Warm Muscles!

Tonight was the first time in weeks that I really miss running. Lately I've been crashing immediately after work, letting Jeremy take Bridget out on her walk. Tonight, I took her. And it felt good. I felt my leg muscles move and get warm again and I want to feel more! I'm still a little scared to run - I don't want the bouncing to stress Baby out too much, but I think I'm ready for longer walks outside.

I'm very proud of Jeremy for signing up for the half marathon and even though part of me is bummed about not being able to run this year (yes, I'm aware that it can be done but that's really not for me), I'm looking forward to being a healthy mommy rocking a jogging stroller next summer.

If you know of any really great jogging strollers that won't break the bank (or any bad ones to avoid), please comment!

Thanks NPR!

This week has been incredibly long because I was dreading today. But I woke up this morning and Philippians 4:13 popped into my head. After that, I was good. Even looking forward to running. Funny how that works sometimes.

Last week, towards the end of the 10k, all I could hear was my own shallow breathing and that only made me pay attention to everything that hurt. My head was in a negative place and I hated myself for putting myself in that situation.

So this week I brought my iPod to keep my thoughts away from myself and it worked incredibly well! Last night I made a special music playlist for today, but I once again proved to myself that music just isn't a good running buddy. It's good to start off with something upbeat and happy, but 5 minutes into it I had to switch. So I flipped over to my podcasts and listened to NPR's Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, then Car Talk. Both programs drip with positive energy and that's exactly what I needed. That and the ibuprofen I took when I passed mile 7. Oh yes, I carried it with me in my running belt.

I'm a little disappointed that the only people who finished behind me were 2 ladies walked most of the first half. They walked till I caught up with them, then started trotting so I couldn't pass them. I didn't get ahead of them until around mile 5. I'm proud of myself for running the whole race, even though my pace is terrible.

The awesome thing about the half marathon will be that even though I'll be one of the last to finish, I'll be finishing along with the people who ran the full marathon. So they won't be taking the equipment down when I finally finish. That will be nice.

Run to Overcome 10k

Yesterday I ran my first 10k. I'm happy that I ran the whole thing without stopping, but my finish time leaves much room for improvement.

For breakfast, I had a bowl of oatmeal with a chopped up apple, brown sugar, and apple pie spices. It was a delicious start to my day and I was far from hungry at the start of the race, but I almost made a deposit on the side of the road at mile 4. So no oatmeal next Sunday before the Governor's Cup. I'm thinking waffles. Hot, tasty waffles.

I'd love to post all the photos from the race but my Picasa album is full and I can't remember the password to my Flickr account. So until I delete all my wedding pictures from Picasa to free up some space or remember my stupid Flickr password, just check them out on Facebook.

If you're in the Lincoln are and you're not running in the Governor's Cup next Sunday, I hear they need volunteers. If you can help at packet pickup or as a course monitor please call the race director, Karen Bestial, at 402-476-1776.

Back to Back Madness

Tonight was an easy finish to my Time 2 Train class and now that it's over, it's time to get ready for this month's races. We have the 10k on Sunday, then the 15k Governor's Cup the next Sunday. I'm nervous.

Tips?

Ready for Adam's Race!

This morning I had the pleasure of pretending to be a stay-at-home housewife while waiting for the carpet cleaning man to arrive (he's actually here right now). So after I put the small furniture out on the porch and in the bathrooms, I went for a run.

I mapped my route on Google Maps and I'm delighted to have run 6.63 miles without stopping! A new record for me!

My breathing didn't get out of control, I didn't get side stitch, I didn't get hot, and the weather was perfect. I got home after 90 minutes, only because the carpet man was going to be here any minute, and I was afraid that the new blister on the arch of my left foot would break if I went any further (it is only about the size of a dime).

This makes me ready for my upcoming 10k and also gave me the courage to sign up for the 15k Governor's Cup. Am I a crazy person?

9/11/11: Buffalo Run

Today we ran the Buffalo Run, 5 miles in Pioneers Park. For those of you who have been to Pioneers, you know how hilly that is.

I was at an advantage because my first 5k was at Pioneers, so I knew what to expect. But there's a big difference between 5 kilometers and 5 miles.

