Started running again

Alright, after 2 weeks of being sick, and a week of having absolutely NO desire to run, I finally got myself out of bed (at 10am) and got in a short run this morning (2 miles.) Its amazing how much you lose after a few weeks of not running. I am gonna do 3 short runs this week, and get back in to the long runs next weekend with 6 miles. It has been 2 months since I started training! And it is only 2 months until my half-marathon. Wow.

I went out to brunch with everyone after their Two Bridge run yesterday. I hadn't been able to rouse myself to run with the group, but I made it in time for cheeseburgers at The Dram Shop. It is great to finally talk to some people on the team, which I'd been avoiding doing up until this point. Now they actually have a vested interest in my training and I have people to keep me on track. Most of them are doing the Alaska marathon, which sounds beautiful. Its daytime all day, and not really crowded. But San Diego is going to be great. I will have all my cousins and family there to support me! Wish me luck!

Week 6: Sick :(

I spent most of Week 6 only being able to breath out of one nostril. So I missed the 8K last Saturday in Central Park and I haven't run in over a week. Which means I have to start up again after a week of being completely lazy. Wish me luck!

Week 5: To Half Marathon or Not To Half Marathon

Well this morning's run went much better than Wednesday's. I switched to a different pair of running shoes and my shins weren't a problem. But about 25 minutes in my left foot fell asleep... while i was RUNNING on it. How is that even possible? I just kicked it against a pole a few times and woke it up. I did five miles, in an hour and 23 minutes. I did the reverse direction of the loop that I normally do, and it was soo much better running down the long hill by Grand Army Plaza than running up it. While running I decided that I wanted to focus on being able to run a half marathon, as opposed to run/walking a full marathon. Of course, I still have to work on my sweat rash "situation." But other than that I think training is going pretty well. I treated myself to a pedicure/leg massage, it was wonderful! Next weekend we are running an 8K (5 miles) in Central Park, which apparently has lots of ups and downs. Wish me luck! Also, if you haven't already, please donate to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Societ, who are helping train me for this event, at http://pages.teamintraining.org/nyc/rnr09/eleanorrigby164

Bad Practice

Tonight was not a very "encouraging" group practice. It was the first Wendesday night that I made it to. I spent most of the day talking myself in and out of going. But I'd been putting it off for 4 weeks, so tonight I had to make it. We were set up to run a 1/4 mile at a faster speed than usual, and then a 1/4 mile slow recovery. I made it through three rounds, but in about the same time most people did 6-8. During the warm-up job my right shin started aching, and became a sharp pain during the first 1/4 mile "on." I limped back, fighting back tears. Everyone else was speeding past me, seemingly at ease. I started a downward spiral of second guessing my decisionon to do this and spent the last half hour trying not to breakdown and have a total flip-out in front of everyone. I'll admit I shed some tears. Everyone was very encouraging, which just made me want to cry even more.

Finally we called it a night. My mentor David was great, and the coaches too, saying encouraging things. But I just felt like a big idiot. This Saturday I am supposed to run 6 miles, which I know I can do. I ran/walked 5 miles last weekend, so I know I can do it. I'm gonna start stretching at work and switch back to my previous running shoes to see if that makes a difference. We have another race in 2 weeks, only 5 miles, through Central Park. Tonight made me even more determined to do this. I hate not being good at something. I CAN do this!