The "Post Pre-Training" Post

Well folks, I ended pre-training as I began it. In the rain. The cold, horrible, wet rain. But it was neat to see myself dive out there and run (that's right, run) a 5k. Technically I did a little extra. 3.4 miles with no stopping, no walking, no slowing down. (Ok... maybe some slowing down.) I am immensely proud of myself. Here is what this experience showed me:

1) It's almost 2 months later, and I'm still running! How bout that!

2) I ran 3.1 miles in 30.33 minutes. Based on this time I am projected to finish the marathon in 4 hours 47 minutes - 5 hours 6 minutes. (That's a goal race pace of roughly an 11 minute mile.)

3) I should train in the 12 minute mile pace group for group runs.

4) Um, I freaking DID it!

Here's what I'm really proud of: the pace group suggested is the first group on the list that does not run intervals. I am incredibly proud of that. I did just start running, after all. I ran the whole thing, and I ran my 3 miles today. And I will only get better at this. We do 5k "test runs" throughout training to check in and calculate our progress. I feel I started very well, and can't wait to see my improvement next time.

Here's what I'm discouraged about: 4 hours 47 minutes to 5 hours 6 minutes. I have to run for five hours. I mean... I don't think I can. When I think about running a marathon I think "yeah, I can do that!" When I think about running for FIVE HOURS!? No way. Absolutely not. Impossible. 

I'm trying to remind myself that first of all, they told us to run all out as fast as we could for the 5k. Since this was my first time running without intervals, I did not do that. I took my normal pace to make sure I didn't burn out. I know I could have done it faster. 

In addition, I still have five more months of training. My test runs will improve. My endurance will improve. My everything will improve. Which means my goal pace and projected time should both get smaller. So maybe (please oh please) it won't be five hours of running. 

A couple of lovely things happened this week to keep me going. I finally ran far enough south (and east) on the lake shore trail to see this view:

No, not the guy fishing! The downtown skyscrapers and Navy Pier on the far left!

I know that the perfect blueness of the sky and water have been washed out (seriously, iPod Touch, it looks like it's been instagrammed already. What gives?), and the buildings look much smaller in the photo than they did in real life (just like mountains, you can never quite capture them right) but this was pretty impressive. It was my first view of downtown as a runner. The view all the athletes in films about Chicago see as they stride gloriously in all types of weather. This view, combined with a trip back home to Nebraska where I ran in gorgeous weather (except for 5k day) made this week an enjoyable running week.

I would also like to say Happy Birthday to my Mom. Thank you for raising me, birthing me, letting me visit and all that stuff, but guys, she followed Gabby's lead! She donated her birthday money to my fund as well, claiming both miles 5 and 6 (seems like a good time to get a boost from your mom). Thanks Mom! You're the best! I'm starting to feel on a roll with this fundraising, as we've already helped six people get fresh clean water for their whole lives. Thank you all for your help and support. Let's keep the ball rolling and the water flowing! 

Happy Memorial Day!

After a huge emotional growth spurt last week this week, thankfully, was a pretty normal week. Normal things happened, with normal challenges, and normal feelings, and normal successes.

There are a couple of things that I'm really proud of. The first is that I got my eating habits on track last week and lost 5 pounds! You may remember from this post that I was doing silly things like eating ice cream for breakfast, so as you can imagine I had put on a little padding. It wasn't difficult to clean up my eating, but I still had to make the decision to do it! For anyone who is curious, my weight loss method is simply counting calories, eating fresh foods, lots of fruits and veggies, and working out. Ground breaking, right? Not at all, but it really works!

Secondly, I am really proud of my "long run" this week. It was on a day when I'd had very little sleep the night before, and just finished nine hours of retail. My feet were killing me, I was hungry and tired and the Blackhawks were playing. All I wanted to do was sink into my big green chair and not get up again. But I went! I went past one of my favorite places in Chicago.

It's beautiful!

Wrigley is surrounded by bars, most of them sporty in nature and as I ran I discovered that I could keep up with the Hawks game through their windows. So a tip for any sports-fan-runners out there: run past your town's main sports bar strip and you can watch the game as you go! I must remember this for football season.

My long run was 55 minutes this week, and in the end I clocked 5.2 miles. That's not including my walking warm ups and cool downs. I was stunned at how far I went! For Chicago locals I nearly made it down to Diversey. That is FAR! There was a moment of elation as I turned around at the halfway point, knowing what a great distance I'd travelled, immediately followed by a moment of terror. I was so far from home, how would I get back? The answer, of course, was to run, but it seemed really tough at that moment. But I did it, and in the last 15 minutes I kicked on the turbo boost and ran hard. In my head I wanted to give it all I had before rest day, and after a long crummy work day. And my rest day was that much more peaceful, knowing that I had given everything I had. As a street graffiti artist reminded me this week:

I also really appreciate whoever fixed the your/you're situation going on here.

 Folks, you're all worth it. Whatever it is you're wanting to change about your life, you deserve it. If it's the job, or wanting to get out and go for walks or be more active, you can do it. Change is hard, but also so worthwhile, and you really can achieve whatever you desire. Just work for it, and go get it!

In closing I would like to say a big thank you to our current serving men/women and those who have served in the past. You are awesome, important, and heroic. Thank you for everything you do.

Another big thank you to Greg, who is my donation rock star this week! I learned that my donation goal is $50 for every mile I run, which is outstanding. As I run the marathon I will remember who believed in me for each mile of the race! Greg, that means you're a mile 4 sponsor! Thank you! This amazing piece of information also means that if I hit my goal we will have helped 26.2 people get clean water for the rest of their lives! Folks, let's make that happen. In fact, let's get reckless and round up to 27. Because what's .2 of a person anyway? That doesn't exist. So thank you to my sponsors up to this point, and know that you will be with me on race day! 
Gracias! Danke! Merci! Grazie! Thanks!