Week Two - Day One
Five minute walk
90 second run then 2 minute recovery six times
Five minute walk
It has been bad weather here. I almost didn't go running but thought about how no one in their right mind would be out at the track on a day like that so I headed out the door. I was right too. There were no baseball players, no fellow run/walkers and, best of all, no dogs. Yay! The bad thing about running for time instead of distance is that on a cold day, you can't just run faster to be done quicker. After the second running interval I warmed up enough that I just enjoyed it. My lungs didn't like the cold and neither did my ears, however. I used to have long hair that I'd just leave down and that was enough to keep them warm. My short hair did not do this. I started to have an earache from the cold but I realized that was the price I was willing to pay to be running alone. I wasn't even quite done with the realization sentence in my head when I looked up and saw a couple of guys getting out of a car with, yep, 3, ope nope, 4 weiner dogs - none of them were leashed. Are you kidding me?! Don't they know how cold it is and for that alone I deserved to run alone?! I must have had some sort of a look on my face that portrayed that sentiment because they chose to walk a lap around the school unstead of the track and then they left. I smiled with my too-cold-to-talk lips and ran like/despite the wind.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
Heavy Legs
Week One - Day Three
This run was a bit harder than the previous two. It felt like I strapped on some saddle bags before my workout. I went back to the same track I went to for day two and found a team of thirteen year old boys practicing baseball at the far backstop and, as luck would have it, as I got out of the truck, another team of fifteen year old boys moved into the closer backstop. The father/daughter duo had somewhat broken me in so I felt brave and started walking. I had to laugh a little that when I made it around the track to the fifteen year old, they had lined up to play catch. They way they were lined up made me feel like I was headed for a game of "execution by baseball". I had five pairs of boys throwing five balls toward me as I ran by. I was brave and not a single one got by those boys -- interestingly though, every time I ran by after that, there was at least one that went right in my path just in front of me. I'm still not sure what to do with that information.
At one point I saw a man with two yappy dogs and a yappy puppy headed onto the track - with no leashes. I'm not extreemly intimidated by this particular type of dog so I kept on being brave. I did, however, wonder why people go opposite the way the people on the track are going. You wouldn't get in each other's way as much if you went with the flow of traffic. This particular gentleman and his yappy dogs three did the opposite direction thing. I groaned as he and his trio headed my way. When he got close he did the classic dog owner thing. He said "Don't worry. They won't bother you." This was immediately followed by "Abby, get over here! Leave her alone." Abby was sniffing around my ankles. It was then time to start one of the sixty second running intervals. I knew it wouldn't be a good thing for anyone if I started running at that precise second so I waited until they were a little further away. (This would not have happened at all if he had been going the same direction I was.) After the interval, I got to look forward to meeting those dogs again. When that did indeed happen, I got to politely nod to the man for the second time as he yelled at Abby to stop jumping around me. Luckily, the third time didn't happen.
I left glad that I'd run and wondering what is in store for week two. I was also glad to be leaving because as I walked back to the truck, I saw a man trying not to get dragged by his rottweiler followed by his wife and her happy chihuahua. They were going to the track.
This run was a bit harder than the previous two. It felt like I strapped on some saddle bags before my workout. I went back to the same track I went to for day two and found a team of thirteen year old boys practicing baseball at the far backstop and, as luck would have it, as I got out of the truck, another team of fifteen year old boys moved into the closer backstop. The father/daughter duo had somewhat broken me in so I felt brave and started walking. I had to laugh a little that when I made it around the track to the fifteen year old, they had lined up to play catch. They way they were lined up made me feel like I was headed for a game of "execution by baseball". I had five pairs of boys throwing five balls toward me as I ran by. I was brave and not a single one got by those boys -- interestingly though, every time I ran by after that, there was at least one that went right in my path just in front of me. I'm still not sure what to do with that information.
