Finish line at the NYC Half. My time was 2:22, I’ll take it ;)
1 mile
I ran 1 mile last night, I never did that before. Try to run fast for 10 minutes. I did it in 9:07. That’s amazing to me…
Run everyday in March
I joined a Facebook challenge to run everyday in March. At least one mile a day. I never did a streak before. It solves that problem, should I run today? Day one, check!
Looking forward
It’s the last day of February and it is a good day to start thinking ahead. That is one thing about running, you can’t dwell on the past for too long, running is always moving you forward, both physically and mentally.
Running moves you from a beginning to an end as you are propelling yourself forward. You look ahead to where you are going. Sometimes, if on a run I am feeling tired, I look way ahead to where I’m headed and imagine I’m already there.
To be a runner is to always be looking ahead, when is my next race? What is the weather for the rest of the week so I can plan my runs? How many weekends are left? And time is always on your side, just one good week of running can change everything. We plan out our year in advance, our minds always thinking about those days and months ahead. You can’t dwell on yesterday’s run, there is tomorrow’s run to think about.
But I think it goes even deeper than that. Training for a race is to put all your faith in your future self. You must believe that the version of you that shows up for that race one week/ month/ year from now is going to be ready to deliver. I do it every time I go out to run, I pull on my sneakers and I look ahead.
So look forward!
What running does
I am turned on and so tuned out
I am alone and so connected
I am focused and so foggy
I have no questions and I know all the answers
I am drained and I am filled up
I am wide open and I am my own universe
I’m a working mom, not a professional athlete, but I am a runner and that’s a special club. Alison Sweeney, Host of The Biggest Loser
— Runner’sWorld Daily Kick in the Butt
Here is my mileage for the past 4 years on mapmyrun. This is also basically my mileage for my entire life, I started running in 2009. And although I didn’t log consistently in the earlier years, I really think this is an accurate representation of my running career to date. I had set a goal of hitting 1200 for this year which I FINALLY did this morning. (nothing like cutting it short) After the NYC Marathon was cancelled I wanted something to aim for and to keep me running through the end of the year. I had a lot of catching up to do for some months earlier in the year where I was around 70 miles. About a week ago I realized that mapmyrun was also counting around 36 miles I biked and logged in July but I figured I would still aim for my 1200.
Although I am proud of hitting 1200, I am more proud of seeing my progress through the years. I started running when I was 39. I remember so clearly running in the beginning, 30 second intervals of running with 90 seconds of walking, watching the seconds on my watch. I would drive to the track (1 mile from my house) and set out a water bottle so I could drink every time I passed that quarter mile. And all the running and races that came after that, including my 2010 NYC Marathon, an experience that still makes my heart race every time I think about it. So I can honestly say I really starting from nothing, and I always want to tell people that, when they say they can’t run, or they couldn’t run a marathon, trust me, you could, you can! Of course I can regret I didn’t start sooner, but then I think, what if I never found out that I could run, and how happy it makes me. For that I am so thankful.
Happy New Year!
1200 in 2012
Current stats: 1,172.07 run so far
Today I ran: 10.75 miles
To do: 27.93
I had hoped to be further along but it looks like this is going to be finished up right to very end. I’m tired but also impressed with the miles I am squeezing out of my legs in these final days
1200 in 2012
Since the marathon was cancelled I decided i needed an end of the year goal. I checked my mapmyrun mileage in mid November and realized I was within the realm of hitting 1200 miles for the year, an average of 100 a month. I decided I should go for it. Here are my current numbers:
Annual mileage as of December 9: 1100.97
Miles to go:99.03
So I basically have to run 33 miles a week for the next 3 weeks. I have never run that much, it seems a bit daunting. Wish me luck,
“This is my favorite picture of me running of all time. It was at the Olympic Trials Marathon last January. It was as I rounded the last corner with about 150 meters to go. I wasn’t going to win, or set a PR, but I was making the Olympic Team. After a very difficult year, a dream was coming true for me. It literally took my breath away and this picture captured that one moment. I love this picture because it reminds me of why I run and the power it has.”
- Kara Goucher
(via shes-always-running)
Back to it
I have to get back to running.
It’s become too political, too angry, too emotional, too big, too loud, too expensive, too lost.
I have to get back to running.
It’s become too social, too impersonal, too awkward, too far removed, too far up my ass, too philosophical, too judgmental, too focused.
I miss the sound of my breathing, I miss playing my music so loud I can’t hear my breathing. I miss shivering at 5:30 in the morning, and then slowly heating up, internal fire traveling inside my body, so when I’m done, I am burning from the inside, the steam smoking off my red face.
