Running a Half Marathon with No Training
Sometime last year, after the various turkey trots, I got the bug. The running bug. (Bear in mind I had stopped running for about a year to two prior to this...)
For as long as I could remember, I've always run, albeit shorter distances, but I've always fit in consistent runs, topping out at around 3 miles/day, 6-7 days/week. So when all of my friends, most of whom were avid non-runners, started to run half marathons and complete them at a consistent jog-run pace, I felt the competitive spirit in me stir.
Sometime in May/June, I compulsively signed up, and paid for my first half marathon - on my birthday. Multiple factors will make this an extremely momentous event: my birthday has never, to my knowledge, fallen on a weekend date, this is the first that I can remember; this is the inaugural half marathon run for this little town; and I will be running my first ever half-marathon before I turn 30.
I had every intention when I signed up for this race to train well for it, and to run it at my best; now about 2 weeks out from the race, I still have not logged more than a 2 mile run. Will I still do it? Hell to the YES! (Excuse my language.) I believe the body is capable of things that seem impossible! And aren't we always discovering new and fascinating miracles of the human body?? So, oh, YES, I CAN do it! And if you google "Run a Half Marathon with No Training", you'll come across varied opinions, split between "Yes, you can - people have done it" and "No, you should not - you'll surely be injured"... I'm a firm believer in "Yes, you can"!
Here's some inspiration: She did it! And, so did he! Oh, so did this guy...!
Monday, November 28
Thursday, November 24
Nov 24, 2011
Boyfriend is abroad, traveling for business, again. Twice since we got together. This is extremely beneficial, for professional growth, I see it, and I think it's uber awesome. Professional. Emotionally, it sucks.
As the days go by, I'm filling it with things I use to do when I was newly single, and first moved into my house. I planned day dates with friends, and went out more... I could do all of those things now, while he's gone... but something about it being Thanksgiving, and wanting to be near him makes it difficult.
Initially I thought it was wonderful he had all of these opportunities, and frankly, still think they're wonderful... but they're disastrous for our relationship. Just as I'm starting to really open up, and let the layers fall away, I emotionally have to distance myself when he leaves for business.
Committing myself to being available for chats has made this especially draining - he and I never set guidelines for the protocol when he was abroad. He would tell me the time difference, we would figure when he awakes and when he sleeps, and would agree that particular hours were best for chatting. We never set a day/time. He would wake early so he could chat, and the assumption was that I would be on the other end ready to accept the chat session. And because we never set a time, I was, and am, always left wondering when he would be signing online to chat/video-chat with me... or if he would at all.
I do think I need to find a coping mechanism for his traveling for business, weeks at a time...
However, I'm not sure this would be a good thing... there are two things that can come of this mechanism. One, I find a way to deal with it, and we're dandy - his absence doesn't bother me, and I love him all the same. Or two, I find a way to deal with it, and start to build layers/walls around me - his absence eventually doesn't bother me, because I just don't care that he's away, and I may love him the same, or not at all.
I hope I find the former.
As the days go by, I'm filling it with things I use to do when I was newly single, and first moved into my house. I planned day dates with friends, and went out more... I could do all of those things now, while he's gone... but something about it being Thanksgiving, and wanting to be near him makes it difficult.
Initially I thought it was wonderful he had all of these opportunities, and frankly, still think they're wonderful... but they're disastrous for our relationship. Just as I'm starting to really open up, and let the layers fall away, I emotionally have to distance myself when he leaves for business.
Committing myself to being available for chats has made this especially draining - he and I never set guidelines for the protocol when he was abroad. He would tell me the time difference, we would figure when he awakes and when he sleeps, and would agree that particular hours were best for chatting. We never set a day/time. He would wake early so he could chat, and the assumption was that I would be on the other end ready to accept the chat session. And because we never set a time, I was, and am, always left wondering when he would be signing online to chat/video-chat with me... or if he would at all.
I do think I need to find a coping mechanism for his traveling for business, weeks at a time...
However, I'm not sure this would be a good thing... there are two things that can come of this mechanism. One, I find a way to deal with it, and we're dandy - his absence doesn't bother me, and I love him all the same. Or two, I find a way to deal with it, and start to build layers/walls around me - his absence eventually doesn't bother me, because I just don't care that he's away, and I may love him the same, or not at all.
I hope I find the former.
Monday, November 21
Nov 21, 2011
I've already decided on a resolution for the new year. None of this get fit, eat healthy junk that fills everyone else's list(s). And mine for the last decade... Taking from the photo a day challenge, I'm going to attempt to write an entry a day for 365 days.
"What brought on this resolution?", asked the boyfriend.
