Okay, registration process complete! I am now signed up and the race fee is paid! All I need to do is run it.
Fun running information: Active.com (the site where you sign up for races) provided an article about how to adapt for heat. The researcher's name made me pause:
"Runners respond differently in a battle with heat. One study Jack Daniels conducted found that some runners perspire twice as much as others—in identical heat conditions and with matching body composition, weight, and running speeds. It takes about two weeks of training in warm conditions to acclimate properly, and it is important to know when to train in these conditions."
Jack Daniels?
Saturday, July 31, 2010
An almost pleasant run. Which is weird. For several reasons.
This morning I was back on the road (with no noticeable dental issues) and did a 3 mile run. I decided to go over to the core of Temple Terrace, which is the section built around the golf course. If you do have to run in Florida, then there are certainly far worse places to be than Temple Terrace. The houses are interesting: some were built in the 1920s, while the bulk were from the 1960s. None of them looks like a McMansion. And there are plenty of trees that offer wonderful, comforting shade. It was -- dare I say -- almost pleasant at points.
I was a bit concerned because I didn't quite handle this morning in the best possible way. First, I stayed up far too late last night watching Cheers reruns. I love Cheers. Basically, I love almost anything set in Boston, plus if I had to pick the TV character I most resemble, I think that I would go with Diane Chambers. To top things off, it was the story arc where Sam was dating Captain Janeway (okay, it was really Kate Mulgrew and her character's name was Janet Eldridge) and Diane quit working at the bar. Then Sam proposed to Diane and she had to dig his picture out of the garbage. I still remember this episode from when it originally aired, a sign that I am getting old. At any rate, despite the fact that I know sleep is important, particularly when you are training to run a major event, I couldn't resist watching and got to bed at an unreasonable hour.
Not surprisingly, it was tricky to get out of bed this morning and I thought that the late start would be deleterious. To my surprise, it really wasn't. In fact, parts when I was running in the shade were downright nice. Don't get me wrong: it was still tough and I was all red and sweaty by the end. But it felt less like death that previous runs this week. Also, I cut my mile split by over a minute from Wednesday. I'm not quite sure exactly how much I cut it by because I accidentally hit 'Power Up' instead of 'Stop Run' on my phone app. When you hit 'Power Up,' the app plays Seal's 1991 hit song 'Crazy.' That was unexpected.
When I got home, I thought I would double-check to make sure that Florida is not experiencing some kind of 'cold front' -- HA! But as it turns out, it is even more hot than normal. Icky hot. Heat warning hot. Heat index already in the 100F range hot at 10am. But the run didn't feel so bad.
I saw Inception earlier this week and I'm wondering if this wasn't all a Cheers-induced dream. We'll know if Captain Janeway suddenly shows up.
PS - Apparently, those of us who 'like' the Kiawah Island Marathon on Facebook get a chance to sign up early tonight. So tonight's the night!
I was a bit concerned because I didn't quite handle this morning in the best possible way. First, I stayed up far too late last night watching Cheers reruns. I love Cheers. Basically, I love almost anything set in Boston, plus if I had to pick the TV character I most resemble, I think that I would go with Diane Chambers. To top things off, it was the story arc where Sam was dating Captain Janeway (okay, it was really Kate Mulgrew and her character's name was Janet Eldridge) and Diane quit working at the bar. Then Sam proposed to Diane and she had to dig his picture out of the garbage. I still remember this episode from when it originally aired, a sign that I am getting old. At any rate, despite the fact that I know sleep is important, particularly when you are training to run a major event, I couldn't resist watching and got to bed at an unreasonable hour.
Not surprisingly, it was tricky to get out of bed this morning and I thought that the late start would be deleterious. To my surprise, it really wasn't. In fact, parts when I was running in the shade were downright nice. Don't get me wrong: it was still tough and I was all red and sweaty by the end. But it felt less like death that previous runs this week. Also, I cut my mile split by over a minute from Wednesday. I'm not quite sure exactly how much I cut it by because I accidentally hit 'Power Up' instead of 'Stop Run' on my phone app. When you hit 'Power Up,' the app plays Seal's 1991 hit song 'Crazy.' That was unexpected.
