3:36:49

I did it!

I ran my first race, my first half marathon!  We started out really slow - I wanted to walk through the first 5 miles, since that was the part within Disneyland, and I was afraid of burning out before the finish line.  It didn't work out great.  Walking hurt my shins a lot more than I was expecting, so we switched to a kind of jog, and that helped.  We also stopped for almost every bathroom break in the park ('cause I'm terrified of using port-a potties), and a few photo ops.
I didn't finish sub-3:00 like I'd hoped, and actually went over the allotted 3:30, but since I wasn't in the last corral, I wasn't picked up.
I think I could've done better.  I walked a lot, and had enough energy to run the 5k at the end.  I also felt fully recovered by supper time, after napping in the afternoon.  I was expecting to be completely wiped, but I walked around Downtown Disney with Riki and Joe (the friend who's original FB post inspired me to sign up in the first place), then had supper with the family, and did a little shopping afterwards.  Next time, I'm going to push myself a little harder.  Oh yes, there will be a next time.

In 201 days, I'm running the Star Wars - Dark Side Half Marathon in Walt Disney World!  It was pretty easy to get Riki on board - Star Wars an running, what's not to love?  He's doing the Dark Side Challenge, which is comprised of the half on Sunday, and also the 10k the day before.  We went all out this time - opting in for some commemorative pins.  I was afraid of pre-buying anything for the Disneyland half in case I didn't finish, but now I know I can!  I'm giving myself a little break from training until after Canadian thanksgiving. After that, I'll be following the same couch-to-half  20-week training plan from Woman's Running magazine, but dialling it up a bit.

As for the Disney portions of these RunDisney races...
I had a blast in Disneyland with the fam, but there were a lot of things we could've planned out better from the get go.  For example, Riki and I could've been riding the shuttle between the hotel and park for free the whole weekend!  We also had to wait around on Wednesday morning, since we couldn't pick up our theme park tickets until noon (the brochure I was looking at said 8am, but it was out of date).  Being in the park was great Wednesday and Thursday, but Friday was pretty insane.  It was the labour day long weekend, and lots of people had come out.  Weekdays definitely seem like the time to go. There aren't as many characters or parades, but the shorter lines and thinner to non-existent crowds are so worth it!
For WDW, some more planning will definitely be involved.  Neither Riki nor I have been there in almost two decades, so there's no way we're just going to wing it.  We've got a travel agent friend who's been a couple times who can hopefully give us some tips closer to April.  In the mean time...



201 days.

One Week

Exactly one week from now I will have run my first half marathon.  I ran 6.55 miles yesterday (a quarter marathon?), and I feel sore today, but I can still move around comfortably.  My shoulders and back are what's most sore, and I think that's from yoga.  I'm going to do a gentle 5k today, and I've also got to do my English homework, and head to the drugstore to pick up some waterproof sunscreen, since I fly out to LAX tomorrow morning!
I'm so excited to see my mom and sister, and to hang out in Disneyland!  It feels a bit odd - like I'm getting my reward before I've done the work to deserve it - but I still plan on having an awesome time! There are a couple more runs to work in (today, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday), but they're all easy distances.
I'm so excited to run this race!  I've spent over half a year preparing for it.  Granted, I could've tried a lot harder, and there were plenty of times I wanted to quit, but I pushed through.  I'm going to be really proud to have "ran a half marathon" on my resume before my 26th birthday.  Only one more week until that's a reality.




7 days.

The End is Near

Just a little over three weeks before race day.  I've only just realized the counter I've been using is counting to the Thursday before the half marathon, as that's the day everything officially kicks off.  It was hard to tell when the counter was set at 200-ish days.  Now it says 18!

