Continuous improvement.

My lofty exercise goals hit a small snag on Friday afternoon when I bounded out for a run, only to feel that my back was not well. This happens every so often and is a good indicator that my heel lift is worn out and I need a new one Also, it's a sign that I am wearing lazy flip-flops too often and I need to wear my support shoes. This was hugely disappointing. I was already feeling frazzled and rushed for time and was so yearning for the opportunity to quickly work out my emotions. Well, I did the only thing I could do in that situation. I powered though a workout video that I had not done in a long time. Yikes! My thighs were screaming bloody loud! And on top of that, I later strapped on some high heels and went dancing at a wedding.

Now, it's Sunday and my legs are still recovering from Friday. However, I set my goal of running 5 miles and I was going to see it through. After all this half-marathon isn't going to have a moving sidewalk! However, I also had another (albeit, minor) goal of sleeping in. That wasn't such a good idea by the time I got to the park and it was already nearing 70 degrees. Ugh. I gave a very determined effort and stayed upright for the entire five miles but I definitely squeezed in some walking breaks. I really hadn't approached this as best as I might have, but I still met my goal. That was a wonderful feeling!

Now, it's nearly 1:00, I'm done running but it's very hot outside. What's the only thing I want to do? Yes, go swimming! I call up one of my friends to head out to Island Lake. We like to swim from one side of the lake to the other. I'm not sure the distance but we guess approximately a quarter of a mile. Whew. Buns of burning steel! Where's my life jacket? Sharon wanted to swim back again and I said she was on her own. I wasn't going to pull out the I-already-ran-5-miles card, but, seriously, I had already run for an hour today.

Then I got home and started thinking that with all this focus on PT and getting in more runs, I've been neglecting my upper body and core. So I decided to go with the day's current adrenaline and pump out another short workout video for my arms and shoulders. I've also been thinking about the main character in American Psycho who claims to do 1,000 crunches a day. I know full well I couldn't do 1,000 unless you plucked my intestines from out of my body, but I thought I'd give it a try and work up to bigger numbers. Well, I got up to 150 and called a day.

All these stats are marked on my calendar in a kaleidoscope of colored stars. Continuous improvement---that's the idea.

Feeling energetic!

I am surprised by how giddy I feel because of signing up for the Detroit Half Marathon. I'm really excited about it. I'm enthusiastic about having a goal and a purpose for training. Plus, I am going to approach this training a lot differently! No more tendonitis for this budding super star! I remember hearing someone say that you can finish a race untrained but you can't finish one injured. AYE!! That is so true, it hurts.

I plan to stick to a goal of running a few times during the week and focusing on upping weekend mileage. I don't think I'll be doing the back-to-back and 5 running days a week like I was doing with the TNT program. It was a great program but not for a neurotic novice like myself. I'll be in touch with my mentor Ed from my old TNT training group. In fact, he asked if I was available last Wednesday for a run out at Maybury and I was thrilled to have an open night! I had never done any type of trail running before and it was as much fun as Ed said it would be. It was a thrilling moment in my 'comeback' to finally be able to meet up with a buddy and be able to tough it out. It was 3.5 miles and I couldn't have done that 6 weeks ago. Yeah for signs of improvemen! and YEAH for Ed lighting a fire under my feet!

This weekend's goal is 5 miles. Sheeeeeit, I don't think I have run 5 miles in one stretch since...wowee...that long? Oh man. Yea that was back in April. Ouch!

and I close with a very white-girl moment as I quote LL Cool J

Don't call it a comeback
I been here for years
Rockin my peers and puttin suckas in fear
Makin the tears rain down like a MON-soon
Listen to the bass go BOOM
Explosion, overpowerin
Over the competition, I'm towerin
Wreckin shop, when I drop these lyrics that'll make you call the cops
Don't you dare stare, you betta move
Don't ever compare
Me to the rest that'll all get sliced and diced
Competition's payin the price

A great dad believes you can do anything

My Dad thought I could be the first person on Mars. He also believed I could be the first female president. He figured I was smart and talented; therefore, there was nothing of which I was not capable. Nothing. When I ran my first 5K and finished in about 33 minutes, he wondered aloud, as if were the most realistic thought in the world, why I wasn’t in the group of runners finishing sooner. Did that bother me? No. This is how my dad has always been, pushing me (and my siblings) because he thinks it’s the most natural fact that I would succeed.

Read the rest of the story here.

Registration Number: 445107

Alright, am I a runner now? I'm signed up for the half marathon.
The funny thing was that the form asks for your age on the actual race day and mine will be 31! The race is the day after my birthday. Guess I'll be saving my merry-making for Sunday night this year :)

The difference between a runner and a jogger...

As seen in a Pearl Izumi ad:

The difference between a runner and a jogger is an entry blank.

I love that. I think it's a George Sheehan quote. It moves me. I have GOT TO GOT TO GOT TO sign up for that Detroit Free Press Half Marathon in October.

I wonder how much the cost is right now.

4 MILES!!!

This weekend Jason and I drove to his cottage at Canadian Lakes where his mom currently lives. This was my first trip there during the full flush of summer and it was beautiful. Their house is right on the lake. What a great view for your morning coffee!

I am trying to slowly increase the length of my running distances. Since I miraculously pulled off 3 miles twice the previous weekend, it was only time to try for 4. Since I'm not familiar with the area, I wondered how I'd map out the distance to be sure. Jason and I drove around trying to measure different routes. It turns out the castle at Canadian Lakes was just about 4 miles from their cottage. Perfect. I wouldn't have to worry about a 2-mile out-and-back route with the same old scenery. Jason dropped me off and it was up to me to run back. What a lovely route. I came across two silent deer. I was flooded with the sights and sounds of life on the lake. My workout play list was revamped to include "Sea lion woman" and "You shook me all night long." Seems like everything was right in the universe and I pulled off the 4 miles successfully!

The rest of the weekend included good food, a visit with my brother, chillin' on the pontoon, cold beers under a temperamental sun, frisbee, swimming and numerous laughs. Quite a weekend. Enter July!

Check out my new article!

This one's posted at Her Active Life the sister site to The Final Sprint.

It's about emotionally dealing with an injury. Click here.

Also, give a look at the companion piece for what to say and not say to an injured friend.
That's here.