back into the swing

I ran my first race since Jonathan was born this past weekend. No marathon or half-marathon this time- an 8k. It was great. I was unexcited about it since training had been pretty non-existant. At the end of the school day when the question came down to do I go for a run or go pick up the baby, somehow going for a run never won out. I got out 1-2 times a week- sometimes with Jonathan in the jogging stroller, but nothing approaching a training plan. So I was not super pumped about the race, but it was a great time! It was a beautiful morning and running felt good the whole way. I even had energy to sprint the last quarter mile or so. It was inspiring and now I am seriously considering getting back into the swing of things and training for a half marathon over the summer...

jogging!!

Thanks to a 3 day weekend and some lovely weather, Jonathan and I have managed two runs in the past 3 days!!

On Saturday it felt beautiful. Like I was one of those people born to run who can run 5 minute miles for miles upon miles. I was still running my 10 min miles, mind you, but I felt great! I think I may even have commented that "running with the jogging stroller is really easy- not much different than running normally".

HA! Then we went out today. I don't know if it was what I ate, how much I (didn't) sleep, or just the fact that running 2x per week is unheard of for my body lately, but today I was struggling. I'm sureI looked horrid; I think one car almost pulled over to ask if I was OK. But I was out there!

1.5 miles

Yay!! Today I went for my first run in months! Only 1.5 miles, but it was better than nothing. Running has been in my plan for so many days lately, but it is always the first thing to go- and hence always goes!! But today it was cloudy again and icky out again and I was starting to become depressed and angry so Jim made me go. And it was like magic (like it always is) at making me feel better. Jim always remembers this and I always forget so it is a good thing I keep him around!!

today I didn't...

...get up at 5am
...drive to the beach
...pin a race number to my chest
...line up in my starting coral along with hundreds of other runners
...run a mile
...run another one
...run another one
...run another one
...run another one
...run another one
...run another one
...run another one
...run another one
...run another one
...run another one
...run another one
...run another one
...cross a finish line
...get a medal
...stand on the beach with a plastic cup full of beer and revel in a feeling of accomplishment

Unlike the past four years, I didn't run in the Rock'n'Roll Half Marathon. And I miss it. Four years ago a friend convinced me to run it with her (at the time I couldn't run more than 2 miles). The rush of working towards and completing such a major accomplishment spurred me to challenge myself to run it again, even though I would be doing it alone. Two years ago I ran it as a training race for the Twin Cities Marathon (which I ran in October). And last year I slogged through the race when I was pregnant but didn't know it yet (though my sickness during the race should have been a sign that something was going on).