When I got home, I thought I would double-check to make sure that Florida is not experiencing some kind of 'cold front' -- HA! But as it turns out, it is even more hot than normal. Icky hot. Heat warning hot. Heat index already in the 100F range hot at 10am. But the run didn't feel so bad.
I saw Inception earlier this week and I'm wondering if this wasn't all a Cheers-induced dream. We'll know if Captain Janeway suddenly shows up.
PS - Apparently, those of us who 'like' the Kiawah Island Marathon on Facebook get a chance to sign up early tonight. So tonight's the night!
Friday, July 30, 2010
Plans
If you're been following the blog thus far, you might be asking yourself why I run in the first place. I don't seem to really enjoy it all that much, plus I am not very good at it. However, even though I am not skilled in the actually running part, there is something about running that I think is fabulous: the planning. When you are training for a race, you get to do lots and lots of planning. Planning makes me happy.
Related: my all-time favorite Kids in the Hall sketch.
Pretty much the first thing I did once I decided to run a marathon was to find a running plan (taken from the Runner's World Guide to Road Racing), then chose one that fit my schedule. Then I went a bought a planner. Oh, happy day. Usually, I get running-specific planners, but this time around I just got a plain one that extends through the school year. But it is very cute with butterflies and ample space to write about my run. It's good to track what goes on with running, particularly in case you start feeling stiff or tense. That way, you have a record of how your body is coping.
My running plan for the marathon is basically divisible into two phases: ramping up mileage (now), followed by the actual RWGRR plan (end of August). Right now, I aim to run 5 times a week, with the following basic schedule:
Tuesday: 3 miles
Wednesday: 4 miles
Thursday: 4 miles
Saturday: 3 miles
Sunday: 5 miles
That should put me in good shape for when the actual running plan starts. I have also decided that Monday will be Stretch Day and Friday will be weights. That way, I hope to avoid any major problems. So far, I haven't felt any pain (prior to this plan, I was doing my best to run every second day, a plan that was thwarted by visiting Nevada/Utah during a July heat wave). Another advantage that I have in running is that I have thankfully not suffered from any major injuries, so I'm hoping to avoid physical problems.
Today was weights; it was the first time in a month that I got to the gym to do them. All went relatively well. I am hoping that I didn't go too hard or tomorrow's run will be lousy!
Related: my all-time favorite Kids in the Hall sketch.
Pretty much the first thing I did once I decided to run a marathon was to find a running plan (taken from the Runner's World Guide to Road Racing), then chose one that fit my schedule. Then I went a bought a planner. Oh, happy day. Usually, I get running-specific planners, but this time around I just got a plain one that extends through the school year. But it is very cute with butterflies and ample space to write about my run. It's good to track what goes on with running, particularly in case you start feeling stiff or tense. That way, you have a record of how your body is coping.
My running plan for the marathon is basically divisible into two phases: ramping up mileage (now), followed by the actual RWGRR plan (end of August). Right now, I aim to run 5 times a week, with the following basic schedule:
Tuesday: 3 miles
Wednesday: 4 miles
Thursday: 4 miles
Saturday: 3 miles
Sunday: 5 miles
That should put me in good shape for when the actual running plan starts. I have also decided that Monday will be Stretch Day and Friday will be weights. That way, I hope to avoid any major problems. So far, I haven't felt any pain (prior to this plan, I was doing my best to run every second day, a plan that was thwarted by visiting Nevada/Utah during a July heat wave). Another advantage that I have in running is that I have thankfully not suffered from any major injuries, so I'm hoping to avoid physical problems.
Today was weights; it was the first time in a month that I got to the gym to do them. All went relatively well. I am hoping that I didn't go too hard or tomorrow's run will be lousy!
