Training Day!

Today made for a 5 mile day.  I have never run 5 miles before, so this was quite the experience.  I also have not been brilliant about my maintenance runs, so I definitely need to get on top of that.  This being said, I met some really nice ladies in my pace group.  They were fun and uber understanding.  I'm working toward ensuring I have a consistent 14 minute mile (which I currently do not) and so kept drifting ahead in pursuit of this goal.  Upshot is that the next run I'll be running with a different crew - but I'm looking forward to getting to know everybody and cheering everybody on!

Today was also Race for the Cure, which meant I got lost trying to re-route myself to the training site.  Yes... only me.  We did a slightly different route than we usually do as a result and I did rather like it.  It was down to Haines Point.

And now... for some pictures!  These are in no coherent order, so be forewarned!

 May I get a ride please?!  (Only about 1.5 miles in at this point...)

 Or I could get a ride on one of these...  Food, beverages (of the adult variety!), and access to potties (that aren't porta).

 Duckies!  I'm making friends with the wildlife everywhere!  Bet you didn't expect that of this California Beach Bum...

 The gals I ran with!

 Getting lapped!  Go fast people!

 The gal I ran with

 That would be a river

 Just starting out... see how happy they look?!

A Washington monument and one of the reasons I'm doing this race... this is my home now and where better to do it?!

New Goodies

I got a new toy and a new support system!  Woohoo!!!

New toy first.  What is it you ask???  A new camera!!!

 Isn't it just so cute?!  It is soooooooooooo tiny and lightweight.  I wanted something that wasn't too top-of-the-line as I don't want to cry and berate myself if I drop it, but also something useful for running around - whether it be training or hanging with the pals.  As I'm trying to document the bulk of this journey as I go, I needed something a bit more accessible than my massive blackberry that costs an arm and a leg and I would sob if I dropped and broke it.  So this really is just the perfect little bugger for me.

And next up... what else did I get???  A book!!!  Shocker of the century I know.  I was thinking about the foods I would need to be eating in the coming months and realizing that I really have absolutely no idea how I should be nourishing my body as I go.  So clearly, I needed some help.  I am not going to be able to afford a nutritionist and the amount of time it would take me to do all online research (read: free) would be ridiculous, as I would have to vet all of the sources.  A book became my choice.

Amazon.com reader reviews highly rate this book, i.e. people like to bash things when they can, so when they take time to write something nice, I pay attention.  So this came in the mail today too and...

I'm about 10 pages in and Clark makes sense to me.  She writes in a way that I understand and explains why she suggests the foods she does.  I'm not going to get obsessive about reading tonight as I have class soon and I want to go step by step.  So first, I'm going to change up my nutrition for this upcoming week and then read the book over the weekend, seeing what I need to do from there and how I need to be nourishing my body pre-long runs.  Any which way, so far I'm liking it.  I'll give a more comprehensive review as I actually try out the plan and see how it helps with the energy.

I continue to take this seriously and with great verve.  I'm excited and nervous and know that the next few months are going to be amazing, even if they kick my booty from here to next Tuesday.

Generosity

I have been blown away and humbled by the outpouring of support I have received the last few days.  Before starting this process, it was not the prospect of running for 6 or more hours straight that scared me, but raising enough money to train and run in the marathon.  Having a fundraising goal is not something I have ever had before.  (And no, selling girl scout cookies does not count - because, please, who could resist my crazy hair cuteness back when???)

This being said, I have until July 22nd to raise $1,000.  I will be volunteering at least six weekends, raising $150 toward that goal (we receive credit if we volunteer on our non-training day).  But $150 is a hole in the bucket compared to $1,000, no matter how much I say every penny counts.

Next thing I know, I have $30 coming in from complete strangers.  I have another $30 between two friends who do not necessarily make a lot of money.  And then... there's the family friends and mom's friends.  Yes, I have totally been using my mother.  Big drops in the bucket coming my way from this group.  All together, I have more than half of the monies I need raised to run this marathon.

What does this mean?  I can raise the rest of it.  Because every single dollar has counted and every single dollar continues to count.  What does this really mean?  I guess I'm running a marathon!

I'm blown away that so many people have such faith in me that I will complete this process and complete the race.  It is truly humbling to get an email on my blackberry telling me that somebody else has donated.  I email a thank you to these folks and try not to be too mushy or corny, since raunchy and sailor mouth are more my style ;), but my heart actually swells knowing that there are people who think enough of me and my drive to make this journey.

When the pain starts to hit, when the boredom sets in, when I can't keep myself enough company, or when "The Wall" seems insurmountable, I will have the names of my supporters in my head.  When the time comes that I cannot get myself through, and this time WILL come, it will be the people who believed in me that will get me through.

So thank you.

Volunteer Day

Yesterday was a volunteer day with T2.  If I volunteer, I get $25 credit toward the $1,000 I have to raise.  I.e. I'm not just asking people for money, I'm getting out there and working for it.

