Against the wind

Remember that old Bob Seger song "Against the Wind"

"Against the wind
Im still runnin against the wind
Well Im older now and still
Against the wind"

That is what I felt like this morning. I felt lucky when i woke up and it was 60 degrees outside and it was NOT raining. I was feeling great until I hit my 3rd mile and I turned against a fierce wind and I felt like I was running in place. I came home to hear Brett Anthony say there was a wind advisory out and there were reports of 60 mph winds in Lee's Summit (where I live). Unfortunately my time was a bit off for this run and i am blaming it on the rain wind.

I did feel good about the 4 mile this morning though. It is crazy to think that 4 miles is now my "short" run. I remember not too long ago when I was "in it to finish it" during the 4-mile zoo run.

I will also be traveling to STL this weekend to watch my BFF run in the STL marathon. This will be her first marathon and she is hoping to finish in 4 hours. CRAZY! (Hasn't she heard of cars?!?) I think I will be doing my 7 mile run in Forest Park. My BF, Jim has offered to run the half marathon at my side which is saying a lot b/c he is all legs and could easily lap me. I think I will take him up on his offer. Last week I let him run with me and I set some rules: #1 no passing me #2 no talking. With half a mile left he starts in with:

Jim: "oh, they have a pool over here?"
Me: "yeah"
Jim: "blah, blah, blah, blah"
Me: "NO TALKING!"

Despite this breaking of the rules, I think he is a good running partner and I think I ran better having him with me (even if he did run behind me the entire time).

Scary Seven

So.....I'm really starting to get nervous about this 7 mile run. I would love to do it together, but I'm attempting it Friday morning. Saturday, I'm going to St. Louis with a group of friends. One of them is running the St. Louis half marathon with another friend of ours who lives there. She just had a baby last fall and has been training for the run to get back in shape. Since we haven't seen her new kiddo yet, we thought it would be a great excuse for all the girls to get together and cheer them on. Maybe it will even inspire me to keep going with this ridiculous idea of running a half marathon myself.

As I was running this morning I kept thinking, 4 miles is now my short run?! That's insanity! It was also insane that I even got through it considering the weekend I had. For the past 5 years, a group of friends and I have gotten together in Iowa City for our traditional April Fool's bar crawl. Since everyone is spread out all over the country, this is really the only time of year we get to see each other. Somehow, each year manages to top the previous. But, it's getting harder to bounce back. Pretending you're a carefree college student isn't so easy anymore. We rent hotel rooms, drink through our hangovers, dance like we're at George's (MU folks will get the reference) and shove our faces with pokey sticks from Gumby's Pizza. By the time the weekend is over and I'm driving 5 hours home with the hangover from hell, I tell myself I will NEVER drink again! (well, at least until next weekend) But hey, at least I came back with a kickass barcrawl shirt, 2 new fabulous gay boyfriends and pictures that can only be shown to a select few (let's just say most of them include go-go dancers in tighty-whities and glowsticks.)

7 Mile Run

Ok -- I'm already thinking about next Saturday's long run, and trying to come up with a route. I'll post a map of one I created, but I have no idea what it's like to run, since I've never been to some of those streets. I'd like to try to run together, for whoever wants to. If you have a different route you'd like to try, I'm all for it. I'm thinking mid-morningish... like 9 or 10am, since it will take an hour or more and I'd like to get it over with by noon. Afterwards, I'm going for a pedicure!

Getting High

Just wanted to post a link to this article in the New York Times. I've felt kinda weird when running before, but I wouldn't classify it as a "runner's high." More like, "My whole body feels weird tingles and is almost numb." What about you?

Down the Drain

Water and Drain
Originally uploaded by Royal_Rivers

Today's workout was terrible. It really psucked (notice the silent "p" for extra emphasis). I just couldn't get the energy to get through the 3 miles. I did 2.5 and that was a struggle. I think it's because I am not feeding myself the right foods for energy... choosing to eat junk instead. For the next week I'm really going to try to make it my goal to eat well so this doesn't happen again.

