Garmin Forerunner 305

The Garmin Forerunner 305 is my new toy for training!  I invested a few bucks and opted to get a solid toy to play with for running.

What is it you ask???

It is a watch.  But it is soooooo much more than a watch.

It has:

*GPS

*Heart rate monitor

*Five billion tracking things

I used it today and LOVED it.  Everything worked, the timing was awesome, and while the watch itself is kinda big, it's awesome and super easy to see all of your options.

I then put the programming onto my computer and saw my route!!!  Granted, it was off the beaten path, through a park (following a road though, so don't worry, I'm not being dangerous and striking out toooo far on my own!), but the gps caught it all!  So my mileage was accurate and my best guess of heart race, i.e. calorie burn, was also correct.  Can we say COOL?!

I may not have a whole ton of money currently, but this purchase?  Totally worth every single penny.  If you are a biker or runner or both, then this is the watch for you.

Training Day

To start, a quote from somebody or other: No matter how slow you go, you are still lapping everyone on the couch.

How's that for being slow, but doing it?!

I came home from school today and took a little nap.  Yes, clearly I am still five years old.  And I'm proud of it!  ;).  I woke up and almost went into the thought process I once upon a time had...

"Eeehhh, it's hot out there.  I'm tired.  My sunburn hurts.  I don't feel like it.  I just wanna eat.  I want to read."  So on and so forth.

Today? 

"It's hot out there... Ok, so what?  You'll burn more calories and become fitter."

"I'm tired... You won't be once you get started!"

"I don't feel like it... Well you made a commitment, so suck it up and deal big girl."

"I just wanna eat... And that's just an excuse as you always eat when you're bored.  Do you want to change your life or not?"

"I want to read... You can read, AFTER you run."

"My sunburn hurts..."  Ok, I so did not have a rejoinder to this one.  Can I just say, when you have a solid and massively red sunburn on your chest, the only sports bra that keeps the girls from going on a roller coaster ride, HURTS?

That being said, I did a training run!  I walked down to the path through Rock Creek Park and rocked out 45 minutes.  I'm still a slowpoke, but I'm doing it!  At this point, that is all that really matters.  I felt good, I felt strong, and I felt happy.

I'm not quite sure how I'll ever get through 26.2 miles... I know I can get my body to hold up, but what in the world am I going to think about for more than 5 hours?!  I could barely make it through 45 minutes.  I'm really going to have to work on keeping myself good company!

Slow Runner

I've been thinking about the last few days how I am a slow runner.  And feeling a wee bit bad about it...

But I saw a lady out running today and she had a knee brace on.  She was definitely not going fast.

It was then I truly realized that my speed really does not matter, therefore I have nothing to be embarrassed.

Finishing is winning.  End of story. 

I WILL FINISH.

First Training Day

Today was the first day of training!  I made it... and will have to figure out a better parking situation for the next five billion months.  Because that's how long it takes to train.  Really...

Today was a three mile run to stick you in pace groups.  Something I learned today?  A pace group puts you in a group with a minute above your average mile time.  Interesting!  Another something cool from today?  This team very specifically trains with the run/walk method.  Love!  Yet another awesome something?  I really like my pace group.  We're not first, we're not last, and we're small.  So yay us.

I learned I do not love running on gravel.  I learned that muscle memory is awesome.  I re-learned that abs/core really do keep you upright.  I re-learned why you don't train two days in a row.  I re-learned what inner thigh muscles are.  Clearly, mucho knowledge is making itself known in my puny brain.  Always good times!

I also made an event on facebook in hopes that people will see what I am striving for and support me in this process.  I realized that if 100 people gave $10, then I'd be free and clear and can run the marathon (and keep training).  Let's start working on that 100, shall we?!

Back to Running

Yesterday, I ran for the first time in MONTHS.  I ran about a 14 minute mile, which, for my first day back into it, was solid.  Let me rephrase: I am a wogger.  I walk and jog.  I have NO need for speed.  I drive with a lead foot, but I am perfectly content and proud to do this race, future races, and past races to finish.  This challenge, for me, is not seeing "how well I can do".  This is not a "race" to me.  This is a challenge on my journey,  a path I must take to finding that balance in myself, so that I may live a healthier life.

And I have chosen a path where today my thighs are screaming.  Ohhhh yeah.  The inner thighs specifically.  Cool! Except I have my first training run in a bit, where they ascertain which pace group we'll be in.  I want to be like, can you stick me in the 14-min mile pace group???  I chaperoned prom last night and am EXHAUSTED.  How I made it awake... I simply do not know.  But I'm up.  I'm on this.  I will succeed in this challenge.

If you have anything to contribute to support this journey and challenge, please visit: http://www.active.com/donate/MCM_T2DC2011/MorganHogarth

Kicks and Gear

I figure no marathon runner is going to be great without a great pair of kicks.  So, off to the store I went today with a $50 certificate in hand.

