Itchy legs

Now that I have started running, I notice a new phenomenon - itchy legs. I don't mean where you have to scratch and then peel skin off. I am talking about the need to get up and get moving. Christmas dinner was awful in that regard. It was the first time it happened and I didn't know what it was. I felt like an advertisement for restless leg syndrom. Nothing I did made me comfortable. I moved around in my chair, I crossed and recrossed my legs. Nothing helped. I went home and took my Christmas nap (don't even get me started on how I derailed my training with only one meal) and felt better. The next morning I went outside because I figured I needed to get moving. I forgot how awful it is to try and run in cold weather. Notice I said try. It was 30 degrees outside and I could not manage to get my muscles warm enough to move around the way I wanted them to move around. I had forgotten this little tidbit of information. But I did do about a 45 minute walk which at least got me moving. My legs felt better and I figured out that this was the problem - I am becoming addicted to exercise in the same way I was addicted to candy before. As addictions go - it is certainly better. But I don't want to be the ultimate runner -at least not yet. I would settle for a good solid hour at a good pace, but I am not there yet.

This morning when I woke up it was pouring rain and I decided not to go out. Right now, the rain is tappering off so I guess I will get moving a little later today. Or I'll just do my strength training. I have the goal to loose four inches off my waist in 8 weeks. You guessed it - there is a function I want to look good at. We have a family reunion and I leave on Feb. 18th for sunny Florida. It's not going to be bikini season, but I am determined to be ready to put it on, no matter what the weather looks like outside. Even if I just parade aound in the damn thing before I get dressed! I will be back in that bikini. 8 weeks probably isn't realistic and I am setting myself up for a disappointment, but I am determined to give it my all. And if it doesn't happen - at least I will be somewhat thinner.

Now all I have to do is charge the digital camera and get some pictures on this blog. It's looking a little dull.

Back in the Saddle Again

Well, since it is Christmas vacation and the only thing I have to really do is clean my house and work on the never ending thesis, I decided to get back out there and run. In fact, I just came in from a 1.8 mile run/walk, or as my friend Heather calls it - a wog. My shins are sore, my thigh muscles are screaming, and my brain is on that wonderful high that just can't be duplicated. I don't even want to think about how much I smell. I sweat. I am not a glistening girl. I am a full on need to take a shower sweat person. Unfortunately every towel I own is in the washing machine right now. Thankfully I live alone and the only one who has to smell me is the dog - and let's face it - dog breath ranks right up there with runner's sweat.

I've been doing more research on running and have read some more books. I subscribed to Runner's World, even though they made me mad with fish oil in a vegetarian soup. Look up the word people. I am anxiously awaiting my first issue. Of course, no magazine, but they did send me the bill. I also have a training log book and a beautiful calendar to look at. I put the calendar in the pantry so that when I want to snack on (non-existent) snack food, I see a dedicated person running through beautiful running trails that I can only dream of right now.

But the running is good. Slow but good. I'm not really sure why I stopped and started smoking, but I did. Now I just need to get myself back into shape. I lost four more pounds, but right now, I really want to start sculpting. It does me no good to be thinner, but still flabby. I am giving myself to February 14, 2010 to shape it up. It happens to be six months before the marathon.

I also have more than a long term goal in mind. This year I signed up to run in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. My cousin Marsha battles breast cancer and I am running for her. It feels good knowing that I am running for someone other than myself. What you do should be bigger than just your goals and ambitions.

Lazy bones

I'm trying to stick to my training regimine, but things seem to get in the way. I have a friend that I run with after work, but there was a problem with electricity yesterday and they closed the school - including the track.

Now the weather is turning cold. For San Antonio, that is not too bad - in the 50s. But now that I have been here for years, it's a little too much for me. I remember running in snow in Connecticut, but here I'm willing to wait until it warms up. My dad says my blood has thinned.

What causes that initial rush of willingness to do exercise? It is always followed by the I don't wanna. Is it the excitement of starting something new? I think so, but I'm not sure. I'm still determined to run the marathon on my birthday next year, so I need to get my butt out the door. I just figure, there's always afterschool.

Rest for the Wicked

To introduce this blog, I must say that when I went to college, I was an English major. And like any self-respecting book nerd, I research what I want to do before really doing it. The same thing goes for running. I read books and articles and other people's blogs. This Thanksgiving week I read Hal Higdon's Marathon. I learned the importance of rest. My muscles were screaming and I just kept going. This book emphasizes the rest that needs to be done throughout the week so that your muscles can bounce back. Now I feel great and I am ready to get moving today after school.

Newbie

I am not exactly sure who in the world I am writing to out there, but it feels good to begin something new. Running being one of those things as well. I ran sprints in high school (I wasn't very good) and ran for a while when we lived in Connecticut. And that is a terrible place to run. It's cold there. Ice and snow. Give me my current Texas weather anytime.

Well, I started this running thing this week. Last week at school, the vice-principal made an announcement that one of our teachers had run the Rock and Roll Marathon over the weekend. Now this teacher teaches at the other end of the building and we hang out with different people, so I don't know her very well. But I thought, if she has enough guts and determination to run a marathon, the only thing stopping me is me. So I decided to do it too. Keep in mind, I haven't been out for a run in ten years, at least. So needless to say, I am in the stage that alternates between running and walking. The mile and a half run/walk Iwent on yesterday was long and hard. I've been walking every once in a while on the track at work, but I haven't been regular about it and I haven't gone running at all.

But I thought, I gave up cigarettes, meat, dairy, and eggs. I can give up the sendentary lifestyle as well. I even stopped eating sugar. I lost 28 pounds in 12 weeks and I have never felt better. So I can do this running thing. The marathon isn't until November 14, 2010, which is also my birthday. So the gift to me next year is crossing the finish line. I haven't decided if I think I'll be ready for the full marathon or if I will have to run the half. I figure I have a while to figure it out. Life's a journey, not a destination. I'm sure someone really smart said that before me. I remember it from somewhere. Now I just need to wake up and go back out there.