At one point I saw a man with two yappy dogs and a yappy puppy headed onto the track - with no leashes. I'm not extreemly intimidated by this particular type of dog so I kept on being brave. I did, however, wonder why people go opposite the way the people on the track are going. You wouldn't get in each other's way as much if you went with the flow of traffic. This particular gentleman and his yappy dogs three did the opposite direction thing. I groaned as he and his trio headed my way. When he got close he did the classic dog owner thing. He said "Don't worry. They won't bother you." This was immediately followed by "Abby, get over here! Leave her alone." Abby was sniffing around my ankles. It was then time to start one of the sixty second running intervals. I knew it wouldn't be a good thing for anyone if I started running at that precise second so I waited until they were a little further away. (This would not have happened at all if he had been going the same direction I was.) After the interval, I got to look forward to meeting those dogs again. When that did indeed happen, I got to politely nod to the man for the second time as he yelled at Abby to stop jumping around me. Luckily, the third time didn't happen.
I left glad that I'd run and wondering what is in store for week two. I was also glad to be leaving because as I walked back to the truck, I saw a man trying not to get dragged by his rottweiler followed by his wife and her happy chihuahua. They were going to the track.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Look at This!
Night of the Running Dead 5K
"Have you ever watched a zombie movie and yelled "RUN!!!" at the victims? Think you could do any better?
Well, here's your chance to prove it!
Join us for the first annual NIGHT OF THE RUNNING DEAD 5k & 1mi Creep n' Crawl, October 9th, 2010.
How does it work? Each runner will register as either an Infected or a Survivor. The survivors will be given a one-minute HEAD START at the beginning of the race and will want to be prepared to RUN FOR THEIR LIVES before the infected pursue their mid-night snack."
I would be ready for this race but (you guessed it) Halloween stuff actually scares me. I HATE those statue type guys the stores have standing around at Halloween. When I was young and out trick-or-treating, I became accustomed to those newspaper or straw stuffed clothes people would sit on their porch to look like a real person on their porch. It was all in good fun until I walked up, feeling secure, to a house that had one of those sitting on the porch. When my siblings and I reached the door, the dummy moved! He just uncrossed his legs or something but I almost passed out. I wanted to run but that guy could actually chase me! You can't chase someone who isn't running. So I just stood there trying to not die while everyone else thought it was funny. To this day, every time I see one of the dummies, I expect it to move and come after me. I have to look the other way in stores so that I don't scream or pass out. Again, I pretend it's not there or I'm not the one who has to walk by that dummy. If I can hear it has sound, I will go aisles over so I don't have to go near them. The ones that are the worst are those that have motion sensors that trigger a sound or movement. It's Halloween on that porch all over gain. Man, I hate scary Halloween stuff.
This race is probably more than I can take but I think it's insanely hilarious - as long as I don't have to go.
"Have you ever watched a zombie movie and yelled "RUN!!!" at the victims? Think you could do any better?
Well, here's your chance to prove it!
Join us for the first annual NIGHT OF THE RUNNING DEAD 5k & 1mi Creep n' Crawl, October 9th, 2010.
How does it work? Each runner will register as either an Infected or a Survivor. The survivors will be given a one-minute HEAD START at the beginning of the race and will want to be prepared to RUN FOR THEIR LIVES before the infected pursue their mid-night snack."
I would be ready for this race but (you guessed it) Halloween stuff actually scares me. I HATE those statue type guys the stores have standing around at Halloween. When I was young and out trick-or-treating, I became accustomed to those newspaper or straw stuffed clothes people would sit on their porch to look like a real person on their porch. It was all in good fun until I walked up, feeling secure, to a house that had one of those sitting on the porch. When my siblings and I reached the door, the dummy moved! He just uncrossed his legs or something but I almost passed out. I wanted to run but that guy could actually chase me! You can't chase someone who isn't running. So I just stood there trying to not die while everyone else thought it was funny. To this day, every time I see one of the dummies, I expect it to move and come after me. I have to look the other way in stores so that I don't scream or pass out. Again, I pretend it's not there or I'm not the one who has to walk by that dummy. If I can hear it has sound, I will go aisles over so I don't have to go near them. The ones that are the worst are those that have motion sensors that trigger a sound or movement. It's Halloween on that porch all over gain. Man, I hate scary Halloween stuff.
This race is probably more than I can take but I think it's insanely hilarious - as long as I don't have to go.
