I ran 3 miles today in 36 minutes. Without stopping. Ever since my boot camp I've been running on and off, a couple of times a week, but I've really been half assing it if I'm being honest with myself. Tonight was great though. My husband went with me and it was great to just have someone next to me, going at my pace. He hasn't run probably since our honeymoon, and all he ate was a banana today, but he kept right with me until then end. Men. How annoying.
Anyway, it was nice to have someone with me. So last night I was doing a little thinking, and while there is a lot about myself I don't understand (like why I'm so excited that a Long John Silvers just opened up down the street from my house) one thing I do understand is that I do well with specific time frames, with goals. That's why I liked boot camp so much, it was a set period of time, I knew when it was going to be over, and it kicked my ass.
I'm thinking I need something like that, but I'm not exactly sure what. One idea I'm entertaining is the Denver Marathon. This year is the second year of the marathon and it just so happens to fall on the date which will mark one year of marriage for the boy and I: October 14, 2007. Wouldn't running a marathon be a cool way to celebrate? Or a half marathon?
So yeah, right now I'm proud of myself for running three miles without dying. What makes me think I could run a marathon?
Honestly, I have no idea. I have some girlfriends who are hardcore runners and they're training for a marathon right now, and they are suffering. SUFFERING. And they each weigh like 120 lbs. And they've been running for years.
But I dunno, regular people do it all the time. Tons and tons of people have trained for marathons and survived. Even liked it. And my optimistic side says, I'm going to lose a ton of weight training for it. I have six months, and they even have a marathon training team with a pace group that goes at my level.
The training starts on June 23. There are shorter runs and training sessions on Thursdays at 6:00 p.m. and long runs on Saturday morning. At 7:00 a.m.
7:00. That's the hard part. 7:00 on a Saturday morning. I don't even get up for work until 7:00 on weekdays. And I'm going to be running at that time on weekends? For training runs all the way up to 20 miles? (Or 10 or 12 if I decide to do the half marathon).
I don't know. That sounds like a big commitment. But I'm 27 and it's only six months of my life and what an awesome accomplishment it would be. It's scary, even terrifying to think about.
I haven't decided if I'm going to do it or not. Part of me thinks I should just continue doing what I'm doing, or maybe try Turbulence Training, or do another boot camp or join another gym or sign up for a cycling race or do something else. But part of me thinks this would be the coolest thing I could do. What do you guys think?
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One woman's quest to eat right, work out, love myself, and lose some weight in the process.
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- Future Me
- I'm 29 and I've been overweight my entire life. I've lost and gained more pounds than I can count. This time I'm focusing on getting fit and becoming the person I want to be. I'm ready to become my future me.
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9 comments:
Wow, that's awesome! I wish I could run... every time I've ever tried I gave up after a week or so because I felt like I was going to die.
Congrats for 3 miles in 36 minutes!
I think you should go for it! This is the first post I've read at your blog, but even I was getting excited by the idea! I think that when something captures your imagination like this has with you, then you owe it to yourself to give it a shot. After all, if you find out it's not for you, you can still change your mind later on. If you've got a month til the training starts, you could start doing a bit yourself each week before then. Come training, it will be a reward to actually join the group and take it up a notch.
Good luck!
I say listen to your heart and follow your excitement for the marathon! Joining a training team sounds like a good idea considering how well you've done with the boot camp. It might be just what's right for you! Will your husband come along to the training and run the marathon or half-marathon with you on your anniversary?
Whatever you decide to do, I am proud of you! And maybe a half marathon or even a 5K or two would be good place to start? See how you like it, how your body reacts, etc. and follow your heart! :-)
3 miles in 36 minutes sounds fabulous to me! I think that you should continue to challenge yourself. Focus on your goals Jeni - you're going to get there!!
Hi Jeni,
I pop in here from time to time via Jen. I live pretty close to you (in Boulder County) and can relate to A LOT of things you say based on that. I don't think people other places can understand how fitness- and figure-obsessed people are here, how they take being thin for granted, how it's "no big deal" to be a triathlete...that makes a big impact on me anyway.
But about the running, I had to share with you that I ran my first marathon last year (Boulder Backroads, pretty tough--they also have a half) and it was a great experience. And I had just started running earlier that year. A friend and I trained together for a half-marathon, which I thought would kill me (and it almost did (dehydration)!), and I felt SO GOOD about myself for being able to do something that HUGE.
I liked that feeling enough that when this friend got pregnant and quit running I found a local running group in my town and signed up for the half/full marathon program. I didn't commit to doing the full marathon until WAY into the training...it was intense! But running with others and having a coach made running an ENTIRELY different experience. What was so hard for me to do with my friend became a piece of cake when I had someone helping me do it right. I STILL can't believe I ran a marathon, but I did.
Whether you do a half or full, I think the key is in finding a training group that you really like with a coach who wants to train you where you're at. I'm even thinking about running again this year--not because I love running so much (I still will pretty much only do it with others or for exercise), but because I felt so GOOD about myself for making a physical goal (one I never thought I'd reach) and getting there.
much luck to you!
ae
Well, it could be great. But if you're seriously thinking about it, go and read YP (if you don't already) at Born Again Gym Bunny. She did her first marathon last year, and she's got lots of good entries about what it's really like to do the training.
(I messed up the link in my first comment. Doh.)
She's doing another one next week, so obviously she wasn't put off!
5:50 PM
Ha ha! Ok first of all, when they started building the Taco Bell down the street from my house I got so excited that I actually called my mom to tell her about it. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who gets excited about these things!
Secondly, like everyone else, I think you should go for it! Three miles is an awesome start and you can totally do this!
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