Journey to the Eye of the Marathon

The Last Two Weeks

2008-09-21T02:24:00.000-07:00

Sunday: Detect lump
Monday: Doctor confirms lump
Tuesday: Ultrasound locates lump
Thursday: Fine needle biopsy
Sunday: TRAINING RUN: 23 MILES!
Monday: Biopsy results--immediate surgery recommended--possible cancerous cells
Tuesday: Pre-op consultation
Wednesday: Surgery
Thursday: Recovery
Friday: Full biopsy results: BENIGN. Chance of recurrence: EXTREMELY LOW
Saturday and Sunday: Constant sighs of relief.

In the span of two weeks, I have not only been through surgery and run 23 miles...I've woken up to life again. I feel as if, in many ways, I had been asleep at the wheel the past ten years.

I realized that I could effectively change my life drastically in the span of two weeks. Human will is amazing. I also realized that I wouldn't have been able to go the distance without friends and family. They were an absolutely ESSENTIAL part of the journey the last two weeks. "Thank you" doesn't even begin to scratch the surface.

Although my surgery is still healing, and I won't be able to run for 10 more days, the doctor says I should be in the clear to run the marathon. It's still mine for the taking, and I intend to take it all the way! I may be a little bit out of shape, but I've done two long runs (24 miler and a 23 miler) in the past 6 weeks--I know my body can handle the distance.

A rough week.

2008-09-10T10:28:00.000-07:00

Well, when it rains, it certainly pours.

Just when I thought I was back on track with the running...

I found a small lump in my breast Monday.

The ultrasound yesterday revealed that it's indeed an oval shaped mass, and I'm getting it biopsied on Friday. If anyone out there has ever had an ultrasound, you'll know what I mean when I say it's ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING to see an abnormality on the screen because it's magnified. My 1cm lump looked like a gaping black hole silver dollar on my chest. Needless to say, I kind of freaked out at the doctor's office.

The good news? The doctor said that it's more likely than not a fibroadenoma--a non-cancerous, non life threatening growth that is very common with women my age. The biopsy Friday will show for certain. I'm pretty scared, though.

I know that I've been great about making this blog strictly about running, and none of my other life issues, but this is a pretty major health scare...I can't let my mind go where it tends to go when I have to fill in the blanks. I am trying to focus on the present, and embrace not knowing right now.

The biopsy is going to effect my long run this weekend. The doctor said I should avoid any strenuous activity through Sunday to which I asked, "So, I guess running 24 miles on Sunday would be considered strenuous?" to which he replied, "Ummm....yeah." Haha--I'm so witty.

So, I'm going to continue with my training runs this week, and hopefully I'll be able to make up my long run next weekend in Ottawa. I feel deflated by this news. Trying to remain strong and keep on running no matter what.

I always sort of smiled and nodded when people told me to do monthly breast exams, always sort of thinking, "Yeah, I'll do it when I have the time..." Finding this lump has been scary, but I can't stress enough how important I believe self exams are now. I'm not saying that every woman should now immediately check their breasts, but this experience has really woken me up to the realities of my health and my life and the importance of knowing what's going on with my body.

I truly hope everyone is doing well, running strong, and feeling great. I'll keep everyone posted on the results.

Mondays...grrrr

2008-09-08T07:39:00.000-07:00

I have been having stomach issues the past couple of days. I attempted to run yesterday for 6 miles on the treadmill and barely made two before calling it quits and falling asleep around 8PM. Wondering if it's a bug, or if I'm just plain lazy.

The Biz Johnson Trail Marathon is fast approaching, and I have another 24 mile training run to pull off on Sunday before I start tapering down for October 12th.

I'm slightly nervous about this long training run, for some reason. I haven't been feeling my peppiest the past couple of days, and my feet still ache a bit from the last 24 miler I did nearly a month ago. By now, I know this is all part of the territory, but I still hate feeling low energy.

Plan for this week:

1. DISCIPLINED TRAINING!! I will whine and bitch, but tonight I will run the God-forsaken treadmill for a good tempo run.

2. DIET: I won't eat foods that are crap for me. Sorry, Ben and Jerry.

3. HYDRATION: When in doubt, drink more water.

4. SLEEP: Insominia has been an on-going issue for me for about 5 years. I think this week is the time for me to finally "talk to my doctor about Ambien".

Hopefully, if I stick to this schedule, I will pull this Sunday run off, and feel even more psyched for the marathon. We'll see!

I'm Back...Yes, I know it's been a while

2008-09-04T05:28:00.000-07:00

I'm not exactly sure why I ceased writing the last couple of months. I think it was right about the time that I had to do my first significant run on my own. The distance was 12 miles. It was hot. I'm skipping so many details about this run, but the bottom line was I got lost on a deserted road somewhere close to a really seedy area and ended up running 15 miles instead of 12. The longest I'd ever run before that was 7 mils. Besides being really pissed, and somewhat concerned for my safety (a woman jogger alone running along the LA River where I'm sure bodies are dumped), my knee issues flared back up, and I had pretty much reconciled myself to the fact that the marathon was a pipe dream--I'd stick to 5Ks.

I suppose you could say my spirit was a bit broken after that run.

That being said, it was always in the back of my mind that I would somehow find a way to pull through and make it to the run on October 12th.

And somehow, this tiny little seed of a thought must have cosmically attracted me a running buddy!

I realize this next paragraph is going to come out sounding like a Match.com "connection" description.

My new best running buddy Meghan and I were introduced to each other by a friend, and immediately bonded over the topic of running. She was a track runner in high school and college, and was great and short distance sprints, but never had attempted a marathon. I explained to her my pipe dreams of running a marathon, and she said, "If you ever need a running buddy on your long runs..." Coincidentally, we live on the same street! Little did she know what she was getting herself into.

What started out as one 8 mile Saturday run about a month and a half ago has blossomed into a full blown running partnership. She even signed up to run the marathon with me in October!

I never fully understood the power of the running buddy until I met Meghan. Every time that I have dragged my ass out of bed at 5AM on a Saturday the past couple of months to do a long run, the fact that Meghan is right there with me has truly been the reason I have kept going. I think we both got each other over the fear of whether or not we were physically and mentally going to be able to endure a marathon.

