That first mile is a b*tch!

There. I said it. And I'll say it again, just for emphasis: THAT FIRST MILE IS A NASTY B!

I don't care if you've been running for 10 years, 10 months, or 10 days... That first mile, whether in a regular training run or a race, is downright awful.

Every day, I go out for my run, and during that first mile I feel like a frail, old man with emphysema... After that, all is right with the world again, but shouldn't the first mile be the easiest?

I'm currently mentoring (I don't know if I can call it that, 'cuz it's not like I'm a pro - or even that good, for that matter) another person at running, and she's starting out as a complete non-runner. So tackling that first non-stop mile is HARD. I remember it clearly. It was a major milestone in my running, and I'm sure it was for you too. So again, that first mile is a b*tch.

After my surgery, I thought that first mile was going to KILL ME!! In fact, I was pretty darn sure I was dying, and would never be able to run any farther than my mailbox ever again. But of course, I got past it, and kept putting one foot in front of the other.

Every race I've done, the first mile is EXCRUCIATING... Am I going too fast? Too slow? I have HOW MANY MORE MILES TO GO???? Whose idea was this, anyway???

But tonight, I'm going to thank that Nasty B because she's taught me one thing: Life is just like running - you have to find a way to keep moving forward and suck it up. It'll get easier.

I think Lance Armstrong sums it up best: "Me and running don't always see eye to eye. Some days it hurts more than others, but it doesn't mean I don't do it - I deal with it, and I keep running because not everything that is good for you always feels good for you."

Has anyone seen my mojo? Or my toes?

Ugh!!! I cannot find my motivation to run - and my waistline is starting to show it!!!

I had every intention of kicking off a killer 10 week training program for the E.T. Midnight Marathon, and then ramping up my times so that I could B.Q., but lately, I cannot find the motivation to do it. And I know I'm going to kick my own ass if I miss out on qualifying this year.... Sigh...

And this morning, I'm pretty sure my tummy was sticking out so far I couldn't see my toes! Even the thought of squeezing into my wedding dress isn't motivating me!!! Help!!!

Any good tips on finding motivation?? I was so bummed for so long that I couldn't run, and now I can - and don't want to?!?! Somebody help me!!!

Hey there!!!

I know what you're thinking... "SHE'S BACK! MY LIFE CAN GO ON!!!"

I knew it. 

So, while I have not disappeared from the blogging world - I still stalk all of you on a nightly basis - I just haven't had time to sit down and write my own posts.

Here's what I've been up to....

Taking care of this guy - a full-time job in itself!

Taking care of this guy...

Choosing one of these...

(I think this is the one... because it does THIS)

The skirt detaches!!! Super awesome!! That way I can party all night!!!

And, somewhere in all the madness, I've found time to do this...

So, admittedly, that's from P.F. Chang's - but I have been running on the regular now. 

And - oh yeah! - working a full-time job!!! You know, underneath my clothes, I wear this:

I promise to be better about my blogs... Pinky swear!!!

What I DIDN'T Miss About Running - and check out SR's HUGE GIVEAWAY!!!

Quick disclaimer: I wrote this last night, but for some reason, my stupid phone would not send the pic to my email. Love technology... 

So today was much better than yesterday. I managed to get out 3 miles before having to walk a bit. I'm struggling a bit to find my happy pace... Mile 1: 9:42 (perfect-o!), Mile 2: 9:36 (little fast), Mile 3: 9;24 (WTH?! No wonder I'm tired!). So I walked for about half a mile, and then picked it up for about another mile back to the house. But as I was running, I realized that there were a few things about running that I didn't miss...

1. I didn't miss having callused, ugly feet. It was kind of nice to indulge in a pedicure the last couple of weeks, and yes I would like callus removal thankyouverymuch... Oh wait, those were there for a reason. I now have a gorgeous blister under my second/third toes. I definitely run too much on my toes.
2. Non-runners when you're running outdoors. Yesterday, it was the three (overweight) teenagers that kept calling me Forrest. And somehow I managed to run into them three times during my run. At a more immature point in my life (read: single, no kiddo), I would have grabbed the biggest of them and given him a few choice words that maybe he should take up running too. Today, it was the guy in the car that had to yell WOOOOOOHOOOOO! and honk repeatedly at me. Yeah, buddy, I see you... and I'm totally not acknowledging you. Why do non-runners get such a kick out of seeing us run? It's not like we're not doing anything illegal or immoral - or even unnatural. I don't get it. 
3. BLOODY TOES!!! Arrrgh!!! In the joy of having pretty toes for a few weeks (see #1), I haven't kept my toenails as short as I should. Thus, when I pulled off my socks, I found this:

 

Totally awesome, right???