I volunteered at the Georgetown site, which is along the C&O Canal.  I walked a mile and a half down the trail to be the turn around point for the pace run people.  I chilled out there and then realized... I will NEVER be a nature girl.  Ants kept climbing up my legs and I about peed my pants every single time.  Clearly, I switched sides of the track, which helped matters.

I had fun cheering on the people running and getting reinspired as to why I'm doing this.  Training with a team really is just a cool concept.

But... there was... again... wildlife.  Which I, of course, took pictures of.  I think I need a new small camera to carry with me as I go through this journey, since I'm enjoying every part of it.  It's not just about the running and the health aspect, but the getting out there and doing it.  I want to do what I can to share that with you.

I think this is an egret???

A family of geese!!!

Another family of geese!

 Baby goose!  Oh, so cute!

 Lots of baby geese!  So fluffy!  I had to be careful, because these suckers like to attack :P

 These really are interesting looking animals.  Standing at attention!

And last, but certainly not least... ME!!!

Ok, yeah, so the water is a little disgusting.  I personally think this makes me look even better ;).

Today is a cross-training day!  Onward and forward!

Training Day!

4 miles today!

I opted to get up early today and do the run on my own.  Most weekends getting to and from the training site, plus the training time won't be a problem, but today... I have my final paper to write, my final videos to edit, plus a help-out shift at one of my old jobs.  Suffice it to say: it's one of those days where the travel time to and from the site is just not going to cut it.

So I got up at 5:30.  On a Saturday.  I have to think I'm kind of nuts.  Or certifiably insane.  Whatever noun floats your boat.  Either way, I did my run like a good little girl!  Plus a walk warm-up and cooldown that was not included in the 4 miles.

I also paused twice... to take pictures... of wildlife... since such things don't exist in California ;).  Seriously though, there was a deer RIGHT THERE and then later on, a turtle!!!  So cool.

So here's turtle that I totally thought was a tree branch until it moved and I jumped a mile high...

Isn't he cute?!  Ok, maybe "cute" isn't the operative term there, but aaawww, turtle!  They are SO slow, so I felt this deep connection with him (or maybe it's a her?  I didn't exactly check to find out, nor would I even know how to do so).

And...

Chowing down.  Which is something I need to do soon.  She's a beaut (no antlers, so that makes her a "her" right???  My knowledge of wildlife is clearly vast).

Here she is elongated...

Beautiful isn't she?  Look at those muscles and her awareness of what's around her even when eating.  Up the road there were a few more, but I'd already stopped for this little honey, so I just bypassed those.

It's amazing what this training has already done for me.  A mere couple of weeks ago, I would have been at some restaurant, spending money I don't have, on food I most definitely don't need.  I won't even share how much I ate, it's so embarrassing.  Today?  Oatmeal with flaxseed and a banana.  And as a little treat, a touch of honey.

4 miles down and done.  I feel great, so that's a blessing.  My legs have been sore for a week, so I feel like this will be an on-going thing :P.  Muscles are good!  I'll keep this up and who knows what will be next.

Training Day - Sprints

Today was a sprint workout!  Either Tuesday or Thursday of every week will be a leg/sprint workout, to up my speed overall and my ability to breathe through the faster paces.

10 minute - slow jogging warm-up (my legs are a little sore from strength training yesterday)

4 sets of 20 meters each, split by a 20 meter walk between each one:
     High knees walking
     High knees running
     Skipping
     Crossovers
     Butt kicks

3 sets of 30, 20, 10 meter sprints, split by a walk around for a minute or so after each one.

5 minute - slow jogging cooldown

5 minute - walk

The mileage is clearly not going to be too high for this one and my jogging warm-up could be a teensy bit faster - I blame the legs still hurting from yesterday :P.  Either way, I got out and did it!  That's all that matters at this point in time.

Week 1 of training is officially complete!  Fridays are Rest Days, so I'll do some light yoga to stretch out the poor muscles and let them enjoy life for a bit.

Week 1 Weigh-In

So last week was the starting weigh-in, pre-marathon training.

Upshot is: I lost 0 pounds.  I'm not too surprised by this as the eating has gotten better, but it's not all that and a bag of chips... oh wait, chips are part of the problem... ;)

I did, on the other hand, clean out my fridge and cupboards last night.  Tonight I'll be reorganizing the entire kitchen, so starting fresh - literally!

I did lose 5" though.  Yes!!!  In a week!!!  Woohoo!!!  My waist and abdomen both lost an inch all on their own.  Hips lost .5 I think, arms lost .25, thighs lost .5 each... I think.  I'm doing this from memory as I left my little booklet at home.  Weird part?  Gained in the bust.  Um, what?!  I also gained .25 in both calves, but this doesn't surprise me either.  My calf muscles are coming back QUICKLY, I can feel it.  So maybe the muscle is coming back before the fat is sliding off.

So overall, I'm actually really quite pleased.  I haven't been eating great and only got in two runs and a long walk for exercise.  Add in even remotely better eating AND more workouts... then I'll be golden.

I expect next week's results to be AWESOME.  It's all about the consistency and fueling your body in the right ways, so those two components will be added in this coming week.  I got the runs in, so keep on trucking forward!