Sweat365 » DREAM IT! PURSUE IT! STICK WITH IT! LIVE IT!
I really want to run, but I don’t want to jeopardize another P.A.T. After next Saturday..it’s full on training. I think I’ve decided to do the America’s Finest Half in August. Can’t afford a gym membership so I’m going to get creative at home. Happy training to ya’ll! Peace Out! 
This is the question I have been asked by numerous people who knew me before I started running.
My answer…
To LIVE! That is why. I’ve made a major change in my life, and I owe it to running. I remember sitting on the couch a few weeks before the Carlsbad 5000 talking to my brother-in-law. He was asking me to do the 5000. I said, ‘I CAN’T RUN THAT FAR! ARE YOU CRAZY?!’ He said, ‘You don’t have to run, you can walk it.’ I said, ‘What is wrong with ‘YOU PEOPLE’? Running jams your joints and joggles your organs all around!!’ (Of course, I had the awesome charades to go along with it all)
I remember standing in church and thinking to myself..’NO, I’m not going to walk that race! I’m gonna run it!’ I decided I was going to start with a mile. So, that night I measured a mile with my car (how ghetto..hehe now that I have GPS watch) So the next day, I woke up at 6:35am, took a deep breath, and headed out. I got two freaking blocks before my calves were screaming ‘Lord Jesus please help us! Make her stop!’ But I am not quitter. I ran the mile in 12 minutes. Could barely breath, but I DID IT!!
The next morning, I got up at 6:35am again. This time I took a little bottle of water with me. I did the same mile, but in 10 minutes. I DID IT AGAIN! Hot damn! I’m good! LOL (These two days I was running at my sister-in-law’s. I was staying there with my son during his spring break, so he had somene to play with)
The next morning I was home in good ol’ hilly Alpine.Of course, I had to bust out Emily (my car) and measure out another mile. This time I woke up at 6:30am. (Holy cow! 5 minutes earlier. That is awesome! You go girl! LOL) My time was 9 minutes! I DID IT AGAIN! But I got a punch to the emotional gut when I went to tell a bunch of my friends all about it. They said, that’s good. But it’s ONLY a MILE! WHOA! Are you serious? I haven’t ran in 14 years..I just ran a mile in 3 different days and shaved off minutes each day, and you are not impressed. LOL IT WAS ON!!!!!
I’ve been adding distance and shaving minutes every since. I don’t care what anyone else thinks. I’M the RUNNER! I’M the ATHLETE I want to be!
I’m learning DISCIPLINE. I’m the type of person, that will push myself until my legs fall off. I hurt myself about 4 days after the above and I was not able to RUN my first 5k. I was really really really bummed out. But I’ll be dang if I wasn’t going to WALK it. That didn’t help either. Took about a week and a half to recover. Got the RIGHT shoes! (Actually have 2 of the same pair, just different colors) WOW that is important.
I’ve even been reading books. Hmmm, Darla? Read?! Yep, I did. I’m on my 3rd one. I only take what I want from the book though. Mostly the motivational stuff. I’ve tried a look at the training plans and they don’t work for me. I know I’m new to this and all, I must be doing something right or I wouldn’t be increasing so quickly.
Improved on my nutrition too. I now am trying this ‘whatever’. I drink a chocolate/banana protein shake in the morning for breakfast (this is hard too, cuz I don’t eat breakfast). Then I take 2 bananas, 2 (oranges, nectarines, plums, peaches), and a turkey and cheese sandwich to work. I eat ALL day. Normally every couple of hours. Seems to be going ok. I just need to exercise more..like sit-ups or my son’s Turbo Jam. LOL Not just running. Still got some chubs in certain areas. Like when I wave, so does the flab under my tricep. LMAO!
Been a little sore the passed couple of days.
I really pushed on Sunday. I noticed it is SO much easier to run when it’s not an out~n~back. During my run I was thinking to myself..I can’t believe I’m actually running this far and not getting winded. Now my muscles at times were getting tense, but I just kept running and it stretched them out.
9 miles. Felt pretty good
Workout:
Wasn’t really in the mood to run tonight, but I forced myself. I hate cloudy days.
Workout:
I made sure to stretch well this time. I did this run non-stop this time. These hills normally kick my butt, but I did better than I thought if I’m below a 9:00 mile. I started to cramp a little towards the end. That little muscle right above your heel. It kept getting tight. Looks like I need to stretch it more. I still find myself having issues with that first 1-2 miles. I have to have little pep talks with myself. You can do it! Keep going! 
Seems to work. Started using GU also. Bought the Chocolate Outrage at the R-n-R Expo. OMGosh! This stuff is awesome! Forgot to take another with me though, and my water boy kept falling behind. LOL. Looks like I need to invest in a hydration belt.
Workout:
Honestly..I have no clue what possessed me to buy it now. I’ve heard talk of it, I’ve read a few pages in one belonging to someone else, but I was cashing my check and passed by Border’s, and swung in and got the last copy.
This weekend I had a lot going on. Got my new watch Friday, went to test it out on Saturday and wasn’t quite sure how to toggle between the difference displays (while running) and I ended up disconnecting my GPS connection. Not knowing I looked down and thought .02 miles how is that..I was just at .5 like a mile ago. That was totally demotivating, plus my boy wanted to run with me this time and poor guy pooped out at .5 and walked until I caught up with him.
Watched my brother-in-law in the Rock~n~Roll Marathon. WTG Bro! Very motivating. Even more so is seeing the people in the ‘chair’ races!
Had to complete my PHS (Personal History Survey) to turn in today (6/2/08). I thought this Tues was the 2nd for some reason, and I was scurrying to complete it last night. It took me 7 hours to complete it. Dropped it off this morning at the police station. Wow! I felt like this weight being literally lifted off me. It’s done. Now I just have to wait to hear from them. In the meantime, I have the P.A.T. on June 21st. I will either not exercise at all that week or only do walking or stretching. No 6.75 run two days before.
My goals are: To get a fresh start. To complete my first marathon as close to 4:00 as possible. To keep me and my son healthy and fit. My favorite sports include: running cycling walking hiking. My other favorite activities include: Volleyball and softball.
