Rain Delay

I just suited up to go running. The sun is out and it is not too hot and not too cold outside.

But it is POURING rain.

*sigh*

This rain won't let me be great.

Everything Went Wrong :o)

This week was a bit rough to fit my running schedule into my life. I didn't run on Monday, cause that's one of my rest days, and I just didn't feel like it. I ran Tuesday morning (3 miles) and Wednesday evening (5 miles). I had a very important appointment with a Russian lady named Vesna at a day spa on Thursday morning (ouch) and Jackie's 21st (33rd) Birthday at Talara on Thursday evening, so I couldn't run on Thursday. As a direct result of Jackie's party, I was unable to run on Friday morning (rum) and I had Kickboxing on Friday evening. Therefore, I was missing my 2nd 3-mile run for the week. I planned to do it on Sunday morning (in DC or Baltimore) and still keep my long run (9 miles) on Saturday like normal. But Saturday ended up being anything but normal.

On Saturday, I left my apartment at 11:30am to run my 9-mile run. I had planned everything perfectly. I had my course mapped out online and memorized all my turns. I had added new jams to my iPod playlist. I was wearing pants with a pocket for my housekeys. I was well-rested after a Friday night spent eating Indian food and watching "Jumping the Broom" on my sofa. In short, I was excited about my run. Given my running speed, traffic lights, and warm-up and cool down, I expected that I would be back to my apartment no later than 2pm. This would give me ample time to eat, shower, primp, pack my PJs & toothbrush, and make my way out to frolic in the streets of Baltimore and DC for the evening.

Sigh. We all know the story about the best laid plans of mice and men, right?

I arrived home at 4:55pm, nearly 5.5 hours after I left. Here is how it all went down.

About 2 miles into my run, I stopped to use the bathroom at the mall. When I came out of the building I noticed that it had gotten cloudy and windy. At this point, I was less than a mile from my apartment and could have easily turn around, headed home, and finished up on the treadmill in the gym. But I didn't do that, because I stupidly believed that the weather on my Droid was the right weather (no rain, Blind Melon style) and that what I was observing (obvious storms brewing) was not actual reality. You can see where this is going.

At about mile 4.5 (somewhere in Fells Point), it started raining pretty hard. Luckily, it only rained briefly, and I was able to take cover under the awning of a corner bar. I picked up running again, headed farther from home. Then 1.5 miles or so later, the skies opened all the way up and poured all the way down. I was in Canton by then and managed to take cover right before the rain party started. I ended up being stuck sitting on a bench in a bus shelter for 50 minutes while the skies cleared up to a light drizzle. At this point, I was able to run about another 3/4 of a mile with clear-ish skies, until the skies reopened and let it all out again. I took shelter at the Merritt Athletic Club this time, where they let me finish my last 3 miles on one of their treadmills, bless their hearts, and gave me water and a non-soaked sweat towel (sweat, not rain, surprisingly).

I felt relief to be done my 9 miles, despite the starting and stopping, BUT I still had to make it home and I was at least 3-4 miles from home. So I sighed, strapped my iPod back on and hoofed it home on my amazingly strong and wonderful legs and feet. At least I wouldn't have to run on Sunday, I told myself, I was doing those missed 3 miles right then and there. I made it to the Circulator stop in Harbor East, where for once in its life, the Circulator arrived no more than 2 minutes after I did. I plopped down in a seat and rode the way back to my apartment, smelling disgusting and looking worn out.

It was an epic journey to say the least. An epic journey to cap off a not-so-picture-perfect week of running. Once I got home, I had to eat mad quick, shower and dress even more quickly, and pack with energy so frenzied that later I didn't even know what I had packed in my bag (3 pairs of heels, 2 miniskirts, make-up, no real pants). I was late to my godbrother's party which in turn made me miss Karen's dance performance. I had to skip out on Muse (and Teatro apparently) with my fave ladies and was able to collapse into bed at 2:30am, exhausted but happy.

Things I am grateful for during my long-long run:

1. Bus shelters
2. Mall potties
3. Merritt Athletic Club
4. My legs

Things I wish I'd had on my long-long run:

1. Money (for water or a taxi or both)
2. Elizabeth's phone number (cause she lives near the Merritt)
3. A second sweat towel
4. A sudoku or something for the time spent in the bus shelter (not really, I like to daydream)
   

After this run, I decided to get a prepaid Visa card to keep on me while I run (in the little pocket with my keys), so that I can buy water or anything else I might need. I have also decided to write a few phone numbers in Sharpie on this prepaid Visa, just in case I need to call someone to bail me out (pun intended).

But the biggest take away from this experience is that some weeks are going to be like this one was. I'm not going to feel like running on Monday, then I will have stuff to do on other weekdays, and then it will rain and I hate treadmills, and then I will have other events to go to and time constraints and every possible thing that you can think of (including a huge snowstorm, like Snowmaggedon 2010 pictured above). But I know that I can squeeze my running in no matter what, outside forces be damned.