People are thinking, constantly, throughout the day, whether they be interesting, intelligent, logical, or entirely irrelevant thoughts. People are thinking. I'd be interested to see a compilation of my own thoughts on 2012, what was important, or warranted an entry.
An Entry a Day, for 365 Days.
"What brought on this resolution?", asked the boyfriend.
People are thinking, constantly, throughout the day, whether they be interesting, intelligent, logical, or entirely irrelevant thoughts. People are thinking. I'd be interested to see a compilation of my own thoughts on 2012, what was important, or warranted an entry.
An Entry a Day, for 365 Days.
Saturday, November 19
Nov 19, 2011
'Honeymoon' Phase, and Initial Attraction - Does It Ever Really Go Away?
I always had this jaded view of love and relationships. Of course, I didn't know this at the time.
I had this perception that love and marriage did not necessarily mean what the movies often portrayed, this lovey-dovey, meant to be with the other person, kind of love. I really thought that most couples just find comfort in stability, and knowing that the other person was someone they could get along with... and sort of settled with the other person. Honestly, true love, as they depicted it in the movies, did not exist. Simple as that.
I was wrong, though. In this other person, I found this comfort, and a sense of, seriously, just knowing that I was meant to be with this person. We had been dating for about a month, and the day he was to leave on a plane to South America/Europe, I had this overwhelming feeling, a knowing that this was the person I wanted to spend my life with. We talked about kids, and how we were raised, and if you could imagine, I was indescribably overwhelmed with this feeling that I wanted children, and this was the person I would want them with. I had never wanted children. I liked them, sure, but the thought never crossed my mind to have my own. At least, not until then. It wasn't because I wanted his babies, or that I wanted babies, period... I just knew.
We've now been dating for about half a year, and I still find myself extremely excited to see him. And I see him every night. I had always thought the spark fading was a normal phase in a relationship, I know differently now. The initial attraction, and the spark never really fades - I'm still extremely attracted to him, and with each day that passes, I find that I grow more and more so. I discover new reasons for falling for him, and a better understanding for why we are so good together. And the more that I discover, the more I feel that he is who I am meant to be with.
This morning, as we were waiting around, he whispered to me, as he does ever so frequently, "I love you" with this look in his eyes, as though he were looking into my soul. Jokingly, I retorted, "Do you really feel it? Or are you just saying it to say it?" He responds, "I don't feel it, I just know that I do."
Getting to this "finding your soul mate" place meant taking detours and long winding roads. The hardest part is recognizing that you aren't there yet, and being able to say that you need to move on to find it. I am so truly thankful for whatever it was in me that told me to keep searching, because if it had not been for that, I would not have found mine. Even more grateful for all of my previous experiences that helped me to better understand me, and to appreciate all of the qualities that is who my boyfriend has become.
I always had this jaded view of love and relationships. Of course, I didn't know this at the time.
I had this perception that love and marriage did not necessarily mean what the movies often portrayed, this lovey-dovey, meant to be with the other person, kind of love. I really thought that most couples just find comfort in stability, and knowing that the other person was someone they could get along with... and sort of settled with the other person. Honestly, true love, as they depicted it in the movies, did not exist. Simple as that.
I was wrong, though. In this other person, I found this comfort, and a sense of, seriously, just knowing that I was meant to be with this person. We had been dating for about a month, and the day he was to leave on a plane to South America/Europe, I had this overwhelming feeling, a knowing that this was the person I wanted to spend my life with. We talked about kids, and how we were raised, and if you could imagine, I was indescribably overwhelmed with this feeling that I wanted children, and this was the person I would want them with. I had never wanted children. I liked them, sure, but the thought never crossed my mind to have my own. At least, not until then. It wasn't because I wanted his babies, or that I wanted babies, period... I just knew.
We've now been dating for about half a year, and I still find myself extremely excited to see him. And I see him every night. I had always thought the spark fading was a normal phase in a relationship, I know differently now. The initial attraction, and the spark never really fades - I'm still extremely attracted to him, and with each day that passes, I find that I grow more and more so. I discover new reasons for falling for him, and a better understanding for why we are so good together. And the more that I discover, the more I feel that he is who I am meant to be with.
This morning, as we were waiting around, he whispered to me, as he does ever so frequently, "I love you" with this look in his eyes, as though he were looking into my soul. Jokingly, I retorted, "Do you really feel it? Or are you just saying it to say it?" He responds, "I don't feel it, I just know that I do."
Getting to this "finding your soul mate" place meant taking detours and long winding roads. The hardest part is recognizing that you aren't there yet, and being able to say that you need to move on to find it. I am so truly thankful for whatever it was in me that told me to keep searching, because if it had not been for that, I would not have found mine. Even more grateful for all of my previous experiences that helped me to better understand me, and to appreciate all of the qualities that is who my boyfriend has become.