Two weeks ago, we ran 24 miles. 24 MILES! I wanted to blog about it, but I also felt strange coming back to this blog after my two month "Silento Period" announcing I had just run that distance.

Yesterday was a 5 mile run I call Beautiful Beachwood. I ran it in 48 minutes, and there are some major hills, so I felt great that I was able to make that kind of time. Also, my knee issues have been so great the last couple of months. However, that being said, I bought some new running shoes (Mizumis?) and the orthotics aren't fitting in them as well as I hoped which is causing foot pain. I think I'm going back to my Nikes.

My mentality about running has shifted completely over the past 6 months. I can truly say this now...it really isn't about speed for me anymore, but about physical enjoyment, and feeling great after a run. I never understood how you could get faster midway through a run until I discovered what it feels like to have your muscles warm up--the first 2 miles are always the worst!

As soon as I took my eye off the time, I got faster. As soon as I accepted that I needed company on the long runs, I found a running partner. Such is the way of the universe.

Orthotics = Miracle

2008-06-28T09:53:00.000-07:00

Hollywood Loop
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So, I'd like to take a moment and thank whoever invented the custom made orthotic shoe inserts. It is unreal to me what a COMPLETE difference they have made in my running. I have no more knee pain at all. Truly, it's a completely different running experience.

I've also found a running buddy, Meghan, who lives on my street and loves distance running. SCORE! I will also note that although running is for the most part a solo sport, it helps immensely to have a partner by your side on mile 7 of 8.

Meghan and I just came back from a fantastic 8 mile run which I like to call The Hollywood Loop. It takes you through some very quaint residential neighborhoods, and also right through the heart of Hollywood and Highland where there are some interesting characters, even at 9AM on a weekend morning.

Till soon!

A Month of Knee

2008-06-25T16:55:00.000-07:00

Well, never in a million years did I ever think that I would be a slave to my knee, and sure enough...it happened. All of my bitching and moaning last month manifested into a real problem in which I was basically sidelined with knee pain. I got very disheartened with running. I couldn't run more than 2 miles without a dull ache in my right knee, and, as can be seen by my lengthy hiatus from the blog, I began to give up. Thankfully, a pair of custom made orthotics has seemed to turn my pain around for the time being. I ran 4 miles today (slowly, but I did it...)and there was no pain at all. Could shoe inserts really have been all I needed? Shit!

I'm back, and hopefully ready to ease into longer distances.

I never really imagined how challenging it would be to train, and I think my biggest mistake--listen up all you new runners--was trying to meet a time goal for my first marathon. I know, I know...everyone told me not to aim for a time, and I didn't listen, and I pushed too hard, and trust me, I've been put in my place! No more 3:40 marathon goal times for me! I'm gonna push to my limit just to finish this thing.

Sorry I've been MIA.

DAY FORTY-SIX: All the way up Franklin

2008-05-16T07:24:00.000-07:00

All The Way Up Franklin
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For those of you unfamiliar with the LA/Hollywood area, Franklin is a long street at the base of the Hollywood Hills that goes from the epicenter of Hollywood, all the way up to the beautiful homes in the Los Feliz area. Rarely have I ventured east of Hillhurst, but this morning, I decided to run Franklin until it dead ended.

The hills were a bit brutal at times, but the neighborhood is so lovely, and there's a little bridge you cross at one point called the Shakespeare Bridge. Quite pretty!

Overall, the run was good. My knee was behaving for the most part, except for certain times when I would try to push too fast, or I would land on it the wrong way and feel a nasty jolt of pain. I'll keep taking it slow and see what comes of it.

DAY FORTY FIVE--Does shopping count as cross training?

2008-05-15T22:06:00.000-07:00

I'll have you know, hangers are really heavy. And all that walking from store to store has me beat.

Tomorrow is a "Force myself to the gym and run an hour" sort of day. Wish me luck. Argh! I hate waking up early to exercise! I don't think I'll ever get used to it.

DAY FORTY FOUR--Knee Has Been Made My Bitch

2008-05-15T07:11:00.000-07:00

Okay...so maybe I went a little bit over the top on the headline of this post, and I'll probably kick myself later for being so cocky, but yesterday's workout was exciting! Knee problems seem to have subsided a bit! I noticed in the morning that my knee didn't hurt at all, especially when I was walking down stairs, which is when I could normally really feel the ache.

I decided to press my luck for two miles on the treadmill, and I didn't experience any of the aches I had on Monday. I ran about half a mile at a 9:30 pace which was impossible on Monday. I decided not to overdo it, so I ended up doing Stairmaster for anoher 20 minutes after the 2 mile run. Stairmaster is not for sissies...man oh man, my heart rate was up.

Workout yesterday felt GREAT. I have been taking glucosamine and something else called hyaluronic acid, both of which are supposed to help with joint pain. "Hyaluronic acid" sounds kind of scary, but the advisor at my health food store where I bought it said that it's supposed to work wonders on your tissues. He said that scientists were looking to find a reason why many Asian women look young and radiant into their 80s, and that they ended up discovering that a native plant they ate had a very high content of hyaluronic acid in it. So...here's to looking swell when I'm 80, and having good tissue.

On another exciting news front: I'm going to Hawaii for--get this--A VACATION next week! It's been a year since I have had anything remotely resembling a vacation. So, Thursday-Tuesday I will be sipping mai tais in tropical bliss and doing training runs on the beach. I'll be sure to take tons of pictures!

DAY FORTY-THREE: Recaps and Knee Caps

2008-05-13T06:57:00.000-07:00

Well, for those of you who just joined, or who may be catching up, lots and nothing has happened in this last week. I think I've done something to my right knee...I saw an orthopedist yesterday who said my arch is funky, which may be contributing to this problem, but ever since a couple of weaks ago, there is a nagging pain in my right knee. The X-ray showed nothing, though. Sometimes the pain will go away during a run, but it comes back if I land on it the wrong way.

I'm all for metaphors, so I'll throw this one at you: along with being "shut down" by Blogger this past week, I've also shut down a bit on my training. I'm frustrated. I know that my knee would benefit from a month's rest, but that would seriously effect my training. So...I'm not sure what to do.