Back in the (blogging) saddle...

Sorry that it has been so long since my last post, honestly I have been in a basketball zone the last two weeks, starting with the Big-12 tournament. The event was great, despite KU winning! The new Power and Light district downtown is just what our city needed. Also, I got to try 14 different types of beer, yes, many of them more than once!!! And the NCAA tourney has been great as well, oh, and I am preparing for my (not one but two) fantasy baseball drafts this weekend...I know, I am a nerd!

Anyway, my despite other things going on, my training is back on course. Saturday I did 7 miles, including a couple of crazy hills! The next day my quads were quite sore...needless to say, Easter came at a perfect time!

I did want to mention my nipples, but only briefly because I am sure most of you don't care...but why do they have to hurt??? I guess they are beginning to chafe, which apparently means "to make sore by rubbing"...but I don't rub them, I start sweating, and they start hurting! I feel like Andy from "The Office" when the group runs their 5k fun run for rabies...fortunately mine haven't begun to bleed yet! Lets hope it gets warm soon and stays warm, because then we all can run topless!!! Who's in????

A week to slow down

Last week's 6 mile run was a challenge - but I am definitely proud of myself for accomplishing it. What seemed like a near-impossible task (especially after my terrible 5 mile run the week before) was actually a lot easier than I imagined. Each mile I kept telling myself "hey - you're okay, you won't collapse, keep going!" and I did. Even on the particularly nasty hill toward the end.

This is a week to take it easy, so I'm going to. I pushed my own schedule back a day because my gym was closed on Easter, so I am doing weights M,W,F and running T,R,S. But I'm going to play around the Map my Run this week to find a good 4-mile route since most of what I've been running is the same 3-miler.

I also want to check out a book I read about in my Women's Health magazine. It's called Brain Training for Runners. It's supposed to help you figure out how to push yourself just far enough that you are running at full potential, without going too fast too soon. It's not at the KC Public Library, so I'll have to go to Borders or Barnes and Noble to see if it's worth the $15 cover price.

On a side note, I found this video a week or so ago and thought I'd share. This guy is 101 years old and running a marathon, and makes a stop to drink a Guinness. Do you think there are any pit stops like this at HH?

Beautiful Day

Yesterday I was unable to do my 3 mile run because I helped my sister pack for her big move to Colorado. I was bumming pretty hard about her going away, but today was just what I needed. The sun was shining and it felt like 70 degrees out! Running on the trail snapped me out of the seasonal disorder I've had since November. It was nice to see people and their pets out enjoying the first day of spring. After the run, I wanted to sit on a patio and drink for the rest of this amazing day. That would probably be counterproductive to the training though :( If...I mean *when* I complete the half marathon, I'm going to sit on that patio and drink a gallon of margaritas to celebrate the major accomplishment (and to also dull the pain my body will be feeling for the next several days I'm sure.) Until then, enjoy the weather while it lasts and good luck everyone with the 6 mile run!

A little bit of motivation

After a couple weeks of full-on excitement, the "everydayness" of training has set in. I still enjoy running, and am always proud of myself when I am finished, but getting up to go isn't as much fun as it used to be. So I guess it was good timing when I got this e-mail from the race director. Here's part of it:

Is this your first race? Are you excited? Nervous? Happy? Unsure? All of the above? That is ok, those feelings are normal. My first half marathon was the Indy Mini Half Marathon in 2004. I had completed many triathlons up to that point, but I thought running longer than 6.2 miles was crazy – didn’t these people know of cars? I signed up and started training. I did my long runs on Saturday, my speed work on Wednesday and tried to get a few workouts in on my own during the week. I wanted to stop many times, I was tired, it was hot and I was sure I couldn't do it, but when I crossed the finish line, they called my name and put a medal around my neck, I knew I could accomplish anything. I pushed myself when I was hot and tired, I trained when I wanted to sleep and I set a goal and met it. I won’t promise you a perfect training season or even a perfect race, but I will promise you that when the volunteer puts the finisher’s medal around your neck, it will change you!

Happy Running!