Monday, April 19, 2010
I Like This
Week One - Day Two
I went to the track at a junior high school near my house to run on Saturday. When I pulled up, I was delighted to find no one else running and no dogs in sight. I was a bit dismayed to see some people playing baseball at the backstop in the middle of the track. Don't get me wrong, I like baseball. My siblings and I used to play a lot with a neighbor or two on the flatest spot up on the hill. I even remember going to a house across town to play a friendly game with a bunch of kids from town. I'm not a bad hitter but after I hit that ball, I get scared. (I'm not sure I knew I was such a fraidy-cat until I started writing this blog. Almost every post talks about something I'm afraid of.) I get scared the ball is going to hit me in the head. After I hit, I'm running to the very place that someone is trying to get the ball to as fast as they can. I may as well be yelling "Hit me in the head with that ball! Here I come! I'm getting as close as I can! Hit me!" as I run to first base. I've actually covered my head as I've run with both arms before.
I was determined to run though. Where there's a will, there's a way. I kind of softened too when I saw that it was actually a dad pitching ball after ball after ball to his teenage daughter. That is sweet. He was helping her with her batting practice. Aw. So I turned on the podcast and started the five minute walk to warm up. I get even more relaxed when I saw how considerate the ball practicers were. When I got in the range she was hitting in, they would wait for me to pass. Aw. I realized that when they saw me walk over, they were probably as excited to see me as I was to see them...and they were still considerate. I really appreciated that and was really starting to enjoy myself. I like the workout. It's not too hard but it's not too easy. It's just right for where I am at. I started to really relax and enjoy the run. It gave me a chance to think for while and I started wondering about this "baseball hitting my head" fear. It's actually fairly ironic. I'd play softball in PE and for intramurals when I was in middle school. I was always the pitcher. I was pretty good at it. I tried a few years back to resume that role but that is way worse than running to base and worrying about my noggin. I was actually throwing the ball that I fully expected to come flying back in my direction as hard and fast as the batter could make it go. Playing pitcher didn't last long that day. I don't play baseball/softball anymore and I certainly am not the pitcher at any game. When did I get this fear and why? I don't remember seeing or having any sort of tragic experience -- maybe that's the problem. I've just had one too many hits to the head to remember.
I was about 3/4 of the way through the workout when the dad started hitting them. I watched as three in a row zinged right at my head level across the other side of the track. I was headed right there. Was he going to stop or was I going to get knocked out? I started to panic and then decided that I was going to just pretend it wasn't happening to me. Someone else was the one running this track with death balls flying through the air. (I did this because I knew that this wouldn't bother someone else. So everything is fine, right?) Again, when I got to the danger zone, they stopped batting and went to shag balls. Whew. Narrowly escaping death was energizing and I ran that last interval so hard. It felt really good. The whole workout felt nice. It felt so nice that I even kicked a ball toward the daddy-daughter duo to help them gether their balls (I couldn't throw it at them. They had been so considerate not to hit them at me, I couldn't possible zing one at them!) . I went home really energized and excited to run the next time. I hope the track will work out as a regular running spot.
I went to the track at a junior high school near my house to run on Saturday. When I pulled up, I was delighted to find no one else running and no dogs in sight. I was a bit dismayed to see some people playing baseball at the backstop in the middle of the track. Don't get me wrong, I like baseball. My siblings and I used to play a lot with a neighbor or two on the flatest spot up on the hill. I even remember going to a house across town to play a friendly game with a bunch of kids from town. I'm not a bad hitter but after I hit that ball, I get scared. (I'm not sure I knew I was such a fraidy-cat until I started writing this blog. Almost every post talks about something I'm afraid of.) I get scared the ball is going to hit me in the head. After I hit, I'm running to the very place that someone is trying to get the ball to as fast as they can. I may as well be yelling "Hit me in the head with that ball! Here I come! I'm getting as close as I can! Hit me!" as I run to first base. I've actually covered my head as I've run with both arms before.
