Thoughts From The Duck

So I've been debating on how to tell the race day story.  So I decided to tell the story in context of some of my playlist.  Because, it's all about the playlist.  Pre-story: Tuesday before the race, I was in a car accident.  Someone got their pedals confused, and slammed into the side of my car.  My back was not happy for a few days, so I didn't train at all last week.  The week I cut my hand, I didn't train at all, because I didn't want to screw up the stitches.   Race Day: At 4:30 am, I woke up with extreme race anxiety, to the point where I wanted to pack up and go home.  Dana had a moment where she had to convince me to stay.  So I ate some breakfast, we packed up, and got there early.  We had our moment with the paparazzi (otherwise known as Dana's parents).  We got to the corral and then tried to stay warm. While standing there I received many compliments on the shirt .  I love the shirt.  My apologies to Charm City Run , as I would have worn a CCR s

Laura said these words to me after my left hand was stitched up after I sliced it with a box cutter. I have 7 stitches on the back of my left hand.  I will spare the gory details, but I will say this.....Safety First using box cutters and trying to open Lenten Banks. I cut myself on the top of the hand in the meaty part between my thumb and index finger.  I have been wearing this brace that the doctor gave me to immobilize my thumb, so I don't split the sutures.   So, I really can't use my left hand.  So this week, I have to be really careful on the whole running thing. I might try to bike this week at the gym....at least get my heart rate going...

So it's been a month since I last posted.  And so much has happened in that past month. So, running.  About that.  I took a break.  I needed to do that.  Allergies, some rain, and some slight ankle/knee pain necessitated a break. I registered for the Philadelphia Race for the Cure on May 9.  I'll be running with Dana....Well, she will run ahead of me because she is faster than me.  In fact, my race shirt is already in my t-shirt drawer, and my race number and race chip are attached to the back of my front door.  (Shameless Plug: I'm only $200 away from my fundraising goal!  Wanna donate?  Click here .)  I refuse to wear the shirt until the day after the race.  As my coach Juda said, (and taking a page from the movie PCU ) "Do not wear the shirt of the race that you are running in." Juda added "I will pretend that I don't know you."   I can't wear the shirt until after the race is over.  It's similar to my "I can't look at the pro

I didn't get to run in the race.   I got stuck in a traffic jam on the way to the race, and because I don't know that part of the city well, I didn't know what I could do to get out of the traffic jam.  The race had long started by the time I got to the starting line.  I cut through and went to the finish line to find the aforementioned coach Juda.  I hugged her, and the rest of the folks from the group that I could find, and then I went home.   All day today, I've been upset with myself.  I worked so hard, and missed the race because of a traffic jam.  I let myself down, and I feel like I let my friends down too.  All of you have been cheering me on, and I didn't run.  (I've had cheerleaders from many states and Germany and Korea!)  I realize that I'm not a failure, but I feel like I failed on this one.  I was reading some of the comments from you guys saying, "you will do this," yada yada yada, and, I didn't. However, if I don't kee

I just realized that it's been weeks since I posted anything!   Due to Snowmageddon II and III, I lost a week of February.  The sidewalk to the gym wasn't plowed, and I'm pretty sure it was closed for all of Snowmageddon.  I did some cross training, and I shoveled my car out twice, so I was being active, but not running.   It's getting warmer in Baltimore, so I don't have to bundle up to run, which has been wonderful.  There were some nights where I was wearing my mask that I bought for ice fishing.  For awhile, the wind was pretty bad.   I'm doing really well with the training group from Charm City Run .  Juda, the trainer, is a saint beyond all words. She is incredibly patient with me.  I am always the last one to finish, and she's always waiting for me in the parking lot, cheering me on.  I've never felt like a burden, even though I probably am.   Today, if my math is right, I did a mile at 18:35, which for me is a personal best in this whole pro

So, I had my first training group meetings this week.  I am by far the slowest and the least in shape person of the group.  I had a feeling that was going to be the case.  I don't like the attention that this fact creates.  Folks in the group keep thinking that I'm injured or something like that.  I finish last, and as I'm finishing, every person in the group asks me if I'm okay or cheers really loud for me.  I'm fine, I'm just slow!  I'm doing a little better on not pushing myself too hard. On a different note, I did 1.6 miles in 31:50 which for me is pretty awesome!

...with herself.  Patience with others?  I'm pretty patient with others.  With myself?  not so much. Shin Splints.  Shin Splints.  Shin Splints.  I hate them.  I loathe them. So, last night, I joined a training group at Charm City Run .  I'm excited about it.  I'm excited about not being in isolation when I'm running.  The trainer, Juda, has an extreme amount of faith in all of us.  She seems to think that all of us will finish in about 45 minutes.  The plan that she is putting us on is very similar to the plan that I was already on, which is nice.  It's good to know that I was and am on the right track. I've had marked improvement.  When I first started, I was doing 1.25ish miles in about 30ish minutes.  I'm up to 1.3ish in 30ish minutes.  That seems small, but hey, that's improvement.  I'll take improvement any day! I've been realizing something as I've been going through this whole process.  I'm a really good student.  Put me i

So Running.  Yeah, about that. I'm still working on getting into a routine.  Last weekend was complete craziness (in a really good way), so I didn't get any treadmill time in.  This week, I pushed myself a smidge too hard and had some killer shin splints.  Also, I realize that I need to change my eating habits, which has been a lot of prep work.  The flip side is that I've had some good brain storming sessions while running, which is awesome!  When I've made it to the gym, I have done at least a mile, usually 1.25 miles. So this week, I'm working on continuing to change my eating habits, and learning how to stretch to keep the shin splints at bay. A 5K has been chosen....the Shamrock 5K in Baltimore in March!  I really hope that I haven't picked one that is happening too soon, but we shall see.  I think I can do it.

"When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead. True story."  Barney Stinson, How I Met Your Mother I have been saying for a couple years that I wanted to start running, and actually run a 5K.  Because of what has been going on, now seems like a good time to start training for it.  So, guess what...2010 is the year!  Training for a 5K doesn't allow me to keep some of the really bad habits I've picked up since arriving in Baltimore.  It gets me up and moving.  So, what does this mean for you dear reader...I need you to keep me honest.  I'm going to need words of support when I don't want to keep going.  Many of you are runners as well, and know more than I do, so I will need questions answered when they arise.  And in general, I need you to be awesome.  Because, well, you are.  Honestly, I need me to be awesome, too.   The last time I saw the inside of a gym was while I was still in Minnesota!  So, the plan I have set up is a modified plan from Ru