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.  

Bleep!

Ok, just so you know, I curse like a sailor when I run.  I don't mean too and I know it's not very polite, but if I don't get those words out while I'm torturing myself with running, I might very well fall over dead.  No lie.

Today Pam and I did 5:1.  Which means we ran for five minutes and then walked for one minute.  We've gotten a little slack in our running lately so I thought this would be a good starting point for us.  Our goal is to run the entire way down the Rail Trail.  How far is it?  I have no idea.  I'm guessing a good 10 miles.  Or maybe just two.  Feels like a 100 to me either way. 

If you were on the Trail today you would have heard this conversation between Pam and I after about one minute and 30 seconds INTO our *first* five minute run.

Me:  Have I mentioned lately that I hate running?

Pam:  Not today.  We can totally do this though.

Me:  God I hate running.  I RREEEAALLLLY hate running.

Pam:  It's already been like three minutes right?

Me:  *looking at watch*  No, it's been one mintue and 30 seconds. 

Pam:  Damn.  Let's slow down.

Me:  I'm good with that.  I hate *bleep* running.

Pam:  We can do this!

Me:  *panting*  Yeah.

Pam:  Don't look at your watch.

Me:  Damn, we have two minutes left.

Pam:  I hate *bleep* running too.

That pretty much sums up our entire run for the day.  And although we complained and said dirty words the entire time, we had a really awesome run and burned probably two million calories.  Or 200.  Running sucks like that. 

Two miles in just over 33 minutes.  I'll take it.  Doing the "Turtle Trot" the entire way.  :)

Rocking running shoes!

Are these cool or what?

I am in love!

Hells yeah!

I got my new running shoes the other day!  Can't wait to try them out on the Rail Trail.  They are BLUE.  I am in love - they are sssssooo awesome!

Like I said - I may not be the best runner but damnit, I'll be cute as hell out there doing it.  :) 

I ran 3.9 miles today and I ran the whole way.  It was very slow running, but running nonetheless.  I feel like I'm slowly GETTING there.  At least I hope so!