Turns out, anger is quite the fuel for running.

 

I've been running with this group now for 3 months. Maybe two Saturdays have we started on time, every other time we end up waiting for one runner or another. And for a while now it's been bothering me. It really ticked me off this morning and as I was talking to the group leader, the late runner we were waiting for shows up and hears only part of my complaint. She threw her keyes and cell phone on the ground, all pissy, and said "I thought this was supposed to be about fun", to which I replied "it's not fun waiting for you."

 

And then I left. I got back in the truck, and took off. I was so mad. She gets pissy with me because I'm pissed SHE'S LATE. We wait for her, and she cops attitude. So I left. I've decided that particular group dynamic isn't working for me, so I'll forge ahead on my own.

 

I ran 9 miles in 2 hours flat. That's 6 minutes off my last 9 mile course back in August. I felt real good for the whole distance. But it was the first 3 miles where I ran purely on anger. I replayed the morning in my head, and tried to figure out what I wanted to do. And almost before I knew it, I was a mile from my house, and still had a full tank to run further still. I turned the corner to my house, and saw my time was going to be muched improved, I realized that anger is a pretty good fuel. Not that I want to run angry all the time.

 

I enjoyed running alone, actually. I enjoyed the group, for the most part, except for the being late all the time. But I really enjoyed my run alone today.  Got to work out the anger, got to work out some other issues that have deviled me this week. When I ran with the group, I didn't really blow out the cobwebs because we'd talk about other stuff. Running alone, I had 2 hours to puzzle out the problems bugging me.

 

And the more I run, the more I like running. The more I want to run. Jeri was right about running is about being fun. As long I don't run with her, it will continue to be fun.

 

more again later.....

 

 

9 miles, 2:00

145 lbs

41 days to 45

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I was in the Army I may have engaged in some silliness such as running while injured, or ignoring a chafed hot spot, but not anymore. I got a hot spot on my leg from a new pair of running shorts I bought last week. (while I may have lost some weight on this journey, my thighs still rub together, and hence the hot spot.)** I suppose if I just chose to ignore it all, I could have managed the 16 miles and got home to take care of the hot spot. But had I continued to run, the hot spot would have gotten bigger, and worse, and then where would I be? Not able to run mid week because I'd be in pain.

 

So today I ran 13.13 miles in 3:03. The course today was very hilly, and with the exception of two of the longer hills, I ran them all, and only walked the last half of the two longer hills. The run group leader said that part of my tiredness today is from the hill training, and not so much giving in to the hotspot. She said I would have been wiped out at 14 miles, whether I had a hot spot or not, because we ran a faster pace today than we have in 3 months. We kept a 13:30 mile pace for the first 10 miles, and I was SO pleased with myself. I'm bummed I couldn't hang in for the full 16 miles I was scheduled to run, but I'm pleased with myself for todays effort, overall.

 

Ok, time to go. I'm at a friend's home, and I asked to borrow their computer to pay bills, not to blog. I don't want to take advantage, but I wanted to blog my run today.

 

more again later......

 

**(when I told my son about it, he just looked at me all freaked out. I told him the hot spot comes from friction, and that he should be thankful I didn't burst into flames. He gave me another freaked out look, and I fell apart laughing. I don't know what goes thru a 14yr old's head most days, but today, just from the look of his face, I know I grossed him out, and for a mom of a teen, a clear victory for me! Yay)

 

 

 

13.13 miles, 3:03

143 lbs

48 days to my 45th B-day!!!!

Can't get on the internet at home for some odd reason...trying to figure it all out.

 

My blogging obviously is impacted by the inability to blog comfortably at home. Right now, I'm at school, trying to just get my schoolwork done. I don't know how some students can multitask by working on Autocad drawings, chatting with strangers on myspace, downloading tunes for their ipods, and pay attention to lectures. I thought I was good, but clearly I'm well behind the power curve when it comes to multitasking.

 

Running seems to be consuming much of my off time. This is not a complaint. I went on a run Tuesday night, and it made all the cobwebs and demons I collected from 8 hours at school just melt away with each step I ran. And with each run, each longer distance, each increase of time, I find this training and running and preparation for my first marathon is all quite cathartic for me. I feel pretty damn good most of the time, and my exhaustion after long runs isn't measured in days anymore, it's more like hours. And I like the increased stamina, I like the increased energy levels, I like the looseness of clothes I was all too prepared to send off to Goodwill for fear I'd never fit in 'em again.