Bring on the pain

So in my last post I told you about my gorgeous new shoes and now I am telling you about the pain of starting new shoes - shin splits. I went running outdoors last week (when it was 75 degrees) in my new shoes. Running on a new surface (the sidewalk) combined with breaking in new shoes brought on the pain.

Luckily, I have a friend at work who was a big basketball player in high school and college. She was no stranger to shin splits. Shin splits are caused by the muscle trying to pull away from your shin bone. So, the first thing my friend had me do was to tape up my leg for running. Here is what it looks like:





Basicall you tape from one side of your shin to the other but not across your shin. This helps keep the muscle next to the bone when you run. I found this very helpful over the last few days.

The other helpful thing for any sports injury is an ice bath. Now let me say this may be as painful as the workout itself. On Friday I took my first ice bath in about 10 years. I live in a condo so I share walls with my neighbors and they must have thought I was a) having some really rough sex or b) I was being killed because all I could scream/moan was "oh god! oh god! the pain! oh god!" After the first minute your legs go numb and you can actually read a book or whatever while you are in the tub. This helps to reduce the inflamation of your injury. It has helped me over the past few days but the initial shock of the ice bath does not go away.

Happy running!

Back to Blogging

I really need to spend some time sitting down and composing my thoughts, since it's been a few days since I blogged. But I have to be at the gym in 20 minutes, and then go to work, so I'll just share a few random thoughts.

I LOVED being outside in the sunshine yesterday. It felt amazing to run in shorts and a T-shirt, outside, for the first time in a while. I can't wait until that's a regular activity. The 3 miles I ran (in 28 minutes) wasn't bad at all, and I actually felt like I could have run more -- but didn't because I don't want to "overtrain." Which is ironic, since later in the day I found a New York Times article about the same thing. Take a look. It says you don't have to be a world-class athlete to be a victim of overtraining. I think this has actually happened to me before, and eventually I end up not working out for several weeks before I feel better.

In other news, it's only about 3 1/2 weeks before I go to Vegas! I'm really excited about it. The Saturday before we leave is a 7-mile day... Hopefully we can all run outside together somewhere. Then afterwards, I'm going to get a pedicure! :-) I promise I'll run at least once while I'm on vacation, probably at the hotel's gym (even though it costs money to workout there). I'll have to burn off all that alcohol somehow, right?

I am back!

To quote Christian from PR, I am about to get "fierce" about this whole training thing! My five day stint of drinking Pinot while watching for celebs at Laguna Beach is unfortunately over. So sad...that place is amazing and completely ridiculous at the same time!

Anyway, I just arrived from the sunny shores of vacay in CA last night, and I am so happy that I finally get to step off of the stupid treadmill at the Y to get back to the trolley trail! Thank heavens the sun is finally shining in KC...I thought I was going to have to join a SAD support group.

I am so proud of myself though. I ran for three days of vacation which was actually pretty decent considering the chaos of different sleep schedules, etc. My runs on the beach were just fantastic...I LOVED listening to the ocean in lieu of my Ipod. I mapped my run this morning(I'm addicted...www.mapmyrun.com)to see how far I went, and it was six miles a day! Whoa...I thought it was about three! I know for a fact that it must have been the increase in daylight and melatonin! Needless to say, I went for a jog on the trail tonight after work, and 4.5 felt like 10! KC is definitely not California! Oh well!

I'm excited to get back to a regular training schedule and back to Pilates. I'm even starting this crazy ballet class soon. I know...first sewing...now ballet...I've got to get a life!

Oh, I forgot. While I was on the west coast, I got this great idea. I want to run the full marathon in San Francisco in August. My brother lives there, and I think training for HH will help me get to that next point. The races are about two months apart, so I think I might have time to train. I hear SF is a difficult race though with a TON of hills. Yikes! I might have to pick an easier course for a beginner. It's probably just an idea though...I'm sure I'll regain sanity in a few days when the sunshine wears off!

Happy mid-week running!

If the shoe fits...

