Feeling sorry for myself -

Last night I had a pathetic work out. I still did cardio for an hour at the gym, but not straight running, and that made me a little depressed and not excited for the impending race. I suppose I should be happy that I made it to the gym at all considering I really had no desire to go and was home for over an hour and 1/2 before deciding to finally get up off my ass and go. It didn't really help that my dinner consisted of mainly vegetables and some tuna and 2 hard boiled eggs, so I really had no energy to run to begin with.

I ran into Marisa on the way in to the though. Congrats to her for sticking with it and me! Knowing she is around and still working towards the same goal as I am is good motivation. I've also been communicating with a very good old friend of mine, Nicole, about running and getting in shape. I am so proud of her. She is running all sorts of marathons and as much as a struggle as some days may be, she's still doing it and pushing forward. It's real motivation knowing she is working towards the same goals as I am too!

Anyway, Marisa & I have a run coming up with AAR on the 9th and then the 5k is the following weekend so there isn't a lot of time left. I was hoping to maybe try running outside tomorrow, but I fear I will probably be too hung over from tonights NYE festivities. Looks like I will be sticking to the gym until the 16th.

I need to buy some real running clothes, and soon. Aside from the fact that all my work out clothes are old and ratty, I literally have no clothes that are running specific. I would like something along the lines of the following items...

I would really like some running tights. Those are highest on my list right now. Target here I come!

Happy new year and happy running everyone :)

"I thought you were going to say you're happy you shaved..."

Running through the holiday has been less than pleasing. I have not once ran outside (except for that one saturday morning with Marisa and AAR). Plus, I have been eating a whole bunch of crap that doesn't make running any easier. I really need to get on that.

I ran at the gym the last 3 days in a row and those runs were all sorts of up and down. Saturday I walked 5, ran 20, walked 5, and ran another 25. Sunday I ran for 20 before feeling like I was going to pass out and switched to 30 min on the bike. Monday I ran 45 min. I was proud of myself monday because I checked it out while I was running and I ran a 37 minute 5k! Which is 3 minutes faster then the last time I tried! And talking to all my other runner friends/coworkers, the general concensus is running 3.1 miles in 37 minutes aint that bad. Hopefully I will be able to keep that up considering the race is oh, I don't know...

EIGHTEEN DAYS AWAY! AHHHH!!

Side note: I might treat myself and go to AC after my race to see Jess for her bday, wouldn't that be a good gift to myself. :)

Slacker.

It's amazing how much your stamina can go down when you haven't ran for a week.

I finally got back in the gym last night and it was pretty sad, I must say. I did my 4 miles, but it wasn't non stop (did about 2.9 non stop, ugh). The snowpocalypse of 2009 prevented a lot of running over the weekend, especially the 6 mi run with AAR. This week I plan on being a lot better. Hopefully I can get into the gym on wednesday and then when/if it's closed thursday and friday I can get some running outside in. Hopefully. Running outside seems so awful when there aren't other people around to motivate you, or....make you feel stupid and pitiful for not being as ready as they are.

Oh dear lord, the race is in 26 days. That is NOT a lot of days to get prepared. I need to crack down. I also really need to stop eating the junk that is in my office.

STOP BRINGING IN BROWNIES, COOKIES, CAKE, ETC! PLEASE, I BEG OF YOU!

1 month to go

It is official. I have signed up for my first race: MLK 5K!!

I am very excited, yet very nervous about this. But I have plenty of supporters, Marisa is #1 of course, plus a few new running partners! I have convinced 2 of my coworkers, Louis & Kesley, to run with me. And Kesley is even bringing her kids to run! Also, anyone who keeps up with this should sign up too (hint hint, susan!).

This week is a bad running week for me though, so I am worried once I get back in the gym I will be back to sqaure 1. I got to the gym on monday, where I ran 4 mi, but the next time I will get to run is saturday morning with AAR again and that is supposed to be 6 mi. Ugh.

Another thing. I didn't realize so much goes into running. Am I running for time or distance? Well, I don't know. Apprently there is a difference when you are training for a race. It is a lot to think about it. And this crazy chromo-something or other-timer-doo-dad that I have to attach to my shoe during the race so I get the most accurate time. Can't I just run and enjoy myself and not have to worry if I ran a 33 minute 5k or a 37 minute 5k?

For inquiring minds, I ran a 3.9 mi/40 minute on monday at a 5.0 on the treadmill. I was really proud of myself, but the more I talk to other runners about it, the more I realize that is pathetically slow.

Frown.

LOST. & Disapointment.

Ugh. A couple of things.

(This will not be lengthy because I, in no way, feel like writing.)

1. Marisa and I had our first run with AAR on saturday. We got lost from the group and instead of running the alotted 40 minutes, we ran/walked for 2 hours. I think we might have made it 6 miles? Then I got a parking ticket in Rosslyn because I didn't put enough money in the meter because I didn't think I'd need more then an hour and 45 minutes for a run that was only supposed to take 40 minutes.

2 (and more importantly). We didn't make it into the Cherry Blossom 10 mile race and I'm pretty damn disapointed. I understand there are are other races to run, but I really had my heart set on that one. As of now we are looking into running the GW Parkway Classic. It's also in the end of April and 10 miles and I don't think there is any sort of lottery we have to look into in order to run so, no disapointment there.

3. I am proud of the work out I had tonight. I wasn't really looking forward to going to the gym, but I went and I ran 4 miles (without stopping) and that's pretty great for just starting out. Soon enough, in the next couple weeks, I hope to be up to 6 miles without stopping. Right now I am running a 10 minute mile and that's not terrible. Could be better, but not terrible considering it is my second week of training. My back is still bothering me though. I think I really should see a chiropractor soon, but I just don't want to spend the money on it.