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Aquajogging......ahhhhhhhhh
Today was aquajog day. Let me tell you, after the past two days of being completely sweaty and overheated, it felt awfully nice to stay in the pool instead. It is hot out and I went around noon, so I could feel the full effect of the sun. But one of the most rewarding aspects of pool jogging is the fact that when the sun blazes down, you can just dunk your head in the water to cool off. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh.
I live in a condo community, so there are lots of older, retired people here as well (this is Florida, after all!). There is one guy that I've now seen twice at the pool and I can't quite figure him out. He'll swim a lap -- a lap across the shorter part of the pool, no less (so, maybe 15 feet?) -- then take a break at the side. Or answer his phone. Today he had a 5 minute conversation about baseball. Later, one of his friends showed up and they talked about the fact that their bodies are breaking down (remember, this is Florida). After all this, he will then do another lap, or maybe even two if he is feeling ambitious, followed by another break. When I left, he was on the phone again. Standing in the pool.
Can someone explain this to me? I could see just lounging in the pool, but this 'workout,' I don't get it.
PS - I just saw someone out running. In the sun. The RealFeel temperature is currently 103F. Wow.
I live in a condo community, so there are lots of older, retired people here as well (this is Florida, after all!). There is one guy that I've now seen twice at the pool and I can't quite figure him out. He'll swim a lap -- a lap across the shorter part of the pool, no less (so, maybe 15 feet?) -- then take a break at the side. Or answer his phone. Today he had a 5 minute conversation about baseball. Later, one of his friends showed up and they talked about the fact that their bodies are breaking down (remember, this is Florida). After all this, he will then do another lap, or maybe even two if he is feeling ambitious, followed by another break. When I left, he was on the phone again. Standing in the pool.
Can someone explain this to me? I could see just lounging in the pool, but this 'workout,' I don't get it.
PS - I just saw someone out running. In the sun. The RealFeel temperature is currently 103F. Wow.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Slight setback
Today I had a root tip extracted when I was at the dentist's. For some reason, when I scheduled this, I didn't quite process the fact that the dentist would be extracting something out of my mouth. All went well and it doesn't really seem to be hurting or anything, but I was given the same list of what not to do following surgery as was provided after my wisdom tooth extraction. On that list is 'No vigorous exercise' (or something like that, I'm paraphrasing). Basically, you don't want to jar the mouth in a way that could damage the blood clot that has formed.
I don't know that going for a run in icky conditions really meets that requirement. So for tomorrow's run, I'll go aquajog instead. Less jarring, less straining, less hot, yet still an actual workout. A slight setback, but really only a very slight one. I'll be back on the road on Saturday.
If you're curious, aquajogging does work your legs, even if not quite in the same way as running. Unlike running, it makes you work your hamstrings and quads since you have water resistance that affects both muscle groups. It's not as tough, but still poses its challenges!
I don't know that going for a run in icky conditions really meets that requirement. So for tomorrow's run, I'll go aquajog instead. Less jarring, less straining, less hot, yet still an actual workout. A slight setback, but really only a very slight one. I'll be back on the road on Saturday.
If you're curious, aquajogging does work your legs, even if not quite in the same way as running. Unlike running, it makes you work your hamstrings and quads since you have water resistance that affects both muscle groups. It's not as tough, but still poses its challenges!
Day 2
For some reason, today's run did not feel quite as bad as yesterday's. I managed to get out a little earlier because I woke up at 6:30am for no reason at all (even weirder, I did this after sitting up late to watch the Red Sox game. They are on a West Coast tour and I keep telling myself that I will not stay up to watch the whole thing. Then it's already the 7th or 8th inning and I decide, 'Meh, why not?' Today, at least, is an afternoon game). There was more shade as a result. Also, I left my visor at home, which I think may be a culprit in why I feel so hot. It might be time to invest in the fancy, wicking one that I saw the last time I was at my local running store.