They just arrived today. I couldn't wait. I immediately slipped them on my feet and they feel great. I know I am not supposed to wear them except for running but damn I like these shoes.


Now, I didn't get them just because they are pretty (although that was nice). My old shoes are pretty beat up and this is the next model up from my old shoes. They are the New Balance 767.

Hopefully this will help motivate me to keep going. There have been a few mornings where during the last mile of the run I think "really? 13 miles? without being chased by bears or mountain lions?" Then I soon remember that I have 12 weeks of training left before the race and I should be able to pull this rabbit out of my ass a hat by then.

"Runaway" mentioned getting red in the face while running. After my run this morning I went to the bathroom at the gym to weigh myself. OMG! I looked like a hot mess! My face was beet red and I had sweat dripping from my ears. Not kidding - can ears really sweat?


R.I.P. NB766s




PS - while watching Forest Gump last night I heard a good running song that most of you probably have on your ipod - "Go Your Own Way" by Fleetwood Mac. The song is about leaving a bad relationship but you can totally make it about running. :)

Magically Magenta

Ok, so I made it through week 1 and I feel pretty good about it. I did my four mile run on Saturday on the treadmill at my gym. It was taxing, and I am pretty sure one of the trainers thought I was going to pass out because he kept walking by me, and looking at me intently. I know there's no way he found me attractive, because I looked pretty scary. When I completed the run I checked myself out and had to do a double take. My face was a fierce shade of magenta. I always seem to get pretty red, and I am not sure why. Does anyone else's face turn into a tomato when you run?

Day 1... a week late

I'm FINALLY back at it. After being sick all week last week (I'm still not fully recovered), I made it back to the gym today. I ran 3 miles, but had to walk some. Being sick really wiped me out, and made it really tough today. But at least I went!

It's supposed to be GREAT weather the rest of the week, so I'll be able to run outside. I'm really excited about that. I'm supposed to run in a race this weekend. The 4 mile St. Patrick's Day run in Westport is Saturday. I've never run it before, and it's not quite the 5 miles we are scheduled for, but I think I'm going to make an exception.

Good luck this week!

Week 2...

Today started week 2 of our training...again, up at 5:00 and sleepwalking my way to the gym by 5:30...it was a productive day though, 4 miles on the track and about 45 minutes of lifting. I should probably update everybody a little about how I got to this point. I am running a little ahead of schedule (like the 6 miles I ran on Saturday) not to be Joe-cool or anything, but rather because I have been running on a regular basis since mid-December when I started training for the Groundhog run 10k! That is one of my favorite runs, probably because it is just different. That run went well for me and I have been staying with it since then knowing that I would do HH 1/2 marathon in June. People ask me (mostly my married friends with kids) "why are you doing that?" or they just tell me, "you're crazy"...to each I reply, "it is good, and fun, to have a goal". Obviously that is what we all have in mind when we got this "crazy" idea, to succeed at something we haven't previously done! Sure we have all ran, and worked out, and ran 5k's, but this is different, not everybody can or chooses to run this long and far, as well as put in the 3-months worth of training to accomplish it! I applaud all of us for making it through week 1, and here's to 13 more!!! Next time I will address a "sensitive" topic (literally)...nipples!

Cheers!

I am pretty proud of myself for running my 4 miles today, even if it was on the treadmill. Despite having a near-sleepless night, I made myself get up and go to the gym. I managed to run all four miles at a steady pace. I watched the new Bravo show "The Real Housewives of New York City" while I was running, which was interesting.

I think I was too proud of myself, however, because I celebrated by drinking one too many mimosa's at a wedding shower later in the afternoon. My head is now killing me, and I have another wedding shower this evening. I'm laying off the alcohol for that one.

My weight training is going well too. Tomorrow I start a new "stage" of the program, so I'll be lifting different and heavier weights in more sets with fewer reps.

I ran 4 miles!!

Okay, so this is my first blog....EVER!! I don't even know if I'm doing it right. When I first signed up for it at work, I actually used my real name for the screen ID. Luckily, some of my co-workers advised me against that and we had a good time coming up with an alternative.

