Running with Angels

OK, so I know I said in my other blog I wasn't going to read about running. But this doesn't count because it's a woman's story about running and that's different. Her name is Pamela H. Hansen and the name of her book is Running with Angels: The Inspiring Journey of a Woman Who Turned Personal Tragedy into Triumph Over Obesity. I just came across something I need to write down for Marathon Motivation (I think I'll call these M&M's). Oh, and I remember another one from earlier in the book. The first M&M is

There had been days when I just did not feel like running, when I would have given almost anything for someone else to go on my run for me. I came to realize that in training to run a race, there is no one who can do the work for the runner. Physically, I alone had to complete the often-grueling training. But doing so helped me to more fully realize the simple yet difficult truth--that as nice as it would be to avoid life's tough situations, . . . I came to better understand that no one else can undergo those struggles for us. The wheelchair athletes certainly understood that concept. They also realized what I now more fully comprehend, that although plenty of help is available, we need to be willing to face our trials and find the strength to deal with them effectively. And it can be done!

I've hated a lot of the things I've had to go thru in life, but I definitely wouldn't be who I am today if I hadn't gone thru them. And I know the same will be true for training for and completing this marathon. And if I can do that, I can get thru most anything.

I'm ready.

It's been a long time

I shouldn't've left you, without a dope blog to run to...

Ok, enough of my corniness. :) I went to the TNT meeting on 4/18 and I'm committed to training with TNT. I haven't decided yet which race I'll train for this time, but I'm leaning towards San Francisco. I didn't have the money to register at that time (I just got done moving and am currently on the No Money Diet; see My Fantastic Voyage for details) so I'm going to register when I get paid. Our Kick-off party is May 10th, I think, and our first clinic/training is May 12th. That's only two weeks away. And we start out at 2-3 miles. I'm not sure how all that's gonna go. I mean, I don't know how much of that I'll be able to run. My friend from college has decided to train with me as well, first walking then jogging. So we're gonna start that this weekend. Ok, let me start at the beginning.

The Race. At first, I was going to do the Columbus Half Marathon on October 21st, but after going to the TNT meeting, I started getting interested in the Nike Women's Marathon out in San Fran. What's cool about that is

1. I've never been to Cali, so that would be a "free" trip to a new place. I use quotes because even though I won't pay money for the trip, I will earn it through my fundraising efforts.
2. Instead of a traditional medal, you get a Tiffany's necklace at the finish line. I think that's cute. And a nice gift for completing a marathon. I mean, I can wear that whenever. Can't wear a medal.
3. I get to visit with my sister's best friend who just moved out to LA. She said she'd fly up to see me. My sister has never been on a plane and I want to fly her out to Cali to see her BF and to see me complete the marathon. I want her there with me. Plus, after she goes out there, she might like it so much she decides to move. That gets her out of Cleveland and accomplishes another of my goals.

The thing is, I have a training buddy, NuDiva. We started this together, so I feel like we should run the same races. I mean, I guess she could run in Columbus while I run in San Fran (the races are the same day). I feel like I've already made my decision; I'm going to San Francisco.

Training starts with TNT on May 12. We have six days of training, one day off. There are 4 running days, two of them with the group (weds & sats) and 2 cross training days (that's why I got the Cross Training for Dummies book). Our first distance run is 2-3 miles. That's a friggin' 5K!!! I'm not going to be ready to run that until June. So I have a lot of questions about our first run.

So that's the update. I still need to read up on runner's nutrition. I'm definitely starting the Fat Smash diet (FS) next week, so between walking to work and re-training myself to eat right, I should be able to drop some weight and make my running a little easier. I know I need to go back to Pilates because my hips hurt after walking; I can tell I'm losing flexibility in my core. And stuff is already gon' be hurting from running; I need to be able to prevent whatever I can.

I'll update more as I read more.

So I've decided to run a marathon

And it's amazing, really. First off, I'm a good 20lbs overweight. I don't exercise regularly. I have never ran for exercise. I don't run, period. Unless I'm being chased. I don't even jog. But I've decided to run a marathon. When I did exercise regularly, I walked 4 miles (in 60mins or less) at least 3x a week. So at first, I thought about walking the marathon. I'm still thinking about it. I need to make a doctor's appointment to make sure my knees are ok for running. They're kinda rickety to be so young. So I wanna make sure they're ok; I don't want any preventable injuries.