However, my time this morning was horrid. Horrid! Even worse than when I first started running. Some of this has to be because of the temperature, but still, it makes me nervous to see this. Over the past couple of months, I have not been running as much because I wanted to give my body some rest before tackling a marathon program. That's not to say that I wasn't doing anything: I swam, did weights, went to yoga, and aqua-jogged. But now I'm nervous that I left it for too long. Part of running, for me, is that you have to have faith in whatever you are doing. For instance, you have to believe that your training plan will have you adequately prepared for the race. Then you have to believe that you will execute the training plan properly so that you will be prepared for the race. Then you have to actually execute it. These things make me worry because I'm always afraid that I'm not up to the challenge. I hope that I didn't let things slide too much by taking a break because if I'm really running this slowly, then it will be lot of very slow, very very long runs.
You would think that you would speed up from doing lots of running over time, right? Not necessarily. Speedwork can make a big difference and that isn't something that plays a huge role in my current training plan.
I need to look at the brighter side of things:
..........and now you see why I don't track my time any more.........
I will say this: if this morning's (and yesterday's) time is anything to go by, then I pulled off a minor miracle at last Saturday's Florida Death Run. The Florida Death Runs are a series done by the Lakeland Running Club (actually titled the Summer Sunrise Watermelon Series) where you run 5k around a lake. It's a beautiful course, well organized, and there is watermelon at the end. The only bad part: there are four races and they are all in the summer. Last Saturday, I did not do very well at all because of the high dew point/humidity. In fact, I had to walk at two points, which I just don't like to do except as a last resort. But I did go relatively faster than today (and yesterday), which must have taken a herculean effort. I didn't notice at the time because I was too busy trying not to die.
There is some good news. Next week I will be in Boston for a week and a half, so I can contrast and compare in more favorable conditions. If I am still this slow, then I will just have to confront that then. See three points listed above.
However, my time this morning was horrid. Horrid! Even worse than when I first started running. Some of this has to be because of the temperature, but still, it makes me nervous to see this. Over the past couple of months, I have not been running as much because I wanted to give my body some rest before tackling a marathon program. That's not to say that I wasn't doing anything: I swam, did weights, went to yoga, and aqua-jogged. But now I'm nervous that I left it for too long. Part of running, for me, is that you have to have faith in whatever you are doing. For instance, you have to believe that your training plan will have you adequately prepared for the race. Then you have to believe that you will execute the training plan properly so that you will be prepared for the race. Then you have to actually execute it. These things make me worry because I'm always afraid that I'm not up to the challenge. I hope that I didn't let things slide too much by taking a break because if I'm really running this slowly, then it will be lot of very slow, very very long runs.
You would think that you would speed up from doing lots of running over time, right? Not necessarily. Speedwork can make a big difference and that isn't something that plays a huge role in my current training plan.
I need to look at the brighter side of things:
- There is no way to get faster without just going out and running.
- Worrying about getting faster will not make me faster. Complaining about running slowly also will not make me faster.
- The weather really is challenging.
..........and now you see why I don't track my time any more.........
I will say this: if this morning's (and yesterday's) time is anything to go by, then I pulled off a minor miracle at last Saturday's Florida Death Run. The Florida Death Runs are a series done by the Lakeland Running Club (actually titled the Summer Sunrise Watermelon Series) where you run 5k around a lake. It's a beautiful course, well organized, and there is watermelon at the end. The only bad part: there are four races and they are all in the summer. Last Saturday, I did not do very well at all because of the high dew point/humidity. In fact, I had to walk at two points, which I just don't like to do except as a last resort. But I did go relatively faster than today (and yesterday), which must have taken a herculean effort. I didn't notice at the time because I was too busy trying not to die.
