cold snap

I was not prepared for this cold weather. I don't have cold weather running gear, I don't function in cold weather, yikes. Not good. As a result I missed my run on Monday, and am probably not going to 'make it up' today. Tomorrow looks a bit warmer so I think I can do it and just not feel too guilty. Then Thursday after work I'll go to a sports store and buy the right kind of cold weather running gear since I know my first group run at SEVEN IN THE FREAKING MORNING on Saturday is supposed to be cold and rainy.

All this gear is getting expensive, oy.

upgrade!

I attended the kick-off meeting today, and got a lot of good ideas for fundraising, learned a bit, etc. Most importantly, I actually UPGRADED to the full Chicago Marathon! I did this after speaking to some trainers about what my distance and times have been the past month, and they said that I should definitely do the marathon. For example:

Week 1, Half Marathon group training: 1 mile run
Week 1, Marathon group training: 3 mile run

Considering I'm doing 3 already comfortably, it didn't make sense to decrease down to one mile. Also, its a hell of a lot easier to get to the north lakeshore path than the south lakeshore path for a carless person.

So I guess my blog name is out of date, but oh well. I'm really proud of myself for doing this, and I hope my friends, family and coworkers show their support by sponsoring me.

Probably the most interesting fact I learned today was that 5,000 people in Chicago living with AIDS/HIV will have their care provided for one year as a result of the money we raise. That is a shit load of people that are impacted by a bunch of strangers running together.

humid run

I had to run Thursday because my Wednesday was intense. I'm thinking that Thursdays are going to be better anyway, as I currently get home earlier from work on Thursdays. My run today was 3 miles. It was humid and drizzly, but overall not too bad. I don't mind running in the rain.

I need to pop the new Cut Copy onto the shuffle for runnin', it seems like it'd be good.

Saturday I meet my trainer and the other runners, then next Saturday is our first run. Should be interesting. I'm a bit nervous that I'll be the worst one there. I guess it doesn't really matter since I'm just doing it for myself, and not to be the best.

After work run

I ran around 6:30 tonight, on a sunny 72 degree day. Apparently that means everyone else and their dogs are out too. I had to dodge a lot of people, which included an unfortunate encounter with some idiot hipster, his dog, and a retractable leash.

I tried to run a bit faster tonight, but it seems like I covered the same distance which is sorta sad.

I also wore my running shorts for the first time this season. I was so pale! I felt sort of self conscious, but whatever. It's that or die of sweating. Plus it'll get some color on my legs so I can not be mortified of my ghostly presence.

Saturday Run

I did a 3 mile run yesterday, which is a bit more than I've been doing. In the end I probably covered 3.5 miles total. It was pretty hard actually. The good thing is my right knee stopped hurting during and after a run, so I must have fixed my pronation on that side. I'm also not sore today, which is a plus. Now that it's been a day I forgot anything else about the run.

Nutritionally speaking - I'm a mess. I'm not eating very much, and certainly not enough for the amount of running I will be doing soon. Part of it is just that I've been busy, some of it is that I've been short on cash to buy groceries. Some of it is that the running combined with some personal factors have massively decreased my appetite. So I started taking a multi-vitamin. I should be doing this anyway, and now that I'm running it is even more important. The reason why I haven't taken them with regularity in the past is because multi-vitamins are freaking horse pills. But I'll stick with it this time.

Finally, and maybe TMI for you males, my uhh...cycle...is all out of whack. I should be getting the old p'rod around Wednesday, but my running must have shaken that crap loose because here it is. This is another reason I really have to watch my nutrition, as food and exercise really have in impact on your lady stuff. The most disconcerting is that I really shouldn't ever have any variation because of my birth control, especially this many days difference. Eeps!

night running

I didn't sleep well last night so I didn't get up in time to run this morning. I was also a little concerned about the whole do you or do you not eat before a morning run. It was so windy today, and I worked until 7, so I couldn't run until after dark.

