits and home fries. Yum. The beauty of running is a little guiltless gorging is always in order.

Today I managed to run for sixty minutes or approximately six miles. I'm not sure how much things are going to hurt tomorrow and I can't say that today's run was a good run necessarily. For much of the run I felt like I was fighting a losing battle. My right shin was bothering me a little, but not enough to compell me to stop. I felt slow and sluggish, and had trouble facing the many, many hills. I also didn't have a clearly thought out route, which might have helped. I almost called it quits around the forty minute mark. In fact I circled my apartment complex a few times before I decided that I did have it in me to do my two mile loop. After my run I sat by the pool and stretched and then submerged my right leg in the icy dirty pool water to thoroughly numb it in the hopes that I can avoid actually getting full blown shin splints. Right now I just feel twinges.... and some discomfort.

So, Tuesday is the kickoff meeting for Team in Training. Unfortunately I can't attend because I'll be teaching at Kaplan. But I should get my packet in the mail by Thursday and our first group training session is on Saturday. I'm kind of excited and sort of scared that it will be starting for real. My goal for this coming week is 17 miles, a little more evenly spread throughout the week. However, I think tomorrow needs to be a rest day :-)

I'm really proud of myself that I managed to eek out those last twenty minutes today. Sometimes the whole mind over body thing really works. Unfortunately, my body isn't quite used to this type of caloric expenditure. I feel like I've been eating all day, but I'm definitely quite hungry right now, as in my stomach is growling... and it is 12:30 at night!

Last week in summary:

Monday - 1.6 miles
Tuesday - Rest
Wednesday - Rest
Thursday - Rest
Friday - 4.5 miles
Saturday - 3.5 miles
Sunday - 6 miles

Total: 15.6 miles

Anyway, till next week (or perhaps sooner)

So maybe not an every day thing...

at least on the posting here... But this week was a good week as far as running went. I ran five days for a total of 13.6 miles...

I tried running with a singles running group in Brookhaven. It was a lot of fun and I met some nice people, unfortunately now that classes are starting up I won't be able to make their wednesday night runs and morning runs on the weekend are always a daunting prospect. I think it was still worth going this week. I'd be less afraid to try something similar now and it was nice to meet some entirely new people. I also got some guy's phone number... too bad I'm not inclined to call.

I still have one more week until I get my training schedule and this whole thing officially begins. I'm worried that I'm expecting too much out of the experience. I'm asking it to fix my life, to make me like atlanta, to give me friends, to make me like myself, to make me happy. That's all... just that... and I know that those are unrealistic expectations, but at the same time I still can't help hoping that at least some of those things will happen.

It is funny because when I first signed up for the marathon and Team in Training I was freaking out about the fund raising aspect but now that I've started running more, all I think about is my feet hitting the pavement. The running itself is so tangible and real. I guess once I get my information about the fundraising that will also be rather tangible, but I will have to rely on other people to achieve that goal, whereas the running is all me. I like that both goals are relatively clearly defined and easily reachable... I mean, of course it will take a lot of effort and sweat, but in contrast to my long term professional and personal goals, these are much more clearly mine for the taking.

Anyway, this week in summary:

3 miles monday
2.8 miles tuesday
3.1 miles wednesday (with the running group)
1.6 miles thursday (was going to be a rest day but I needed the endorphins)
rest day friday
3.1 miles saturday (with Su)
rest day sunday

Total: 13.6 miles.

Next week's goal: 15 miles.

Day 3

So today I have pain in my hip and lower back from yesterday's run, hence no running for me.

I did go to the interest meeting and officially register to train for a Marathon in June. I'm trying to decide between the Mayor's Midnight Sun Marathon and the San Diego Rock n' Roll Marathon. It seemed like all the cool kids at the interest meeting were planning on Alaska, so I'm sort of inclined to follow suit. It is supposed to be gorgeous.... and when else would I have such a great excuse to go to Alaska?

Official training doesn't begin until February, but I'm going to keep trying to log some miles and avoid injury at the same time.

Day 2

Today I ran 3.1 miles... the weather held out for my run but now it is thundering out.... hopefully the combination of the storm and the run won't lead to a migraine.

For the last mile or so of my run I had some pain in my right shin. After I finished running I submerged my whole right leg in my apartment complex's pool for about ten minutes. It was excruciatingly cold and everything is definitely now numb. I really don't want to get injured before I even really start training so I might take tomorrow off / take it easy. As soon as I get my stipend check for February I'm going to buy new running shoes as I think I've almost maxed out the mileage on these ones. I also need to hunt for some better running grounds, the uneven pavement is rough on the joints.

Tomorrow is the info. meeting, after which I'll officially be training... how exciting is that?

Okay, shower time.

Hello

Hi,

So I've decided to run a marathon... I think.

I plan on doing it through the Leukemia Society's Team in Training program and I'm going to the information meeting on Saturday.

In the meanwhile, I'm trying to get back solidly into running. I ran 2 miles today, which gets me up to a relatively unimpressive 7.2 miles thus far this year. However, you have to start somewhere, right? It was beautiful and sixty degrees in Atlanta today so I was wearing a t-shirt and shorts and everything felt great. Hopefully winter is already over here! Ha, ha, a girl can dream!