My goal was to get it done in less than an hour:

Out of 587 people, I was 535th to finish. It doesn't sound that impressive at all! But I ran the whole thing - I didn't stop or walk once! Just shuffled along at my 11:18 pace. But hey, I finished it and since I couldn't run half a mile without walking 4 months ago, I'm feeling pretty good.

How To Interrupt A Nonstop Run

I've made a point to train extra hard this week because the Buffalo Run is on Sunday. The Buffalo Run is 5 miles of hills at Pioneers Park, the same park where I ran my first 5k. This week I ran Sunday, Monday, went to running class on Tuesday (where they put us on stupid spin bikes instead of letting us run - they want us to cross train), took last night off but set off for a long run tonight.

I started out determined to run down to the path just north of Cornhusker Highway then all the way home, making a large loop. I was also determined NOT to stop.

Puppy!
Well, I had to stop. Twice. One was at a busy intersection where jaywalking would be a death sentence. But my other stop was also the highlight of my day. When I was running along 27th street, I came up on a pickup truck stopped in the road. The driver's load of farm equipment had fallen out, and the guys in the car behind had gotten out to help get everything loaded up and strapped in. I'm not a lot of muscle so I wasn't going to stop and help, but when an adorable chocolate lab puppy jumped out of the truck's cab and ran over to me, I had to stop and make sure he didn't run into the busy road. So after about 2 minutes of petting the puppy and getting him back in the truck with his dad, I headed off again.

More Progress
I felt good on this run. My knees kinda hurt but I didn't get winded or light headed at all. There was a nice cool breeze, I had water with me, and I got some puppy kisses too.

If I'd known that my loop was 4.71 miles, I would have kept going to make it an even 5. But I'll get my 5 on Sunday at the Buffalo Run!

Pump Those Arms
This week in running class the speaker told us that if you pump your arms during a run, your legs will follow. And he was right. Tonight I concentrated more on my arms than my legs and it totally worked.

Tempo Run, Blackout, and Hot Shoes

Slacker
Tonight was week 3 of Time 2 Train, and I had not done any running since week 2 of Time 2 Train. Lots of busy stuff going on lately. Fun stuff, but it took away my time and willingness to run. So this next week, back to my little routine!

Tempo
Tonight in class we did a tempo run. This is where you do fast short runs instead of the longer distance slower runs that we're training for. There is a half mile loop around our training facility, so the plan was to warm up for one lap, then run 3 as fast as we can (without having to stop or walk), taking short water breaks between each lap.

Here's how I did:

Lap 1 - warmed up
Lap 2 - 4:55
Lap 3 - 5:00
Lap 4 - 4:47

That is less than a 10 minute mile average, so I feel awesome about that!

Blackout
After the run I stayed for the optional cool-down. After several of our group exercises, I started to feel dizzy. Then I couldn't see and I felt like throwing up, so I sneaked in the building and soaked my neck with a cold wet towel. After a couple minutes and I was feeling strong again, but the whole ordeal was kinda weird.

High Heels - Yes!

I feel more motivated to run when I wear high heels and skirts to work. When I look down and see the new definition in my leg muscles, I see the results of my hard work. That feel incredible! Something that has helped are my Dr. Scholl's High Heel Insoles. I can wear heels all day and my feet aren't throbbing at the end of the day so I can run after work. (I received a free pair of these from BzzAgent and all they asked in return was my honest feedback. Sweet, huh?)

Running Bites!

Tonight I set out to do 5 miles and it did NOT happen.

I took a wimp walk at about 2.5 miles then got attacked by a swarm of mosquitos. I had to stop running to slap the little jerks off of my legs. I looked behind me and saw a small black cloud following me for more than half a mile.

They even bit my shoulders, back, and butt through my clothing. Thank God for calamine lotion!

The backs of my legs are a lot worse.

You should see my running shorts. They're covered in blood spots from where I slapped them, as is my shirt. I even had to clean blood off my iPod cord. What gives?

I can't stop though. I'm officially signed up for a 10k on October 9.