There is some good news. Next week I will be in Boston for a week and a half, so I can contrast and compare in more favorable conditions. If I am still this slow, then I will just have to confront that then. See three points listed above.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
The phone makes me laugh
I love when I pull this blog up on my phone. The header shows up like this:
I'm
running a
freaking
marathon
!
Which is actually a pretty fair depiction of how I think about it myself!
I'm
running a
freaking
marathon
!
Which is actually a pretty fair depiction of how I think about it myself!
Day 1 is done!
Okay, one run down, countless runs to go. I actually was thinking along these lines a few times during my run this morning, then realized that this is stupid. If all you think about is how much there is to go, it will just be depressing. Same philosophy will apply at the start line: if you stand there thinking that you have to run 26.2 miles, you might just want to lie down and cry. Well, at least I would. Better to take it one step at a time because that way you can think about how each step is progress toward the goal.
It was by no means the most pleasant run I've ever done. Before I left, the RealFeel temperature was already in the 90s (this was around 8:40am). At least the humidity was 'low,' by which I mean in the 80% range. However, I did like the ample shade provided by the lovely trees in my neighborhood. It really does make a big difference.
I used my fancy new phone rig, which worked relatively well, except that it insists on telling me my time (that and it was preset in kilometers...good thing today was only three miles, which is a little less than 5k). I don't want to know my time. In fact, I rarely keep time except during races (and then sometimes I force myself to forget quickly). As a relatively competitive person, I realized a long time ago that keeping time on every one of my runs was more harmful than good. You don't necessarily make steady progress when you run, at least not every time you go out. Some days, for whatever reason, you will be faster and some days you will be slower. This is just how it is. For me, I found that tracking each run made me frustrated when I couldn't figure out why I was slower on a given day. Instead, I decided to just go run with the belief that gradual progress would be made. I keep thinking that someday I will reconcile with keeping time and get better with it, but I don't feel that marathon training is the time to do this. I'm not running this race for a time, I'm running to finish. That's it.
It would be super cool, though, if you did shave off time every run you did. Imagine if you ran 5 days a week, 40 weeks of the year, and every time you took off 3 seconds from your mile. You'd take a minute off your mile a year. In 5 years, I would practically be ready for the Olympics.
It was by no means the most pleasant run I've ever done. Before I left, the RealFeel temperature was already in the 90s (this was around 8:40am). At least the humidity was 'low,' by which I mean in the 80% range. However, I did like the ample shade provided by the lovely trees in my neighborhood. It really does make a big difference.
I used my fancy new phone rig, which worked relatively well, except that it insists on telling me my time (that and it was preset in kilometers...good thing today was only three miles, which is a little less than 5k). I don't want to know my time. In fact, I rarely keep time except during races (and then sometimes I force myself to forget quickly). As a relatively competitive person, I realized a long time ago that keeping time on every one of my runs was more harmful than good. You don't necessarily make steady progress when you run, at least not every time you go out. Some days, for whatever reason, you will be faster and some days you will be slower. This is just how it is. For me, I found that tracking each run made me frustrated when I couldn't figure out why I was slower on a given day. Instead, I decided to just go run with the belief that gradual progress would be made. I keep thinking that someday I will reconcile with keeping time and get better with it, but I don't feel that marathon training is the time to do this. I'm not running this race for a time, I'm running to finish. That's it.
It would be super cool, though, if you did shave off time every run you did. Imagine if you ran 5 days a week, 40 weeks of the year, and every time you took off 3 seconds from your mile. You'd take a minute off your mile a year. In 5 years, I would practically be ready for the Olympics.
Monday, July 26, 2010
The Challenge of Florida
Today I got a new toy, one of those armbands that lets you run with your phone. This is not because I actually want to run with the phone (I am pretty much a running purist and don't even take music...more on that probably later), but because my phone is also a GPS unit. Voila, instant distance tracker. This toy will be especially fun since I live in a part of Tampa with lots of old trees -- which provide lots of nice shade -- and twisty streets to explore. Much nicer than Upper Middle Suburbia, where I moved from: the running mostly consisted of the same loop, some of which was directly in the sun no matter what the time of day.
