I was told by my friend Gisela - who lives half a world away- that I need to keep up with my blog more. I also know that some people don't have Facebook - *gasp* and have to keep up with us this way. I think I might have a nervous breakdown if I had to go without Facebook for a month. Whenever we go into WV, we lose data coverage, so it's like a weekend away from technology. But Jeff and I know the exact spots that data comes back as we drive down the road, and its like we can sing a tune to the beeps and music that our phones make as we gets texts, emails and Word Feud plays.
So, what the heck has happened in the past two months? Heather will remind me - very often- that just a week before the Turkey Trot, that I said I was never running again. I wanted to run the 5K to scratch it off my bucket list, and to prove to myself that I could do it. But, it's like I've gotten the bug. I'll admit to watching running on tv, and looking at people running marathons, and wondering if I'll ever run one. Now, 6 months ago, I just wondered if I wouldn't die running to get the mail.
I ran my second 5K on December 11th. It was 27 degrees, and this one was pretty serious. It was a half marathon, and a 5K. The half marathoners were were some serious running gear and stretching and looking very focused. The 5Kers were just wondering when we would be done so we could get our free beer. Haha. That was the best part of the race, when you were done, you got beer. And a solar blanket thing to keep you warm - since it was 27 degrees outside!
I ran a great pace at this 5K, tho my final time was only 4 seconds slower than my turkey trot time. The hills were steeper, so that's what I'm going with! But, I ran the entire thing - something I didn't do at the Turkey Trot, and I felt like overall my run and pace were improved. It's hard to compare the two races, as they weren't on the same course, and the temp change was about 35 degrees. But it's hard not to compare. I am disappointed in my time, but not in my run.
After that race, I tried to keep training with my friend Heather - who was running a 5K on NYE. But my heart just wasn't into it. I was kind of finished with running - disillusioned with my time at my last race, and just not feeling it. Then, we caught the stomach flu, and Christmas, and visiting, and blah blah. But, like most things, you get out of your funk, and you train harder. So, after we got back from WV after New Years, I started training again. I know a whole bunch of people who are just starting C25K, and I am their motivation. I've been told that. Me, fat old lady, has motivated someone to run. That is the oddest sentence I have ever written.
I want to work on my 5K time to get it down. The next 5K I want to run is on March 4th. I want to beat my time by more than 4 seconds. Maybe 10 seconds this time! But, I'm moving on to bigger and loftier goals. The Fredericksburg Historic Half Marathon is May 24th. There is NO way - I think- I can train to go from 3 miles to 13 in just five months. But, there is a relay part - you run half, and your partner runs half, so basically you each run a little more than 10K - 6.6 miles, to equal 13.2 miles. 6.6 is doable. Finding a partner is not however. Haha. Everyone I have asked looks at me like I have 4 heads.
So, now I'm doing Bridge to 10K. Which is like level two of C25K. I need to run 3 days a week. Run a 5K, then run a 5K plus more - whatever I can do, then run a challenge course - like hills, or sprints, or trails, or something. This past weekend, I ran my neighborhood, which is the land of 60 degree hills. I ran 2.4 miles in a course Jeff and I have laid out. I ran it all. Something I've never done before when running in my neighborhood.
It's just amazing to me the progress. Today was my runday, so I decided I was just going to run the 5K. But then my friend got called back to the Y for a diaper change, so I kept running without her. By the time she got back to me, I was about a quarter mile ahead. So, at the end she still needed to run that quarter mile, and I went with her. And then I just kept going. She stopped and said I was crazy and went in to shower. Haha. But I kept going, and ran an additional mile. So, today I ran 4.1 miles. In 60:01. Horrible time. And I thought my legs might fall off. But I ran it. ALL OF IT. 4.1 freaking miles. Seriously? I will admit I started crying when I finished. Luckily I was far away from people and I was able to get myself under control before I went back into the building. But, running is such a mental and emotional sport. You have to force yourself to keep going. Mentally challenge yourself. Your legs really won't fall off if you keep running, but if you give up in your mind - which I've done on many training runs- then your run is pretty much over.
So, for right now, I'm working toward the Historic Half. And finding a partner. If not, I might just sign up for the half anyway. You can walk it. So, I might just run to the halfway point - where the relay corral is, and then walk the rest. I have until March or so to try and figure out what I want to do.
In other news, Jeff turned 40 in December. We had a huge party for him, and it was so great to see so many people who love him and who came to the party. I had it catered with his favorite food - Famous Dave's and Sushi from our favorite sushi place. I made a ton of desserts and other stuff, and everyone had a great time. For his birthday present, I got him tickets to see the Mighty Mighty Bosstones - his favorite band - at their hometown concert in Boston after Christmas. My brother was taking the kids for 3 days while we went up there, so we went kidless for the first time ever overnight. We rented a car, drove to Boston - uh... next time we might fly- we ate at a Diners, Drive Ins and Dives in CT, and had a great time. The concert was awesome, we bought shirts, and a poster, and other random stuff. We had great sushi and froze our butts off in the Boston cold. But it was well worth it to bring Jeff into his 40s in style.
So, as I sit here, I'm afraid I won't be able to get up. My knees are killing me. But, I plan to put the kids to bed, and then relax with a piece of cake. Jeff got me the next Wilton Cake Decorating class for Christmas, so we'll have lots of cake and decorations to eat in the next 4 weeks. Not that I mind too much. Running burns a lot of calories!
So, anyone want to run 6.6 miles with me in May???
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