Can I do it?

I lost Pam. 

No, not like we went running and I lost Pam and can't find her - but like Pam is no longer my "go to" running partner.  No worries, I still love her and we're still friends but she sucks major monkey toes for quitting.  I blame her old age. 

Anyways, Al is now my go to running partner.  I'm not sure he's happy about this or not - every time I mention going for a run, he gets a crazy look in his eyes like he's crashing off some crack induced high.  I just ignore him and tell him he best start running.  It has yet to happen.

So, I have to have a partner.  Or I'll quit.  And I feel I've come WAY to far to stop now.  Running isn't just about me anymore....I'm trying to teach my kids that being active and healthy is important, I'm running for my Mom because she can barely walk, I'm running for Al in an attempt to get him back on track, and I'm running for ME. 

I'm going to sign us up for a half marathon in November.  Al thinks I'm joking but I'm not.  I keep telling him that he's going to look really funny walking the ENTIRE 13.1 miles but he ignores me.  Maybe he's not taking me serious because it's only February, but he will come mid October.  I can bet you $100 on that friends!  I am worried I may be taking on something too hard for me - I'm still not a great runner but I am improving.  I figure if I run a few races in between and keep to a training program, I'll do fine.  I'm not trying to win, I'm just trying to finish.  In a reasonable amount of time.  And not last.  I NEVER want to finish last again.  Next to last, fine.  Last - HELL NO.

Wish me luck!  I'm on Day 2 of the program now.  Basically just running for about 20 minutes at a time to build up some endurance.  In about 3 weeks, the REAL training starts.  I am enjoying this part right now because I'll probably be whining and complaining when the hard parts start.  I haven't ran more than 2 miles straight so the thought of doing more than that scares me.  I have to remember that I CAN do it. 

I'm not sure about Al though.  He's being lazy.  And he knows I will totally post a picture of him walking a half marathon if it comes to that.  He's been warned.  

Rest time

I'm slowly learning the importance of rest days.  Wow, my running is reaching a whole new level.  I'm excited, nervous, and still learning.  I'm still not great, but I'm getting better.

To help my running - I've lost my running partner Pam and Al is reluctant to take her place - I've added some cross training type exercises to my workouts.  I'm doing Zumba twice a week and kickboxing twice a week.  This is on top of running and weight work. 

Well, although I have a blast at Zumba and kickboxing......I am exhausted!  And instead of my runs improving, they are are worse.  Harder.  More frustrating.  So after crashing the other night in bed, I woke up realizing that something is going to have to give.

Zumba or kickboxing?  ARGH....such a hard choice!  I'm giving up kickboxing though.....although I really don't want too.  I'm determined to stay with my running though, I feel I've come way to far to give up now.  And now that I've incorporated rest days, I'm feeling better - stronger - and I expect to see my runs improve.  

Take it from a novice runner - when someone tells you that it's important to have rest days - they mean it.  Rest days are just as important as run days.  Don't tell anyone (especially Teresa) - but rest days are my favorite days!  :)  

New Year

It's a new year and so I have new running goals.  I haven't ran nearly enough since my leg was infected and December was just horrible.  Trying to find time to run during the holidays was killer.  So, on Jan. 1st, I joined the "I love to run" goal of running at least one mile every day of 2012.  Now, I know there's NO WAY I'll reach that sort of goal - but I will run as much as I can.

Speaking of which - tonight I did 2.02 miles in just over 20 minutes.  I am stoked!!!!   And the night before I did a little over a mile in 13 minutes.  I feel so empowered it's unreal.  I feel like I'm beginning to beat that "I can't possibly run" frame of mind.

I'm running with Teresa on Saturday (unless I chicken out) and she'll probably kick my butt big time.  I need someone to do that though I guess and I need the outside runs.  Treadmill running and outdoor running are so different so it's good to train in both.  I may possibly see a 5k in my future very soon!  :)

Back at it

Well after 20 days of medication, I am finally back at running!

It's been hard - the first few runs were TORTURE.  Pure torture.  But I made it through them and that's what matters.  I ran 2 whole miles on the treadmill last night.  You have no idea how frigging happy that makes me.  My pace is that of a turtle's but hey - I'm working on distance, not speed.  If I can make the distance, the speed will naturally come. 

Every run I feel stronger....and that makes me oh, so happy.  I would have never believed that I would miss running as much as I have in the last month but I am so glad to be back at it.

Not sure how Pam feels about it.  :)  

First Speed Bump

Just when I thought I was making some awesome progress with my running - I hate a speed bump.  Actually, I hit one head on.

Apparently at some point last week I was bit by some sort of insect.....I have no idea if it was a spider (although in my mind, it has been a furry tarantula) nor can I remember a time where I was aware of BEING bit.  But, I developed a very nasty bump on my back upper thigh that got worse over Thursday and Friday.  It felt as hard as rock and hurt pretty bad too.  I think labor has hurt more at this point but even that was barely beating this thing.  By Saturday morning, I had no choice but go to Urgent Care and let the doctor check it out.  Of course, my worst fear came true - she had to lance it.

Good news - no staph!  Bad news - nothing but blood came out of the damn thing so I now have an inch long cut on my thigh.  At least it's not hurting.  And since no infection oozed out when it was lanced, the doctor "guessed" I must have been bit by something.  

Worst news of all - no running until the cut is healed.  Which will likely take 10 to 14 days.  Until then, I can no run and get the area sweaty because that can lead to infection.  All this at a time where I was going to do two 5ks.  Not this month I guess.  I had planned on running the Turkey Trot in Hartsville on Thanksgiving morning but since I will *hopefully* just getting back to running, I've decided to opt out.  :( 

So, this is my first speed bump - probably not my last.  I was just hoping to avoid one of these for awhile. 

I feel awesome!

I've had several days of AWESOME running.  Thursday I ran for 1.4 miles on the dreadmill without stopping.  It felt GREAT.  So today, I got my happy ass up early and did TWO miles on the dreadmill.  Can I get a woot woot! 

I'm on a new running high baby.  I hope I can keep this up. 

I totally can! 

Been a while

I know it's been OVER A MONTH since my last post, but that's only because there really isn't anything new going on.  I'm still running.  Pam is still running.  We are still struggling with it.  Seems like it'll be a forever thing for us.

I do feel like our running is improving - the whole mental aspect of running is what kills me.  If there were a way I could close my eyes and just run......well, I think I'd be fantastic at it.  However, you don't see many blind people running.  I'm sure there's a reason for that.  I just can't seem to make my mind stop saying "WHAT??? You mean I have to keep running all the way down this trail?  Are you nuts?"  If I could stop that nagging voice in my head, I think I'd be winning 5ks left and right.  Or maybe not.

All I can say is - I'm keeping it up.  Sooner or later, I have to get better right.  We've marked our one year of running so if we keep making progress, we'll eventually get there.

I hope.