Pretender

I'm a pretender. I admit it.

I'm not a runner. I haven't really enjoyed running since I was on the track team in Junior High. I'm now in the pretending stage. I make myself get out and run now. I like being active and I consistently do exercise videos. I've even joined a gym a few times in my life (usually cancel due to cost more than use), but running was never my first love. I'd rather lace up my ice skates and play a hockey game than lace up running shoes.

However, over the last few years, I have completed 1 marathon and 3 half-marathons. I am training for another half coming up in September. I have finally come around to not dreading my running, but I can't say that I love it, yet. I do like what it does for my body, though.

I guess, Fake it til you make it rings true once again. I'm hoping that I will soon be able to say I enjoy running - then onto maybe 'love it'.

Running - Daily Mile

Today, I decided I would start tracking my runs. So, I joined Daily Mile. It will be a new experience for me since I tend to be on the shy side and don't really express myself in terms of sharing things with the 'world'. However, since I also decided to maintain a blog dedicated to me and what I do, I thought what the heck, I'll give this Daily Mile thing a go too.

I started running again, after a 10 year hiatis, back at the end of May 2011 in order to prepare for a 10K in July. I decided on a 10K for a couple of reasons: 1) It would help raise money for the North Memorial Cancer Center and 2) It was relatively cheap ($20 for 6 miles and 100% of the proceeds went to the Cancer Center) - a great deal in my book.

So, I set out trying to find a decent training application for my ipod touch. I finally stumbled upon Runner's World Smart Coach. It was very helpful. I enjoyed how easy the program was to use and the training schedule. I felt fairly confident the day of the race. However, I finished slower than I had wanted and walked waaay more than I had expected. All that said, it was a good time.

Here's to running.

Slow or just beginning?

Have you ever read something online just becaue the title sounded intriguing then 20 some odd minutes later realized you read every post associated with the initial question?

Happens to me all the time. No wonder I am always at a loss as to where the time went.

This morning was no different. I was checking my email when I came across and email from Active.com and the article titled "Anyone as slow as me?" Active.com is a website dedicated to runners - they sponsor different races and activities, they give advice on running and they have a forum for people to post questions and the like.

The article title intrigued me simply because I often feel that there isn't a runner out there as slow as I am. Everyone I know is faster (even my 70-something uncle.) So, with my curiosity piqued I began reading. It was entertaining. In the original post (found here) the person indicates that she must be the slowest penguin on earth and asks if anyone is as slow as she is and if she should be worried about her time since she really just began running. The following comments are encouraging and fun.

There were a couple of quotes that I really liked. Here they are:

"Excruciatingly Slow Finish beats Did Not Finish, which beats Did Not Start." posted by DawnHMK
"Dear God, Please let there be someone behind me to read this." also posted by DawnHMK
and "I love when the podcasts say "if you get tired don't stop running just slow down your pace".....ummm, if I slowed down anymore I would be walking."  - posted by 1974mom

I really liked these quotes because I can so relate. They made me smile and that is always a great way to start the day.