I'm getting fit for orthotic shoe inserts today, and we'll see if that helps any. I've also been taking glucosamine. Yesterday I attempted my longest run yet in this training process--7 miles. I had been going to the gym and doing cardio, but no runs all last week, so my fingers were crossed that the knee would be healed. Not the case. Within one mile, the pain had started. I discovered, however, that if I ran no faster than a 5.6 pace, I would be fine. SOUND EFFECT of a toilet flushing my 3:40 marathon away.

This is so frustrating to me on many levels. 1. I want to challenge myself in the speed department, and be getting faster, not slower. 2. My cardio power is WAY up. I barely broke a sweat on this run, and every other aspect of my body other than my right knee felt like a million bucks. If I don't feel like I'm able to run faster, I fear I'll be bored.

So. I dunno. I'm going to attempt running again today, and then once I get my new arch inserts, maybe that will help. Just feeling frustrated because I actually was seeing such a huge positive impact on all of this training, and now I feel like I'm backsliding.

Blogger Shut Me Down

2008-05-12T13:26:00.001-07:00

Well, apologies for the lack of posting this past week. I logged onto the blog about 5 days ago, and they had shut me down citing that my blog had been identified as "spam". Fortunately, the problem seems to be resolved, but I suppose many of you may have given up reading. Grr.

Current mood: annoyed with Blogger.

DAY THIRTY-FIVE: 5.7K run?? and Sunday Stats

2008-05-04T13:57:00.000-07:00

Well, I woke up early, ate a light yet satifsying breafast, popped some glucosamine pills and a Motrin, was out the door by 5:45, registered by 6:30, and warmed up, stretched, and strapped on some knee bands, by the time to horn sounded for the race to begin at 7:30AM, sharp. Let me tell you. It was GREAT. I was prepped. Ready to go. Steadily (and stealthily, may I add...) keeping up with the 8 minute per mile pace runner.

By the time I'd hit mile 2, I had clocked about 16 minutes. Only issues were a nagging ache in my knee for the first half a mile, which went away, and also a really surreal light headed feeling after mile 1 which went away immediately after I turned off my iPod. Strange. I don't think running with music works too well for me.

ANYHOW. I was kicking ass and taking names on that course. Feeling good. I glanced at my watch, and noticed that 10 minutes had passed since mile two, and there was still no mile 3 marker in sight. Others appeared confused as well. OOPS. Turns out the freaking race "forgot" to put a mile 3 marker OR a turnaround point for the 5K runners, and we ended up running 3/4 of a mile more than we should have. There were some pretty pissed runners, let me tell ya!

So long story short, I finished 3.8 miles in 31 minutes, which Map My Run has calculated as an 8:04/mile. So...Can I "estimate" and say I ran this 5K between 24 and 25 minutes?

Any way I look at it, I totally schooled my last time of 28:18, I just wish I'd had a more official time to boast about. Ah, well...there will be others!

WEEK 5 STATS

Weight: 121.4
Body Fat: 20.3%
H20: 58.2%

as compared to...

WEEK 1 STATS:

Weight: 118.6
Body Fat: 22.3%
H20: 56.7%

Gained almost 3 pounds, but lost 2% body fat! Interesting!

4 Week Check In

2008-05-03T07:38:00.001-07:00

Well, I've made it a little over 4 weeks on this journey of mine. What an interesting time it's been. In my first entry, I mused about why I wanted to run a marathon, saying "Perhaps I will have something that will break me down, and build me up again." The more I've been training, the more I'm realizing that maybe it isn't the marathon that breaks you down and builds you up again...it's the process of training that does that. Will running a marathon be tough? No doubt it will be...but sticking with the training will prove to be the toughest challenge of all.

There have been a few moments during this month where I have noticed myself slipping dangerously close to my old patterns of quitting. Usually, it's at a time when other aspects of my life begin to feel completely overwhelming. In a way, the mental pull towards sidelining it has been almost stronger than a physical urge to quit running. The good news is that my body has begun to feel so great from all of the exercise, that it is dwarfing my occasional mental urges to throw in the towel.

So, word on the street is, I will keep running. Today is my rest day before another 5K race tomorrow which I'm incredibly excited about. My dad will be there at the finish line taking pictures, so expect another sweaty gross pic of me in a couple of days!

DAY THIRTY-THREE: Keepin' It Fresh

2008-05-02T19:05:00.000-07:00

Drove right by the gym after work today because I forgot to pack my gym bag, and so rather than drive all the way back to the gym in horrible traffic, I decided to get dressed at home, jog to the gym, do another 20 minutes on the treadmill, and jog back home. Grand total, I went about 5 miles (a bit over 2 miles on the treadmill, and 1.5 miles each way to and from the gym.)

Note to self: I really enjoyed the jog to the gym! It was a nice warm up, and it saved me $1.50 in parking fees.

This Sunday I race the Heal the Bay 5K in gorgeous Santa Monica. I can't wait!! Time to beat is 28:18...I'm nervous I won't hit it, simply because of this week's knee issues and illness has messed up my training a bit, but I am preparing mentally for the challenge, and I know I will be doing some things differently (hydrating more the day before, and doing a warm up run before the 5K). We'll see!

Tomorrow is rest day.

DAY THIRTY-TWO: Land of the Living...I think

2008-05-02T06:46:00.000-07:00

I forced myself back into the land of the living yesterday (Thursday). Along with my extremely painful knee condition which lasted from Sunday through Tuesday, I also contracted plane germs on the way home from Toronto, which left me with a horrible cold and dry cough, sapping me of my energy. This is also compounded with the fact that my desk at work looks like a paper bomb went off on it, and I haven't answered emails from 2 weeks ago.

But just when you thought all I was was another hopeless running blogger who finally ran out of steam for her little marathon pipe dreams, here I am. Back for more. I got home at 6:30 yesterday, and by 6:45, I was out the door running my Beautiful Beachwood loop. I was still not 100% better from my cold, but I knew that if I didn't run that night, I'd lose much more strength.