 If you haven't done so yet, check out Skinny Runner's AWESOMELY HUGE GIVEAWAY!!!! Yikes!! Someday, I hope I have such an awesome blog that companies want me to test/review/give away their stuff! I adore her - she's frickin' hilarious. Follow her blog!!!

Drumroll, please....

TA DA!!! I got to run today!!! And I feel A...MAZ...ING!!! It's like that old 80's ballad "Don't Know What You've Got 'Til It's Gone..."

So, I only ran 2.75 miles... I had every intention of putting down 4-5 miles today, but I think that might have been overly ambitious because after 2 miles, my body was like WTH?? I still kept my miles under 10 minutes, and I know I'll bounce back pretty quick - as long as I don't overdo it.


I seriously cannot describe how good it felt to get back out there - especially with the full support of my doctor. I didn't feel like a teenager sneaking around behind their parents' backs - ahhhh, again back to the 80's... (okay, mid 90's.... but I'm still an 80's child at heart). I feel like a normal human being again - which Paul just cannot comprehend, nor can my employees, but he could definitely see a difference in me when I got home. I'm seriously an evil B without running. I find so many things to nit pick about!! So I know he's relieved to get me out of the house again in the afternoons - even if my runs are short to start with!!!

My Smart Coach from Runner's World has me scheduled to pop off an easy 5 miler tomorrow, so we'll see... Yeah for being back!!!

This just isn't my month...

So Friday I woke up with a toothache. Nothing too terrible, but annoying nonetheless... But the great news is that I went for my follow-up with the surgeon, and I'M A GO!! So I had full intentions of running Friday after work. And then...

By the end of the day on Friday, my face was starting to swell!! Saturday morning turned into a dentist appointment, and I had to have a tooth pulled - which was not only super painful, but also meant no strenuous activity for 48 hours. WTF? I swear the running gods are out to get me this month!! But a little bit of percocet (and, a lot of wine), and I'm feeling much better today. Swelling has gone down some, but I'm going to have chipmunk face for a couple more days. So instead of running this weekend, I shopped - heavily... If I don't get running again soon, we're going to end up homeless! But at least we'll have great shoes & clothes!!!

So looks like tomorrow is going to be my day! I figure two surgeries in one month is more than enough - I mean, what else could possibly happen?? Maybe I should knock on wood...

Ready.... Set...

GO!!! At least that's what I'm hoping to hear tomorrow from the surgeon. It's been almost three weeks since my surgery, and almost 5 since I've been running regularly. I'm so ready to run!!

Thanks to Diana (check out her blog!), I signed up for the Really Big Free Marathon!! I stayed up until 12:01 AM so I could make sure to get registered... Come to find out, the field is only half full (which means I could have caught some zzzzzz's last night). So there's still time to sign up. It's going to be in Vegas (okay, Henderson) on November 3, 2012. Yeah, I know that's next year, but how can you say no to a FREE MARATHON?!?! And you get a tech tee and a really big finisher's medal! You do have to put down a $50 deposit to hold your spot, but you get it back when you show up to the race or if you cancel at least 3 months prior to the race.

I'm resigning myself to the fact that San Diego is out. It's only 2 months away, and registration is almost full. If it is still open by the time my bday rolls around, I'll take that as a sign from the running gods that it's meant to be. Otherwise, I'll train like hell and hope that I can qualify for Boston at the ET Marathon in August.

So I'm so glad that tomorrow is FRIDAY!!! This has been the longest... week... ever.... Ugh! In fact, I think I might just go have myself a glass of wine right now and wish it was already Friday.

Do you have any fun weekend plans?? Mine hopefully include logging some miles! FINALLY!!! And more wine, of course!