 

My husband took off for an Army school. He'll be gone about 5 weeks and I hope that in that time I can shed a few more lbs. Or at least continue to firm up the 140ish lbs I've got.

 

Anyway, looks like the lab techs are on a rampage. I did not leave my student i.d. with them, and they are asking students to leave. So before I get the boot, I'll just go ahead and leave.

 

more again soon (and hopefully from home).....

I ran again tonite. Went about 3 miles, maybe a little longer. I'm not exactly sure the course I ran is measured right, so I'm not gonna judge distance. I did run 32 minutes and only walked 3 minutes of that. Didn't do the interval training, didn't push the pace, just ran comfortably, and did the time. My hubby joined me, and I do so appreciate him for putting in the miles with me. I love him for that.

 

I just plain love him. 

 

more again later.....

 

 

35 minutes, 3.2 miles

140 lbs

 

So, it's done. I ran 14 miles today. It was not too hard, as the temperature was not too hot, and it was, for the most part, a flat course. A small portion is a slight incline, and on the opposite side of the course, it comes back down. I ran two circuits of this 6.5 mile course, and then just ran another mile to complete my 14. I'm a little sore right now, but waddaya expect? I just ran 14 miles! Now I have to go babysit for a friend so she can run her 10 miles today....

 

more again later......

 

 

 

14 miles, 3:19

140 lbs

Sorta looking forward to it, sorta not. That'll be the longest distance I've ever ran, and it's a little daunting. I'm glad that tomorrow morning will be the begining of the cooling trend we've all been waiting for.  I figure I'll be running for about 3 hours.

 

My son did not run with me the other night as anticipated. But he was really cool about it. He said he didn't think he was in any shape to start running for 35 minutes when he hasn't run 10 minutes in 4 months. He said he'd ride his bike with me when I'm running if I wanted him to. He is riding his bike to school most days, so I know he's got at least the stamina to do that. And it was his suggestion, not mine, which is a good thing. And on Saturdays when it's cold, I can start my run later in the morning and maybe he could go on the long runs with me, and carry my water on his bike....

 

This could work, this could work.

 

 

 

 

Mon run: 36 min, 3 miles

Wed run: 36 min, 2.5 miles

140 lbs

Ran 7 miles on Saturday. Was supposed to only run 6, but since I missed one of my weekday runs, I went ahead and stuck it out for another mile. Next Saturday I'm supposed to run 14, and I don't plan on adding any extra, whether I miss a weekday run or not. I'm way less sore, way less exhausted at this stage than when I started 8 weeks ago. 8 weeks ago a mere 4 miles and I would be knocked out for the rest of the weekend. Seriously. Knocked out. I'd get home from my Saturday run, grab breakfast with my husband and son, then come home to crash out for 3 or 4 hours, then be a worthless blob on the couch for the rest of the day, and be equally worthless all next day.

 

I'm not gonna say I'm bouncing back like a champ. I still rack out for about 2 hours on Saturdays, but I wake up refreshed and revived, not still wiped out. And I can actually do more than lay on the couch on Sundays after a long Saturday run. Like go grocery shopping, or cruise around the mall and play "Find the Ugliest Shoe" with my son.

 

("Find the Ugliest Shoe" goes like this: walk past any and all retail stores that sell shoes, and find the ugliest ones. This game can be changed to suit your taste. Find the Ugliest _____________ whatever, you fill in the blank. When I lived in Italy, it was ugly sunglasses.)

 

So now my weekday runs are supposed to be 35 minutes each, distance and speed will vary, but as long as I'm out there for 35 minutes, I'm good. Tonight my son said he wants to run with me. He'll last all of 10 minutes and give up, he's not a runner. He isn't known for athletic prowess, nor does he show any interest in anything that requires sustained energy output other than a video game. MAYBE, just maybe, he's gotten inspired by my dedication, and wants to lose some of the weight he's put on this past summer. Maybe.

 

I'll write more later, and let you know how he did.

 

more again later.......