This year, I'm serious about the Hostpial Hill run. Just hearing everyone's stories has inspired me to get my butt in gear and just do it!! Really, what else do I have to do? I've been following this week's training schedule, but since I'm unable to run the 4 miles Saturday, I went ahead and did it today. I hadn't done 4 miles in quite a while, but a night of pigging out on Chinese food gave me plenty of energy and motivation this morning to get it off my thighs!! I didn't do any intervals, just the slow, steady 6.0 pace, no incline. I can't believe I'm going to admit this, but while I was running on the treadmill at the gym, I watched Days of Our Lives. Pathetic, I know. But I found reading the closed captioning while listening to some good tunes actually made the time go by quicker. Usually, I'm not able to multi-task like that, but for some reason it worked today.

As for music, I thought I would share some of my picks that help get me going. Someone was talking about Kanye West's "Stronger"...which I LOVE to listen to while I run (so does my mom). But there's another song of his that you should add to your playlist. It's called "Kanye's Workout Plan" and trust me...the lyrics make you want to run "harder, better, faster, stronger :) " Part of the song goes,

"That's right put in work
Move your ass, go wizzerk
Eat your salad, no dessert
Get that man you deserve"

"All the mocha lattes you gotta do Pilates
You gotta pop this tape in before you start back dating Hustlers, gangstas, all us, ballas"

Really, any Kanye song is good to run to. I also like Black Eyed Peas "Pump It", Jamirouquai's "Main Vein" and "Canned Heat," Basement Jaxx's "Where's Your Head At?" and Outkast's "Bombs Over Baghdad"

Did I mention I HATE THE WEATHER? I can't wait until it gets warmer because if I have to run 6 miles on the treadmill.....I will just flip.

iLove my iPod

I don't know how people do it - running without an iPod. I must have tunes to motivate me to not turn right around and run my arse home. In fact, I have gotten ready for a workout and right before I get going I realize my iPod is dead - I might as well have two broken ankles b/c my butt is only going to the couch.

That being said - what is the one tune that gets you pumped? That song that comes on that makes your stride longer, your heartbeat increase and makes your workout that much better?

For me there are two songs right now that make me go from jiggly to jiggy - "Stronger" by Kanye West (how can you not get pumped by "what don't kill me can only make me stronger") and an old rap song by Young MC "Bust a Move".

ps - I am secretly stealing your ideas to help fill my iPod with running songs - 13 miles is a lot of songs. :)

Morning Shake

I'm not a big breakfast person, but I do like a good smoothie. This one is my favorite, not only because it's tasty, but it's pretty easy to make too. It's just frozen strawberries, frozen blueberries (about twice as many strawberries as blueberries), a scoop of whey protein powder (I use the EAS - vanilla flavor), and some water. To make it more like a "milkshake," add a packet of splenda and one tablespoon of heavy whipping cream. MMMM!! I'm not sure about how many calories it has, but it's probably around 200, which isn't bad for breakfast, and it's got 17 grams of protein, so it's a good way to finish off a tough workout.

Speaking of, I ran another 3 miles on the treadmill this morning. Because the treadmill tends to get really boring (as turtle7 pointed out), I try to mix it up. Today I did speed intervals, going from 5.0 pace to a 7.0 pace in a 5-minute period, then repeating that 6 times. It definitely got my heart rate up. Monday, my average heart rate was 158. Today, it was 178. I ran the same distance, in the same amount of time, but today was definitely harder.

In other news, as someone who is constantly watching the scale, I found this really interesting. Basically, all my worrying about losing weight is making me sick. What do you guys think?

I'm really enjoying reading everyone's posts. If there's anyone else you'd like to invite to join the blog, e-mail me.

Sick, sick, sick

While everyone else is hitting up the gym... I'm stuck at home... sick. Of course this happens to me the first week of training! I was hoping I would feel better enough today to go to the gym, but I don't think that's going to happen. Soon I hope.

