About a week ago I went shopping and bought a new bag to carry my running stuff. It is so great with a pouch for shoes and my phone and ipod and everything else I could need. I was so excited after buying it. I think buying the accessories is my favorite part about running.

Yesterday before leaving work I changed into my running clothes which was very helpful in actually motivating me to run. I drove to the back of campus and ran a trail. It was nice outside and the sun was just setting.

The run felt really good. I went at a pretty slow pace, but I felt like I could have run a lot longer than I did. Runs like last night make me actually enjoy running.

TIME:
Ran for 19 minutes with a 40 second break to stretch

MILEAGE:
1.6 miles

Other items of interest:
-I saw a horse peeing. It was kind of awkward but very amusing.
-There were a lot more people out on this trail than I anticipated. I saw a cute baby in a stroller with his dad who was running.

Dear God, please don't let me die while running

I ran to church this morning. I decided yesterday I would do this and I called my mom to make sure it would not be tacky to attend church in my running clothes. Granted I had on my new black running pants and my fleece jacket... not like a sports bra and shorts. So after running to church, I prayed to God that I would not die while running.

I started out later than I intended today and so I had to make myself keep running even when I wanted to die just so I wouldn't be late. Lame. I would gladly have my hips removed from my body right now if it meant I didn't have to feel their pain.

I liked running with a destination, but when time is an issue I definitely want to give myself more than enough time to get there.

TIME:
Walked about 1 minute to warm up
Run to church: 14 min. 15 sec.
Walked entire way home from church: 28 min.

MILEAGE:
Run to church: 1.3 miles (approx.)
Entire walk home: 1.5 miles (approx.)

If my math is right (which is questionable) then I think my running pace was about an 11 min. mile. (Right? min/miles??)

Other items of interest:
On the walk back I saw a lime green, low rider, pick up truck with the diamond metal plating stuff you usually see those tool boxes in the back of trucks made out of. Except this stuff was on the interior. It was ridiculous. If I remember I'll take my camera next time and post a picture.

The great return

Yay! I ran today!!

Putting on all my new running stuff and the watch, the iPod, etc. really got me into the mindset. I was excited to run. Last night before going to bed I just kept saying to myself: "I will run tomorrow. I am a runner. I will run tomorrow. I am a runner..."

Dais' book that I mentioned last time talks about the difference between "I want" and "I will". That was important for me because I realized I needed to start saying "I WILL run a marathon" instead of just "I WANT to run a marathon". I mean I can't get real pumped about wanting to run 26.2 miles... I still think I might die. But saying "I WILL"... well then dammit I will.

So the weather was warmer today than it has been lately (meaning well about the single digits). It was about 50 to 55 today, cloudy and overcast, but not much wind. This is the first day I've left the apt since Thursday morning when I tried to go to work again and I got the evil eye for being germy (so I came home again). It was really good to get out and into town.

I decided I would run to one of the post offices to mail a letter. I walked for a bit to warm up and then started running. I got into the general area of the post office and decided I wasn't ready to stop, even to just drop the letter in the box, so I kept going and looped back around. Stopped for a few seconds to do that then started running again. I stopped later for a brief stretch and kept going, onto campus and around some of the buildings. The nice thing about running on campus is you can usually find an open one if you need a bathroom break, which I did.

So todays numbers:

TIME:
Was gone a total of 40 minutes.
Ran for approximately 23 minutes (cumulatively)
Walked for approximately 7 to 10 minutes (cumulatively)
The remaining time was a bathroom break and some stretching

MILEAGE:
Ran approximately 2.3 miles (cumulatively)
Walked approximately 1 mile (cumulatively)

Other items of interest:
Love my iPod armband and freaking LOVE running with an iPod. It's awesome!! It's like a soundtrack to my run. BEAUTIFUL.

I registered for the Monument Avenue 10K today.

Overall run felt good, although I hate my left knee and right hip. Please stop hurting everytime I run, thanks.

I AM A RUNNER

Wellllllllllll, I got back a few days ago after spending Christmas with the fam. I ran once over the holiday and it was sad. Since I've been back, I've been sick and it's gross.

I really need to start running regularly if I'm going to be ready for the half marathon, even the 10K I'm planning to run.

For Christmas I got a ton of running stuff: two pairs of pants for running in the cold, new shirts and tops, socks, shorts, a watch, an ipod, some headbands... I mean I am set.

I bought the latest issue of Runner's World and two books about running. One I had checked out from the library and decided to buy (The Complete Book of Running for Women by Claire Kowalchik). I like the information. It's well written and concise.

Another book I bought and have just started reading: The Non-Runner's Marathon Guide for Women by Dawn Dais. This book is so perfect for me. The author is extremely sarcastic and funny. I mean, I just love her style:

"The rest of the book offers advice on how to avoid death while training for a marathon. Keep in mind that my only real qualification for giving this advice is the fact that I managed to avoid death while training for a marathon. Which makes my training a smashing success. However, I issue this warning in case, for some odd reason, you actually follow my advice and something horrendous happens (like you end up actually enjoying running marathons): I hereby absolve myself from any liability."

Love this book so far.

Okay so all this reading I have been doing has really motivated me and bolstered my confidence. One thing I read says to tell yourself you are a runner. And I have been saying that in my head. "I am a runner." I'm going to print some motivational things out and tape them around the apt. I need some serious reminders that I've got to get off my butt and run.

As soon as I don't feel like crap, I'm getting back out there.

Info

My knee still hurts today. I didn't run. Maybe tomorrow?

Went to the library to check out some books on running. M said I should just make copies of any info I really want. lol good idea. If any are really good, I might buy them. We'll see...