11 Apr 07 Wednesday
RunningWoman
Current mood: excited
Category: Goals, Plans, Hopes
Not many people know that I've always wanted to be a runner. For as long as I can remember when I've driven past runners I've felt this envy for whatever it is that gets them out there no matter how hot or cold, early or late, sick or tired they are. I want to experience this "runner's high" and I can spot a runner's body a mile away. I remember when Oprah & Diddy ran their marathons I sat there wishing I could do that and even though I live vicariously through Oprah in a lot of ways that is one thing I actually felt like I could accomplish as well. I would usually dismiss this notion as a silly dream or "yeah right" kind of thing because in all honesty I'm the one who can almost guiltlessly skip a workout, have that piece of cheesecake or another drink, sleep in. Yes, I am pretty indulgent. I didn't share this dream with anyone really because they know the "princess" side of me and wouldn't take it seriously.
Recently though, my clock has been ticking and no, it isn't the biological one. I'm the type of person who writes goals down and I'm usually pretty good at achieving them within my timeframe. I'm realistic and recognize which ones are short-term vs long-term, so I know now I need to start working on my "by the time I'm 40" list. I have exactly 2.8 yrs.
The first day I trained with Delano a man was there doing some impossible looking crunches and he's probably in his 50s without any visible body fat. I was right when I assumed he is a runner. He told my trainer he is getting ready for the Boston Marathon and I felt that familiar pang. I started to dismiss it again thinking I've just started working out. I have time. Then I overheard one of my coworkers saying he runs marathons and it was no surprise to me because he too has that look..trim, sinewy, always with a water bottle and oozing with self-discipline. I asked him what the shortest race is that still warrants some respect and he told me about the 5k. I thought okay..within the next 2 years I want to run one. Then I remembered a friend of mine in Nashville was encouraged to run a half-marathon by a mutual friend of ours so I decided to email him. He told me to go to Fleet Feet and get some good shoes, check out runnersworld.com and find a training schedule and if I start now I can run a 5k by 7/4. Excuse me? 7/4/07? Are you kidding me? I haven't run since college unless you count a couple of sporadic attempts since then. Now this got me a little excited...I mean my trainer said do cardio on off days and my friend said hey...do some walking/running on a treadmill. He tells another friend who runs and she emails to give me some advice..this is her 4th year to run and I go to lunch with a supervisor today who says she used to run all the time. Before I know it I've had about 4 brands of running shoes recommended to me and all I can see is me running in different races..collecting cool t-shirts..chugging gatorade and throwing cups down as people cheer as I fling myself over the finish line while my son and husband look on proudly. I'm not even picturing if I'm first or last. I love my pedicures and open-toe shoes and get the warm fuzzies when someone compliments my feet but I want to come home and take off my worn to the ground Asics or New Balances and peel off my thorlo socks and have band-aids and tape hanging off my poor, blistered feet. I want those long, lean muscles in my legs and I want my ass to look no older than a 30 y/o milf's even when I'm 60..in my jeans anyway! I want the runner's high so I can feel like the world is mine and have stress feel like a distant memory. I want to pity those who can't just jog off their problems. I'm ready...bring on the energy bars and I know I hate water but I'll drink it damn it..I will find a 5k race scheduled sometime in July and I will finish it! Will I run a marathon? Mayyyyybe...after I work through the 5k, 10k, 5 & dime and a half-marathon. Like I said..I'm realistic and know short-term v long-term so I'll start running now...and then I'll shoot for a marathon by the time I'm 45.
