Humble Beginnings. Again.

When I talk about how I began running 6 years ago, I most often talk about how my journey to becoming a runner began with being humble enough to start where I was and not worry about how slow or awkward that seemed to be.  I worry a lot about what others think anyway, and shuffling, red-faced and jiggling, down the sidewalk in my neighborhood was mortifying if I let myself think too much about it.

But I didn't let myself think to much about it.  And from that humbling start, I grew to love my running and to be pleased with the way it changed me: my attitude, my willingness to take other risks, and the (smaller) size of my pants.

And now I find myself back at a humble beginning.  Again.  Now's not the time for the story of why that's the case. Suffice it to say that my running has been completely sporadic for a while. As I started planning a reasonable training schedule for a half marathon in March 2011, I had to face the fact that it meant starting with a weekly total of 6 miles.  Just 3 2-mile runs.  That's not the runner I've been for the last several years!  But I have a choice:  Be humble enough to start where I am, again, or dwell on what I've done in the past and buy bigger pants.

So I'll pull on my running shoes in the morning and do my 2 miles with joy.

what isn't said

Obviously it hasn't been a great running year. Not that I haven't run at all, but the lack of races to report and the 15 pounds I've gained shows it hasn't been a year to be proud of.

It especially showed today running the ING Georgia Half Marathon. My training was minimal, with only 2 runs over 6 miles before the race and some very short runs while in Guadalajara, MX for most of February. (don't even get me started on high altitude running! Ouch). I recorded my slowest half marathon time in my long, 6-race career: 2:26:35.

For the sake of my knee (that feels the stress of those extra pounds) and the sake of my budget (that can't afford a new wardrobe) and the sake of my sanity (please refer to the title of this blog), running needs to fit into a larger plan to burn calories and lose weight.

I also want to celebrate the joy of starting and finishing 13.1 miles this morning. I am deeply grateful for legs and lungs that will carry me on the course and a heart that enjoys every step!

New Shoes!!!!!

Getting new running shoes makes me giddy. And the last pair I bought, Nike Air Triaxx something or the other, I HATED! On mile 8 of the Philadelphia Distance Run last Sept., when the shoes were just a couple of weeks old, I could feel my feet pound the pavement and my hip start to ache. I kept using them, mainly cause I couldn't afford more.

So last night, with a little State of Georgia tax refund in my pocket, I headed off to West Stride, a running store closest to being on the west side of town. It was the first time that someone analyzed my gait on a treadmill with a camera filming my feet from behind. (thank goodness not much of my ample Behind appeared on film.) Turns out I have a pretty neutral stride. My left foot pronates just a tad. (and now I actually know what pronating looks like). I have run in shoes that were for stability, but the guy helping me said I didn't really need that. I tried on 4 shoes including the newest version of my beloved Asics Gel Kayanos. (15's). The Brooks "slapped" on the ground when I ran. The Saucony's felt good. The Gel Kayano 15's were clunky. Toooo much stability, so I had to leave them behind. Then I tried the Asics GT-2140. Loved them!!!

Just had time for a quick 2 miles on the treadmill by the time I finished last night. And I can't completely break up with my Nike's. Gonna keep them in the rotation to stretch the miles.

I forgot to run a 5K!

Yep. This morning. It was a run done by the Physician's Assistant school at Emory and benefits Good Sam. The place where I am the development director. I was supposed to sign up this week, take some materials about Good Sam out to Lullwater park early this a.m., and run on the anniversary of my first race post knee surgery last year.

And I didn't remember until I was driving by Lullwater Park after digging up plants from a friend's yard, picking up a few more at Pike's on my way to HD for soil conditioner. I looked down the park driveway and saw the last of the people carrying gear up the hill from the race.

Sigh. Apparently I've been a little busy and distracted.

On the upside, I've gotten in my 2 3-mile runs this week, including yesterday a hilly run at Brookhaven at a 9:13 pace. Tomorrow, severe weather permitting, I plan to do 5.

If I remember.

finally (?)

Thank heaven for daylight savings time. Started last Wed to run with a co-worker during lunch. I've been so slack at running, that I was worried about going out for 3 mile run. But even with a pretty warm day, we did a 9:54 pace and I didn't die! We have a similar pace, even though she's about 6 inches taller than me. Thank goodness for someone else who loves running and will go out with me. If we make it one day/week, I'll go out one other time too.

Then Sunday, after it finally quit raining so hard, I headed out to the Silver Comet trail for another 3. But it became 4 and generally felt good at a 10 min/mi pace.

Boooorrring entry, but I just need to get this out there.

Then there was my dream. I swear I dreamed an entire 10 mile run through my favorite neighborhoods last Fri. night. The sun was out, about 65 degrees. It seemed like I felt every footfall, heard the neighborhood sounds, felt the changes in my heart rate and breathing. It felt great! Can't wait for it to happen when I'm awake and out of the bed!!

Running 'round here

Fiscal considerations have caused me to put my gym membership on hold for now, so any running I do must be done outside. (Brrrr!) It's been another opportunity to venture out in the neigborhood in search of the miles I need.

I can go in circles around the park on my own block, but since this is the only place I walk the dogs, I'm rather bored with that. So far, I've ventured down the main road that runs through the neighborhood on a quiet Sunday morning and during daylight rush hour. (Don't worry, I have a neat little elastic wristband with pepper spray for stray dogs and other unsavory characters.)

Soon, my work will relocate to a new building only a mile and a half from home. Since we'll have a shower there, I'll be able to switch 2 runs a week to my lunch hour and run home, let the dogs out and run back.

One Sunday I passed Chris and Star, a couple who live on my block, on my way back from a run. They were on their way to church, but we took a moment to talk about running and a half marathon that's in late March here. To my great surprise and delight, Chris showed up at my door several days later and asked about the race. We talked about running routes. It's so exciting that they may do this run. I may even gain a running partner.

I have discovered that things move slowly here (or maybe it's me). It's the first time he's set foot in my house. Most people on the street, no matter how kind and friendly, have not invited me into their homes. Only Miss Mamie and Johnnie (a young woman from the next block) have come into my house before this.

Vacation

I got some great runs in while at the beach for a long weekend. Running on the beach was out. It was too unstable for my knee. But I did get a 4+ miler in on Sat., and a 6+ miler on Mon. I also had a beach romance with a bike - a little pedal thing with no gears and cute little basket.

I just checked out my routes on Map My Run, and it turns out I rode nearly 12 miles on Sunday evening, then another 12 miles right after my 6 mile run on Monday morning (can you say dead legs), and a final 7 to pick up chocolate croissants for breakfast on Tuesday. This was in my final quest to find something useful to tote in my basket.

It was hard to walk away from that cute little bike, but it was just a vacation romance.