At this particular store, the employees work with you, watch your gait on a camera to ascertain what kind of support and shoes you may need.  It turns out that I pronate a tiny bit, but that when I do, it is not problematic.  For the most part, I have a straight gait and do not need extra support in the shoe... i.e. less money to spend!  Whoo.  I am a student and a student teacher, money is not my best friend right now!

 Up close and personal!  I generally wear a 9.5, but these are a 10.  You want your feet to have some space when running and the 9.5's had my toes right up in the box.  So 10's it is!

Aren't they just the coolest???  I am SO in love with them already.  I am going to rock the fun shoes.  These are my Christmas present that I finally cashed in on.  I have the bestest mommy!







But I also figure I need darn good socks.  I do not mind my cheapies for my short runs throughout the week, the two 30-45 minutes runs, but for the longer runs, excellent wicking socks were necessary.  There was a sale on socks, buy three, get one.  So what did I do?  Why... bought three of course!

Yay for cute socks!  And they have little tabs on the back, so your ankle does not rub up on to the shoe.  Aweeeesome!

On that very same note, a shirt was needed!  It looks super orange in the picture, but it is really more of a coral.  I still need capri pants in this wicking material, but I can make it through the first couple of weeks with what I have.  These will be my goal next week.  Especially since none of this is cheap.

And last, but certainly not least, I got a holding water bottle.  I do not like gripping a water bottle and my camelbak pack can be a bit uncomfortable for short runs, although it will be amazing for longer runs.  It is a piece of gear I already have, another present, this one from a friend and for my birthday.  Aaahhh, a holiday in and of itself!  Ok, back to the point... so this little water bottle has a strap, so it attaches itself to your hand.  You can even attach it to a belt if you have one of those.  I was reluctant to get a belt as I have small hip problems and just do not want to be adding anything to the hips.  I felt that the holding water bottle was the best bet for my short runs.

WHEW!!!  Is this not amazing loot?!  Very, very exciting and I most definitely cannot wait to play with it all.  My final purchase that is coming in the mail (fingers crossed: tomorrow) is a Garmin 305!  I already have a heart rate monitor, but this particular watch has gps, a timer, and a heart rate monitor all in one.  More on that tomorrow!

I will keep you updated on how all of the gear and my new kicks work out.

MARATHON!

I have signed up for a marathon.  I kid you not.  This could be an adventure of a lifetime.  Or the pain of a lifetime.  I'm not picky...

Please donate!  Morgan's Marathon Fundraising Site

Please read on for the letter I wrote regarding my participation in the Marine Corps Marathon.  But please consider donating, I cannot run unless I raise over $1,000.  Follow my journey here, from the joys, the pains, the dredges... the whole nine yards.  I'll frequently update with my successes and not so much.  I've never been a runner by nature, gosh, by the end of this I only anticipate being a jogger.  I will do my best to make these updates fun, honest and downright nutty.

On October 30, 2011, I will join TEAM TO END AIDS (T2) to run the Marine Corps Marathon as a part of a team raising money for HIV/AIDS research to eradicate a disease that affects millions worldwide.  More, I will run for some of my best friends, people who have HIV.  These are people I worry about daily, hoping their lives will be long, but knowing the chances of this may be slim.  These are my friends, my supporters and my family.  I am a teacher, a student, a daughter and a friend.  I want to become of that elite group called “marathoners”.  I want to become a part of this group by partnering with an organization that raises money for a cause I believe in.

Every 9 ½ minutes someone in the United States is infected with HIV.  T2 supports AIDS United and the Washington AIDS Partnership, organizations that work to end the AIDS epidemic nationally, through research, advocacy and outreach ensuring people living with, and affected by, HIV/AIDS have access to the prevention and care services they need and deserve.

T2 will train me and many like me who support the cause of AIDS United and the Washington AIDS Partnership to effectively eradicate the strains in existence and those yet to come.  Training begins May 22, 2011 and will progress through the months until race day, October 30, 2011.  The Marine Corps Marathon is called “The People’s Marathon” because it is the largest marathon in the world that does not offer prize money.  It is the 4^th largest Marathon in the United Sates and the 8^th largest globally.

This is more than a journey to help save those in a life-threatening situation, but a personal journey.  I began my weight loss journey at 220 pounds and made it a goal to run a marathon.  I can run now, without hurting my knees, without gasping after two feet and without going cherry red after walking out the door.  I now own more pairs of running shoes than high heels and drink more water than pop.  This is a personal journey as much as a journey to help a disease in need of eradicating.

Will you help me reach these goals?  Will you help me to run a marathon AND reach the goal of $1,500?

Please follow my journey on: mytrainermorgan.blogspot.com