the running saga continues

the training for my half marathon continues!

after i finished off my c25k program week before last, i went hunting for a new app to use for my training.  i thought about following the natural course and doing the "bridge to 10k," but that would take another nine-ish weeks and only get me to just under 7 miles.  i've only got about 14 weeks left to train, so i downloaded another app that i thought would work well.

except that it started from the beginning - like, the first week consisted of walking for 10 minutes, running for 15, and walking for another 10.  meh.  i didn't want to go back to that, so i found another app that looked good.  but it wasn't till i'd already ponied up the $2.99 that i learned it was pretty much the same thing.  bah.

what i really wanted was the half marathon program by hal higdon, who created c25k.  but i didn't want to suck it up and pay the $10 for the app.  my friends pointed me to his website, where the program is laid out for free and in several different levels.  and as i perused my c25k app again, i found a "distance run" setting that allows me to choose the number of miles for a run and it would give me verbal signals as to when i reached mile 1, 2, etc. as well as the halfway point.  i decided this would work just fine, and started last week.

i struggled a little during my first long run - 4 miles - but i'm hoping my endurance will build up as i follow the program.  i still manage to squeeze in my 30-day shred sessions in between runs, so it's all good.  but after ten weeks of running, i actually got my first blister on the bottom of my right foot.  damn.  turns out that what i needed was thin running socks that would hug my feet and minimize the friction, instead of the thick athletic ones i'd been wearing.  so along with the socks, check out my required running paraphernalia:

the body glide stuff is extra protection for my skin.  like it says on the package, prevention is better than a cure.  heh.  and the hub sprang for the fancy-schmancy wireless headphones for me, after hearing me bitch and moan about how my earbuds kept falling out of my ears as i got sweaty (ew).  they're awesome, and i love them.

my trip to dots last week resulted in a cool new tee that i thought was pretty funny to wear while i ran.  one man i passed on yesterday's run pointed with a smile and remarked "that's a great message."  ha!

indeed it is, sir.  indeed.

conquering that bridge

i did it!  and i didn't die or faint or anything!

the hub and i decided it'd be best to find a hotel to stay down in san pedro the night before my big race.  i was a little afraid that we'd be SOL, considering it was labor day weekend and all, but i was stoked to book a room at the crowne plaza hotel - just a block-ish away from the starting point.  

so we packed a bag, got the dog settled in for the night, and headed down to pick up my bib and timing tag.  check-in was, conveniently, at a running gear shop (which offered a 10% discount to all of the participants in the race).

after i'd picked up my goody bag, i perused the merchandise to see if i could find a pair of pants for the big run.  i don't really have any decent workout clothing (for obvious reasons - i'm a lazy ass who doesn't really do a lot of exercise) and didn't really want to have to bust out my old, faded forever 21 leggings.  except that the cheapest pair i could find was $50.  yikes.  no, thanks.

so i got back in the car, where the bean was continuing her afternoon nap, and we drove around the corner to a big 5, where i was happy to find a big ol' labor day sale.  i managed to pick up a pair of nike capris and a pair of wristbands to soak up the buckets of sweat that would be too much to mop up with my sleeves for under $40.  score!  and look at me, all official and stuff.

the hub thought it would be fun to drive over the bridge i'd be running the next day, to see what i was up against.  he made a bunch of wisecracks while i sat, paralyzed and terrified in my seat, wondering what the hell i'd gotten myself into.

as we turned around and headed back over the bridge to get to the hotel, clouds rolled in and it started to rain.

and then we came across the start/finish lines and the fear in me was replaced by excitement.

home for the night!

they provided a little bag with stuff to help you sleep - lavender sheet spray, earplugs, an eye mask.  cute.

looking out at our view, i considered this a sign of good things to come.  i thought of my friend ricci - the whole reason i'd even signed up for this race - and wished that she could see it.

the bean already had something good:

i set the alarm to wake me up the next morning, but of course, i woke up on my own without having to rely on it after all.  i'd been dreaming of having run the race through someone's house (yeah) with a running buddy (someone i didn't even know) who graciously stepped aside so i could win (huh?).  but as i crossed the finish line, i looked down and realized that i didn't have my bib with my number on it nor my timing tag to prove that i'd run the race at all.  how bizarre.  so i made sure to put all of my identifying gear on, plus a sparkly pink headband that i'd been surprised with in the mail from my friend kate.  it was much, much prettier than the shitty mini claw clip i'd been using to keep my hair back.

as we walked down to join the crowds, i got a bit of stretching in.

i found my group - team ricci.  well, part of it, anyway - there were actually 75 people on the team, plus others who'd signed up on their own. 

just before the bell rang to signal the start of the race:

and then the chaos as it finally began.