I'll be honest, I'd already started the half-marathon training. It was supposed to be at the end of March. But... I stopped. Bad, I know. I was halfway through the training. I started getting shin splints constantly... and I got completely sick of running indoors. That's why I know I'm going to do better this time around. Because I can run outside.

And I have all of people making sure I do it! Now if I can just get rid of this cough...

Day 3...a new record

Day 3 of training brought a new record, I was at the gym for 2 1/2 hours, and no, it wasn't because I passed out and had to go to the nurses station till I woke up or anything like that! The workout was this, 23 minutes on the elliptical trainer (why 23 I have no idea), then a lot of lifting (shoulders, chest, back, blah, blah, blah) then I ran 4 miles! Easily the longest I have ever been at the gym...of course in college I had days where I would be at the rec. center playing basketball for 5 or 6 hours instead of studying, thus leading to the luxurious life of TV news (you know, bad hours, work every holiday, all for little pay). 5:30 a.m. till 8:00, it is strange going to the gym when it's dark then coming out when it is light, just doesn't seem right...oh well, it was a good workout. While there my wife decided to pay the $40 and become a regular in the 5:45 M/W/F spinning class she has been going to, so I guess I can look forward to a few more early mornings, at least until, like all the rest of us, I can get outside and run instead of the 40 laps around the track which becomes more of an obstacle course dodging in and out of the different paced walkers, and of course those walkers that like to stick to the outside, also known as the running lane!!! Okay, it is time for a nap...see you all on Thursday for another round of running!

Running for a Reason

So this is my first blog. I've avoided joining the blogging universe to this point, but desperate times-- call for desperate measures...

I am desperate. I am probably the most unmotivated bride on the planet. My wedding is in a mere 101 days. 101!!! And yet, I still find myself evading the gym, eating junk and simply pretending like I still have a ton of time to magically drop 20 pounds.

I have dreams of looking amazing in my wedding dress-- and looking even better in a brand new bikini on a beautiful beach in Aruba. But then I wake up, and reality sets in. My arms are flabby, my butt is big and my thighs are scary.

Yet, up until now, I've done absolutely nothing about it. Well... I say nothing... because I've seen zero results. Of course, I only have myself to blame. Sure I've tried a few diets, gone to the gym sporadically... but I haven't gotten serious about this whole exercise thing.

So... that brings me to this blog... and this amazingly ambitious goal I've now set for myself. The weekend before my nuptials I will run a HALF-MARATHON. There, it's in writing. No backing out now!

Running the race is really my secondary goal. I am hoping all the training I need to commit to will whip me into shape and transform my body in just 101 days. I am not expecting a miracle, but I am hoping for some positive results. A tighter ass, a flatter tummy, leaner legs.

I am not a runner. I don't enjoy exercise in general. I would much rather take my dog for a walk or curl up with a good book. But it's time to realize that if I don't want to be a whale, I have to work at it. Hopefully, this training plan and all of you will help keep me focused and motivated.

And then when I walk down the aisle... certain places won't be quite so jiggly!

Creaky Bones...

Anyone who tells you that aging is beautiful is a "bleeping" liar.

I am so embarrassed by my recent battle against time. I woke up early thanks to my adorable canine alarm clock at 4:40 a.m. and hauled my crazy hair to the gym for a quick run and morning Pilates with the old ladies...you know...the ones that take water aerobics. My overly energetic instructor in her mid-50s began to warm up the class with simple bends and stretches. All of a sudden, my ankles popped so loudly that I swore something tore. I'm not sure what...that's why I failed biology and have opted for a life in communications. Anyway, something seemed to pop, but I was still standing. After that, I got into a child's pose. My embarrassment continued. My back popped about ten times and sounded like I was crushing aluminum cans between my vertebrae. At this point, the old ladies were looking at me. My instructor was laughing. She said, "Feeling a little creaky today, Carla?" I felt like I was 90. I thought perhaps my wobbles were gone, but I was wrong. Once we hit the exercises that involved knees and hips, I was in big trouble. Finally, my instructor started laughing. I told her that I felt like I had been locked in a box for a week. Needless to say, my embarrassment could have been worse. I could have some of the gaseous embarrassments that evolve from my classmates. I haven't hit that low yet. Wonder when it starts? I just felt a little odd as the youngest person in the class with the creakiest joints. What gives?! I drink milk and take calcium vitamins...it must be the Pinot that is depleting my calcium intake. Ha!