So let's start at the beginning, how did all this come about? Well, I was talkin' to my friend, another Marathon Virgin (MV) and my training buddy, we'll call her NuDiva. NuDiva was talkin' about doin' the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati. So I ask, how long is it? And this is when I knew I was totally ignorant so far as marathons go. Her response? "It's a marathon. (insert silent DUH here) 26 miles." So I calculate real quick... 4 miles, 1 hour... 26 miles, 6.5 hours... WALKING. I wonder if I could walk for that long. Then I think about the fact that people RUN that distance. It struck me as totally absurd. I mean, why would you do that? THEN I started thinking about how I've been unmotivated to exercise. And I thought about setting some goals. And I thought about how much more weight I want to lose. And I thought about how I want to TONE my body. And I thought about how in order to stay on task, I need to have something to work towards. And then I thought about running. I thought about the endorphin high you're supposed to get. You don't get that from walking. Or maybe I've never walked long enough or fast enough. Dunno. But I'd like to know what that feels like. I thought about how awesome it must be to set a goal like that and accomplish it. I thought about surprising myself by actually following through with something like this. I thought about how it was completely out of character for me (seriously, I don't run, I don't even have a sense of urgency about much of anything). I thought about reaching goal (weight), keeping it off, and running this marathon as proof to myself that I really did get fit. I thought about how good I'd feel about myself if I did something like this. I found myself surfing running sites online while I was thinking. Then I felt myself getting excited. It started to sound like something I was capable of doing. And I then I started thinking of a plan.

The Flying Pig Marathon (FPM) is over a year away (we of course are not running in this year's marathon; it's in May!). On the site it has a 17-week training schedule. I figured that's for people who are actually in shape, and my name's not on that list. So first I have to actually start running. Then I remembered a conversation I had with my friend PJ about the Couch-to-5K (C-5K) training program and decided to take a look at that. So that gives you 2 months to run 30 minutes straight (about 3 miles). So I figure a year is a good amount of time to train forreal-forreal. Then I remembered something I'd gotten in the mail. It was for Team In Training (TNT) and I remembered I wonder what made them send that to me. But I was interested. So I put it with my tax stuff to remind me to go to an information session. I forgot where I put it until today. Anyway, I got look at the site and decide to attend an informational session on 4/18. I'll update more on that after that first meeting.

So I get excited, right? I mean, I'm gonna run a marathon! ME!!! LOL! It's kinda funny, lol. I get online and look for little races. I'm learning so much. Ok, so I know a marathon is 26.2mi, so that means a half-marathon is 13.1mi. Easy. But I had to Ask Jeeves about 5K (~3.1mi) and 10K (~6.2mi). I came up with a plan. I move into my new apartment on 4/20 (*grin*). My new complex has a fitness center. So my official training start date is Sunday, April 22, 2007. If I am disciplined with the C-5K, I'll be able to run 3 miles by June 17th. There are two 5K runs in Columbus, June 9th and July 4th. It's a part of the Columbus Grand Prix. And I'm tryna be down!!! These smaller races will simply be a part of my training and to also help keep me motivated and on task for the FPM next year. And I'm sure they'll boost my ego like, Ooh, Monique, look at what you can do!! NuDiva and I are gonna talk about trying to complete the Columbus Half-Marathon in October (27th week of training). We may not be able to run the whole thing, but we can do our best. The real marathon is next year's FPM. And it's so perfect for me, lol, because I would have said, Hmph, I'll run a marathon when pigs fly. And now look at me, LOL!!! I can't wait to do it if for nothing more than the t-shirt! :)

But see, once I'm able to run 3 miles, I'll keep adding on to increase my distance. I don't know how long it will take me to increase once I start running regularly. So y'all know what I did, right? Yup, I went to the library. I mean, the little bit I read online showed me I have A LOT to learn before I start training. I need to make doctors appointments. I need to research runners' nutrition. I just need to absorb all I can about running before I attempt it. I haven't counted out walking the races. I'm going to contact the lady again about racewalking. Maybe she has a small group together. Or maybe I'll be able to get one together now. I haven't made any hardcore decisions on how I'm going to complete the marathon, only that I'm going to complete it.

Right now I'm finally tired (sleep habits are off because I was up late last night researching running) and going to bed. I'll up tomorrow reading about running and updating this blog as I learn and feel the need to journal.