So much has changed since I signed up for this half marathon.  I've moved to one coast of America, and then the other;  I've crushed a preparatory math course, and signed up for a whole suite of college classes; I've run a 10k;  I've run a 5k in 38 minutes and 27 seconds;  I've played pick-up basketball and didn't get out of breath and have to stop;  I've lost 10lbs and have been keeping it off; I can fit into - and look amazing in - Riki's jeans (which wasn't possible when we were in Portland, spawning the Great Jean Hunt of '15 ... so many tears... ahem); I can run - actually run - for 50 minutes without stopping.  I remember being so proud of running 5 minutes without stopping!

There are still other things I want to change in my life.  I want my apartment to feel less transitory.  Right now it's a dumping ground for things - it's not helping my mood.  I want to make friends who aren't just Riki's friends.  Friends who are my friends.  I want to feel more in control of my life - to have a purpose.  School starts in just over a week, and I want to kick its ass. I'm also getting a bunch of furniture this weekend.  Once that's all put together Riki and I will finally unpack everything, and I want to start a chore scheduled of sorts.  Something concrete to hold us accountable for keeping our space looking and feeling its best.  I also want to add running into that schedule.  I've got a bi-weekly yoga class, but I really want to keep running.  Not as intensely as I have been leading up to this half marathon, but maybe a 5k once a week?  I want to keep myself looking and feeling my best.  I also want to stay in good enough running condition so that I can have an even better time running the Disneyland Half Marathon next year.  And the year after that.




18 days (but actually 21).

28 Days Later...

I've got less than a month until the half marathon.  Things are going well.  I can actually run a 10k (I do have to pause and reset the treadmill though, since it takes me longer than an hour). Last night I PBd a 5k running the whole way.  My last PB was from intervals - walking a minute, running two - and I didn't think I could beat it with just straight running.  I did the first 2.5k running 13 min miles, then upped it to 11 min, then finished out at 10.5 min.  My marathon miles are probably going to be closer to 13.5, but if I can get down to 12 I'll be happy.  Heck, a 13 min. mile still gets me done in under three hours, but I want some wiggle room for washroom breaks, photos, walking, etc.
I've been doing yoga classes every second week.  Even though it's not a lot, my hip feels better (maybe it's just a mental thing), and I feel better about myself in general.  It's a good reason to get out of the apartment, and it's nice to feel a spiritual connection to something again. I'm debating whether to do yoga tonight, or go to Game Night at SCG.
Spectating the Pro Tour in Vancouver this weekend has made me really want to up my MtG game.  I've been saying I want to get more competitive again, but I want to make the pro tour and day two it within two years.  I also want to day two some Opens, but that could be tricky as my current model for going to them involves me working one day so I can stay in the staff hotel with Riki.  I dunno.  I've got my modern deck all on MtGO now so I can practice at home, but a desk space would make that a lot easier.  And a clean apartment would make fitting a desk in here easier... and make me happier.  All the boxes lying around, the lack of furniture, everything just tossed wherever there's empty space, it's not making this place feel like home. That disconnect is really throwing me.  I guess just one thing at a time - running, cleaning, MtG.
I don't feel great after running.  Last night I PB'd and wanted to cry.  I think it's because I know I've got to come back here when I'm done.  Right now, the reward for me finishing running is me finishing running.  Gotta change that.  Gotta create a nice space to live in, and pin up the Disneyland tickets somewhere easy to spot.



28 days.

Whhhyyyy?

I've definitely hit the "what the heck was I thinking?!" phase of training. I'm not sticking with the training program, and every workout feels like a struggle. A big heaping spoonful of "you're not good enough. You're not fast enough. You're going to fail." It sucks. I'm supposed to be doing 'easy runs' for three miles now instead of the 'run/walks' I was doing, but I just can't manage it. They say you're supposed to be able to carry on a conversation while running your 'easy run' pace, but I don't even think I could do that if I was just walking quickly. I don't know what to do...

Start yoga classes, I suppose. It's one of the recommended cross-training methods, and it'll hopefully help my knee/hip/back feel better, and maybe help me run straight.

I feel so down on myself. I wasn't expecting to be fantastic or anything, but I was hoping I'd at least feel better. Like I was improving. Like I'd actually have a hope of finishing a half marathon.



