Day 55 - Book Review (1)

"The Nonrunner's Marathon Guide for Women: Get Off Your Butt and on with Your Training" by Dawn Dais

My little brother got me this book for Christmas, which was very sweet and thoughtful of him. Despite my distaste for the word "nonrunner," because I believe anyone who runs is a runner, I was excited to read it. From the way it's written, it seems as though Dais went from no running to marathoner, which is pretty impressive.

She writes with loads of wit and levity, which I so appreciate and need as I get further into my training. It's easy to take training too seriously and to get bogged down by pace and mileage, but that really takes the fun out of it. Competition with yourself can be good, but not when it's extreme.

Another thing I appreciated about Dais' writing was the frequent acknowledgment that running a marathon is a huge accomplishment. Moreover, she emphasized that training itself is a huge accomplishment. It may be that the training itself is a greater accomplishment than the actual running of the race. You dedicate four months to training for something, which basically takes over your life - that's a pretty big commitment and lesson in discipline. I appreciated that encouragement from her.

I'd recommend this book for new and old runners, alike. It's good for new runners because it doesn't use all of the big words and terms that experienced runners use. Dais is very good about explaining terms she uses. As for experienced runners, it's good for them as a reminder to not take themselves so seriously. We can all use that lesson.

Day 54 - A Date with 16 Miles

Today's scheduled run: 0 miles (technically a rest day)

Today's completed run: 16.06 miles (the long run technically scheduled for tomorrow)
Pace: 8:55 (avg.)

I'm so excited about this run, for obvious reasons. I had the chance to explore new neighborhoods on this run, which is great. Baltimore isn't a gigantic city, and there are places you don't want to run, so mapping out 16 miles is no small task. Still, if your only reference for Baltimore is The Wire, I'm sorry. All of the things you see on that show do happen here, as well as in most other cities, but Baltimore has so much more to offer and enjoy than drug deals and homicides. What I love about running here is that there's always something to look at, which keeps it exciting and keeps my mind off the fact that I can no longer feel my legs. I also love that most people say hello to one another.

My run took me through downtown and out towards a fairly well-known park in the city (Patterson Park), which is just a few blocks southeast of Johns Hopkins Hospital. I'm pretty sure you've heard of that, no matter where you're from. I ran halfway around the park and headed south toward the water, ran a fairly long route along the water, and headed out to Ft. McHenry. I made the loop at the Fort and then headed home, past Ravens stadium. It was such a perfect day weatherwise, and I was glad to be out running and enjoying it. I also used my Nike hydration belt for the first time, which was great. In the past, I have run with a CamelBak, but for such a long run, it was nice to have water and Powerade available. I also felt a little more legit, which counts for something.

As I left this morning, I discovered that my Garmin 405 had been delivered, making me feel even more legit. However, I wasn't able to use it because I needed to get out the door, and it ships without a charge. I might take it for a short spin tomorrow morning, but that depends on whether I can get out of bed or not. Either way, I'm very excited to use it, whenever that happens. As an added bonus, it's green, which is a fun color. I can't really wear green, because it clashes with my complexion and makes me look ill; so I enjoy having accessories in green. I know you were wondering.

I'm already in bed, enjoying my heated mattress pad, which I've been thinking about all day. So, until tomorrow...

Day 53 - 25 for 25

Today's scheduled run: 4 miles

Today's completed run: 0 miles

Because of some plans I have for this weekend, I'm switching up my schedule a bit and resting today in preparation for a long run (16 miles) tomorrow. Zoinks. I can't think about 16 miles too much, or else I start to worry.

Yesterday I mentioned beginning a 25-for-25 list, i.e. 25 things I'd like to do during 2012, the year I turn 25. I wanted these to be measurable, and most of them are, though some sort of lack specific counts. I give you, the list:

1. Run a marathon.
2. Run 1,000 miles this year.
3. Read 25 books.
4. Re-read all seven books of The Chronicles of Narnia (These won't count toward the 25.)
5. Host at least two people per month for lunch or dinner.
6. Take at least 30 minutes per month to pick a new spot to take pictures.
7. Make creme brulee from scratch
8. Do something/anything with the garden patch dirt pit in my backyard.
9. Go to a baseball game
10. Go to the beach
11. Go to New York City
12. Shoot trap or skeet at a range
13. Go to the Baltimore Museum of Art
14. Jump out of a perfectly good airplane (aka skydive)
15. Learn how to speed read
16. Do 25 push-ups... the real ones
17. Intentionally address people by their name more often
18. Mail at least four letters each month
19. Rent or borrow an awesome car (convertible, etc.) and drive around for a few hours
20. Listen to a new music artist every week
21. Complete five iTunesU courses
22. Wake up (or stay up) to watch a meteor shower
23. Take a road trip, short or long, with a friend(s)
24. Get my nose pierced
25. Eat (and enjoy a choice beverage) at The Abbey Burger Bistro in Federal Hill, Baltimore

