Alessandra from The Life and Times of A. Nighbert! Congratulations, Alessandra. Send me your address and I'll mail your package to you.
What else is going on? Well, yesterday I ran outside for the first time since October. It was a bit chilly, and the trail in the park was very very muddy. This is what I don't get: you have a trail, in a park. The park is quite large, and there are many many places to take your dog to poop. Why the hell do you have to let them poop on the trail? Really? People walk and run on it, you know. I spent most of my time A) Dodging poop; B) Running off the trail on the grass to avoid the huge mud puddles and quicksand that was the trail; C) Cursing myself for wearing a long sleeved shirt. Oh, and I forgot what time I started, so I had to guess at my finish. I was attempting to complete my virtual 5k. I think I got the time right. It was a bit of a frustrating experience, but I was happy to be outside. I trashed my shoes, so now I have to clean them up before I go to the gym.
I did learn a few things: I have a long way to go before I will feel at ease running again. I have a long way to go before I can run non-stop for 30 minutes. I cannot wear long sleeved shirts when I run. I hate sweaty wrists--does this make sense? I should have just worn short sleeves, been cold for a bit, then I would have felt better. So thinking about my mid-morning escapade while at work last night helped me formulate a running plan for the next few months.
What's the plan, you ask, sitting on pins and needles? Well, my next race is a 5K at the end of May. Until that time, I am going to work on running 3-5 miles every time I run. I have to tune out what's around me, and concentrate on standing up straight, lengthening my stride ( I tend to not take a big enough stride and it makes my hips really stiff), and retraining my brain to work with my body to achieve a sense of accomplishment for every little positive step I make. If I don't have a great run one day, I'll just try again. I will not start getting worked up about that fact that I am not running 8-12 miles at a time. And drinking water! Not keeping myself hydrated enough is what causes my horrible side cramp. It's always my right side, and it happens way too frequently when I run. Park the water tank right here, and attach the hose to my face.
I'm still saving for my Garmin! That is spurring me on to keep running each week. And this poster reminded me of what Bud says to me when I feel like I'm not up to doing something: "Don't say you can't. I hate it when you say you can't do something. Try." This comes from a man who does not have "can't" in his vocabulary. Bud will figure it out, and always try. And since he would probably be someone who could survive a nuclear holocaust, live off the land, and build a shelter from leaves, I know he lives by this motto. And, too--I don't wanna be a weenie woman.
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| get poster here |
Every time I want to say "I can't go any farther" I have to say " I'll try". What keeps you going when you want to quit?
