become a runner

This was a tough race. At some point there was a Team in Training coach shouting to his team, “you own the hills, the hills don’t own you.” Well, I think the hills owned me. I finished the race in 2:17:08 and don’t plan on turning in the race report my coach requested to my running group.

The necklace, and finisher’s t-shirt are great. The after-race brunch and massage in the VIP tent were wonderful.

Now, I only have one more event left this season, the CIM Marathon Relay. There I’ll only run 6 or 7 miles.

“I still need to actually lace up my shoes and hit the ground with a stride or two. Could I be ready to do that tomorrow?” That was the last statement of my “progress” when I discussed it last night.

And today, after completing my first run (for the third time?) with the coolrunning.com Couch-to-5K training plan and podcast (with many thanks to Marleah for the audio tip), I. Feel. AMAZING.

More details at my blog, but I can’t wait until run number 2 on Wednesday.

I am so, so happy!

Running frightens me.

That seems like such a stupid thing to think, to say, to admit, but it’s true. I find running to be generally uncomfortable, and have therefore never gotten past the first week of any plan designed to enable me to run 3 miles without stopping. I’m also really afraid of hurting myself, although my doctor assures me that my ankles are healed, and as long as I take the time to stretch properly and ease into any training program, I’ll be fine.

That said, many of my colleagues and friends are runners, and they are constantly urging me to give this activity, this sport, a shot. I have “the right temperament,” and I’m yearning for a fitness regime that will enable me to feel good about myself (and shed some of the extra weight I’m carrying through my hips and thighs!). They’ve invited me to join a virtual group for running—to talk about plans, runs, training, activities, ideals, and general fun with others. To find encouragement from group-think, I suppose.

I joined the web-based group, and I also signed up (with membership dues and everything) for the local Running Exchange group. That’s a step in the direction of becoming connected, but I still need to actually lace up my shoes and hit the ground with a stride or two. Could I be ready to do that tomorrow?

Is that even progress?

Last Sunday, I completed the first of two half marathons I have scheduled for October. I ran the San Jose Rock and Roll Half Marathon in 2:10:32. I ran the last half of the race faster than the first half of the race and felt pretty good after the race. My next event is the Nike Women’s Half Marathon next Sunday.

Apparently, Lake Merritt is a good place for me to run. On 9/28 I participated in the Girls on the Run/ Lake Merritt Joggers and Striders 10K and placed first in my age group with a time of 59:42.

About the first in my age group thing, it was a small race. Of the 32 participants, only 12 of us are women. Five of those women are in my age group, 30-39. Still, I have a first place ribbon, reached my 10K goal, and figure I’ll run a faster 10K next year.

i want to be an athlete again so bad, but at 28 there isn’t a lot to do as far as team sports around here….....i currently run about two to two and a half miles four days a week, i could do more but i incorporate other exercise as well on those days…nov. 1st is the mayflower run 5k and i want to do it but am nervous about what my time will be, i am currently running about 11 min./mile, that seems like a lot to me but hopefully with my speed training i will be faster by then!! fingers crossed!!

That’s what inspired me to start. Starting running seems very daunting, but that program makes it seem possible.

I have been following the Couch to 5K plan from CoolRunning.com for far longer than the 9 weeks they suggest, and it’s worked really well. Has anyone else used this? Robert Ullrey has put out some good podcasts that go along with the plan too on iTunes.

Become a runner

October 5 is the San Jose Rock and Roll Half Marathon. October 19 is the Nike Women’s Half. My other goal is to run both events in less than two hours and fifteen minutes. If the runs weren’t two weeks apart and if Nike wasn’t hilly, I’d want to run San Jose in less than 2:05 and Nike in less than 2:10.