become a runner

i ran in my first 5K race yesterday. i am really becoming a runner now, i can literally feel it. i crave going on runs and have been tracking my progress on this site dailymile.com. its great motivation, i can see my progress over time and keep track of miles/pace/mental status. a friend asked me to do a 10K with her later this month, which will be a big challenge for me—more than ive ever run before. i think if i can do that, ill officially be a runner! at least in my mind. since August when i first started to really work on this goal, ive worked up from pretty much 10 minutes of running to 34. now over the next couple of weeks before this 10K, i will have to double that. this is my challenge, and im going to give it my best shot.

slowly but surely, i think im actually becoming a runner. today i ran 34 minutes straight. this is much improved for me considering that 2 months ago, 10 minutes was tough!! its getting better. i crave it now. dont want to give up!!!!

I have the Shoes, Ipod, Clothes, Little experience, but a weak drive to run for long or fast. Never push myself the way I should to get to that next level.

i ran again today, im up to 25 minutes now…can only go up from here!!

i have always had to battle my natrual lazy side…and varous other things have at times stood in the way of my fitness, but im at a point now where i feel like its time to really make running a part of my life and a true habit. i love the way i feel when i exercise regularly. working at a hospital, i also see the way a sedentary lifestyle kills you—literally. so im feeling very motivated to try and get into running on a regular basis. i have some 5K runs this fall that id like to participate in, and i signed up for the DailyMile website as some extra motivation. hopefully that will be just the thing to keep me running like good old forest.

I have great respect for anyone who has ever completed a marathon. No matter how fast or how slow.

Today I wanted to cross the finish line of the San Francisco Marathon. I wanted to get my race medal. (It can also be used as a coaster.) However, I had no desire to actually do/run miles 14-26.2.

So what did I do? Three things. I decided to suck it up. I discarded any expectations for finishing within any particular time. (I originally wanted to finish in 4h45m or at least under 5h.) And, I worked on enjoying the view, my fellow competitors, and the fact that the marathon is a challenge. A challenge that I could appreciate as much while doing it as after it was over.

This morning I ran 16 miles with the San Francisco Marathon Training Program. Our pacer mentioned that she and a few other pacers are going to become certified coaches. I just checked the Road Runners Club of American and am considering becoming certified myself. The class is only 2 days and $250.

This reminds me of The 4 Hour Work Week chapter on how easy it is to become an expert. I don’t know what I’d do with the running coach certification. But, at some point it might come in handy.

Invest in some new jogging pants!

Jeez! I guess I gotta take it one run at a time. This last run I hated! I swear I’ll do it early tomorrow though…I swear!

Last night I tried running instead of my regular walking ritual and it actually wasn’t that bad. It felt really good to sweat profusely! Time to do some more tonight once the rain lets up. Ah, heck! I won’t melt. Initially I’d like to be able to get myself up in the morning and start my day off with such. I just gotta get used to getting up early!