Holy crap, I'm running.

So, I'm not a runner at all.  In fact, I'm not really a natural athlete of any sort.  I'm actually really clumsy, so anything athletic requires a great deal of effort.  A GREAT DEAL.  So the fact that I'm running willingly without being chased is blowing my mind.  I've been running for a little over a month, and I never thought I'd say it, but I think I kinda love it.

Last Sunday, I went running on the river with Bri and Charles.  It was weirdly hot for October, but we went about 4.5 miles.  I ran a few more times throughout the week, then capped it off with a run through Lemoyne with Bri and Charles on Saturday.  In case you don't know, Lemoyne is hilly.  It's the hilliest.  We did about 3.5 miles, then came back and drank some amazing homemade limeade.  

Then, Sunday.  Rickett's Glen.  We went up the Falls Trail and came down the Highland Trail.  An awesome, challenging hike!  

That's Bri and I on the trail.  Notice how freaking beautiful it is.

Now it's Monday, and I went back to work a little sore and stiff but feeling awesome.  I've got a long way to go until 10 miles, but now it seems like something that could actually happen.  And that feeling is... good.

12:07

Sunday, October 02, 2011

I’m not going to lie, my training has been awful the entire past month!  In August, I was doing great.  I was going to the gym 4-5 days/week, strength training three of those days.  Then the flood hit, Gamut’s season and classes began, and it seems like every day there is something happening to derail me.  My challenge is going to be finding the time to make this happen and taking control of my schedule before it takes control of me!

Our official training for the 10 mile run started about a month ago.  We try to meet with our coach every two weeks, and we have been learning stretches, philosophy, and sharing hopes and fears.  We even got to run barefoot in the grass over at the Capitol grounds.  Our assignment this weekend was to run a mile (outside, not on a treadmill) and time our mile.  So Carolina and I went to the track at Millersburg High School (her school and my alma mater) to run ours.  It’s been raining and yucky all week, and this weekend added chilly temperatures to the mix.  On our walk up to the school, we were both freezing and chatting about how we couldn’t wait to be back home and take hot showers.

The mile was tougher than I thought it would be.   I ran the first two laps (well, not really a “run” but more of a “steady jog”), walked the third, and then ran/walked the last lap.  My time was 12:07.  I was super proud of Carolina.  She had a much faster pace for her run and would run about a half lap and then walk a half lap.  Her time was 10:46.  She wasn’t really winded at all, whereas it took me half the walk home to get my breath back.

I really can’t believe I’m going to be doing that times ten when we run the 10 miler, but we have six months to get ready for it, and Charles is a great coach, so I am going to try my best to put my doubts and fears to the side and put my trust in him.  I really want to be able to do this!