At first, I didn't want to push it too hard, and thought I would only run the 1.5 miles up Beachwood and thn turn around. By I kept pushing through, and by half way in, I got that feeling again--the feeling of your body being on auto pilot...no pain, no thought, and the urge to go even faster. It is such an amazing feeling!!

I wore the knee band around my right knee this time. It felt a little funky when I first started running, and I felt a soreness, but it went away after the first mile, and is feeling fine now. I think it was wise not to run on it for a couple of days.

They say that running clears your head...In one sense, I agree. There were moments of pure "non-thinking" for me on this run last night. On the other hand, there were moments when I was very concious of my thinking--I was trying to process my day, my week, bigger things in my life, all of the stuff I usually think about, but for whatever reason, running took the edge off of all of those things last night. It was like a pressure valve was being released at the same moment I was thinking, unlike what happens when I sit in my home and think on my own. When I run, my thoughts can't get too far away from me. If they do, the focus is always brough back to the present tense. Feet on the road, breath, and the sights and sounds of the day.

DAY THIRTY-ONE: Still Sick

2008-05-02T06:45:00.000-07:00

DAY THIRTY--Sick

2008-05-02T06:44:00.000-07:00

Chest cold, and sinus infection.

DAY TWENTY-NINE: Swimming Mondays, Orthopedist Appointment, and Exhausted

2008-04-28T22:23:00.000-07:00

I am coming down with a pretty bad cold, I think, but I nonetheless forced myself to the gym this evening to do my requisite laps (actually, Ian wouldn't let me off the hook about heading to the gym at 9PM this evening despite my whining--thank God he nagged me). This time, I upped the # of lengths I swam to 30, which I completed in around 25 minutes. I notice improvement! Where I once could barely do two laps without pausing for breath, I can now do four laps, and I'm swimming faster, too!

Unfortunately, I really (really) should have stopped running yesterday around mile 4, because my right knee was still bothering me considerably this morning. I found an orthopedist online who has some great credentials, and is in my area, and booked an appointment with him for Thursday. of course, since I've done this, my knee is miraculously "better", but I'm still keeping the appointment.

We're having a record heat wave in LA right now. It feels more like August than April. The last few days of exercise have felt a bit muddled to me...hard to explain, but the days are sort of all blending together. However, that being said, there are tiny moments during these exercise sessions that I truly feel ALIVE in a way that I haven't felt in a long time, and I can really sense a tangible change in my body.

DAY TWENTY-EIGHT--Stats, Treadmill Hills, and the Knee's Got Issues

2008-04-27T14:40:00.000-07:00

This was the day of my long run, and "Hill Hell"...the blister problem was under control, so I was looking forward to the run. There is a record heat wave going on in So. Cal, and it was well into the 90s by the time I was going to run this afternoon. I decided to hit the treadmill.

Target goal was 7-8 hills, and a total of 7 miles. I began with a 6.0 warm up for a mile, and then I ran 5 hills at a 3.0 incline at a 6.8 pace. Heart rate was maxing, but I actually felt good. That put me at 3 miles. Then I ran 5/1 intervals at a 6.8 pace for another three miles. Unfortunately, by mile 6, my right knee was experincing sharp pain that went all the way don to the arch of my foot. YIKES. The bummer was, I really felt great otherwise. my heart rate was calm, I was the right amount of sweaty, and I felt like I could run 5 more miles if I needed to. It's just my damn knee!! It's still very sore, and I am going to ice and elevate it right now...Stupid knee issues!

Lesson learned: I need to ALWAYS run with a knee band. Also, I think the hill intervals really are kicking my ass, and I'm going to need to strengthen my thigh muscles much more this week. Tomorrow is a swim day, so no stress on my joints.

Due to the Canada trip, I skipped Week 3 Stats, but here we go for Week 4.

WEEK FOUR STATS:

Weight: 121.0
Body Fat: 20.9%
H2O: 57.7%

WEEK ONE STATS:
Weight: 118.6
Body Fat: 22.3%
H2O: 56.7%

DAY TWENTY-SEVEN: Beach Run and Toe Blisters!

2008-04-27T14:31:00.000-07:00

Went for a five mile shoreline run in El Segundo with Ian yesterday (see pic above for exact location!). It was such a PERFECT day, and it felt great to run on the shoreline by the water, and in the sand. Good news is, my knees and legs felt amazing. Bad news is, we decided it would be fun to run barefoot, and by the end of the run, I noticed that both of my big toes felt "weird". Upon closer examination...two nickel-sized blisters about half an inch in out from my foot had formed. OUCH!

Was it silly of me to run barefoot? Perhaps...it just seemed so free and "summery", I had to attempt, but never again.

I performed very "high tech" surgery on the blisters last night using a sterilized needle, lots of rubbing alcohol, Neosporin, and cotton swabs. Miraculously, they were pretty much completely healed by this morning.

DAY TWENTY SIX-- Creeeeak

2008-04-25T11:42:00.000-07:00

That was the sound my joints made today on the treadmill as I got up at 6AM to run at the new hotel I'm staying at in Toronto. Three days of no exercise, and man, did my legs feel it. I felt a HUGE setback this morning. I ran 2 miles before calling it quits. The Gladiator Days of last week felt quite far away.

But as I said in my previous post, I am not going to spend a whole lot of time worrying about it right now. I will get back on track this weekend when I'm back in LA.

Lesson be learned: It doesn't take a whole lot of time to undo progress when it comes to running!

DAYS TWENTY THREE- TWENTY FIVE: Yikes.

2008-04-25T11:40:00.000-07:00

Running or exercise did not happen these days. I am too tired from all of the business travel to feel bad about it. I'm working hard, and sometimes, it's better not to beat myself up.

HOWEVER--I will say...

DAY TWENTY-TWO--Lost Lagoon Loop

2008-04-21T17:17:00.000-07:00

Lost Lagoon in Vancouver
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Well, they don't make jogs like these in LA, let me tell ya. I pushed myself out the hotel door and did this short little 3.5 mile run, but it really felt good to get out. The scenery around the lagoon was spectacular, and the weather was cool and overcast (around 50 degrees, and crisp.) The weather reminded me of spring in Boston.