I made a promise to myself and this race is important to me, I'm gonna get it all the way in.

One Week Down... 17 More to Go!

My first week of training went smoothly and without incident. (Just as smoothly as the pre-Vegas hiking trip Melissa and I took to Red Rock Canyon, pictured on the left. Everything went just perfect on that day and I was so happy to be getting in some quality time with my Melis.)

On Tuesday evening I ran 3.5 miles, Wednesday I ran 5.5, and Thursday I ran 3.5 again. Then on Saturday morning I ran 8.5 miles. I cross-trained on Friday at dance rehearsal. I rested on Sunday. This week, I have the same schedule, except Saturday's run is for 9 miles and my cross-training will be Kickboxing on Friday.

In general, my weekly training consists of the following 7 days:

• 2 short runs (3-5 miles, increasing every few weeks)
• 1 mid-length run (5-8 miles, increasing every few weeks)
• 1 long run (in order by week: 8, 9, 6, 11, 12, 9, 14, 15, 17, 18, 13, 19, 12, 20, 12, 8)
• 1 day of cross-training (for me this will be Kickboxing, Cardioboxing, or some other form of group fitness or dance class)
• 2 days of rest (always Sunday and likely either Monday or Friday)
  

I do this for 18 weeks and then voila! I am ready for a full 26.2 miles. Seems so simple right?

I am so very excited about my training. Even though it has only been 1 week, I can already feel my body getting back into the swing of distance running. And I love how this feels. I totally appreciate every sore muscle in my legs and every chafe on my butt and every wound that my sports bra leaves on my back. I feel like I am working towards something amazing.

I am going to bed very early tonight in the hope that I will be able to run my short run tomorrow morning (I got PLANS for tomorrow evening). Goodnight!

462.1 Until the Big 26.2

So I am running a Marathon. Yep, I have finally caved and signed up for a FULL MARATHON. That's 26.2 miles. That's twice as long as the longest single distance that I have ever run (Half Marathon, 13.1 miles, I have run 4 of them, including the VA Beach Shamrock Half Marathon that I ran the day after the photograph at left.)

The Marathon I have chosen to run is the Reggae Marathon (www.reggaemarathon.com) on December 3, 2011 in Negril, Jamaica. I figure, if I am going to recover from training for and running 26.2 miles, I should do it on the beach in the Caribbean with a rum punch in one hand, a beef patty in the other, clad in only a bikini, stretched out in a lounge chair next to my girls while Jamaican men trip over themselves trying to holler at us and give me my groove back. This makes so much sense it's crazy.

In a few hours, I take the first run of my training plan. I am all ready with new running shoes, a fully charged iPod with a newly created playlist, and a 3-mile path already charted. I feel like I used to on Christmas Eve as a child. I'm so ready to open this gift.

As an organized, logical, and mathematical person, I like lists, goals, and numbers. So, as I organize and plan for this journey to 26.2, here are some fun numbers to consider... and conquer.

462.1: total miles I will have run before the Marathon, assuming I complete every scheduled run in my training program

$179.99: amount of money I have spent on race registration so far, for the Reggae Marathon itself and also the Baltimore Running Festival Half Marathon as part of my training (I still have a few smaller races that I have not yet registered for, including my traditional Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot AND Race for the Cure)

123: number of days until the Reggae Marathon

1455: number of miles between Baltimore, MD and Negril, Jamaica (If I start today, I could probably walk there... oh wait, water...)

30.5288: exact age I will be on race day (I am in a whole new age bracket, lol.)

$106: cost of new pair of my fave brand of running shoes at Falls Road Running Store (the shoes and the store are awesome)

just 1: number of my friends who have already registered for a race in the Reggae Marathon (Yay Nico! And thanks for suggesting this!)

5 or more: number of additional friends/family members who are considering it

5:30am: the time I will have to wake up some mornings to complete my run for that day

5:15am: start time on race day

04:22:02: estimated time (hours:minutes:seconds) it will take me to complete the Marathon at my current fitness/running level/speed (On the beach, cocktail in hand by noon? Dead asleep under the hot Jamaican sun before 1pm.)

10: minute/mile pace I have to keep to finish the race in the above time (Yipes!)

4 or 5: number of nights I intend to stay in Jamaica surrounding the race day (Vacation, ya'll!)

$453: current cost of a roundtrip flight to Jamaica for the dates I will be there

85: average high temperature in Negril in early December (It'll be such a beautiful run!)

1550: number of calories I intend to consume each day

110: number of calories I burn for every 1 mile I complete (walking or running)

1%: percent of the U.S. population who has completed a full marathon (I'm about to join an exclusive club. Won't be the first time.)

70835: my level of excitement (on a scale of 1 to 100) about this race and my training process

Today was my first day of training. My schedule said to "Rest" so I slept in this morning and then went and grilled red snapper at JP & CG's house for dinner. Successful first day, I'd say. :o) Tomorrow (Tuesday) I wake up and run 3 miles. Piece of cake.

Off I go...

I LOVE RUNNING!!