Time 2 Train, Fartlek

My new favorite word is pronounced "fart lick". In a nutshell, this is where you stick little speed bursts in your run.

Back to School!
We fartleked for a mile tonight, after a group exercise session that resembled a 5th grade PE class. Yes, this was the first week of Time 2 Train. I was expecting a LOT more people, at least a couple hundred. But there were maybe a couple dozen people there, and only one leader who makes me look like an old lady. Seriously, I think he's about 20.

Challenge:
Tomorrow at work/school, try using the word fartlek in a conversation without cracking a smile. Bonus points if you are on the phone with a customer.  ;)

Thunder Run

Today was the Thunder Run. This race is on one of the runways at the Lincoln airport and even though it was a perfectly cool and somewhat breezy morning, being in the middle of a sea of concrete makes it hot.

I took some time off of my last 5k, and I'm happy about that!

Here's this for you Air Force folks who want to know the details of the airplane.

View from the driver's seat.

Had to take a picture for Amber!

Jeremy warming up. Looks like I caught him airborn!

Ava stayed nice and hydrated.

Here comes Jeremy!

Here comes Jenny!

This was me trying to finish under 33 minutes. Oh well.

Here's me crossing, and in green, the famous Ann Ringlein of the Lincoln Running Company, our fearless leader for Beginner's Luck! I heard her cheering me on but didn't see her till afterwards. Go to her store and spend lots of money!

Catching my breath in the airplane. Couldn't find a seat anywhere else!

Ava thought this was really cool.

We all finished strong and beat our times from our last 5k.

Favorite Podcast and My Running Tips

I haven't been out running since my 5k a week ago. So tonight a little after 8, I decided to give it a try. Not only did I run all the way around my impossible loop, I kept going and did 4.31 miles without stopping!

Here's what helped me so much:

• How To Do Everything. This is one of my favorite podcasts. In the July 28 show, someone had called in saying they wanted to run a 5k and asked for advice. The hosts went out and ran a 5k, bringing their recorder along (did I mention that I LOVE this podcast?), and one of their pieces of advice was that if you think you're running fast enough, slow down. I took their advice tonight.
• Music! Yes, the obvious. For the first 20 minutes I listened to today's episode of How To Do Everything, then listened to a little Jackson 5, Dixie Chicks, and Ben Folds. This was my first time running with my iPod because I've been worried about not hearing cars or dropping and breaking it. I wore 2 sports bras, stuck it between them and hit the sidewalk. ABC 123, baby!
• Pretend it mattered. I didn't think I could do my whole 5k last week, but I knew I had to in order to make my one mile a month goal. So I pretended it was the end of August and that it was my last chance to run 4 miles before the first of September. 

So that's how I reached my month goal 28 days early!

That's it for tonight. I feel so energized from my run but I really do need to get some sleep. 

Beginner's Luck 5k Results and What's Next

We had 232 people show up to our 5k on Wednesday, and I am so proud of us all! My friend Jenny "my legs are a mile long" Policky did awesome at 33:14, and I'm proud of my 34:21 finish time too!

Here are some results:

It feels awesome to complete a class and run the 5k in under 35 minutes, which was my goal.

So what's next?

I signed up for another class, of course! Time 2 Train sounds similar to Beginner's Luck but it gets you ready for a 5k OR a 10k. The grand finale for this class is the Bryan LGH Run to Overcome: Adam's Race, a great way we can fight back against depression and find hope for those who have this disease. I will be running the 10k.

I hope to see familiar faces in Time 2 Train and at the finish line at Adam's Race on October 9! Register for Time 2 Train by clicking here. For more information about Adam's Race, click here.

No running for me today. It's my birthday and I am relaxing with my awesome husband and looking forward to dinner at Red Robin tonight. Yum!

Beginner's Luck Week 8

Tonight I ran a 5k without stopping! Having water with me helped so much. I also learned that water belts should be worn up on the waist and not around the hips. It looks dorky, but it is so worth it! Be careful not to let it fall out. I don't think I've had enough practice jamming the bottle securely back into its holder, so it fell out twice. No harm done and I'm that much smarter now.

Next goal is to run 4 miles nonstop by September 1. Can I do it? Can I?