55 days.

Gotta keep on keepin' on.

I found a training program online entitled "Couch to Half-Marathon" and only required 98 training days.  Pretty perfect, since I was at 102 when I found the thing, and have already been training off and on for several months.  Now it's go time.  No more missed days, no more excuses.  It's going to be tough, especially since I'm moving across the country in two weeks (okay, maybe one or two missed days. Ugh.) and because I can't really seem to keep to a normal sleeping pattern when left to my own devices.  Running in the morning seems to be key.  The gym gets really hot, even on cool days, and it's been hitting the 30s lately so here I am at midnight, about to go run 3 miles.
My diet also tends to go to shit when I'm cooking for one trying desperately to use up all the obscure groceries that remain.  I think another grocery run or two will be needed before moving anyway, but it's still less than ideal.  I can't afford to procrastinate until I get to Virginia (but knowing me, I probably will. Sigh!).  Anyway, time to suit up and run three miles.  I always hate the idea of running until I actually start running... Disneyland... Disneyland... Disneyland...


94 days.

"Some training days don't go well"

Last week I was in Paris, eating way too much butter-filled food and doing no exercise whatsoever.  The week before that I was moving - and I wasn't the hauler of boxes up and down stairs; I was the packer.  Tonight was my first "work out" in the fitness centre at the new building and it did not go well.  First, I hate the treadmills.  I have no idea how to program them correctly.  One machine I managed to get my age and weight into, but couldn't figure out how to have it timed for more than 20 minutes.  The other was just a simple on/off machine.  No data feedback like heart rate or calories burned, just elapsed time and current speed.  I was cranky to begin with, so I was probably more displeased by the change that I would have been otherwise.
Another different feature in this new place it that the treadmills face large windows which at night (the time I like to run) function as ersatz mirrors.  It was about two or three minutes in when I noticed in said mirrors that my right leg kicks way out.  This is likely a by-product of the problems I have with right hip, namely that it slides out if its socket from time to time.  I tried to correct this, to kick my right leg back behind my hip as my left leg does, and my hip did not appreciate this.  It slid out of socket and I stumbled.  I tried running again, correcting my leg again, but the same thing happened and I was in quite a bit of pain.  I shut off the treadmill after only "running" for five minutes.  Not my finest run.
A cursory search of the internet seems to suggest that strength training in my hips can help fix the problem so that's my plan of action for now, but the whole affair is really discouraging.  That, combined with the weight gain from Paris, the stresses of moving, and trying to get all my visa stuff in order is making for a really tough month.
I feel like I'm failing.  The beginning of April was when I promised myself I'd stop taking days off, and it's almost the end of May and I haven't run in three weeks.  The half marathon is a little over three months away and I am nowhere close to being able to do it in less than three hours.  I'm nowhere close to being able to do it at all, honestly.  I can't sustain a running pace for 5km, let alone 21km.  I don't think I'm going to be able to do this, but I know I'll hate myself if I quit.


105 days.

5k!

Today I ran 5k in 43:27!  I feel really proud.  Sore, but proud.  This also included running three solid minutes at 5.5mph.  Overall, I'm really happy with how my runs have been going.  I've been slowly pushing myself a little more each run, and keeping with a Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday or Sunday schedule.  Walking for five minutes before starting my intervals has helped a lot too, as well as taking it easy for the first half of my run, then pushing for the second half.  I think my next step for improvement is going to be gear-based.  I've been wearing a cotton tank top, and man does that thing get sweaty and sticky!  There were some light, moisture wicking tanks on sale at the Nike store when I bought my shoes.  I'm going to head back there tomorrow or Thursday and see if they're still there.


168 days.

"You Gotta Let Me Know..."

