I week down

I see a lot of people have agreed to do the first five K together. I wish I could too but unfortunately there's a small ocean in the way. I asked Yoshi to find me a race to join over here but nothing on that front yet.

I've started the 5 to 10 K podcast. There have been a few false starts but I think I'm finally on track. It's the New Years holiday over here and so far I've been able to get Yoshi to take care of the baby so I can go for a run most mornings. Usually I go the same course, one I know from experience is slightly less likely to get me run down by a careless car or bicycle. I run past an old guy with his vegetable stand. He just stands out there all day as far as I can tell. He looks bored off his ass. A few days ago I ran past a different old guy peeing on one of his own plants. Is that a thing I wonder? Does he think it will make the plant grow better or something?

I know if I can get into a program it will eventually start feeling good but I'm not nearly there yet. But yesterday it finally started feeling a bit less bad which is a step in the right direction.

Inspirational Movie 1- Spirit of the Marathon

Spirit of the Marithon is the first in my list of movies to watch for running motivation. It is free to watch on amazon streaming and hulu and in chunks on youtube. The film follows a group of people preparing for the Chicago marathon. There is a nice mix of first time runner and elite athlite. Some history and some personal triumph stuff. It is very watchable and almost light in feel.

Runamuck - Go Team

We have a team for the Runamuck in April . Team Captian is Pammy and the other team members are Judy David and Missy.
now to register lol.

Day one down.
The couch to 5k running program is perfect for me just now. I was panting at the end of each run but recovered by the end of each walk. The weather was cool and sunny and I was fairly hot at the end. I made it down the hill and to the first willow tree at the lake. I am not too sore or tired. 2 more to go this week!

Surprise! You're registered for a 5K!

Just got an email today thanking me for registering for the Shamrock 5K. Guess I'll be doing that then! I have a very spotty history with running. Did some very short lived attempts at a running program as a teenager. Mostly these didn't last more than a week. Back then I knew very little about pacing myself, and so, would burn out quickly. I'd do a few Father's Day 5Ks with my Dad, pretty much with no training. I'd make it through okay, but I did get passed by a 60 year old lady at one point. About 4 or 5 years back, Missy decided we should do the Couch to 5K running program. I was surprised by two things... One, how out of shape I had gotten, and two that I was actually enjoying the program. We kept running and did several 5Ks, even start working on the 5K to 10K program. Pregnancy kind of got us out of our routine, and we haven't been doing any regular running since then. The Krav Maga training I've been taking has been keeping me in decent shape, though I've been out of that for several months due to Megan's birth. It will be nice to start a running program again. I'm definitely in up through the 5K level, maybe even 10K. After that, my attention spam gets the better of me. I like fast short distances. A marathon may be just a little too much, but we'll see. It certainly does sound impressive. Anyway, I wish us all much luck and fitness!

First registration done

I just registered for the shamrock 5k for myself and for David. (hi David guess what?). If you register before the 15th it is cheaper so yay for that anyway. The idea of 5000 participants reassures me quite a bit. hopefully my next post will be all about my actually having started training lol.
First run should be this week...I should really say first jog.

Here is a picture (a sweaty not very flattering picture) of some of us during our last 5k

Judy -> Licia -> Missy -> Kathryn

I will give it a try

I ran in collage. I ran one 5 K a few years back. I did complete it, not very fast, but was sore afterwards. I had started out running four miles, no problems, back when I was in collage. It is sad what a couple of decades can do to you if are not carful. I have been working on getting more fit the last year, so I will see how far I can go with training.

Okay I will do it.

I am not a runner but I would like to be. I like a good deal and running is a free workout! I am completely out of shape and I don't like it. I want to get to my ideal weight before we try to have children. I also like running because it makes me eat better. I mean, if I know i'm running later that day, I can't eat french fries because i'll feel like crap, so, win win! I am not at all competitive and I don't enjoy the nerves that I get before races and such, but signing up for one will hold me accountable so it's a good idea. Chris wants to train as well, but i'm sure he won't do a race. But it will be helpful to run together i think.

Running was very frustrating for me until I found out I have asthma last Spring. Before that I had always had lots of congestion and coughing fits during exercise. I ran a 5k in May and it got really bad. I couldn't breathe without wheezing, it went on the whole day! I thought maybe I was getting sick because someone in the office had just been. Finally, Chris took me to a clinic to see what was wrong. After a couple of tests, I was completely embarrassed when they told me I had asthma! Oh well, at least now I will have a magic inhaler!