Official running starts tomorrow with a little 3 mile jaunt. However, even this short run is going to be a challenge. The Challenge of Florida, to be exact. The Challenge of Florida is something I have been battling since I moved here in 2007 and I haven't yet found a way of beating it.
What is the Challenge of Florida? Simply that I find it far too wretched for running. When I first moved here, I was aware that it was hot, but unaware of how pernicious Florida heat could be. In fact, it's not really the heat per se (although it is hot, don't get me wrong), but the humidity and dew point combined. Also, the sun is very strong, which is tough on us Northerners.
Here is the basic problem: during the day, the strong sun heats up the air. That makes it too hot to run, starting around 10am. So you'd think that the easy answer would be to run either after the sun has set or before the sun rises. Ha! Nice try. The one benefit that the strong sun provides is burning off the humidity. The humidity then builds overnight until the air is pretty much saturated (levels in the upper 90s). This cycle repeats from May-ish to late October-ish -- or early November-ish if you are really lucky. In other words, this is half your year.
High dew point tells you just how close the actual air is to becoming dew. If the dew point and temperature match, then there are ungodly amounts of water in the air. I often like to check in with Wikipedia to see how we're doing, dew-point-wise. For the run I did on Saturday, the dew point was 78F. According to Wikipedia, that is, "Extremely uncomfortable, fairly oppressive." Still better than 80F or above, which is, "Severely high. Even deadly for asthma-related illnesses" -- but only 2 degrees better. The real problem, if you are running, is that the high humidity and dew point mean that you sweat, but it doesn't evaporate. So you don't actually cool off, even if the temperatures are somewhat manageable (by which I mean in the upper 70s/low 80s. When I lived in Massachusetts, I used to complain when temperatures got into the upper 70s and I went out to run. Memories).
In my first attempts at running outside in 2007, I thought that I would adapt to the climate. And I did to a point: when I began, I couldn't even make it 2 miles without having to stop (and thinking I might die). I took the sunset approach, which was unwise because the heat and everything did not dissipate just because the strong sun wasn't there any more. Also, you risked potential thunderstorms that can happen daily. But I still didn't fully adapt. Actually, I often wonder if anyone does, the conditions are just horrid. For much of the summer, I have been aquajogging instead, which is where you have a buoyant water belt and jog in the pool -- I highly recommend, even though it instantly makes you look like you are retired. But it's a nice activity with the added bonus that you can dip your head in any time you get hot.
The current temperature (4:46pm) is 95F, the RealFeel temperature is 109F. Humidity is 77% and the dew point is 77F. I need to find a way to meet this challenge, but I can't say that I am looking forward to it.
Official running starts tomorrow with a little 3 mile jaunt. However, even this short run is going to be a challenge. The Challenge of Florida, to be exact. The Challenge of Florida is something I have been battling since I moved here in 2007 and I haven't yet found a way of beating it.
What is the Challenge of Florida? Simply that I find it far too wretched for running. When I first moved here, I was aware that it was hot, but unaware of how pernicious Florida heat could be. In fact, it's not really the heat per se (although it is hot, don't get me wrong), but the humidity and dew point combined. Also, the sun is very strong, which is tough on us Northerners.
Here is the basic problem: during the day, the strong sun heats up the air. That makes it too hot to run, starting around 10am. So you'd think that the easy answer would be to run either after the sun has set or before the sun rises. Ha! Nice try. The one benefit that the strong sun provides is burning off the humidity. The humidity then builds overnight until the air is pretty much saturated (levels in the upper 90s). This cycle repeats from May-ish to late October-ish -- or early November-ish if you are really lucky. In other words, this is half your year.
