Thursday, August 28, 2008

on going the distance...

This morning? I ran 4 miles. I hardly recognize myself anymore. (Partly because I never thought myself capable of such athleticism; partly because, well, have you seen me after running four miles? It ain't pretty.)

I've grown pretty comfortable with running 3 miles in about 30-35 minutes, but today I decided that I wanted to do 4 miles. Not try, because if I only decided to try then we all know I'd wimp out after 30 minutes when my iPod playlist started over. So, no. I did not try, I freaking did it.

I was unstoppable! Even when my legs threatened to buckle beneath me! Even with my cheap Payless running shoes started getting slightly uncomfortable! Even when I had that flash of, "Damn, did I put on any deodorant this morning?" Even when Cleany McLurkerson decided to clean my treadmill, his head dangerously close to my nether-regions! Even when my face started to turn a patchy shade of pink! Even when I was at 3.75 miles and pretty much stared at the numbers the rest of the time, realizing that a watched treadmill screen will never, for the love of all things holy, get to 4 miles soon enough!

It feels good. I can do this. And I truly can't stress enough that if I can do this, absolutely anybody can. It's been a while that I've been working towards this particular goal, but seriously. I am the anti-sport. Have always been. And the anti-sport just ran 4 miles. I swear, if that fact doesn't give a shining beam of hope towards anyone who wants to be a runner, then I don't know what will.

(PS: I also feel good because I've finally worked off the godforsaken slice of cake I ate at work yesterday that was pretty much the size of my face. Don't bring cake around me. It's a dangerous thing.)

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26 wrote me a note:

  1. That is awesome!!!! You go girl. I am dangerous around cake as well. I totally understand!
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  2. Yay! That's an awesome accomplishment! You really motivated me. Tomorrow I may actually use the treadmill instead of the elliptical at the gym.
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  3. Awesome! I do the elliptical for 30 mins...i don't really look at the miles, just burned calories - hah! It's weird how some days I'm all tired at that point (or before) and some that I feel I could do longer!
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  4. awe doll, i'm so proud of you - that's awesome. i'll be thinking of you as i do my run tonight. which will likely be in the rain..
    i always used to drive by people running in the rain and be all 'you so craaazy', but i've come to love it. it's refreshing.
    (as long as a hot shower afterwards is available).
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  5. Yay, I'm proud of you!

    BUT, I am looking at you sternly for your Payless running shoes. Sounds to me like you're becoming a real live runner, in which case you need to get yourself to a running specialty store to get fitted for a good pair of shoes, stat!

    Your knees, hips, ankles, and parts of your body you never even knew could hurt will thank you later :)
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  6. You're amazing!! (But, seriously, get decent shoes.) And WHY was he cleaning the machine you were on? I hate the gym.
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  7. From one anti-sport to another, I have to say that I am very proud of you! When this baby is out, I'm doing the treadmill thing... my parents have one and never use it, so I might as well!
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  8. Wow, well done!

    I can't wait until my bellydance classes start again, I'm so out of shape.
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  9. You are such an inspiration. I'm not the sporty type myself. I think that sometime in the near future I'm gonna give the treadmill thing a go. I'll let you know how it works out.
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  10. Happy 4 miles!

    Those are my wedding pictures on my blog. One of my friends was the ONLY reader for quite awhile, so I just assumed, duh, that's me.
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  11. And, cake, cookies, anything, I think, well, I only live once right?
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  14. SO impressed! i think you just inspired me to maybe actually going to the gym tonight (that is... after i have a margarita or 3)
    ;) keep up the good work lady!
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  15. Oh good job! I'm impressed and inspired! I've never been a runner but I've tried to say a time or two that I'm going to be a runner... It hasn't quite happened. I think the farthest I've ever gone is 3 miles (and that was like once!) So I'm certainly impressed by 4!!!!
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  16. Congrats!!! You are seriously so freakin amazing! SOOO proud of you! Dangit, I must get to the gym! I've even more of an anti-sporto than you! ackkkk.
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  17. i'm extremely ANTI-sport so running anything that's further than the distance from the car to the front door is amazing to me.

    congrats!!!
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  18. That'a awesome. Good for you!!! I'm planning on running 3 tonight, and that'll be the longest I've run in a while!
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  19. nice job! that is awesome. way to push yourself, you are my workout hero :)
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  20. I move into school tomorrow, and hopefully I'll use the gym. Something about other people staring in at me looking my worst creeps me out, though. If I ever get to 4 miles, I'll let you know!
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  21. Excellent!
    You are my inspiration!!! I always give up, but I am going to try my hardest not to fail...anymore! I want to be a runner! Not competitively, but a habitual runner.
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  22. Aw, I am so proud of you!! Please, please send advice my way! My shins ache for 2-3 days after I run. What the heck am I doing wrong?

    So, will you try for 5 now??
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  23. (Gave you some blog love today - check it out!)
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  24. Oh yeah! Congrats!!

    I've been craving carrot cake since your morning cupcake the other day....
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  25. Yay for four miles! it's hard to run that far in the gym when you have people hovering and trying to take your machine. I'm working up to that, I'm going the distance and taking three walking breaks in between and over time will start to eliminate them.
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  26. I used to run 6 miles a day and now I'm lucky if I can do 3. I'm starting a goal to work back up to that though.

    Good for you! Keep on rockin'. Don't stop because it sucks to start up again!
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