This blog has moved.

And since this blog links to my other blog which identifies me as a sober member of Alcoholics Anonymous - I am not going to link this blog to my new blog. Yikes! That sounds very convoluted.

But I wanted to have a blog where I could use my full name and a picture. I take the tradition of anonymity very seriously, so I didn't want to break it here.

I have individually let people know where my new blog is. If you don't know and would like to know, please send me an e-mail.

Thanks!

Organized Run

This morning I went on a run organized by a local running club. Yesterday I sent the organizer guy an e-mail telling him that after looking over the details, I was not going to participate - since the slowest group was going to be running at my fastest pace, and I didn't want to get discouraged. He assured me that I would be fine, not to worry, they would be slow, and to come out... so I did.

At the two mile point, I was running alone. All alone. Crying. Pitifully crying. Watching everyone leave me was so disheartening - I can't begin to tell you. I could tell you the childhood issues this triggers, but then I would sound like a slow nutcase. Not just a slow old woman. A slow nutcase old woman. Okay, I will tell you anyway - I am the youngest of five - all my childhood, I watched them all be able to do things I couldn't... run faster, go places, etc. and leave me behind. And so it happens again...

I decided not to extend my misery by running the 6 miles I intended... so I turned around at 2 miles. A lovely woman who had introduced herself at the beginning of the run turned around and ran back to the water stop to see how I was doing. When I told her (sobbing like a small child) she said she would go back with me. She ran with me at the slow 11:55 pace I was running this morning, and we talked and ran together. Thank God for angels like Lana. What an act of unselfishness. Thank you to Lana and all the other angels who are so kind.

I did get to talk with a couple of middle-aged female marathoners after the run. They were very encouraging. After I left I considered the fact that I had joined with people who are in a running club. They are probably fast runners. I am slow, I know I am slow. I just need to get over it.

It is 2 weeks until the race. I just have to get my attitude back.

Running along the beach in Galveston, TX

I snapped this picture with my cell phone on Saturday morning. I got to see the most beautiful sunrise - as I ran along the beach! It was very cool. Running at sea level is enlightening - to put it mildly. If I had more time, I think I could have run forever. 6,000 feet altitude makes a difference in the way a run feels.

I have only 19 more days until my half-marathon. I spend a bit of time thinking I am not ready, but reality tells me I am ready. I just got done running 10 and a half miles - in some seriously hilly terrain. My time wasn't bad.. It was 2 hours 1 minute. (I TOLD you I was slow!)

Here is a question: When you are taking a run that lasts two hours or more, what do you do about water/fluids? I had an energy gel in my sports bra, and had that at about 6 miles. I stopped at a gas station at 3 miles and bought a powerade - and carried the remaining miles with me. That is a pain and I think it really slows me down. But I can't run for that long without replenishing some fluids... what do y'all do? (Thanks for any feeback on that!)

29 days...

I just finished a great and fabulous 10 mile run. Now don't get the idea that my time was great, because clearly it wasn't. However, 4 miles into my run, I started crying. Why? you ask... because I realized that I was NOT in pain!!! Now why does it take 4 miles to realize that? I don't know, but the important thing is that I did realize it. When I got home I counted my times and realized that I had negative splits. Slow, but negative. The first mile is straight uphill, so I am sure that is a factor... and don't forget I am at 6,ooo ft. altitude!

This week I took money and a credit card with me. I stopped at the only retail opportunity on my path, at a gas station at about 5 miles. I bought a bottle of powerade and drank it!

So, this week I missed a day (which may have served me well considering I am painless for the first time in months), and ran 17.13 miles. I am happy with that.

And for any old people who run with an iPod - I downloaded the BEST song last night. Corny, yes, but fun, fun, fun to run to.
"Slow Boat to China" by Bette Midler.

I feel happy and strong this morning.

5 weeks til the race

This is a cell phone photo from this morning's run. It was a beautiful morning so I decided to take a different route. I got too far from home and ended up running 10.5 miles when I was aiming for an 8 mile run. But it bumped up my weekly mileage to an all-time high of 25.06 miles.

Here is a question: The Bolder Boulder 10K race is one week and one day after my half-marathon. Does anyone think it is reasonable to run a 10K race just a little over a week after doing my first half-marathon? I would dearly love to do this race because it was the first race I ever ran - 20 years ago. It makes me want to cry just to write that. At that time, I was 35 years old, a heavy smoker, and not much of a jock. But I had youth on my side and was able to finish the race. Now I am 55 years old, I haven't had a cigarette in 16 years (or a drink in 22 and a half years) and have been running consistently for four years... slow as I am. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Icy Easter Weekend

That's the snow and ice encrusted cord from my iPod after yesterday's run. The entire front of me was a sheet of ice. That being said - I enjoyed the run immensely! Who knows why... I just felt good. I ran only a 5K, thinking today would be my long run. Today I doubt that I am getting out in it due to ice all over the streets and sidewalks. On my trip to the church and the grocery store this morning I saw 2 bad accidents within a couple of miles. I can take a hint!

I am worried about my lack of mileage. I hope that I will be able to increase it this week. We are now 6 weeks out from the race!

Moonlit run

The moon was so beautiful as it set over the mountains this morning I just had to take a picture. However, my cell phone doesn't produce the highest quality photos. But I wanted to post something positive about a run.

Yesterday I ran 3.64 miles. This morning I ran 5 miles. It is a beautiful morning, in the upper 30s, a clear early spring morning. I feel like I might be back on track! I cannot wait for my half-marathon. When I run, I dream of what it will feel like to be running along mile after mile of Colfax Avenue.