Business trips are always tiring, but I'm actually looking forward to discovering more of Vancouver and Toronto by running these cities.

DAY TWENTY-ONE--Useless. And I hate hills.

2008-04-20T20:29:00.000-07:00

I don't quite know what it was about today, but the lethargy I felt was unbelievable. I have a feeling there were a few components to it, one being my drinking the night before. I didn't wake up with a hangover, but things took a while to get started this morning. I just wasn't up for moving out of bed. Also, I certianly know I wasn't hydrated enough before my run this afternoon, nor did I eat enough to fuel me along the way.

Truth be told, I detested my run today, and the way I felt during it. I thought it might pep me up, or put me in a happier mood, but on the way up those hills, I felt beat down, and I really felt bad that I didn't take this training session more seriously by preparing better for it. My total mileage should have been at 6 today, and instead, I barely made 3.

If anything, today taught me that I'm going to need to focus a whole lot better the night before for these runs. Although Saturday is my "free" day, I cannot let myself off the hook with hydrating, rest, and plenty of good food the night before a big run.

I'm heading off to Vancouver and Toronto on business for a week tomorrow, so forgive me if the blog is a bit sporadic for a couple of days. I will try and keep writing while there. The hotels I'm at have a gym, so I will be able to get my runs in, and I also may use Map My Run to find a good loop around Vancouver.

DAY TWENTY--REST DAY

2008-04-20T20:28:00.000-07:00

I'm positing this on Sunday, although rest day was yesterday. This weekend's kind of been a blur. Stayed out late last night, drank too much, and...

P.S.: Apparently my lips grow 5 sizes when I race

2008-04-18T20:34:00.000-07:00

The pics from my Victory for Victims race finally came in today. You may ask, "Is she running out of the plastic surgery clinic after recieving expensive fat injections in her lips?" No, you silly geese. I was on Mile 3, rounding the bend to the finish. This might be my most unflattering pic of me ever. But I have no shame. And so I post :)

DAY NINETEEN--Things are better on the ole tread

2008-04-18T20:20:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm pleased to report that although I wasn't able to reach that lovey dovey high of Tuesday on Mr. Treadmill, my run today was MUCH BETTER in comparisson to yesterday's run. I averaged a 9:37 mile, and this was after I spent 10 minutes warming up at a 6.0 pace.

Lessons I've learned the past few days:

1. Some runs will be good, some will be bad, but Kanye West's "Stronger" is possibly the best pick me up song ever.

2. Warm ups are ESSENTIAL. Easing myself into the 6.8/6.9 pace after warming up was not such a shock to my system.

3. Guys who get on the treadmill next to you and then decide to release not one, not two, but THREE silent but deadly farts do not deserve a gym membership.

Another bonus: For the first time in three weeks, I didn't run with my knee band, and my knee does't hurt!! Perhaps my thigh muscles are getting a bit stronger. Also, I've looked back at my stas, and it appears as though I've trimmed a full miute per mile from my time compared to my first run. SCORE!

Thoughts on Boston

2008-04-18T06:58:00.000-07:00

With Marathon Monday fast approaching, I wanted to send out some well-wishes to all who are running it this year--the qualifiers and the Bandits who make the race so incredibly fun to watch.

I grew up in the San Fernando Valley, right outside of Los Angeles, but in 1998, I left all that was warm, sunny, and familiar to head to Boston University. The years I spent there were intense--I came there knowing no one, and it seemed like just about the time I was getting used to living there, I was graduating. There's something about the city of Boston that seeps into you...it's a collective energy that is found in the old pubs, the breeze along the Charles River, the stone churches, the universities, the spring bulbs that miraculously appear on the first warm day, and yes, the drunken, cheering college students who line the streets on Marathon Monday. The marathon goes right through Commonwealth Avenue, which is where BU is located. On April 21, Boston will be alive with a palpable buzz in the air, and, of course, about 90% of Boston's residents will BE buzzed.

I became sort of indoctrinated into the Boston culture in a "sink or swim" kind of way, but I never felt like it was "my city". There is something tough and gritty about Boston that I never could quite absorb and call my own. Here I was, a laid back Californian surviving my first blizzard in -20 wind chill. Here I was, a waitress at Pizzeria Unos, Kenmore Square, trying to understand what a customer meant when he wanted "tata saas". He wanted "tartar sauce".

In 2002, I went back to Boston for a visit which coincided with Marathon Day, as well as a Red Sox/Yankee game which Boston won. It was total, utter chaos. The streets were packed. I've never been to Mardi Gras, but I imagine the scene that day in Boston was close. I was in a drunken haze, and it was hot as hell. People were celebrating, but, like much of my college years there, I felt like I was watching it all through a window, or on a movie screen. I could never fully embrace this world as a place I fit in.

This morning, I made up my mind: the next time I go back to Boston, I want it to be because I have qualified for the marathon. Perhaps then I may feel a little closer to a city that played such a huge part of my life.

Boston was tough for me in many ways, but worth the experience--like the marathon itself, I suppose.

DAY EIGHTEEN--Runnin' With the Devil

2008-04-17T21:09:00.000-07:00

Well, I went from "best treadmill run ever" on Tuesday, to "treadmill run sponored by Satan" tonight. It was like pulling teeth to keep going today. I know there's such thing as a "runner's high", but is there such thing as "runner's low"? Today was a short run day, only 30 minutes, and perhaps I just never really allowed myself a chance to warm up into it. Although quite frankly, from start to finish I could not WAIT to be done. Screw warming up into anything, get me off this freaking conveyor belt from hell.

The irony is, I ran the fastest mile I've ever run (besides my 5K), at 3.2 miles in 30 minutes, averaging 9:22/mile. I was doing 5/1 run/walk cycles, and cruising (or, in my case today, flopping around gracelessly) at 6.8 or 6.9 miles per hour on every run cycle. That's pretty fast. Gotta go even faster to qualify for Boston.

In retrospect, I should have started off slower, and kicked it up at the end. Maybe it wouldn't have been such a shock to my system. I never really recovered from starting out too fast. Lesson be learned!