High dew point tells you just how close the actual air is to becoming dew. If the dew point and temperature match, then there are ungodly amounts of water in the air. I often like to check in with Wikipedia to see how we're doing, dew-point-wise. For the run I did on Saturday, the dew point was 78F. According to Wikipedia, that is, "Extremely uncomfortable, fairly oppressive." Still better than 80F or above, which is, "Severely high. Even deadly for asthma-related illnesses" -- but only 2 degrees better. The real problem, if you are running, is that the high humidity and dew point mean that you sweat, but it doesn't evaporate. So you don't actually cool off, even if the temperatures are somewhat manageable (by which I mean in the upper 70s/low 80s. When I lived in Massachusetts, I used to complain when temperatures got into the upper 70s and I went out to run. Memories).
In my first attempts at running outside in 2007, I thought that I would adapt to the climate. And I did to a point: when I began, I couldn't even make it 2 miles without having to stop (and thinking I might die). I took the sunset approach, which was unwise because the heat and everything did not dissipate just because the strong sun wasn't there any more. Also, you risked potential thunderstorms that can happen daily. But I still didn't fully adapt. Actually, I often wonder if anyone does, the conditions are just horrid. For much of the summer, I have been aquajogging instead, which is where you have a buoyant water belt and jog in the pool -- I highly recommend, even though it instantly makes you look like you are retired. But it's a nice activity with the added bonus that you can dip your head in any time you get hot.
The current temperature (4:46pm) is 95F, the RealFeel temperature is 109F. Humidity is 77% and the dew point is 77F. I need to find a way to meet this challenge, but I can't say that I am looking forward to it.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
The motivation
Why am I keeping a blog? The answer is simple: because I am running a freaking marathon!
So why keep a blog? Because this is kind of a big deal for me. I've been running now for a little over four years, but I have to say that I am not much of a runner. The person finishing near the end of the race: that's me. The runner who insists on running even though the walky-runny people are beating her out? That's me. I've been dead last not once, but twice in my running career. I'm definitely more of a turtle than a hare, but the point is that I do make it (slowly) to the finish line.
This means that running a marathon for me will be a lengthy and time-consuming process, not to mention the training that will be involved with it...long runs are even longer when you are wicked slow! But I wanted to record this adventure, as well as some of the fun points along the way (Florida Summer Series Death Runs, for instance).
The marathon in question is the Kiawah Island Marathon, which will be on December 11, 2010. My plan is to drive from Florida to South Carolina (where the marathon is), run it, then crash out , and finally drive home to Canada for my vacation. The registration for the marathon is on August 1 and I plan to sign up as soon as possible. Likely I will have some ridiculously low bib number as a result, such as 4.
I welcome any comments that you have and hope that friends far and wide will keep track of my efforts. Running, for me, is a very solitary activity, and your support is thoroughly appreciated, even if it takes the form of, 'Why are you doing this?!?'
So why keep a blog? Because this is kind of a big deal for me. I've been running now for a little over four years, but I have to say that I am not much of a runner. The person finishing near the end of the race: that's me. The runner who insists on running even though the walky-runny people are beating her out? That's me. I've been dead last not once, but twice in my running career. I'm definitely more of a turtle than a hare, but the point is that I do make it (slowly) to the finish line.
This means that running a marathon for me will be a lengthy and time-consuming process, not to mention the training that will be involved with it...long runs are even longer when you are wicked slow! But I wanted to record this adventure, as well as some of the fun points along the way (Florida Summer Series Death Runs, for instance).
The marathon in question is the Kiawah Island Marathon, which will be on December 11, 2010. My plan is to drive from Florida to South Carolina (where the marathon is), run it, then crash out , and finally drive home to Canada for my vacation. The registration for the marathon is on August 1 and I plan to sign up as soon as possible. Likely I will have some ridiculously low bib number as a result, such as 4.
I welcome any comments that you have and hope that friends far and wide will keep track of my efforts. Running, for me, is a very solitary activity, and your support is thoroughly appreciated, even if it takes the form of, 'Why are you doing this?!?'
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