So, most of my post hasn't been about running. Rather, I have recapped what running my first 1/2 marathon last October probably proved to my lovely joints. I get it...I'm getting older.

I'm hoping the Hospital Hill Half proves to be a little milder on my aches and pains. Judging by the 10k last year, I doubt it.

Sounds fun though!

Furry Alarm Clock

How is it that my dog always knows what time I get up?

Not only does she know when I get up - she can count back 15 minutes from that time. Precisely 15 minutes before my alarm clock goes off my dog does the following:

• Begins to snore loudly (after sleeping soundly through the night)


• Tramples across my body from the foot of the bed to the pillows


• Wimpers so that she can go under the covers


• Eventually jumps down and paces the floor


• Finally while running around on the floor she constantly begs for me to pull her up in bed. As soon as I do this - she runs away like she doesn't want me to touch her - that's a pug for you!

I guess this is a good thing. Unlike apfan I am an early-riser. My gym actually doesn't open up as early as I would like. I am usually the first one through the doors at 5:30am everyday.

Yesterday was the first day of training for the half marathon. This is a pretty ambitous goal. Perhaps I should mention - I am probably the most out of shape of anyone contributing to this blog. So running for 30 minutes on the treadmill was not the easiest thing in the world. I made it to 30 minutes but there was some walking in there.

I think it will get easier when it doesn't feel like Alaska outside. I love to run outside. There is nothing better than running outside in the darkness of morning before most people are awake. Possibly the biggest plus for running outside is that once you run away from your house - you have to run back home - that's built in motivation for you!

Day 1...yesterday

Welcome to my first ever blog!!! Special thanks to my friend and co-worker for inviting me to talk about my 1/2 marathon journey. Yesterday actually was another first, I was at the gym by 5:30 in the morning! Don't get me wrong, I am a regular at the gym, however the first seven years of my "professional" career I worked from 3:00 am-11:00, the last four I have worked 2:30 p.m.-10:45, so I never had a chance, or desire, to hit the gym that early! Yet my wife, God love her, is driven. See, me training for a 1/2 marathon has prompted her to not only 1-up me, but rather 10-up me, as she is now in training for a 1/2 ironman!!! (I know, she is crazy). So there I was mindlessly running 40 laps around the track (I am not a treadmill user) to get my 4 miles in. Then I hit the weightroom, then I went and shot hoops, all told, I was at that place for nearly 2-hours...also a first!!! While the wife is doing some crazy spinning class for an hour and then lifting weights as well! Honestly though, without her, I wonder if I would be doing any of these runs at all!

Anyway, I am sure I have bored everybody enough for day 1...I am off to cross-train, but please stop back and read more later. I have plenty to say about my wife, my past, the gym, and of course fantasy baseball! Take care!

Day 1

I hit the treadmill this morning -- 3 miles. It's been a while since I've run that long at such a steady pace. Usually I will do interval training on the treadmill, alternating sprints with slow jogs. But today I ran an even 6.0 pace with a 1.0 incline for 30 minutes. It felt really good. I probably could have run longer, but I was late for a mid-morning appointment.

Even though I didn't have much sleep the night before, getting up wasn't that hard this morning. I guess it's because I was so enthusiastic about starting my training. I'll need to find some way to keep that motivation up come mid-April and May. What gets you up and going in the morning?

My sister sent me a link to a nifty website: http://www.favoriterun.com/ Here you can map out different runs, see how long they are, and even plug in your times to calculate your pace. Once it gets warm enough to run outside, I'll definitely start mapping out new places to run!

Tomorrow is a cross-training day. I'm already in the middle of a weight-lifting training program, so I'll be pumping iron.

Not to discourage anyone, but did you see this? Kinda freaky.