I was determined to run though. Where there's a will, there's a way. I kind of softened too when I saw that it was actually a dad pitching ball after ball after ball to his teenage daughter. That is sweet. He was helping her with her batting practice. Aw. So I turned on the podcast and started the five minute walk to warm up. I get even more relaxed when I saw how considerate the ball practicers were. When I got in the range she was hitting in, they would wait for me to pass. Aw. I realized that when they saw me walk over, they were probably as excited to see me as I was to see them...and they were still considerate. I really appreciated that and was really starting to enjoy myself. I like the workout. It's not too hard but it's not too easy. It's just right for where I am at. I started to really relax and enjoy the run. It gave me a chance to think for while and I started wondering about this "baseball hitting my head" fear. It's actually fairly ironic. I'd play softball in PE and for intramurals when I was in middle school. I was always the pitcher. I was pretty good at it. I tried a few years back to resume that role but that is way worse than running to base and worrying about my noggin. I was actually throwing the ball that I fully expected to come flying back in my direction as hard and fast as the batter could make it go. Playing pitcher didn't last long that day. I don't play baseball/softball anymore and I certainly am not the pitcher at any game. When did I get this fear and why? I don't remember seeing or having any sort of tragic experience -- maybe that's the problem. I've just had one too many hits to the head to remember.
I was about 3/4 of the way through the workout when the dad started hitting them. I watched as three in a row zinged right at my head level across the other side of the track. I was headed right there. Was he going to stop or was I going to get knocked out? I started to panic and then decided that I was going to just pretend it wasn't happening to me. Someone else was the one running this track with death balls flying through the air. (I did this because I knew that this wouldn't bother someone else. So everything is fine, right?) Again, when I got to the danger zone, they stopped batting and went to shag balls. Whew. Narrowly escaping death was energizing and I ran that last interval so hard. It felt really good. The whole workout felt nice. It felt so nice that I even kicked a ball toward the daddy-daughter duo to help them gether their balls (I couldn't throw it at them. They had been so considerate not to hit them at me, I couldn't possible zing one at them!) . I went home really energized and excited to run the next time. I hope the track will work out as a regular running spot.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Couch to 5K - Week One - Day One
Workout:
5 minute walking warm up
20 minutes alternating 60 second running and 90 second walking intervals
5 minute walking cool down
I didn't want to go alone today so I asked my husband and the kids to go with me. I can't believe how hard it is to find a decent, safe, non-scary place to run. We went to the nearby school so the kids could play on the playground while my man and I ran around the playground area. We walked up just behind a couple with a 14 month old baby and, to my dismay, an unleashed dog. Great. I was trying to figure out how I could run while still being within arms reach of my children in case this very friendly looking dog decided to attack. We were letting the kids settle in before we started our warm up walk and our two year old started to climb something and was determined to get to the top. He made it while my husband was holding his arms out under him every step of the way to catch him if he fell. My son was excited, ran to the big twirly slide and slid to the bottom as quickly as he could so he could climb that thing again. We watched/helped him again. He was just not steady enough to do it without us being there. Loose dog + unsteady dare devil son = find new place to run. We drove to a park that is a few miles away but we went there a lot last summer because it is a playground designed for the youngest of kids. Everything there is really short. There isn't much my son could fall off of. The kids settled in and we started to walk on the sidewalk around the playground. Before too long, the kids wanted to be on the swings. My considerate husband took them over and they spent the majority of the rest of the time there.
The training wasn't bad. I liked it because it made my body work and it's been a long time since I've pushed it. I really liked how it felt. It was fun to watch my family playing as I ran/walked. It was not fun to have to dodge kids on scooters, watch teenagers trying to do flips off of the playground equipment (My daughter later jumped off this same peice of equipment and literally bit the dust. We had to scoop wood chips out of her mouth and pull one out of her nose. Thanks for the example guys.) and trying to avert my eyes from the couple that was being completely inappropriate in a public place. The last one actually made me sick to my stomach and I was just glad my kids were facing the other way on the swings. On a better note: my daughter has never liked swings. She was scared of them last summer. Because of this, she's only been on them a hand full of times. When I ran by this time though, she and the dare devil were laughing and laughing as they started swinging. That gave me a little smile. It was cute to seem them enjoying the moment together. After a few more rounds, my husband pointed at the girl as I ran past. She was pumping her legs! I did a double take and, yep, sure enough, she was swinging all by herself! I did a little celebratory skip and keep on going.
One day down, two more to do in the next week. It took a week and a half to get this first run in. It makes me wonder how I'm going to be able to find places to run that don't have animals, scary/inappropriate people or sure trips to the emergency room for my son three times a week. I even had a husband helper. Where there is a will there is a way, right?