Ahhh, tomorrow, tomorrow, I fear you tomorrow...another 1 hour training run.

Let's all take a moment and appreciate a band that contributed to the hairspray industry, and who now encapsulates the general vibe of my run today:

"I found the simple life, aint so simple, no
When I jumped out, on that road.
Got no love, no love youd call real
Got nobody waiting at home

Runnin with the devil
Runnin with the devil"

DAY SEVENTEEN--A total wash. Damn you, insomnia

2008-04-16T23:49:00.001-07:00

So, I got into work at 8:30AM, and didn't get home until now. 11:51...

I wasn't going to blog tonight, simply because I have nothing but excuses to report, but I forced myself back to this computer, although I'm in a foul mood. Also, I've been staring at a computer ALL DAY. Work has been tough.

I could have woken up early and run my 20 minutes, but I didn't. I packed a gym bag this morning and told myself I would go to the gym after my writer meeting this evening. Yeah, right.

Lesson be learned. I need a definite time I am going to exercise, and I must mentally prep for it the night before. Tomorrow is supposed to be a cross train day, but I am going to do a hard 20 minute treadmill run as well. When to do it...I will do it in the morning before work to get it over with, and I will take some Tylenol PM tonight so I can get some goddamn sleep.

Sorry...I'm generally annoyed right now. Insomnia is bothering me. No matter how hard I exercise, I get 4 hours per night unless I take pills. Pisses me off. Also, I'm pissed I didn't exercise today. And I'm pissed I had to spend 30 miutes online just now trying to register an account so I could pay a damn bill just now. I'm really tired.

DAY SIXTEEN--Treadmill Update

2008-04-15T09:55:00.000-07:00

Never EVER in a million years thought that I would say this, but this morning, I finally felt what it's like to be completely in tune with my body. I feel like a well oiled machine. I actually felt what it was like to enjoy running, and it's so exciting to me! I was monitoring my breathing, my heart rate, the way my legs felt...it's kind of hard to describe, but things felt good. I had no headphones on, and I actually found that it helped me reach a place of inner strength much better.

I ran 5.1 miles in 49 minutes, which averages to about a 9 minute mile. I discovered that my heart rate maxes at 6.8 mph, and I am hoping that I can build up from there.

There was a point during my run where, for about 30 terrific seconds, my mind was completely and utterly focused on the present, and I felt so great and relaxed as I ran. I am craving that feeling again. I can tell why running can become addictive.

Another positive is that my joints, knees, legs, back, etc. feel GREAT. No aches, no pains. What a fantastic run today.

On a side note, I discovered "A Marathon of Misadventures" Blog today. As it turns out, Adam in Illinois is trying a similar experiment to me, and is running the Chicago Marathon the same day that I am running Bizz Johnson!

DAY SIXTEEN--Tuesday Stats and treadmill run

2008-04-15T05:32:00.000-07:00

WEEK THREE STATS:

Weight: 119.8
Body Fat: 21.7
H2O: 57.1

WEEK ONE STATS:

Weight:118.6
Body Fat: 22.3
H20:56.7

Not like I'm trying to do this to lose weight or anything, but it's clear compared to last week's stats that I'm gaining poundage here. Of PURE MUSCLE!

This morning I am dragging myself to the gym to do a 50 minute treadmill run. I will try and average a 9 minute mile, but it may be tough. Gotta watch out for my knee! Yuck. I really don't want to go to the gym right now...

DAY FIFTEEN--Swam 22 laps.

2008-04-14T22:07:00.001-07:00

Wish I could say I did it with a smile on my face, like this kid, but I was not thrilled to be there. It was tough as all hell to motivate myself to go to the gym tonight. A dear friend helped motivate me. Surprisingly, the swim took only 20 minutes. I thought it would be longer. Next swim, I will add 4 laps on, until one day I will swim 66, and that will equal a mile.

I must say, however, that I checked myself out in a bathing suit before jumping into the pool and I looked pretty damn good. My body is feeling nice.

Tomorrow is a one hour run. Gym, or Map My Run? We'll see how inspired I feel.

Two Week "Take a Moment"

2008-04-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

It's still fairly dark outside, but the sky is a deep, cornflower blue, and the birds are all chirping, preparing for the sun.

I've made it through two full weeks of training, and I am proud of myself. All that I am doing is surely having a long-term effect...I wish I could see the aerial view of it all right now, but everything is so new that I find myself only being to focus on things as they unfold, one day at a time. My constant wonderment about this process makes me hope that crossing the finish line at the marathon will be like witnessing a cumulative miracle.

I swore up and down that I wouldn't make this blog about anything but training--I plan to stick to this agreement, but this morning, I must admit, other things besides running have been on my mind.

So I just wanted to take a moment to appreciate the absolute stillness of my apartment. The sound my keyboard makes as I type away in this cozy little office of mine, and the sounds of the world waking up--faint, and cool, but prepared for some heat today. I have begun to realize that two weeks is a very manageable time for me to use as a frame of reference. A lot of change can happen in two weeks, and the last two, for me, have set my life in a positive direction. Running that 5K knowing ultimately that I had set the ball in motion to be there was empowering. No one could take that away from me. I was amongst others, but ultimately, we were each on our own, fighting for our place.

In running this marathon, I think I'm searching to find my place. Something--a number, or a time--that qualifies me. I don't know how healthy it is to run and train in this fashion...I wish I could say I'm doing it for inner peace, or because I love running...maybe my mentality will change. Maybe, feeling "qualified" is my inner peace. Mostly, I am enjoying the thought that I am fully responsible for achieving this goal. If I make it, the effort and reward is 100% mine. I do not have to share this.

DAY FOURTEEN--First 5K, Victory for Victims

2008-04-13T19:15:00.000-07:00

Well, today was the day I raced in my first 5K...and what a day to do it. It was near record high temperatures in Encino, CA, edging up to the low to mid 80s by 9AM when the run started. I never imagined how tough the blazing sun in your face can feel after mile 2. Only mile 2!!! Yes, Mile 2 of this race was tough. I think I started out a little bit faster than I should of, and I could feel my energy reserves depleting by then. A well place water station helped me through.