Cold Front

Since our heat wave is coming to an end and I had a crappy day at work, I figured tonight would be a great night to catch up on running.

Glorious comeback…?
I've really been slacking off lately - sickness and stress got the best of me and I had to take it easy. It was good timing since our heat indexes were hitting over 110 degrees almost every day, but I have goals and I don't feel like I'm making any progress this month. Tonight's heat index was 99, so I figured I could power through a run.

Oh %#@*.
Three miles in my hands and feet were numb, I couldn't see very well and I could feel my eyeballs twitching like crazy. So I pulled a wimp move and texted Jeremy so he could come rescue me. The shameful part is that I did a lot of walking and even kept drinking out of my fancy new water bottle, and still almost passed out.

When I got home I took Jillian's post-workout advice from June 24 and got in a cold bathtub. I still feel kinda sick but the cold water helped.

I'm an idiot.

Beginner's Luck Week 7

In tonight's class we cut back to 20 minutes because of the extreme heat. The thermometer said 93 degrees but I'm not sure what the heat index was. I'm glad I got it all done without stopping but I was hurting at the end. 

Hopefully I can work hard enough this week for our 5k finale next Wednesday! 

Come to Holmes Lake at 6:30 next week to cheer me on - I'll need all the help I can get!

Beginners Luck Week 6

Dear mosquito on the running trail,

Did you have fun in my nose tonight?

-m

Beginner's Luck Week 5

Tonight we ran 25 minutes. I wasn't thinking about the run as much as what would happen if I inhaled a bee and it stung me in the throat and it swelled up and cut off my air supply. Then I was glad that my bee sting allergy is noted in my new bracelet.

7-4-11: 2 Mile Freedom Run

Not too shabby!

Beginner's Luck Week 4

We were in a heat advisory today. I need not say more.

Do you like my shorts?

Goal 2: Check!

Tonight I ran 2.4 miles without stopping. Then I took a bubble bath.

Next goal is 3 nonstop miles by August 1. Lucky for me, Beginner's Luck class is awesome and our class finale 5k is on July 27 at Holmes Lake. If I can go the distance without a walking break, I am on track for the half marathon next May.

Tonight we signed up for the Thunder Run on August 13. This 5k race takes place on the runway of the Lincoln airport. Since one of my first driving experiences was accidentally on the runway of the Avon Park runway (I'll leave that hilarious story for my dad to tell), I think this will be a fun one.

Lucky 7 for Tracy Harnly 2011

Two months ago, I couldn't run half a mile without nearly passing out, and today I ran a 5k.  My friend Jes and I ran 10 minutes, walked 1, ran another 10, walked 1, then ran the rest.

Water stations are awesome.

I didn't place very high in my age group but I did run the entire uphill nasty part that everyone dreads, so I'm proud of that.

My next race is the 2 mile fun run in Seward on July 4. I'll be really happy if I can do it in less than 25 minutes.

Maybe Excited to Maybe Run a 5k This Morning

This is how I woke up today:

Official word is that our 5k is still on, but there *might* be a rain delay.

I'm ready to go but not happy about getting my new running shoes wet and/or dirty. NOOOOO!

Believe it or not, I can almost do a 5K!

I'm almost there.
Here's a map of our Beginner's Luck course. We went 1.25 miles then back for a total of 2.5 miles. This was the same route that we did last week, but this time we ran 12 minute intervals instead of 8 minute intervals.


View 6-22-11 in a larger map

I almost feel like I'm ready for more. Less than a mile more and we're at a 5K, and that seems unreal to me.

But seriously, ouch!
I'm still getting side stitch and it's not getting any better. The more I run, the more I get it even when I'm not exercising. Some mornings I get out of bed and I have side stitch by the time I'm done walking to the bathroom. I also get it in the parking lot walking into work from my car. This can't be normal! I talked to one of the BL volunteers tonight, and she said that physical therapy can help. My mom works for a PT, so she's going to ask him what I need to do, and she'll show me when she's here next week. Can't wait to see what she says! I'll probably be blowing up balloons or something equally fun.

Let's pretend this is so fun!

Ready or not...

