It's a Women's Prerogitive

I've changed my mind.  I'm a women, and that's what we do.  A few weeks ago I told you here that I was going to slowly add a little distance with each run.  Eventually I would be able to run my full 4 1/2 mile route.

Well, I'm throwing that out the window!  I've changed my mind.  I decided that if I'm going to do a marathon (ok...a virtual, month long marathon) that I needed to set some goals for myself.  So far I've only set one goal...but I've got 2 more months to come up with some others.  That goal is to complete a 10k during the marathon.  That's what made me change my mind.  Running one driveway further each run is never going to get me there in time.  What I need is structure.

Sand Between My Toes

Notice my feet?  Both feet off the ground!!!
I am a runner (click here to see why.)

Last weekend our family took a last minute trip to Hilton Head Island in South Carolina.  We spent a good part of the weekend swimming in the ocean, swimming in the pool, dodging the rain (notice a water theme here) and eating.  It was a great weekend!

Being in Hilton Head gave me a chance to do something I've always wanted to do...run on the beach. I love playing on the beach, so why not run on the beach?

My Running Story: Why I Run

I couldn't decide what to call this post.  Should it be "Why I Run" or "Why do I Voluntarily Torture Myself?"  There is both good and bad to running...but I guess the good outweighs the bad, or this blog would be about being a couch potato.

Running is hard...there's no doubt about it.  Every time I start running the first 5 minutes or so are the worst. My legs hurt, my lungs hurt, and my heart feels like it's going to explode. In those first five minutes I start thinking I should just stop running.  Forever.  So...who's ready to lace up their shoes and join me?

Marathon Madness

What have I done?  I think I've lost my mind. I just signed up for my first marathon.

Well, technically it's a marathon. It's called a marathon. I'm going to run 26.2 miles. I'm even going to get a finisher's medal. 

Buuuuutttt...I guess it's not a real marathon. There's no actual race.  I'm not going to run all 26.2 miles at one time...not even in one day. 

I've registered for the Joggermom Marathon Cancer Run 2103. This virtual race takes place October 1-31 this year. That's right...I have a whole month to finish the race. That's less than a mile a day...I can do it!
 

The Motivation of a Good Friend

Some days I just don't feel like running. I know this may come as a shock...since I'm such a dedicated runner. Okay, maybe not so much.  After all, there's a reason I call myself a random runner.

Today was one of those days. I woke up and I just wasn't feeling it...I was tired.  I went outside and it was already sunny...not a cloud in the sky. Not my favorite running conditions. I had talked myself out of running until a friend posted a picture for me on Facebook:

Random Thoughts

Today was not a good run.  I don't even want to talk about it.  So...here is a list of my random thoughts and observations during my run:

     1.  It's crape myrtle season.  They are blooming all over the place in my neighborhood.  White, purple, red and about 20 shades of pink...I love them all.

Conquering Mountains In My Head

There's no doubt that running is a physical activity. Some days, however, the problem isn't getting my legs to move...the problem is getting my head to tell my legs to move. I have to convince myself, (especially when I start a run), that I really can do it.

It took me a long time to conquer the big hill on my normal running route. Driving through the neighborhood you barely even notice the hill, it's really not that big. In my head, however, it looked more like Mt. Everest.  I felt like I was scaling a mountain. Finally I made it to the top.

I Love Running Because...

Someone asked me why I run.  I'm still working on that post...but in the mean time let me tell you one of my favorite things about running.  I love running because...of the shorts.

Back in the Saddle Again

Vacation is over. It's been a full 11 days since I've laced up my running shoes. (Okay...that's not entirely true. I wore them the last day of our camping trip after we packed up all our gear in the pouring rain and my other shoes were soaked through.  I did not, however, run a step...not even when there was still shopping to do and the outlet mall closed way too early).

11 days...that's a long time to not run. Today I was determined to make the full distance!  Before I started I checked the temperature on the back porch.  Only 71...great!  I looked outside.  It was still pretty cloudy and early enough in the day that there was lots of shade.  Wonderful!  I did not, however, check my weather app.  I knew what I would find...and actually seeing it would put a damper on my run. 

Vacations are not for running

Yay...it's vacation time!  Time for some rest and relaxation...and random running.   It's now been 5 days since I've thought about running. Don't worry I'm not sitting around doing nothing. So far I've gone:

• Swimming. Well...actually we were floating in tubes. The water was in the 50s so I did my best to stay dry. I didn't do a very good job.  I'm sure I burned a few calories regulating my body temperature.