5 minute walking warm up
20 minutes alternating 60 second running and 90 second walking intervals
5 minute walking cool down
I didn't want to go alone today so I asked my husband and the kids to go with me. I can't believe how hard it is to find a decent, safe, non-scary place to run. We went to the nearby school so the kids could play on the playground while my man and I ran around the playground area. We walked up just behind a couple with a 14 month old baby and, to my dismay, an unleashed dog. Great. I was trying to figure out how I could run while still being within arms reach of my children in case this very friendly looking dog decided to attack. We were letting the kids settle in before we started our warm up walk and our two year old started to climb something and was determined to get to the top. He made it while my husband was holding his arms out under him every step of the way to catch him if he fell. My son was excited, ran to the big twirly slide and slid to the bottom as quickly as he could so he could climb that thing again. We watched/helped him again. He was just not steady enough to do it without us being there. Loose dog + unsteady dare devil son = find new place to run. We drove to a park that is a few miles away but we went there a lot last summer because it is a playground designed for the youngest of kids. Everything there is really short. There isn't much my son could fall off of. The kids settled in and we started to walk on the sidewalk around the playground. Before too long, the kids wanted to be on the swings. My considerate husband took them over and they spent the majority of the rest of the time there.
The training wasn't bad. I liked it because it made my body work and it's been a long time since I've pushed it. I really liked how it felt. It was fun to watch my family playing as I ran/walked. It was not fun to have to dodge kids on scooters, watch teenagers trying to do flips off of the playground equipment (My daughter later jumped off this same peice of equipment and literally bit the dust. We had to scoop wood chips out of her mouth and pull one out of her nose. Thanks for the example guys.) and trying to avert my eyes from the couple that was being completely inappropriate in a public place. The last one actually made me sick to my stomach and I was just glad my kids were facing the other way on the swings. On a better note: my daughter has never liked swings. She was scared of them last summer. Because of this, she's only been on them a hand full of times. When I ran by this time though, she and the dare devil were laughing and laughing as they started swinging. That gave me a little smile. It was cute to seem them enjoying the moment together. After a few more rounds, my husband pointed at the girl as I ran past. She was pumping her legs! I did a double take and, yep, sure enough, she was swinging all by herself! I did a little celebratory skip and keep on going.
One day down, two more to do in the next week. It took a week and a half to get this first run in. It makes me wonder how I'm going to be able to find places to run that don't have animals, scary/inappropriate people or sure trips to the emergency room for my son three times a week. I even had a husband helper. Where there is a will there is a way, right?
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
We Just Figured Out iTunes
(Sung to the tune of "Blue's Clue's Conga")
We just figured out iTunes!
We just figured out iTunes!
We just figured out iTunes!
We just figured out iTunes!
Because we're really smart!
My husband is awesome!
We just figured out iTunes!
We just figured out iTunes!
We just figured out iTunes!
We just figured out iTunes!
Because we're really smart!
My husband is awesome!
Monday, April 12, 2010
I Can't Figure Out iTunes
I got advice from my husband on how to get the Couch to 5K program on my ipod. Apparently it has music or something that tells you when to walk and when to run. That sounds better than trying to find a clock with a second hand and carry it around with me to time my 60 and 90 second intervals. What my husband told me to do made sense. I should have done it sitting right next to him but I waited until a time when he wasn't even home. I found the podcast I was looking for but I couldn't figure out how to actually download it. This may make me sound like a technology dummy. Truthfully, I am. I didn't used to me. I used to be very on top of it but then I married an IT man and haven't really touched a computer since. Not really but he does take care of everything computery that doesn't include surfing the internet for me. So until I can remember to have him show me how to use itunes, I'll just have to put up another fake running story.
