193.5 to go...

Thanks to the generosity of a couple at my church, I am now registered for the Go! St. Louis half marathon. This means I MUST start training for it.

As you probably know from my lack of posting about running and talking about running, I haven't been running. I went out about a week ago for a 3 1/2 mile run and actually felt pretty good. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn't as bad as I had imagined.

Today was it... the day I officially started training. I ran 3 miles. At first I thought, only three! I can do that. I've done 13 this is nothing. But then I actually started running. I'm trying to knock a cold I got on Christmas Eve. Nothing is worse to me than trying to run while sick. I made it by walking several times. But, I made it.

I'm really excited for this race and training season. It's sad how horribly I take care of myself. But, I'm shocked at how my mindset changes when I have something to work towards. Now all of a sudden I'm thinking about what foods I'm taking in and how much water I'm drinking.

So, I've started. Only 193.5 miles to go till race day (math that really shouldn't have been done)!!

trail subscription

For the past three months I've received a trial subscription to Runner's World. Go! St. Louis sold my name and address and I couldn't thank them more. They've convinced me to shell out the $20 for the two year subscription. One of my co-workers also received the subscrition and read an article about the New York City New Years' race and is now obsessed with running one. Apparently St. Louis is not offering a race of this magnitude. That's not stopping her... she e-mailed Fleet Feet, SLTC, Ghisallo Running, Big River Running, etc to ask if they'd be interested in such a race. I have a feeling I'll be running in the new year this year! She told me I was broke and alone which meant I had nothing to do over this holiday. While I do have something to do, I guess I can wear black and/or white running cloths to the Black & White Ball I was going to go to and take off from there.

one month...

It's official... training starts in one month.

That means the Go! St. Louis (half) Marathon is only 22 weeks away. Which coincidentally means I've got to get my but off of the couch* and start training again. I haven't registered yet. Actually I'll start training trusting that someone will pay for my registration fees. It's on the Christmas list.

I went for a run yesterday. It was awesome! It's getting chilly now and dark ridiculously early. I could have headed out earlier and avoided the dust to dark run, but I've only been getting about 4 hours of sleep a night and really needed that nap. As the sun was setting, I got into this running trance as I listened to my breathing and feet scurrying through the fall leaves hitting the pavement. At one point I had to take my headphones out so I could enjoy the oh so brief moment of running bliss.

There comes a time in one's life when you realize you need to start taking better care of your muscles. Today that moment came as I was putting (or trying) to put on my shoes. I know... I'm 26 years old,putting on my shoes shouldn't cause major injury, but damn I got a charlie horse. I've gotten several in my day** and still don't know exactly how you're supposed to take care of these things in the moment. I get that I need to eat more bananas, but while you are cussing like a sailor and hobbling around, what exactly are you supposed to do?

This brings me to another point... I like taking risks. Like the risk I take every time I walk out the door for a run. My shoes are past the point of supportive. I need new shoes. I'm risking injury. They're on my Christmas list too. Goodnight I hope my family thinks practical this year.

Well, as you can probably tell from the randomness, I really need to get to bed...

* and by couch I mean make time to actually run. It's another job and I've already got two of those. I'm tired all the time.
** including a rather embarrassing and humorous story of having the flu and losing all control of bodily functions.

Back in the Saddle!

Or should I say shoes!

Today I went for a run... first one in over a week. Can I say it felt great!! I love it...

I thought of a few things while running. Running is really one of the ways I worship God. It's funny to say that considering most of the time I just black out and think of nothing. But, I think that's a form of worship (not all but part of worship).... allowing yourself to just be. Turning off your brain and letting your mind go. Other times* I stop (not literally) take a moment and experience what's around me... the fall day, beautiful weather, the city that I love, etc. So, while I was running today I pondered this and since I'm in community group mood I thought about how I could best bring this to group. You see, one of the main aspects of community groups at my church is worship. This means on Wednesday my group and I will be taking a 5 mile run together so I can demonstrate how I worship God!! Yea, that's what I think about while I run... it makes me giggle** a bit!!

Since this blog has become less and less about training, I'll go off tangent a bit more. Today I finished a little house project of mine... the b/w wall!! I really like it... check it out!

before... hodge podge of random pictures, medal, fliers, and sticker.



after... LOVE IT!!


*typically during that short period where my breathing is centered and I'm not in pain
** that is until I lose conscientiousness from not being able to breath

Another Non-Training Post

Considering I've gotten 6 hours of sleep the last two nights combined, I don't feel that bad about not running. But, what to post about. Another fun little home project!!!

I LOVE FALL!!!! And, my grandpa and his garden!!!!

When I went home last I collected three ears of Indian corn. I'm not exactly sure what Indian corn is good for other than decoration. But... this is what I came up with!



It kind of makes a creepy shadow from the other side...

mmmmm protein!!

I didn't get that run in at the folks like I was hoping too. Time just flew by and I was much busier than I thought I was. That meant today I was back out after several days off. I feel like I'm becoming much smoother with my stride which makes me feel like I've increased my pace as well. Today was one of the most annoying runs of my life. I'm not sure if this happens every year, but the number of bugs flying into my face, mouth, nose, and eyes has doubled no quadrupled!!! It was the grosses thing ever.

Does this happen every year? Can anyone really run with their mouth closed?

Tangent

Who cares that the title of this blog is "in training?!" I'm not "training" for any particular race right now, which means I get the chance to blog about whatever I dang well feel like it. As inspired by Kara, I have a little house project. You see, I've been working weird hours lately (4 days on 5 days off, 3 days on, 2 days off). And, I didn't know what to do with myself. What else is a girl to do but throw crap away. After getting rid of an entire dresser worth of clothing it was time to rearrange the bedroom, a task which has never been done in this apartment. Here's how it turned out!

I moved my bed under the window (still not sure if I like it there) and moved the bench in from the living room.

My bed was orginally where the two column dresser is now. I always use those little art deals as a make shift headboard, but I think I like them there too.


Until I can have a place of my own or we move and get an office, my office must be in my bedroom. I'm planning on developing a bunch of my pictures in b/w and put them all on that board to make a b/w wall.

Okay, this isn't in my bedroom, but I bought a shoe organizer and moved these shelves to the kitchen. Now I'll never get angry about not finding the lid again!!

I'm off to Illinois for the second leg of Steve's funeral tour. Hopefully I'll at least get one run in while I'm up there.