Running In the Hood

Would it be retarded of me to drive back to my old neighborhood to run? I ran Tuesday and today through this new place we call "home(ish)" and it's just not a happy place to run. Too closed-in, tight-cornered or something. Or, it could be the rottweiler around the corner that's never on a leash and always sitting by the sidewalk. Who knows. But at least i'm running again. I promised myself i wouldn't do what i did last year and only give myself 30 days to train for the 10K at London's Run. Last year's 10K went well (and by well, I mean I didn't have a heart attack), but I'm sure it will go better with a little more preparation. So, here I am. Preparing. Oooh-rah (don't tell the Air Force I just said that).

The End.

The Official Word on the Ankle

Today I was forced to admit that I will not be running the 10K at Two Sisters, One Heart this Saturday and I AM SO BUMMED.

I knew I screwed my ankle up pretty badly. It's been a week and the pain is still unreal, so today I broke down and went to a foot and ankle guy. (Dr. Newswander, in case you were curious).

After x-rays and an ultra-sound of my ankle, doc says I pulled a tendon pretty severely. He offered a cast, I said unnecessary. He wanted me to do physical therapy 2x per week, I said Not in the budget. He prescribed steroids, I'm afraid to take them. LOL; I'm the WORST patient ever! I AM taking the naproxen (440mgs, twice per day). At least there's that. And maybe I'll de-wuss enough to start taking the steroids in a couple days. We'll see.

Here's the WORST PART: doc says it'll be AT LEAST a MONTH before I can start running again. AT LEAST! A MONTH!

I'm speechless at how fantastic a job I did on my poor ankle. I should be arrested. Oh wait, I am.


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Yes, I Jiggle While I Wiggle

As you may know (since I mention it every 5 minutes), I started running again on Jan. 1 after a 3-year + break. I haven't lost any weight yet (actually, I've gained a pound), but feel like I'm starting to tone up a little. Still, I have a spare tire around the middle, quite a significant one, actually. Remember that old commercial, "Can you pinch an inch?" Well, I can easily pinch 4.

So yesterday, I was out for a 4-mile run (which is still hard, even after running the 10K last Saturday), and as I ran, an amusing thought came to me.

It was this: After a few miles of running, my vanity goes out the window. And that struck me as hilarious and I almost had to laugh aloud.

The weather was perfect as I ran--sunny and warm. A lot of my neighbors and friends were outside as I ran...the Nortons, Krista, Adele, Greg, Russell, lot of kids, and even the Missionaries were strolling through the 'hood.

So for the first couple miles, as I would pass someone, I would suck my gut in out of embarassment, trying to hide the Jello-like jiggling going on around my midsection. (Vanity is so funny that way).

Then, once I hit that wall of pain around mile 3, all vanity flew out the window. My focus shifted from trying to look better, to trying to RUN better. The gut relaxed and jiggled freely in the breeze. I heard one neighbor say, sort of to himself, "That remind me: I need to check the tires on the truck." And a couple of kids ran alongside me and told me what they wanted for Christmas.

Hmmmm. Wonder what that was about.



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More on London's Run

Here's me and my girl Tiff, before the race. It was FREEZING; there was even frost on the grass. My nose was totally red.

Here's the link to the picture the pro photographer took about 30 seconds before the finish line (in other words, me looking like I'm quite in pain) http://sportshots.exposuremanager.com/p/900am_-_930am_lr_2009/0914_20090131091436_321222

Fun times! Next 10K is only 12 days away--Valentine's Day! Whoo hoo!

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I Did It!

I ran the 10K at London's Run today! I was soooo nervous about it last night and this morning. Considering I just started running again on January 1st, I wasn't sure I was ready for a 10K. The most I had run was 5 miles (last week) and that was using the Galloway run a mile/walk a minute method.

But around 6:30 this morning, my dear friend Tiff picked me up and off we went to run the 10K. We took off together, but Tiff quickly pulled ahead. I had a huge smile on my face as I ate her dust. She is AMAZING and I admire her so much. She ran the 10K in under and hour. I ran it in an hour and four minutes.

There were a few times through the 6 and a half miles that I started to panic a little, thinking, "Am I crazy? Why do I think I can do this?" When that happened, I focused on getting into Pose Tech and RELAXING and that gave me the boost I needed to keep going. It felt really good. The best news is that I didn't pee myself. Long story. Well, not long, just embarassing, so let's just leave it at that!

Next year I hope to do the half marathon.

Pictures coming as soon as Tiff uploads them and I steal them from her blog!


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