I posted that I was hoping to take the kids to the neighbors to see the new chicks while at my parents over the weekend and take a long hot bath in their jetted tub following a nice gentle run on their country road. Well, plans (or dreams) in this case don't always pan out. We did go see the chicks. My dad and I strolled down that calm country road with my two kids. I got to carry the two year old because going for a walk to him means "make Mom's arms so tired they want to fall off while you enjoy the scenery". We saw the chicks - which aren't babies anymore. They are starting to get to the awkward gangly stage. My husband had driven with my mom down so when it was time to go back, I started to load my walk-weight son in the car. I wasn't about to lug him up that hill. I used to walk that thing everyday after getting off the school bus. I'd already had a long day at school and then I'd have to trudge up that steep hill that seemed to grow one step everyday as the year went on. At one time, I had this really thick coat with a hood that had fur bursting out of it. When I had to catch the bus, it was cold enough that a coat was neccessary. When it was time to make the trek home at the end of the day, it was not - and all the hiking was making me sweaty. The coat was getting too heavy to carry as I walked. Maybe I should have carried it to prepare myself for my two year old "our" walks but I didn't know so I didn't carry it. I hung it off the back of my head by that mangy furred hood. It was so hot, I was so miserable and that hill seemed to climb faster than I could. I wondered if I'd ever get home before the my coat's heat swallowed me and roasted me to a sweaty mess. Trudge, trudge, trudge. I'd lift my head and lift the massive hood up a little to see if I was any closer than the last time. Most of the time I was. Most days by the time I would make to the next door neighbor's driveway, I'd try to be grateful all I was doing was slothing my way up the hill. When I was in kindergarten, the bus would drop me off a block closer but I was by myself and when I'd get to the neighbor's driveway, their dog, Tausha, would chase me. I knew as soon as I got to the dividing property line I could stop running but until then, that dog would be on my tail. I'd think about that try to be glad I didn't have that problem still. Oh, how naive I was. I had no idea one day I'd be running from a car up that same section of road. So, back to three days ago present day, I was loading the weight in the car and noticed that my dad and daughter were starting the walk already - but she was saying she wanted to run. My ears perked up "run?! I'm a runner now!" I HAD run all the way across the parking lot earlier that day, after all. I was trying to get the buckles done on the car seat but I was getting nervous and fumbling with the straps, they were already running and leaving me behind. I left the whole job for my husband and took off. I caught up with them halfway up the road. They were just slowing down from their run but when my daughter saw me, her running fire was rekindled so they started up again. We ran and ran. Things were feeling okay. I was a little winded but I was watching my daughter run next her grandpa and thinking how great this was. - We are such a running family. - Then my legs started to remind me that I wasn't really a runner (yet). We weren't even quite to the next door neighbor's driveway yet. I gave myself the extra motivation that the car would be coming behind us soon. Wouldn't that be great if we could "walk" back faster than they could drive? Ha ha. That would really be funny so I put a little turbo in my step and looked at my dad. He looked as determined as I felt. I looked at my daughter. She was just having a wonderful time. She probably doesn't know running is supposed to be hard. Just as quickly as it came on, my turbo left and my legs were suddenly lead filled. Burning lead filled. I had to keep going though. I was only racing a four year old, an old man and a car. I had been a cross-country runner for goodness sake. I could do this! "I could do this all day." I thought as we crossed the threshold to my parent's property. My dad said something to the effect of "that's enough." and stopped. Hallelujah! My burning legs and lungs rejoiced and I just about had to crawl, wheezing, the last hundred feet to the driveway. Ha ha. We are so fast. We beat the car. Man, running is rewarding.
I was too tired to take a hot bath.