When all was said and done, I finished in 28:18.4--not bad for a newbie, and I placed 4th in the 25-29 age group! I know I should be happy with this time, but I checked my marathon training book, and it looks like I'm going to have to pick up the pace if I want to run a 3:40 marathon. I need to run a 5K in 22 minutes... So, lets see here. I basically need to shave off 2 minutes per mile from my run speed in 6 months. Pshh. Is that all? Right...

One kind of big concern was that I noticed that my stupid left knee started hurting a bit around mile 2.5. Being the competitor I am, I think I was pushing myself pretty hard. More quad exercises during X-Training day tomorrow.

Sensory memories from the run: lots of dust from the trail, packed in with hundreds and hundreds of other people. Feeling that rush of adrenaline when the horn blew to signify the start. Burning in my legs...feeling absolutely drained of energy at one point, but forcing myself onward. "Jump" by Van Halen got my spirits up. And then I remember that sprint to the finish. In retrospect, I feel like I could have run just a little bit harder as I rounded that bend...

I am looking forward to my next 5K! I can see where people can get addicted to these things. In three weeks, I will be racing in Santa Monica for the Heal the Bay 5K Should be a LOT cooler over by the beach, and I'm really looking forward to seeing my time improve!

DAY THIRTEEN--REST. And Holy crap. I made it two weeks.

2008-04-12T15:30:00.000-07:00

Well, today is rest day. I'm incredibly happy that it's a rest day since we seem to be having a heat wave here in Southern California. Temps are in the upper 80s, low 90s today. I will need to start exercising early in the morning, or a the gym if this heat keeps up (which, seeing as though we're heading to summer, it will.)

Tomorrow is my first 5K race (ever!) over at Lake Balboa. It's the Victory For Victims CASE race. 3.1 miles, and then I'll do another two or three to complete my training for tomorrow.

I'm excited to race, and see what my time will be like. Goal is to finish in 27 minutes or less. We'll see....I have a feeling that's going to be MIGHTY ambitious.

Tonight I will make an iPod mix for race day. 6:30AM is call time. Wish me luck!

DAY TWELVE--Beautiful Beachwood Loop Again

2008-04-12T15:28:00.000-07:00

It was in the upper 80s on my run...felt extremely drained and exhausted on the way up Beachwood. Fortunately, I was running with Ian, and we kept each other in check with conversation and encouraging high fives every once in a while. He was wow-ed by the spectacular views up at the top of the Hollywood Hills. It's amazing how high we climbed without even knowing it.

DAY ELEVEN--Zzzzzzzzz

2008-04-10T12:37:00.000-07:00

So, technically, today is supposed to be my cross training day, but I feel like I got in some good strength work outs yesterday, and frankly, my body is so damn tired right now. Must conserve energy for my 60 minute run tomorrow. Ugh! It's tough to keep up, but I'm definitely feeling a change in my body!

DAY 10--Treadmill and Strength Training

2008-04-10T12:35:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I did a tough treadmill run. I'm a bit disappointed because I was only averaging a 10 minute mile. I feel like it should be easier for me to go faster...must pace myself, pace myself.

Afterwards, I did leg and calf exercises, 200 crunches, and pull ups.

I was beat by the end of the day.

DAY NINE--Franklin to Hillhurst and NEW STATS

2008-04-08T08:26:00.001-07:00

Franklin to Hillhurst
Find more Runs in Los Angeles, California
45 minute run around the neighborhood, ran around a 10 minute mile. I need to get a watch so I can keep track of my pace a little bit better.

Also, it's time for Tuesday stats! I hven't stepped on a scale since last Tuesday, so please hold while I go do that now.

WEEK TWO STATS:
Weight: 119.2
Body Fat: 22.5
H2O: 56.7

WEEK ONE STATS:

Weight:118.6
Body Fat: 22.3
H20:56.7

DAY EIGHT--Swimming laps and stretching

2008-04-07T22:11:00.000-07:00

I'm exhausted tonight. Something about swimming really takes it out of me. I swam 10 laps (20 back and forths) at the gym today, and although I feel like I could probably have pushed myself harder, I'm glad it was kind of an easy day for me. I read that there are about 35 laps in a mile. That will be a goal I'll work up to.

Wish I could write more, but I want to go to sleep. Must wake up early tomorrow morning and go running for 40 minutes. I may do Beautiful Beachwood again because I know the route, but I will try to run it a bit faster this time.

DAY SEVEN--Western Loop and Hill Play

2008-04-06T11:56:00.000-07:00

&amp;lt;a href="http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-states/ca/los-angeles/1175092008"&amp;gt;Western Loop&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;br/&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href="http://www.mapmyrun.com/find-run/united-states/ca/los-angeles"&amp;gt;Find more Runs in Los Angeles, California&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;

I wouldn't really call this hill "play"--more like hill "hell", but today was my challenge training run day, and I knew that Western has a killer hill starting at the base of Franklin and then going up about a quarter of a mile, not to mention some really tough climbs when you get up to Los Feliz Blvd. As usual, I started the run grumbling a bit, but by the time I hit Vermont, it was like a switch clicked, and I was enjoying myself. I came back around to Western and even decided to do the Western hill one more time. Kanye West's "Stronger" was playing in the iPod. A GREAT motivational song. Kanye, you're such a badass.

Highlight of the run was passing a gaggle of cute firemen getting coffee over by Birds Cafe. I've been working out for a week now, boys. How'd ya like THEM apples? :)

My confidence level has certainly spiked from where it was nearly 7 days ago. Amazing how that happens.

I'm at home now, still sweaty and tired from the run, eating a banana, sipping on some Gatorade, and feeling good about life.

DAY SIX--Stretches are...delicious?

2008-04-05T10:29:00.000-07:00

Today was technically a "rest day", but since I picked up this handy dandy 2 week unlimitted pass to Yoga Works I decided I'd take a basic level one class and see what that was all about. So, at 8:30AM this morning, a Chinese/Brittish woman named Zhi guided me through some heavy duty stretch exercises. She had that calm, zen-like quality that many yoga gals have--know what I'm talking about? She used words like "delicious" to describe the stretches we were doing. She told us to visualize our dreams. She had a yoga mix tape playing softly in the background. At one point, the Forrest Gump theme song came on (you know, the one playing during the feather part?). Let's all take a moment to laugh it up at a bunch of LA people up at 8:30 in the morning stretching to Forrest Gump.

