Back to the Beginning...

It's too cold and icy to run outside now, so I hit the treadmill on Tuesday. My time SUCKED. So, in talking with E (who ran track in HS and is actually a pretty fast guy), I asked him what I was doing wrong. He said I was taking small steps during the "jogging" part of my interval training, and not long strides.

So, I decided this morning to go back to week 1 on the "Couch to 5k" program, and start again with a new stride.

I did not do so hot. I started with the 5-min warmup walk, and then started at a jog for 60 seconds, at 4mph. Then, walk for 90 seconds at 3.5mph. At the second interval, my shins started to scream at me. So I lowered it: jog at 3.5, walk at 3.2. I got off the treadmill feeling like a loser, and not being a very good runner.

I came home to hugs and reassurances from Sweetie that this stuff takes time. I popped my time in to coolrunning's log, and my time, including the 5-min warmup, was 16:00/mile.

Not bad, but I'm still feeling like I suck. :(

Slow and Steady

I was in my first race last night.

Erik & I, along with a few coworkers, participated in the Corporate Challenge. I knew I was going to be walking it, but I didn't care, I wanted to do it.

I stayed in the back, where they marked for "walkers," but there weren't many of us. That was a disadvantage, because I was in the back the whole time. I made sure I wasn't dead last, but at one point that did become the case because people behind me, were dropping out, quitting, and leaving.

I stayed.

When we rounded back to the Boston Common, the organizers were packing it up. Other walkers said "fuck it," and decided to walk through the Gardens.

No. I wouldn't do that. I was finishing this race, dammit.

I crossed the finish line by myself, at 1:04:37.

There, on the other side, was Erik, beaming, arms outstretched as he caught me. "You did it," he whispered in my ear, "you finished." I started bawling, exhausted and fucking proud of myself.

Let's see next year if I can run it. :)