I was number two in the 5K last weekend!

Sadly, this does not refer to my finishing placement but to my bib number. I was evidently the second person to register for the event, only after the elusive number one who I never sighted. This made me such a celebrity that a guy ran up to me after the race to ask, “Are you really number two?” to which I replied, “Yes, I’m number two!” Then his friend took a picture of us both holding up two fingers like a victory sign.

I had planned to run the Midsummer’s Night Run in Lexington, Kentucky with my old college roommate, Kelly, who lives in town. Sadly, Kelly injured her foot while riding a slide into a basement dressed as the Cheshire Cat, so I had to run alone. This was for the best because it would have been Kelly’s first 5K, and it was so AWFULLY organized that it probably would have turned her off to racing all together.

I had positive thoughts for the race at first [...]

• Continue reading "A Midsummer Night’s Run (through HELL)"

I had jokingly requested to my Twitter audience that we add a few extra weeks at the beginning of August, because I’m looking at the calendar and it says that I have to run a 5K in eight days from now. Aaaaah!!

I have been following the Couch to 5K program with, um, only slight modifications. During week seven they made me start running for 25 minutes without breaks, which I did except for that one day where I took a two minute walking break near the end. There was also a day or two where I didn’t run for the whole time requested because I tried running several hours after I’d eaten anything and felt like I was going to fall over and smack my head on the treadmill console or vomit on it.

Otherwise it’s been going rather well, though I admit I’m dreading the 30 minute runs I have to do next week. I think it would be more appropriate for me to have a 10 or 11 week program instead of the 9-weeks [...]

• Continue reading "OMG, I’m running a 5K in a week!"

The last minute is always the hardest. I am tired and out of breath, just like I’m out of quarters for the laundry. But I keep going because the last minute is where I make the most gains. It’s where I push my body a little bit further than it’s gone before, so tomorrow it can heal and go even farther the next day.

Today I will run for 8 minutes and walk for 5 minutes and run for 8 minutes as part of the 2nd day of training in the 5th week of the Couch to 5K program. I’m halfway there! I am pretty sure that last minute will be rough, but it will get me closer to the 5K and farther from the couch. It’s only a month and two days until the Midsummer Night’s Run 5K, and I’ve got to stick to every day of the training schedule to be in shape in time.

I’ve “enjoyed” the Couch to 5K program so far, but I have to put quotes around the word “enjoyed” because [...]

• Continue reading "If I were doing Couch to 1.5K I’d be done now"

I have done more stairs this week than Rocky.

It has been nice living on the second floor. I don’t hear people scuttle around above me. I’m not distracted by people walking past my windows. But dear Jesus, all those benefits come at the horrible cost of having to move all my crap in small, box-sized portions, down a flight of stairs in the sun and 90-degree heat and then jog back up for another round of misery.

The moving dragged on forever and ever and ever. After moving all the large objects in a rental truck last Monday, I was left with all the remainder items to transport in car loads. Each time I’d look around the apartment and think, “Ok, this will fit in two car loads.” Then I’d pack everything up and think, “Ok, I guess I actually have two more car loads after this.” And then I’d drive and unload and come back and pack up some more and think, “Ok, this is the final two car loads for sure,” but it was [...]

• Continue reading "Almost moved"

Thanks to everyone who has sponsored my upcoming 5K race so far. I’m about a quarter of the way to my goal of $3000. If you’d like to become a featured sponsor and get your link in the right rail, you can donate at least $20 here until race day, August 15, 2009. All donations benefit the National Headache Foundation.

Run Lazy

My Basement Gym

Airplane Extenders

ResuMAYDAY

Yogurt Beats Cake

…Things are going to start happening to me now

Gravel and Rust

Booth or Bust

Fat Girl, Thin Dress

Cupcakes Take the Cake

Why the Weight?

This morning I completed the first day of week 3 of my Couch to 5K training. I like using the Podrunner Intervals MP3s while I’m running because they make a beeping sound when I’m supposed to switch from running to walking or back again. I’ve done interval training in the past by using my watch, which only makes me focus on the time. I’ll be huffing and puffing and look at my wrist to see I only have 30 seconds left…and then I check again and I have 20 seconds [...]

• Continue reading "Thanks for my 5K sponsors! You can still join the list"