12-Mile Run

Being in Seattle in the winter and all, I thought I wouldn't really have a chance to train outside. The weather these days have been more or less something like this:

Thankfully, today's weather, despite the forecasts, was more like this:

Man, cirrus clouds are the best. I just stole that picture from some other site, but regardless, it was perfect weather for a long run. I decided to try to run a little further this time, but take a one-minute break to walk and drink water every two or so miles. Here's the map:

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12 miles! WOO!!!! I thought it would be more painful than it was. Thank God it wasn't. It was actually really nice running around and seeing all the random shops, restaurants, and water towers.

I know. Kinda random. If anything, the run was more painful because I ran by a few of my favorite joints in the neighborhood, like Salvatore Ristorante, Peak's Frozen Custard, and Teddy's Tavern. After hitting mile 8 or so, it was ridiculously tempting to just hop in and get a Wild Boar Tagliatelle, a Vanilla Frozen Custard to wash down the pasta, and a Mac & Jack to wash down the custard. Something tells me that's not part of the training plan...

Anyways, gotta get back to reading those law book things.

70 Days.

Where Things Stand

I started "training" about two and a half weeks ago.

I'm training loosely based on the Novice schedule put out by Hal Higdon. Basically, the week gets split up into two rest days, two "short run" days, one "short-long run" day (longer than a short run, shorter than a long run), one "long run" day, and one "cross" day (any exercise that's not running). That's the idea behind the program at least.

Week 1: Pulled in three three-mile short runs. Nipple chafe.

Week 2: Started running five-mile short-long runs. Attempted a 10-mile long run. Fail.

And now we're in Week 3. I have to run indoors these days because of Seattle weather. Week 3 brings in the new year. That means setting motivated goals and shooting for the stars. The stars, for me, include a more consistent training schedule, and a more nutritional diet plan. I like to eat, and there aren't many healthy options around school, so this might be tough.

Monday, I did a five-mile short run. I have anti nipple chafe ointment now, thank God.

Yesterday, I got all dressed up in my gear and went to run, thinking I'd push my limits a little and shoot for 6 miles. I think I ran about 30 seconds before my left calf muscle cramped up and I had to baby it for the next five minutes. Meanwhile, the lady running next to me gave me those judgment eyes:

So much for pushing the limits.

I was going to make Wednesday my rest day, but considering yesterday's sad excuse for a run, I think I'll go for a run tonight.

73 Days.

Where Things Started

Me: So I think I'm gonna run the LA marathon.

Friend Who Runs Marathons: Awesome!!! When's the race??

Me: March 21st.

Friend Who Runs Marathons: Okay, cool, you still have time. Have you started training??

Me: No.

Friend Who Runs Marathons: How often do you run??

Me: I haven't ran for at least two months now.

Friend Who Runs Marathons: Okay...

Me: ...

Friend Who Runs Marathons: You'll be fine! So what made you decide to run a marathon? The Biggest Loser or something?

Me:

Friend Who Runs Marathons: Oh.

Or something like that.

So then I recruited my friend, Alex, to join me in this sad attempt at a marathon. We used to run in the morning in college together with a third guy, Kevin. Nothing serious. We usually ran about two and a half miles, followed by some stair-climbing and lap-swimming, but once in a while, we'd have to resort to these. It wasn't pretty then, and it isn't pretty now.

In any case, we've committed to this ridiculous idea of pulling off a marathon. We've also decided to run for a cause or two. I'm running for a non-profit organization that addresses a cause that I'm really passionate about: human rights in North Korea. It's called:

I'll talk about this organization more from time to time, but for now, check out their page at www.linkglobal.org.

I'll let Alex pitch what he's running for, but it has something to do with variations of this:

So that's where things started.

Alex ran... kinda

I should have started running yesterday. That didn't happen.
I should have waited 30 minutes before running today. That didn't happen.
I started 10 minute per mile pace and then threw up. That ALMOST happened.

2 miles down... so many, many, many more.

There's a pecan pie sitting seductively in the kitchen. Oh my, oh my. Jesus.