This morning we went to Pioneer's Park here in Lincoln to run the course for next Saturday's 5k - my first 5k. I made it about halfway through (I hope it was half) till I needed to walk up a steep hill, which ended where we parked.

Too slow.

By that time, all my running buddies were so far ahead of me I had to stop since I didn't know which way to go next. So I sat on a bench. Jeremy crossed the finish line then walked/ran the rest of it again with me. By the time we finished I really regretted not bringing my inhaler.

Why bother?

I find it depressing that so many people who claim to be "so out of shape" say that they can go a couple of miles, no problem. I'm busting my butt to run a couple miles, so what does that say about me?

Butt Prints

Next week, Juice Stop.

Tonight was week 2 of Beginner's Luck. I ate a veggie sub an hour beforehand and it gave me a horrible stomach ache that I felt immediately, and I'm still kind of feeling. Maybe it was the peppers, onions, southwest sauce, and pepperjack cheese. Lesson learned.

I think about 3 miles, maybe.

Despite my horrible food choice, I did ok keeping up with my group. This week we ran 8 minutes, walked 1, then ran 4 and walked 1. We did this twice. It may have been my longest run yet. I don't know, and I don't feel like doing a map tonight.

The proof is on the sidewalk!

When we got back and did our stretching on the sidewalk, I left sweaty butt prints that I am VERY proud of. I was really upset that I didn't have my phone. I wanted to post a picture so bad for you all because they were magnificent. Magnificent!

New Goal

I decided to try a longer route tonight, but allowed myself to walk a little. I am disappointed at how MUCH I needed to walk, but finishing this new loop will just be my new goal. Total distance I actually ran is approximately 2.4 miles, but obviously I didn't do it all at one time. Maybe by the end of the month I can!

View 6-9-11 in a larger map

When I was taking one of my walking breaks I saw another lady about my age wearing the same Beginner's Luck shirt as me. I'm not alone on northeast Lincoln's sidewalks!

Beginner's Luck Week 1

I assumed that there would be maybe 50 people in Beginner's Luck class tonight.

Try 380, plus dozens of volunteers. If anyone I knew was there I never would found them in the crowd. So if you're reading this and you were there and you want to be my class buddy, see you next Wednesday.

After we got inspired by this guy,

we went for a group run!

View 6-8-11 in a larger map

My group ran 4 minutes then walked 1 minute four times, for a total of about 1.96 miles. We started at Lincoln Southwest High School and went to SouthPointe and back.

Then I got a new running shirt. The lady handing them out promised me I'm not a dork if I wear it every week. She also told me that running shirts should NEVER be put in the dryer or come in contact with fabric softener. It kills the wicking action.

Not a bad night at all.

Run from the hungry blood suckers!

I had no intention of running tonight, but despite the heat and mosquitos, I did it and I went 1.68 miles! If you keep going, and if your legs are shaved, the mosquitos don't stick. I think that's true. I'm going to believe it because that's what kept me going tonight.

My next run will be Wednesday at Beginner's Luck class. I'm going to get some more running buddies and hopefully learn something about shoes and how to prevent side stitch. I can't wait!

Quick Florida Trip

I had a nice run this morning in my old neighborhood. This was the "long" loop that mom used to make my brother and me walk with her when we were little. Sometimes we would zigzag through Fairway and Hillcrest, but most of the time we just walked this one loop. This is where I learned to ride a bike, walked the family dog (who is sleeping next to me in a little ball while I write this) and where I walked when I needed alone time with my teenage angst.

View Avon Park in a larger map

After I got got home and showered, dad asked me if I wanted to go to his gym and work out with him. So I learned how to use a spin bike and rowing machine. I earned a lot of sweat today, and got to spend some time with my dad.

I had a fun trip, and I'm looking forward to sleeping in my own bed tomorrow night with my own pillows and dog and husband! I'll be home soon sweetheart!

Premature progress

I wasn't supposed to get to a mile and a half till the middle of June to stay on schedule for my goal, but I won't complain. I'm enjoying my afterglow because the actual running was pain-o-riffic.