First 5k - Shamrock 5k in Baltimore

Registration is here for our first 5k. It is Sunday, March 11, 2012 @ 1:15 PM and the parade is soon after so Kiernan will be happy lol. 
This 5k is a good first choice because it is well attended and if we are slow no one will notice ...plus they offer beer at the finish line.

I think we're crazy

When Missy suggested we try to run a full marathon by the end of next year I thought she had to be nuts. I'm still pretty sure she is but I've decided to give it a try. I used to run track in high school. I kind of liked the running but hated joining competitions. I started again when I was thirty and was running pretty regularly until I had my baby almost two years ago. Now I just run from time to time. At this point I think I could manage a 5 K if I had a gun to my head. I joke. I could do the 5 K no problem but wouldn't be happy with the time. I'm starting with a 5 to 10 K program that focuses on picking up some speed. The big problem at the moment is all the running podcasts have techno music which bores me to tears and then some.

I don't know how many races I'll join on the way to the marathon because finding childcare on the weekends is really really hard but I'm going to aim for being able to do 10 K comfortably by April a metric marathon by July or August or so and then who knows. . . we'll see.

If anyone happens to know of a good podcast that doesn't feature techno but has good pacing please tell me.

To begin

Well this week is the 6th since I gave birth and I am now cleared for working out. My workout of choice most of the time is running and combining this with my "things I would like to do before 40" list I have decided to try for a marathon.
I have no idea if I will make it that far but it is time to give it a go.
To help motivate me I have asked a number of friends and family members if they want to try too.
Some are people I have run with in the past and some are just people who I know migh enjoy the whole thing.
I am thinking of trying the Marine Corps Marathon. This seems like a good choice for me because it is near by and in a cool part of the year and mostly flat.
My plan is to do the couch to 5k running program and have that completed with at least one 5k race under my belt by March.
If that works out I will try for a 10k by May and then in June I will start the real marathon training. I like the look of this training plan so I might try it but it is too early to say just now.
During the marathon training program I will probably try some metric marathons and 10ks just to keep an eye on my progress.
Everyone who agrees to try gets to stop at any point.
That includes me.
A metric marathon is the most I've ever done and when I did it I was completely under-prepared and as a result I hurt my knee quite badly. I barely finished and given the lengthy 2 year recovery I should have just stopped. I will therefore give myself the out for injury or stress or too much attention taken from family...I did after all just have a baby.
I have thought of myself of a runner for as long as I can remember. My father is a runner and has completed marathons...somtimes just for fun and as an unregistered companion for friends. When I was in 2nd grade I remember running with him and doing 5 miles without tireing and being so very proud of myself and being warmly praised by him. I remember doing some fun weekend runs with him in college and it being one of the most comfortable times with him during those years.
I ran with my husbands father from time to time too. The illfated metric marathon was with him but also some casual around the neighborhood jogs that really helped me to feel like I understood him to some extent.
I wanted to do track in High School but my grades were too bad and they wouldnt let me try out. My best friend Kathryn did track and I would go run with her (and the track team) sometimes.
I love the space my head gets in after a while of running and I love being fit and strong and fast and I am none of those things right now.
SO even if it is bust rather than marathon I am going to try.
My begining stats are like this: I weigh 150 lbs (this is quite high for me and much of it is post baby weight), I havent run in about 4 years (not since my son was born), I walk a lot and normally (when not baby sleep deprived) have a good bit of energy and love being outside.
It is a nasty time to start running, it is December and cold and rainy and dark early and I want to be home with the baby and I want to help my husband out and I want to play with my boy. On the other hand I am not happy with how I look and 40 is just around the corner (I will be 38 in a few weeks) and I do miss running.
I am hoping to join a cheap gym so that I can do some indoor stuff while the weather is bad.
I am hoping to put up the running bios of those who may join me in anypart of this running project.
If it all works out and i get the Marine Corps Marathon under my belt I will try for the Avenue of the Giants Marathon the next year because it is very near my father-in-laws and it is beautiful.
If  I ever get over my fear of flying my dream is to do this marathon but we shall see.