Pros of running at night:
-you get to peek into other people's houses
-not too many people or cars in your way
-you can make funny dance moves when you finish your run and nobody will see you

Cons of running at night:
-I have terrible vision in the dark and can't run with my glasses on. This meant I couldn't tell if the white blob ahead of me was a plastic bag or a poodle (but really, is there a difference between refuse and poodles?)
-It's probably more dangerous as far as creepy crawly dudes
-I can't always tell how broken the sidewalk is which increases potential of injury

I was really debating if I should move this run to Thursday morning, but I knew if I couldn't wake up this morning there was no way I'd get up tomorrow when I actually have to be at work at 9 (instead of 11 today). I'm so proud of myself for sticking through the wishy-washy and just running like I am supposed to. I love when I'm running too - I forget about all the various b.s. going on and just think about goofy stuff.

The best part of the run was that I increased my speed. I did 2.6 miles this time instead of 2.25! And it didn't feel that bad. I like seeing progress.

Monday workout

I did a run 3 minutes walk fast 2 minutes rotation for 30 minutes tonight. It actually got easier as the time went on, and I felt like I could have done more. However, I don't want to blow it - gotta build up slowly so I avoid injury and burn-out. I really enjoyed the run though, and it ended up being about 2.26 miles.

I listened to a great combination of music: Rick James, New Order, and !!!. Both my new headphones and my old headphones are bugging me. My ears are too small for the new ones to really fit around my ear (they wrap around to stay in place), and my old ones are still making my right ear have serious pain. I ran with just the left bud in and the right one outside of my ear.

The new gear worked out well too. I felt sorta fancy wearing a 'real' runners shirt and not some gross old shirt like usual.

Tuesday should be a cross-training day. I think it'll be 30 minutes of pilates.

Acquired

Purchased:

1. Industrial strength sports-bra. Seriously, lock and load.
3. Two pairs of running shorts for when it finally gets warmer here.

Forgot:

1. To bring my watch to get a new battery in it so I can start timing myself.

Ordered and received in the past week:

1. two new running shirts, non cotton, fancypants stuff
2. new headphones that hopefully won't kill me

Ordered and still waiting for:

1. shoe-wallet
2. highly recommended sports-bra

I think this should put me where I need to be with equipment. My shoes are good for at least a few more months, if not the whole shebang.

Quickie

Yesterday I was packed from 8 am to 11:20 pm, so I wasn't able to get any good exercise in. I did walk a bunch, including 1.6 miles all in one spurt. Today I'm going to catch up by doing some yoga or pilates at home, since its pouring rain outside. I also don't have a new boob-holder for running so I need to get that before I attempt it. I'll do that Saturday.

Note on the right is the link to where you can sponsor me - your donation goes to the AIDS Foundation of Chicago.

so it begins

I walked/ran for about 25 minutes today on this route which apparently is a little over 2 miles.

A few things I noticed:

1. I need new running headphones. My ears must have gotten smaller because by the end I had to take them out of the ear canal zone due to them hurting my ears so badly. I wore this last week I don't remember it being that bad, but I mostly walked that time. Maybe running worsens it.

2. I need a new sports bra, mama mia. I'm not a chesty lady by any means, but I don't want them floppin' all over! I was in pain by the time it was over. This ole bra must have been from my chubbier days? I don't know.

3. I need to be very conscious that I don't over-do it before May 2nd (first training day). Just get out there, enjoy it, get a bit of a work out and not worry about distance or speed.

Registered for the training today

I just registered for the National AIDS Marathon Training Program. What the hell was I thinking?

1. I've seen these ads for years, even in SF and was always interested.

2. I like running but lack the self motivation to do it.

3. I need to get a hobby to occupy my time.

4. I'd like to look super hot some day, and tan (only half joking here).

5. I'll probably meet some ok new people.

6. I want to do some good somewhere in the world, and this seemed pretty good. Raising money for AIDS organizations.

7. I've always wanted to be able to say I ran a marathon, but realistically know that a half-marathon is probably the best I'll get.

8. I'll be forced to run by the water once a week, which will rule. I miss water.

What did I just get myself into?

1. Training 2 days a week alone, and every Saturday with my pace group starting May 1st.

2. Lots of hot sweaty bus rides home on early Saturday mornings.

3. Quiet Friday nights.

4. Sore muscles.

5. Expensive running gear.

6. Intimidation and fear I'll fail or quit.

What will I do before May 3rd?

Walk/run 3 days a week alone to get ready. I'm envisioning Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays as those three days.

Buy new running shorts and shirts. I already have good running shoes.