Those are the words that kept going through my mind for the FULL 2 MILES I JUST RAN NON-STOP!!! HOORAY FOR ME! Goals are good. I've been walking and walking and walking for the past 10 weeks and honestly, walking was getting pretty damn boring. Around and Around and Around I go... not really going anywhere. I thought Mary was going to kick my ass into shape this past weekend and get my little tail moving some more because, well, my exercise regime has become a little routine and monotonous. Now, don't get me wrong, I really really REALLY like walking now, but sometimes you need to switch it up in life and NOW is the time. Well, it seemed like Mary was looking for a little more vacation than I was looking to get my butt in gear so we really just walked on Saturday and Sunday (and secretly, I really didn't want her to kick my arss).
Tiff has been pushing me (well actually gently nudging me) to start running and has been talking about doing 5K road races starting in August. Well... the idea of running 3.125 miles sounds really good, that is IF you are somewhat of an experience runner, and that's a big IF. I do have to admit that when I first moved down here to the dirty dirty I was so bored from the lack of friends and work that I was running on a daily basis anywhere from 2 - 5 miles and I was LOVING it, but as soon as I got a J-O-B there suddenly wasn't any time for running (funny how that happens). I know I can do it, but I'm also a ton heavier than I was 6 years ago and it takes a lot more energy and strength to move this body. Well, I was determined to break out of the exercise mold and made up my mind on my way home from work that I would attempt to jog today. I didn't set a goal in terms of length, rather just confirmed to myself that after walking for the last 10 weeks that surely I have built up enough strength and stamina to jog at least a little bit. Now again, I admit that I'm no expert when it comes to jogging, in fact, I'm such an analytical person that I googled the proper way to jog, watched an informative video paying close attention to how the foot should land and the position of the torso while taking strides - NO, I'M NOT JOKING, learned that jogging on a cement sidewalk is terrible for jogging because of the hardness of the ground, and headed off to Boiling Park where I hear there is a gravel path that you can run.
I got to the park and after going over what seemed like an endless amount of speed bumps I came to a parking area where I could only image was the gravel path. Fortunately enough an older couple was getting into their car and I politely asked if this was where the path was. They were kind enough to point me over the small bridge and explained that there are markers along the path for the 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and 1 mile points. I thanked them, headed over the bridge and started to stretch out those rusty muscles. I started out walking for the first 1/8th of the mile and then got my jog on... I started jogging and before I knew it... I was all the way back around to the starting point... the devil in my head said... "YAY, the mile is over, now we can stop and go home" while the angel in my head said... "That was the easiest mile EVER... do another" good prevailed over evil and on I went to circle back around. The second mile was a little harder towards the end, in fact I had slowed down to a snails pace and the two gentlemen who were about a 1/2 mile behind me at the start of the 2nd mile had actually begun to lap me... but who was I racing? Them? NO! Myself? NO! Just the sense of accomplishment was more than a HUGE WIN for me! HOORAY FOR ME! I Rocked it!
Now I'll be super comfortable when I can keep up my running for the rest of July and get all trained an toned for the Road Race (and yes.. there will be a bunch of pictures of me crossing the finish line, if I have to drag my husband’s butt out of bed at 7am on a Saturday morning myself).
Sorry for the long dry spell in posts, been busy with work and my new "Active Lifestyle". Talk to you all later gators!
2 comments:
YOU ARE SUCH A STAR! OK, let's make another deal: get yourself up a bit in mileage (don't increase more than 10% per week to avoid injury) and I'll come down (or you come up) so we can do a 10k together.
Jeesh Lizzybean!! You're one tough cookie!! I'm soooooo proud of you!
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