Want to join me for any of these? I'm always looking for friends. :)

Day 52 - Frozen Skin

Today's scheduled run: 7 miles

Today's completed run: 7.06 miles, because I took a wrong turn
Pace: 8:48 (avg.)

It was about 30 degrees when I set out today, which is colder than I'm normally willing to run in. Still, I couldn't bear the thought of 7 miles on the treadmill. The top of me was well covered - a skull cap, hat and hood to cover the head, a Nike cold weather shirt and sweatshirt for the core, and running gloves. The bottom of me, on the other hand, was not so well provided for. I was at a loss for what to wear, so I went with what I had - running tights. They are great tights, but I think I need a thicker pair (or maybe two at once?) for days like today. Upon arriving home, I had that obnoxious itch and redness all over my legs. I've always wondered why that happens, so I took to Google. Did you know that your skin can actually freeze? Or that you can be allergic to the cold? So interesting!

Post-run, I had the pleasure of dinner and a movie with a friend from school. Also included in there were some red velvet cupcakes. We watched True Grit, which is one of the best recently released films, in my opinion. Thank you, Coen brothers, for another incredible movie with lines: from, "I do not entertain hypotheticals. The world itself is vexing enough." -Col. Stonehill; to, "Ground's too hard. Them men wanted a decent burial, they should have got themselves killed in summer." - Rooster Cogburn

I also did some thinking today about the coming year. I'm not one for resolutions, and the idea of a bucket list doesn't quite appeal to me for some reason, but I'm beginning to entertain the idea of a 25-for-25 list. This year, on July 14, I will turn 25. I suppose a real 25-for-25 list would begin then and carry-on until July 14, 2013; but I don't like to do things conventionally. So, I'm going to make a list of 25 things I want to do this year (2012), the year I turn 25. More on this once I've completed the list. Who knows? Maybe I'll do this until I turn 85, and then I'll have to devise a list of 85 things to do... from my wheelchair.

Day 51 - Road Trippin'

Today's scheduled run: 4 miles

Today's completed run: 4 miles
Pace: 8:59 (avg.)

I squeaked out that sub-9:00 pace tonight, and it was a struggle. I think that may have been because I sat in a car all day driving back from NC with my dad. That might be an excuse, but I think it's a good one. :) We had a funny drive back, because we are hilarious; but you might only agree with that after hour three of eight.

80's night

Also funny are the treasures I found while sorting through a bunch of stuff at the house in North Carolina. These included many artifacts from high school and earlier.

So many questions...

Grossest find: my hospital bracelet from when I had stitches in my chin after a bike accident at age 9... with the stitches themselves! Yes, wrapped in gauze were the actual stitches. SO.GROSS.

Weirdest find: there are too many to name.

Memory lane finds: lots of books and stuffed animals, trophies from sports, notes from friends, a few college term papers, and pictures, of course.

On the left: an 80's night with some youth group girls in high school. So much makeup! | On the right: me, with EmG - I have no idea where we are, why there is a giant inflatable ice cream cone, or what I was thinking with the Princess Leia buns. I promise to not do those again if my hair grows back!

Day 50 - The View from Here

Pre-sunset, Ashe County, NC

Back to Baltimore in the morning. I'm looking forward to some city runs, trails around Ft. McHenry, dodging traffic and walking most places. Until then...

Day 49 - Hello, 2012

On today's schedule was a bit of cross-training. I came close to trail run, but wind and rain drove me inside, so my dad (cyclist extraordinaire) set up the trainer in the basement for me. I got in 15.9 miles in an hour. It was so nice to be on a real bike, not a silly stationary bike at the gym. Even though the real bike was on the trainer, thereby rendering it stationary, it just felt different. It was a satisfying ride and a nice way to usher in 2012, in terms of work-outs.

Following my little jaunt on the bike and dinner, I headed to the attic to sort through bins full of things, things from high school and college. Gasp! It was funny to look at CDs (what are those, anyway?) and pictures and even some term papers. All the memories came rushing back, which was mostly hilarious.