Until next time.

With breath that is bated...

It's official. Marisa and I have signed up for the lottery for the cherry blossom 10 mile race. Better late then not signing up at all. We will know for sure if we made it when they hold the electronic selection on the 14th, so the only thing to do now is wait...and continue training. Keep your fingers crossed for us!

On a different note, I am really proud of my run on tuesday. I really didn't want to go to the gym that night, especially since I couldn't even get there until 7pm, but it was well worth it and I ran my whole workout without stopping. First time since I started training. I won't say how long it was because it is kind of embaressing how proud I am for how little I ran, but you have to start somewhere and the only place to go from here is up! I'll be running tonight and again on saturday morning and that makes for 4 times this week. I think that is pretty good for my first week.

I also found a pretty awesome mid-week training schedule through AAR so I've been thinking about picking up on that given my work week schedule.

I think it's kinda sad that I am excited about the schedule, but it's the little things in life!

"Anybody can be a runner. We were meant to move. We were meant to run. It's the easiest sport."

Lottery?

Marisa and I still need to sign up for the lottery for the Cherry Blossom 10 mile race. Yeah, a lottery. As in we can't just sign up, pay, and run in the race. As in ONLY 15,000 people are allowed to run in the race and somehow it has become so popular that way over 15,000 people sign up -- constituting a lottery system.

We still have about 3 days to sign up and hopefully be chosen out of the other 17 million people signing up. I can't help but think about the possibility of not getting to run in that race. I would be really disapointed. Of course there are other races to run in, but that was the origional plan and it's nice to have a goal to keep you going through the next 5 wintery months.

We will have to sign up later this afternoon. At least then it will be out of my hands.

Stay tuned,
Allison

Epic Fail.

Saturday Dec 5th - Run day #1

7:45am - Wake up and take eddie out

8:30am - Arrive at Marisa's house to pick her up for the big first run

8:45am - Still can't find parking in Rosslyn that is close to Gateway Park or Cosi

9:00am - Park (should have known this morning was going to end badly when the first meter I stopped at said "FAIL" and I had to move to another one) and run through the rain to Cosi where there is no one except innocent breakfast eaters and coffee drinkers...not runners...

While standing in the rain being miserable, cold and wet - "Where is everyone?" "Uh, is that the park over there?" "Yeah." "Do you see anyone?" " No." "What should we do?" "Uhhh..."

9:15am - Arrive at Golds Gym in Ballston

9:45am - After a 30 minute run on the tread mill, leave Golds Gym

10:00am - Arrive at starbucks

10:15am - Drop Marisa off at home in the snow

10:40am - Get Home

I suppose we didn't get the memo that no one shows up when it's miserable out...either that or we went to the wrong place (which is doubtful). But,alas, we are champions and got a small run in anyway.

*Sigh*

Next week is another week and I hope people show up this time or else this $30 is going to waste. We've also decided to start running 3 times a week on top of the once a week with ARR, which speaking from todays experience, can only take my stamina up. Looking forward to it!

Until next time. Hoping that courage to start takes me through the next 5 months.

Allison

Don't they know I'm poor?

This just in.

Running is expensive.

$30 to join the road runners and $35 to sign up for the race. Not to mention I still need suitable clothes to run in through the winter. Doesn't anyone know it's holiday time and I am poor to begin with?

Another notice just in, it's supposed to SNOW on saturday!!

Marisa: I'll run under any condition, through snow, hail, and hangovers

Allison

What was I thinking?

A few months ago I was introduced to a new term:
Marathoner (adj.) mar-a-thon-er: One who runs marathons.

And it sounded less then appealing if I may be blunt. Someone who VOLUNTARILY gives up their weekends of blissful binge drinking, parties, bars, and bad decisions to wake up early saturday morning and go running. RUNNING! People who essentially build their lives around training for the next marathon.

I have to admit that when I heard my friend say "I could never date a marathoner", I nodded my head in agreement. I didn't think I could date one, let alone be one myself. Mostly because a) I didn't want to train b) I didn't want to train and fail. Although, secretly, in the back of my mind I thought I would like to be able to say "I ran one. I spent months training. I gave up that trip to the bar. I got up at 7:00 every saturday morning. And I have the ass to proove it."

That day has come for me.

I have been thinking about training for a marathon for months now, but have never followed through with it. For starters, I had no idea how to! Let alone how to find a marathon to run! Thank goodness my friend, Susan, has recently become quite the marathoner so I turned to her for advice.

My first statement to her: I am not a runner.

Don't think I am a couch potatoe (although some days I certainly am). I enjoy being active. I enjoy taking classes at the gym, going hiking, salsa dancing, and playing competitive sports. And I certainly miss swimming! But running. Running was something I was "ok" at, but was never the main course of my workout, if you will. I run on the soccer field, or jog 15-30 minutes on the treadmill, or drunkenly run (well, stumble) after my friends at the bar, but those do not a runner make.

Susan gave me a ton of great advice about training and getting involved with other runners in the DMV and suggested I get a girlfriend to join a running club with me for support. (Good call, Susan!)

Enter Marisa. Thank goodness for her! If I didn't have someone to run with I would not be gearing up for my first saturday morning, 9am, 5 mile run with the Arlington Road Runners. I would probably still be debating becoming a marathoner and continued with my routine workouts for the next 6 months before saying "I should have done that running thing".

With all of that being said, Marisa and I are training for the Cherry Blossom 10 miler. I decided to blog about it to chronical my trials and tribulations with running. I hope that this new hobby of mine turns into a real passion.

"The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start."