View 5-31-11 in a larger map

This map actually doubles over itself. I ran a dorky circle around the lightpole at 33rd and Superior, then kept going till 32nd street.

I ran with my husband tonight. Last time we ran together, I got to half a mile and just about collapsed. Maybe in a month my 1.5 miles will sound silly, but I'm pretty proud of it tonight.

Goal One: Check!

Why am I awake?

To stay on schedule for my 1/2 marathon goal next May, I need to be able to run a mile without stopping by June 1.

This morning I woke up at 6 and laid in bed for an hour. We had to be somewhere by 8, so I decided to try to run before the day got too busy.

Woot! 1.2 miles, no stopping!

This was not a normal day.

Here are the out of the ordinary factors that I think helped me:

• It was cool out, and sprinkling.
• I didn't have a day's worth of food and water gurgling around in my stomach.
• It was still early, but I'd been awake for an hour.
• I didn't have any side stitch whatsoever. This is a first.
• I had a feeling of URGENCY to make this goal. We have a busy weekend planned, and today felt like my last chance to get this done.

Can I double?

My new goal is to go 2 miles without stopping by July 1. There's a nearby loop that is 1.68 miles, so if I can find a way to extend that by .32 I won't have to walk so far home. I believe that my running class will help; I need all the help I can get!

Afterglow

I HATE RUNNING.

I've been wanting to say that for a while, because I've been feeling it since April 31 when I took my first "leap of faith" run. I hate feeling like my body is a loosely packed sack of guts that gets all tangled up and twisted when I run. I hate feeling broken and defeated when I have to start walking because I can't take the pain. Why can't I be more like the heros on The Biggest Loser who run through the pain?

An hour later…

After my "what the heck am I doing" cry in the shower, I felt better. I took my dog out for her bedtime walk and when I looked down the street, I couldn't see the place where I started my walk of shame, 0.6 miles away and around the corner. It felt good know that I can run past what I can see. Also my legs feel a little stronger. I like that too.

Is anyone listening?

I told the Big Guy Upstairs "I want to like running. I want it to feel good and I want to crave it. But right now what I want the most is a really good excuse to give up."

Afterglow

That's when it got clear. Right now, running will NOT be pleasurable until afterwards. It's like eating; eat something healthy instead of my preferred chips & dip so that I'll feel good in an hour. Thanks Big Guy.

But someday shredded wheat and running will be good in the moment too, right?

Promise?

After I cross the finish line for the half marathon next May I'm going to feel incredible for a month.

Malodorous Possum Guts

I'm well on my way to getting to my nonstop mile by the end of the month. The blue line here was my route tonight, and the blue marker is the small culdesac that I walked around because I was being a wimp. Hopefully by the end of this month I can make it all the way.


View 5-23-11 in a larger map

Walk of Shame

It's awesome that I got so far, but by the time I slapped the lightpole in front of the gas station (12 minutes after taking my first stride) I was heaving and seeing spots. So I walked most of the way back home. And just when I was starting to catch my breath and breathe deep, I passed a rotting possum on the road. And then another one.

Who wants chowder?

My Google Map Is Screwing With Me

View Running in a larger map

My map can't be right because if it is, that means I ran 1.68 miles tonight, and I know I can't run that far.

I did walk the distance between two lightpoles when I was on Folkways Blvd so that must explain the mix-up.

Back to School

The night before Jeremy and the guys ran the marathon, we attended the RWAR spaghetti dinner. That's where I heard about Beginner's Luck.

June 8, 2011

Beginner's Luck is a running class here in Lincoln for beginners. In 7 weeks, they say, I'll be able to run a 5K. School starts June 8.

Ben Does Life

This is the guy who is going to be the speaker at the first night of class. Looking forward to learning from him.

Inspiring stuff on his website too.

Progress

I found my groove last night! I got in a breathing rhythm that worked for me, and I didn't feel like dropping dead. I was proud of my sweaty t-shirt; this was the first time I ran long enough to sweat without having to stop and catch my breath.

New Google Toy for Running

I ran the green line, then walked to HyVee to buy stamps. Then I walked to the blue line and ran it home.

It felt way longer.

View Running 3-16-11 in a larger map
Google My Maps. Kinda cool!