Nov 19, 2011
Here's a little something to take you back to that fateful night. April 2007.It hasn't been very long since you've been gone... and as afraid as I am to admit, I really don't know what I'm to do without you. Sometimes, it seems we're so caught with filling our day and our goings-ons, that we never really have the chance to live in the moment. Even as the hours slipped away today, we moved forward as though the day would end no differently than any other; it wasn't until we were an hour from leaving that we both agreed that we had wasted our last hours together.
About six months ago, you asked me to be a significant part of your life, I came to the realization that whatever this thing was between you and I would not just be another relationship. I never thought I'd want certain things in my life, but with you all of that changed. I realized that if I wanted them at all, I would want them with you. I can imagine having those things with you, when in times past, I would not have seen myself ever getting there.
Four years passed while we were both finding ourselves, doing some growing up, and since April 28, 2007, and we still found ourselves, albeit as two different people, still having the same spark we had years before. Six months ago, when I asked you to come over, as a comedic event to show how obvious your attraction was to me, I had no idea that I would find myself here. I made a difficult decision that I wanted to make an attempt at what it seemed was a bad idea in everyone else's opinion. I am, inspite myself, very happy that I decided to let all other opinions fall to the wayside.
I am so happy to be here, with you. Happy 5th, 8 days ago.
Monday, November 14
Nov 14 2011
After a much needed three day weekend, I have had some new thoughts on this whole bridal party ordeal. Although I'd like to be asked, I'm not sure I want all of the financial responsibility that comes with it. Committing to something like this would mean attending all wedding-related activities: engagement party, bridal shower, bachelorette party... and all of this will add up...
I'm at peace with any decision she makes - honored just to be considered close enough to be asked to attend the ceremony/reception (guest list of 200).
Congratulations, friend!
I'm at peace with any decision she makes - honored just to be considered close enough to be asked to attend the ceremony/reception (guest list of 200).
Congratulations, friend!
Friday, November 4
Nov 10 2011
I neglected to update since my vacation.
I am back. I was slightly motivated. Then.... my aunt visited. I've been off the last couple of days... hopefully I can steer relatively clear today, and I'll be ready for the weekend.
I have a good friend who is getting married next fall. We had conversations, in the past, before she was engaged, that if either of us were to get married, we'd be each other's bridesmaids. It was a very definite thing. Now she's engaged. And she's torn. Her sister in law got married a couple of years ago, and had a friend, Alice, who coordinated everything day of the wedding. My friend now wants an "Alice", someone she trusts to coordinate and ensure everything goes according to schedule, or as planned... and she hinted, and has stated that she wants me to be that person. She also still abides by wanting me as a bridesmaid, but also mentioned she has a long list of gals she'd consider for her bridal party.
Honestly, I'm honored she considered me, trusts me, enough to want me to be that coordinator person, but at the same time, I really want to be a bridesmaid. I know I'm really good at planning, and coordinating, and I'm sure just about everyone who has considered me, in the past couple of years, as a potential had this thought cross their mind. It may be the very reason most people want me to be there, because they know they can count on me to be there when they really need me, and know I'll do my best, and do it well. It's a huge responsibility and to be the first person considered is a true reflection of perceived character. And it's a good one. I just think I can do it, while also being a bridesmaid.....
I am back. I was slightly motivated. Then.... my aunt visited. I've been off the last couple of days... hopefully I can steer relatively clear today, and I'll be ready for the weekend.
I have a good friend who is getting married next fall. We had conversations, in the past, before she was engaged, that if either of us were to get married, we'd be each other's bridesmaids. It was a very definite thing. Now she's engaged. And she's torn. Her sister in law got married a couple of years ago, and had a friend, Alice, who coordinated everything day of the wedding. My friend now wants an "Alice", someone she trusts to coordinate and ensure everything goes according to schedule, or as planned... and she hinted, and has stated that she wants me to be that person. She also still abides by wanting me as a bridesmaid, but also mentioned she has a long list of gals she'd consider for her bridal party.
Honestly, I'm honored she considered me, trusts me, enough to want me to be that coordinator person, but at the same time, I really want to be a bridesmaid. I know I'm really good at planning, and coordinating, and I'm sure just about everyone who has considered me, in the past couple of years, as a potential had this thought cross their mind. It may be the very reason most people want me to be there, because they know they can count on me to be there when they really need me, and know I'll do my best, and do it well. It's a huge responsibility and to be the first person considered is a true reflection of perceived character. And it's a good one. I just think I can do it, while also being a bridesmaid.....
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