I posted that I was hoping to take the kids to the neighbors to see the new chicks while at my parents over the weekend and take a long hot bath in their jetted tub following a nice gentle run on their country road. Well, plans (or dreams) in this case don't always pan out. We did go see the chicks. My dad and I strolled down that calm country road with my two kids. I got to carry the two year old because going for a walk to him means "make Mom's arms so tired they want to fall off while you enjoy the scenery". We saw the chicks - which aren't babies anymore. They are starting to get to the awkward gangly stage. My husband had driven with my mom down so when it was time to go back, I started to load my walk-weight son in the car. I wasn't about to lug him up that hill. I used to walk that thing everyday after getting off the school bus. I'd already had a long day at school and then I'd have to trudge up that steep hill that seemed to grow one step everyday as the year went on. At one time, I had this really thick coat with a hood that had fur bursting out of it. When I had to catch the bus, it was cold enough that a coat was neccessary. When it was time to make the trek home at the end of the day, it was not - and all the hiking was making me sweaty. The coat was getting too heavy to carry as I walked. Maybe I should have carried it to prepare myself for my two year old "our" walks but I didn't know so I didn't carry it. I hung it off the back of my head by that mangy furred hood. It was so hot, I was so miserable and that hill seemed to climb faster than I could. I wondered if I'd ever get home before the my coat's heat swallowed me and roasted me to a sweaty mess. Trudge, trudge, trudge. I'd lift my head and lift the massive hood up a little to see if I was any closer than the last time. Most of the time I was. Most days by the time I would make to the next door neighbor's driveway, I'd try to be grateful all I was doing was slothing my way up the hill. When I was in kindergarten, the bus would drop me off a block closer but I was by myself and when I'd get to the neighbor's driveway, their dog, Tausha, would chase me. I knew as soon as I got to the dividing property line I could stop running but until then, that dog would be on my tail. I'd think about that try to be glad I didn't have that problem still. Oh, how naive I was. I had no idea one day I'd be running from a car up that same section of road. So, back to three days ago present day, I was loading the weight in the car and noticed that my dad and daughter were starting the walk already - but she was saying she wanted to run. My ears perked up "run?! I'm a runner now!" I HAD run all the way across the parking lot earlier that day, after all. I was trying to get the buckles done on the car seat but I was getting nervous and fumbling with the straps, they were already running and leaving me behind. I left the whole job for my husband and took off. I caught up with them halfway up the road. They were just slowing down from their run but when my daughter saw me, her running fire was rekindled so they started up again. We ran and ran. Things were feeling okay. I was a little winded but I was watching my daughter run next her grandpa and thinking how great this was. - We are such a running family. - Then my legs started to remind me that I wasn't really a runner (yet). We weren't even quite to the next door neighbor's driveway yet. I gave myself the extra motivation that the car would be coming behind us soon. Wouldn't that be great if we could "walk" back faster than they could drive? Ha ha. That would really be funny so I put a little turbo in my step and looked at my dad. He looked as determined as I felt. I looked at my daughter. She was just having a wonderful time. She probably doesn't know running is supposed to be hard. Just as quickly as it came on, my turbo left and my legs were suddenly lead filled. Burning lead filled. I had to keep going though. I was only racing a four year old, an old man and a car. I had been a cross-country runner for goodness sake. I could do this! "I could do this all day." I thought as we crossed the threshold to my parent's property. My dad said something to the effect of "that's enough." and stopped. Hallelujah! My burning legs and lungs rejoiced and I just about had to crawl, wheezing, the last hundred feet to the driveway. Ha ha. We are so fast. We beat the car. Man, running is rewarding.
I was too tired to take a hot bath.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
It Happened
I did some running. Not the kind where you put on stretchy shorts and a head band but a little bit of running. And it wasn't easy. I helped clean the church I go to yesterday morning. I went to take out the garbage from the kitchen and as I stepped outside, I realized I had no idea where to take this sack of refuse. How is that possible? I have gone to this same particular building at least once a week for four and a half years. How do I not know where the dumpster is? I looked around because it would make sense to have it near the kitchen. I couldn't find it. Sometimes they get tricky and put it inside a fenced off area so I played a game similar to those Where's Waldo books. I was searching all over that parking lot. Where is that dumpster? I started looking further and further out. Maybe it shares a dumpster with the religion building next door to save on money. I still didn't see it. As I brought my sight back to the church I was standing stupidly outside of and thinking I'd just load it in my car and take it home because I know where the outside garbage can is there -- but not actually considering it because, well, ew. I don't want that in my car - or in my hand for that matter (I needed to find that dumpster quickly.) I saw one. It was on the very tippetiest edge of the parking lot out by the street. No, that can't be it. Why would they put it so far away from the building? My friend was washing windows to the entrance of the church and I asked her (with disbelief in my voice) "Is that the dumpster for the church over there?!" Indeed it was. Apparently, she actually knows. (And has only been coming to this particular building for maybe two years) I was no longer thinking about taking this sack home but I was thinking I could load it in the back of my car to drive it over there. It was really that far away. But then, again, I don't want that thing in my car. I carted it across the parking lot and tossed the big black old bacon smelling bag in. As I tossed it and the brief flash of the possibility of someone sleeping in there and me not wanting to see their dirty, surprised (and hopefully not angry) face ran through my mind, I began to run the distance back to the sanctuary of the church kitchen. My friend saw me high-tailing it across the parking lot and, lucky for me and my unrevealed childish fears (I always did this at home as a child because I always envisioned a bomb placed inside the can that would trip the timer when a sack was placed inside so I had only a few precious seconds to get into the top driveway before that bomb would explode. Hmmm. I may, or may not, have watched a little too much MacGyver growing up.) My friend, who may or may not think I'm normal, called "Hey, you're getting a little exercise!" I thought "Hey, yeah, I am. I'm running. Hey! I am running! I might be able to count this as starting to run!" Then I had to quit talking to her because I thought my lungs were going to explode. Seriously?! I was just running from a pretend scary man across the parking lot! My legs were beginning to burn as I pushed myself to finish my run to the door. Whew! It's a good thing I decided to start my training out slow and work into this.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Friday, Date Night!
