I'm a really fast walker. Bionic-Woman fast. I walk to and from work every day, year round. It's about a mile and a half each way, and I generally walk each way in 18-25 minutes, depending on weather/stoplights/slooooow pedestrians/etc. And that's my LEISURELY pace. Seriously, my stroll looks like I'm on a moving sidewalk compared to everyone else.
In high school I was into sports, and since high school was only about 6ish years ago, I like to think I'm still "in shape". So, the fact that I used to be athletic and currently walk like the hounds of hell are nipping at my heels, I figured maybe I could be a runner.
I've mentioned my Aunt Tracy before... she's a runner! She has been telling me that it's in our blood- we are runners- and that I need to get going and realize that I, too, am a runner. My closest girlfriends- and there are about 4 of em- all runners! Whaa? I don't like being left out. One night we were all sitting around talking about running- because all these broads signed up for either the half or full Chicago Marathon this year!- and me, being a lil tipsy and therefore more likely to agree to something, decided to start running! Signing up for a marathon (26 miles!) or even a halfsie (13 miles) was too scary imagine, so I signed up the very next day for a 5k.
April 23rd I'm running the Wrigley Start Early Run (http://www.startearlyrun.com/) and I'm excited, with a dash of nervous and a sprinkle of fear. I missed a week and a half of training because I was sick, but I'm back on schedule, almost completely caught up.
My best friend Amanda (one of those pesky runners) asked a bunch of people to describe their running experiences for a educational project she's working on, and here was my input:
3.24.11 Running Thoughts
So far, I've only been running for about a month and I honestly don't know what the hell I'm doing. I'm trying to be smart and healthy but for all I know I'm straining my knee and it's going to explode mid-stride or I'm running slightly hunched and I'm creating back pain for the rest of my life. I'm just not sure.
I started running because I had an annoying itch in my skull and tingle in my body to be more active. I'm super cheap so joining a gym was out of the question, even though I really do enjoy working out. My aunt started running about a year ago, extremely new to the sport. She hadn't run in high school, hadn't even been involved in sports.She took to it quickly and got better with every single run. Within months she decided to sign up for a half marathon. She kept telling me that it's in our blood, we're good runners if we'd just get out there and do it.
Then came January 1, 2011 and it seems like every single one of my female friends' New Years Resolutions was to run either the half or full marathon this year. Not that I'm a follower, but I do like to be included. I decided to commit to a 5k about 2 months out. Though I haven't really ran since high school, and even then it was just a few laps before sports practice, I like to believe I'm in relatively good cardiovascular shape. I walk a minimum of 3 miles a day at an insanely brisk pace, which is far from "in shape"....but I'm no couch potato.
So far my runs have been anything but uniform. I ran outside a few times with no ipod, old shoes, and an 8 year old sports bra. Then I ran on a treadmill with music blaring, staring out a window and doing an occasional dance move because I was so pumped and feelin fly. After running inside a few times and doing better and better, doing my 2 miles faster and faster, I decided to start running outside for my 6 week 5k training. I bought new running shoes! A new sports bra!! I suited up and went out for a run with confidence and swagger....and bombed. Burning lungs, aching legs, blurred vision, numb toes. I couldn't turn my mind off and just enjoy the ride...I had to keep pep talking myself so I wouldn't collapse on the next bench I saw. "You can do it! You're doing awesome! You can slow down but you can't stop! You're halfway there!" It's been rough. I know I'm new to this and I just need to find my stride- literally and figuratively- but I have a feeling finding it isn't going to be as easy as I hoped.
Since I'm a newbie (and a lil intimidated by running where a lot of people will see me making a fool of myself while I learn how to do this) I've been running around the cemetery near my apartment. To me, it's ideal because it's almost exactly 2 miles around and that's a good starting distance for me to strive to run "easily". Once I can go around the cemetery like it's nothing, I'll feel more confident and I'll know I'm making progress. There are also no stop lights or through-traffic, so I don't have to stop/look/cross streets and add the worry of getting hit by a car to the already-mounting list of fears (my knee exploding, asthma attack, passing out from the strobe-light effect of the sun beaming through the cemetery's surrounding gate...)
I'm motivated by my aunt and my friends. I feel their support and encouragement and I want to make them proud. I'm also motivated by the $35 I spent on my first 5k. Like I said earlier, I'm cheap. I can't let that money go to waste-- I'm going to train and work and push myself and do well, because dammit, I didn't pay $35 to run in front of a huge crowd and look like a pathetic idiot who thought 2 months ago that running 3 miles would be cherry pie. I'm also motivated to improve my health and lifestyle. I went vegetarian about 7 months ago and I've been flirting with being vegan for the last few months. I only have one body and I'm as young as I'll ever be and I need to take care of myself now so I don't have a host of medical problems later to deal with. Through my diet and exercise now, at age 25, I know I'm looking out for 50-year-old Susan and she'll thank me for it. (Unless I pulverize my knee or give myself chronic back problems because I'm running like a goober.)
Those were my thoughts a little over a week ago. On my very next run, after missing a week and a half of running because I was sick, I had the best run yet! A daunting 2.25 miles- and within 30 seconds my headphones popped out of my Zune and the music stopped! I wasn't going to stop literally 30 seconds after I started just to fix my music...so...I was stuck. With my own thoughts. I tried to sing in my head. No good. I tried to remember old monologues I have memorized. Couldn't focus. Maybe I could pray. BAM!
I prayed for 2 miles and it was unreal. I usually have problems pacing myself, regulating my breathing, staying focused... at the end of my run I was SMILING, and practically skipped home. This is what we call a breakthrough. :)