i was fully prepared to follow my C25K app on my phone and start with a brisk walk, but found myself caught up in the excitement of being surrounded by runners and took off at a jogging pace instead.  i scanned the crowd for the bean, wearing a bright pink jacket and sitting on the hub's shoulders, and when i found them, i waved like a madwoman.  she spotted me instantly and pointed me out to her daddy, who scrambled to get a shot of me.  we were happy to see that he was successful:

i was good all the way till i got up to the bridge, where it got pretty damn steep.  and knowing i still had quite a distance to go, i let myself slow down to a walk for a bit.  as i got closer to the top, i picked it back up and managed to run all the way down to the other end of the bridge and out to the halfway point.  i was thinking of ricci again, and thoughts of what she and her family are going through kept me focused.  plus, i could see folks on the other side downing cups of water being handed out by volunteers, so it was good motivation to keep running.

except that by the time i got there...they'd run out of water.  eff.  just my luck.

so instead, i pulled my phone out and took a picture to send to the hub to let him know where i was.

sexy, right?  yup.  and then i spotted the mile marker and banged my head on it as i took this:

the trek back up the bridge on the way back was grueling.  it was a longer, steeper incline than the first go-round, and i struggled as my calves burned and my dry throat cried out for water.  i just kept pushing, going through my playlist on my C25K app, and was so proud of myself when i finally neared the top.

of course, i was able to run most of the rest of the way - downhill.  hee!  i slowed down long enough to grab a shot of another mile marker, though.

and it was awesome to see my little cheering section smiling and clapping for me as i finally crossed that finish line.

this is actually about a minute after i actually finished, because i was too busy guzzling down as much water as i could.  i'd really hoped to get there in under an hour, but that's okay.  next time.

i was so glad i had a bigger bottle of water up in our room, which i grabbed right before flopping down rather ungracefully into this very unladylike position.

after i'd gotten a chance to catch my breath, stop sweating and hop into the shower, we packed up our stuff and got outta there to find me some grub (which ended up being a fantastic double bacon cheeseburger and an ice cold coke).  and as we drove up through rancho palos verdes, admiring the view and the awesome houses that dotted the coastline, the bean ended up taking an early nap.  when she woke up, we were in malibu and looking for parking so we could play a little.

here's how i wrapped up my big day.  this didn't suck at all.

and now?  i'm so stoked over my success that i'm on the verge of joining the autism speaks team to run the next race at my favorite place in the world...disneyland.  because in january 2012, the inaugural tinker bell HALF MARATHON takes place through both parks and the surrounding streets of anaheim. 

just wait and see.

grumpy tuesday

ugh. our team didn't make it into the damn marathon. stupid nike. i'm going to buy my own damn tiffany necklace, dammit.

plus, my hips and shins are aching from day 1 of week 4 of couch to 5K training. running for 3 and then 5 minutes straight is tough for me. but i'm going to keep it up - we'll sign up for a different marathon. and it'll be so way better than the nike half. :P

and i still don't have any ideas for the hub's birthday gift. fuck.

i was thinking about past birthday gifts and flashed back to 2002, when i bought tickets to the dave matthews band concert at staples center. he was a fan, and i didn't really care one way or another.

but then we got into a rare argument in the car on the way to the show (luckily, not ON his actual birthday), and i was grumpy through the whole damn thing. i was being a total bitch, and let myself fall asleep as i sat in my seat with my chin in my hand.

and ever since then, i really dislike (because "hate" is a strong word) the dave matthews band. i never told him that was the reason for my disdain, but i kind of giggle every time i think about it.

gah! i'm screwed. what the fuck am i going to get this man??

7 months to transform into a running MACHINE.

so when i was a wee little wan, i wasn't exactly what you'd call "athletic." okay, well, i was rather middle-of-the-road - good enough to hold my own, and not the last one to be picked for teams. you know?

i knew how to play, i was competitive, and i was a pretty average p.e. student. but the thought of joining any of the organized teams (volleyball, softball, etc.) scared the shit out of me. i much preferred laying around on the couch with my nose in some cheesy ass harlequin romance novel instead.

but what did i do yesterday?

i signed up to run a marathon.

that's right. your eyes are not playing tricks on you. i actually joined the team of girls who ran the l.a. marathon on sunday (and a grip of others who were similarly inspired) and we're going to begin training for the nike women's marathon in san francisco. we're doing the half (13.1 miles for those are mathematically challenged) and honestly, i am pumped. i never, ever thought i'd be excited about the prospect of running my fool ass off, but i am. you know that list you've always had in the back of your mind of things you'd love to accomplish at least once in your life? well, this is one of those things for me. and, um, the tiffany necklace as a prize for finishing the thing is quite a lovely carrot dangling in front of my face. mm-hmm.

plus, there's another half marathon running through my very favorite place in the entire universe: disneyland. the medal for finishing is shaped like a castle and sounds uber lame and cheesetastic, but i can't imagine a more fun setting for a marathon (besides disney world, euro disney, tokyo disney). i'm seriously tempted to register for this, too. :X

so on october 19th, maybe we'll be taking a picture like this:

holy shit. i'm going to run a fucking marathon. i think i've lost my damn mind.