My husband and I went on a date night instead of me going on a run. We went and picked out new curtains for the living room, the kitchen and our bedroom. I was really excited but when I put up the curtain in the kitchen, I realized I should have gotten the valance. Oh well, we know where the store is and they had plenty in stock. The bedroom also was a flop. We went out on a limb with a color that turned out to be not pretty with the room. I'll get white tomorrow.
I also tried to get the Couch to 5K thing for my ipod but I couldn't figure out why I couldn't find it. My husband is smart about those kinds of things so instead of wasting my time figuring it out, I decided to just wait until he got home to tell me where to find it. And he did. I can hopefully find it now and get it for use.
We are headed to the country today with the kids. We're going to help my parents get some things cleaned up in their yard and house. I love spending time there. One day I hope to live in that town. I don't like all the houses in such close quarters here. I'm also hoping to take the kids to the neighbors to see the new chicks, take a long hot bath in their jetted tub following a nice gentle run on their country road.
I also tried to get the Couch to 5K thing for my ipod but I couldn't figure out why I couldn't find it. My husband is smart about those kinds of things so instead of wasting my time figuring it out, I decided to just wait until he got home to tell me where to find it. And he did. I can hopefully find it now and get it for use.
We are headed to the country today with the kids. We're going to help my parents get some things cleaned up in their yard and house. I love spending time there. One day I hope to live in that town. I don't like all the houses in such close quarters here. I'm also hoping to take the kids to the neighbors to see the new chicks, take a long hot bath in their jetted tub following a nice gentle run on their country road.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Did I Say Tuesday?
Well, it's Friday and I've yet to begin. There are, of course, excuses that are very good (snow, unexpected obligations, etc.) but in reality, I'm scared of dogs. I have to find a place that is 100% dog-free and that I can take my kids that are old enough to not want to stay in a stroller. I'm thinking there is a park that we can drive to that I could run around the edge of the playground. I have to be picky about the playground though. I need to be close enough to rescue my "no fear" two year old if he needs it. The park I have in mind is designed for the very young so there aren't any super high places for him to fall (or jump off of). I haven't checked the weather today but I'm hoping I can squeeze a run in tonight.
Monday, April 5, 2010
This Race is for Who?!
I was browsing races to see if there was a 5K coming up in a few months in my area and I came across a race that is in memory of one of my relatives. What?! I had heard nothing of this! A few phone calls were made and it turns out that the people who live in the area did know about it. What a fun thing to come across! Porterville Cancer Run
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Life Accomplishments
When I wrote my list of things I wanted to do in my life, I included a goal of running ten 5K races. I was a cross-country runner in high school. I remember my coach saying something to the effect that he would know if he had succeeded in being a good coach if we were running in ten years. I ran uncompetitively in college but somehow I stopped. Coach Jolley was as good as a coach could possibly be. I want to be a runner again. I started running after my last child to lose the baby weight -- and just to run. I knew how to train hard and so I did. I lost the baby weight but I had to stop running. I got an overuse injury in my left knee during high school. I had surgery to fix it but it hasn't been the same since. Running that hard that fast made my knee hurt bad enough that I simply couldn't run. That was two years ago and the fact that I want to be a 5K runner is still on my Life Goals list. I found a program on Cool Running that talks of taking it slow at first so your body has time to adjust to running. I'm hoping it will work. I'm not getting younger so it's never going to get easier to do it. I'll begin on Tuesday.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)