I'm a few work-outs deep.  I've been aiming to hit two miles in half an hour, switching between a quick walk one minute and sprinting the next, and so far I've done it.  The last two workouts however, have kicked my ass.  Thursday I was in Miami for the GP and the crazy high humidity kept me down.  I started crying at the 17 minute mark - I was walking more than running and hadn't even hit a mile yet.  I didn't think I was going to make two miles, let alone complete a half hour.  But I dug down deep, made a lot of "RAAA" noises, had Riki cheer me on, and I got it done.  A similar thing happened tonight.  I felt really weak breaking into my sprints - at one point my knee gave out and I had to jump onto the sides of the treadmill.  I spent the majority of the first 15 minutes just walking.  I had gone for a long walk earlier in the day (while wearing flip-flops - d'oh!), so I thought maybe that was affecting me somehow, but it took a while before my sprints felt strong again.  The last two I really kicked it into high gear to try and make two miles, which I did at the 29.50 minute mark.  Cutting it a little too close.  What actually got me there was my music - Human by the Killers.  I could see Brandon Flowers punching the air as the music picked up and I just went for it, silly noises and all.

I think I need two things heading into my next work-outs - a kick ass playlist and more warm up time. I'm going to start with five minutes of just walking before I start my sprints, bumping my overall workout time to 40 minutes (including cool down).  As far as music goes, the Killers get top billing.

175 days.

Ankle Shanked

This past weekend was GP San Jose.  The GP was held in... well a tent.  A really long tent.  While many bemoaned this, I didn't think it was so bad.  I planned on volunteering for all the back-and-forth jobs so I could get lots of walking in.  This plan worked fairly well for Friday, however things took a turn on Saturday.  I was all set to Deck Check players at the tables farthest away.  Lots of walking! I had a plan!  This plan was utterly squashed when, in the pre-tournament set-up, I got cracked in the ankle by a cart full of tables.  I was supposed to be clearing a path for said tables, but didn't know where they were going.  I stopped to ask.  The cart did not.  So my ankle's pretty beaten up.  I spent the rest of the weekend doing sit-down jobs like registration and scorekeeping (which is actually kind of awesome, because I've been trying to break into scorekeeping).  But my mobility's likely to be hampered for the next week or so, it's Wednesday and the swelling is down from "softball" to "negligible". Ugh.

211 days.

In the beginning...

I've decided I'm going to run a half marathon.

I've been wanting to start running for a while.  Granted, I haven't gone so far as to actually do anything about it, but the desire's been there.  When I saw a friend post on Facebook that he was going to run the Disneyland Half Marathon I thought, "I can do that".  And I can, theoretically.  I just have to, you know, DO it.

I'm great at lofty and arbitrary future goals--I'll devote more time to painting, I'm going to learn French, I'll be a Person who Runs--but I'm shit at execution.  However, here we have a hard and fast date for a goal to be accomplished: on September 6th, 2015 I will run a half marathon in Disneyland.  I think the Disneyland thing is important. Sure, I could just pick a date and run 21k at home, but doing it in Disneyland provides a built in reward system for accomplishing my goal.  I also have to pay a not insignificant sum of money to do it, so if I give up I'm not only letting myself down from the running perspective, but I'm out $200 USD and a trip to the Happiest Place on Earth.  Those seem like good reasons to keep going through the inevitable blistered feet, sore legs, and "ugh I just want to sit on the couch and eat potato chips for forever".

The internet seems to think that I can be ready for a half marathon in three or four months, give or take, depending on my fitness level.  While I've already started taking better care of myself physically, I don't think I'll start training in ernest (3+ days a week) until I'm officially moved for two reasons: 1) I have so much to do before moving, I really need to buckle down and focus on that instead of using this to procrastinate, and 2) It's cold and icy outside and I don't have access to a treadmill.  Paying for a gym membership here for 8 weeks seems a little silly.  I'll intensify the home workout routine I've been doing since the beginning of the month, but I think actual for realzies training is probably going to wait until March, which still gives me a solid six months.  Even if the internet is WAY off in its estimate, this should be plenty of time to get me ready.

I'll be checking in with this blog periodically to update my progress, bitch about how hard it is, and muse on running, fitness, and life in general.  Hope you enjoy the ride!

220 days.