Poke and Blow

Yep, it is an actual remedy for what I was feeling on my run last night, but I don't think it works.

I was hoping that my appendix had burst so I could take a break, but no.

We Miss You Jon

Background

I started working at STI in February 2008. The tech support department is organized by teams of 3-5 reps, each captained by a supervisor. Jon Peters was a supervisor.

In May 2008 Jon married his college sweetheart. They have a 6 year old son and a second baby due in August. Tech support supervisor salaries don't play nice with growing families, so Jon was in school to become a line technician - the guy who climbs telephone poles to fix whatever happens when the lights go out.

March 19, 2011

Jon fell 27 feet off of a training pole and died from blunt force trauma. It was a training accident, and there was no net and no one to catch him. He was 31 years old and only a couple months from graduating.

Unfinished Business

Jon was signed up to run the Lincoln half marathon and nagged my husband Jeremy to run with him. After Jon died, Jeremy talked to the marathon officials and they said it would be fine to have up to 5 people run in Jon's place, each team member running a section of the race. Jeremy got 4 other guys to run it with him, so they each ran 2.5 miles. Jon's son Greyson crossed the finish line on the 50 yard line of Memorial Stadium to finish his dad's race. Greyson is a fast runner.

Can I send you a press release?

I was obsessed with publicizing the story about what our guys were doing for Jon. I flexed my wee little PR muscle, and the guys wound up on a couple of our local news stations, in two newspapers, and in a video podcast. I will admit I got a bit of a high from hearing snippets of my press release on the evening news. And maybe my ego inflated a tiny bit when we topped 200% of our fundraising goal.

Runners With A Reason

We buddied up with Runners With A Reason to raise a few bucks for Jon's wife & kids. The night before the race, they had a spaghetti dinner for the runners and their families. All of Team Jon was there, along with Jon's wife, son, parents, and sisters. During the program, we heard countless stories of people who "couldn't run" who just decided they were going to do it, and wound up running the half marathon - some of them ran the full marathon. Too many stories.

May 1, 2011

Race day was busy and emotional. Team Jon ran a great race, Greyson crossed the line, and we all missed Jon a little more that day.

My Turn

So now I'm pretty locked in to it. I don't have any good reasons not to at least try. Tonight I made it half way to my goal destination before I had to walk, but after I got there I ran all the way home!

Ice, Ice, Baby

Running tip: When it's hot outside, wear 2 sports bras and stick some ice in between them and wear a loose t-shirt so your lumps aren't too obvious.

Mean People Suck

When the teacher is a bully…

When I was in jr. high, we had a pretty sophisticated PE program that I hated. When the teacher is a former military man who enjoys throwing insults, the non-jocks were miserable. Next time Mr. Woodcock is on TV, watch for about 5 minutes and you'll get it.

Mean girls

I'm not saying that all of the athletic girls were mean, but all the girls who bullied me were athletic, which meant they were my team captains in PE. There was one who would take every opportunity to tell me how much I sucked while her disciples giggled and high-fived each other.

STFU

When I was running this morning I thought about those people, and felt the incapability all over again.

Wake up

Running tip from Jeremy: Let yourself wake up before you go running; don't hop right out of bed and hit the road.

Maybe that was my problem. I'll try to want to try again.

Ok, here we go.

One year from today is the Lincoln Marathon and Half Marathon. I plan to run the half. One small problem...I can't finish a mile without gasping for air like a dying fish.

Why run?

I'm inspired to run because of our friend Jon Peters. Jon was a co-worker who tried to get people to sign up and run with him, but then he died on March 19. So a group of guys from work ran the half as a relay, letting Jon's 6 year old son cross the line for his dad. It was sweet. Being around the runners 24/7 (I live with one of them, and I work with the rest of them) picked on my inner wimp, so I'm going to go for it. I'll do a post about Jon soon.

How's it going, you ask?

I consider it great progress that I was able to run far enough last night that I almost threw up. In related news, tacos are not the greatest pre-run dinner.

What's the next step?

My first 5K is on June 25, and by the end of this month I want to be able to run a mile without stopping.

What did I get myself into?