Yes, I know...many of you may be gagging at my description of my yoga zen master chick, and trust me, I was skeptical at the beginning of class. I've been skeptical about htis whole "marathon thing" to be quite honest. But I gotta admit...she kind of grew on me. By the end of class, not only were my stretches "delicious", they were yummy and scrumptious. The stretches were seriously some of the best I've done. I had no clue how great it feels to hold a stretch pose as long as you can possibly take it, and then have to hold it from there a minute longer. It was a fantastic class.

I

DAY FIVE--Running up Beachwood

2008-04-04T08:52:00.000-07:00

Well, I didn't end up going to yoga yesterday. Couldn't quite move. However, I did take a brisk walk outside, and did a new exercise that I swear will get anyone's thigh muscles feeling like they just chugged hot sauce. I basically started at one end of my block, hands on hips, and did lunging squats all the way up my entire block. My pace was slow...painfully slow... but it makes you focus on every bend in your body, every sore spot, every muscle that hasn't been worked. I'm really trying to strengthen my thigh muscles due to my knee troubles.

Today was a 60 minute run up Beachwood Canyon. It's a steady uphill climb, and I have a 4.5 mile loop I do up in the Hollywood Hills from where I live. Hint: I don't live in the 20 million dollar homes I run by! It was a gorgeous Southern California morning, and the run started off incredibly tough, but got so much better as I progressed.

Beautiful Beachwood
Find more Runs in Los Angeles, California

For those of you interested in trying the loop, start at the base of Franklin Ave. and Beachwood. Run allllllllll the way up the canyon until you can see the street dead end, and what looks like a dirt trail begin. Rather than going up the trail, there is a street called Hollyridge to your right. Make a sharp right turn, and you'll see a hill that you'd rather not run up. Take Hollyridge allllllll the way around (it winds for quite a while--pay attention to street signs--stay on Hollyridge) until you hit a busy street (Bronson). Curve right onto Bronson, and you'll hit Franklin about a quarter of a mile down.

By the way--thank goodness for the knee band. Those things work!! My knee does not feel sore at all after that run.

DAY FOUR--Mr. Iyengar Kicked My Butt

2008-04-03T15:38:00.000-07:00

Well, I took my first Iyengar yoga class at Yoga Works yesterday evening. It had been two years since I'd stretched a muscle, and today my body feels sore in places I never knew existed on my body. But it was a good class. Our instructor practiced "tough love"--she could be a bit of a hard ass, but I liked her. Today I am dragging myself to another yoga class. I think that I need to keep stretching the sore places, lest they stiffen up completely. Today isn't Iyengar, but a YogaWorks yoga class---a combination of styles.

Tomorrow is a 40-60 minute run. I'm a bit nervous about it, given my weird knee issue of a couple of days ago. That being said, I bought new Nikes yesterday at Runnergy. They are Structure Triax 11s. $95. Good for my pronating feet that tend to roll inward when I run, and seem very lightweight. The guy at the store was incredibly helpful in determining what shoe I should get. He also helped me pick out thin socks, and a knee band. Score!

I should also note that I slept from 10:30-12:30 with no aid, and then from 1-5:45 with no aid. Much better than ever before! The yoga could be working.

DAY THREE--Sweet Tylonol PM

2008-04-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

I slept 6 hours last night due to the very pleasant effects of Tylenol PM.

I had set my alarm for 5:15AM so I could do a 6AM yoga class today.

Sleep:1 Me: 0.

There is an 8PM class at Yoga Works which I will attend tonight. I've never been there, but I'm up for trying new things.

My knee was in a ton of pain yesterday. I elevated it and iced it for 15 minutes after work, but this worries me that I'm not even one week through training and it's bugging me. It's the same knee that was giving me problems the first time I trained. Other areas that are sore this morning: hips, Achilles tendon, and a blister on the bottom of my ring toe on my left foot (I'm sensing something isn't right with my form that's making my left side troublesome). When I was 12, I was diagnosed with mild scoliosis--an S Curve in my lumbar region.

My shoes are almost 2 years old, so I'm going to start by getting new ones, getting a knee band, and really taking it easy on my training runs. I'm also taking today and tomorrow off from running.

I've researched places to get running shoes. Phidippides seemed like the place to go, but then I called Runnergy, and spoke to the nicest guy there who seemed really knowledgeable. I bought shoes at Phidippides two years ago, and I remember them being really really crowded, so I think I'm going to give Runnergy a go and see how they are.

DAY TWO: Damn Insomnia

2008-04-01T07:31:00.000-07:00

It is 7:30AM, and I have been up since 2:30AM. The 2:30AM wake up call has been persisting for years. I feel beaten down by this insomnia of mine, and unfortunately, things appear to be getting worse with it and not better. My eyes pop open at almost exactly the same time each night, and my brain whirls for a few hours before falling back to sleep from 5AM to 7AM. I am constantly tired, worn out, and edgy because of this sleep problem. At this point, 6 straight hours of sleep feels like it would be a miracle.

This morning was different in that I had set my alarm for 5:30AM to start my 45 minute training run. I was tempted to allow myself to fall back to sleep at 5AM, but I knew I would never be able to drag myself to the gym if I did that. So I read about speed training and fartleks. I made coffee. And when 6AM hit to head to the gym, I fought HARD to move myself out that damn door. It was cold, I was tired, it was still pitch black outside.

How will I keep this up for 6 months? It truly worries me.

I ran 46 minutes on the treadmill. 4.3 miles. Alternated 4 minutes at 6.5 pace, walked for 1 (sometimes 2) minutes at a 4.3 pace. Within 2 miles, my left knee was bothering me. Great. My shoes are over a year old, so I'm going to buy new ones before the weekend and see if that helps. I hear Phidippides in Encino is good.

I'm not in the best mood...I have a tendency to put a lot of pressure on myself to be the best, and although I've read in a million places not to be concerned with time on my first marathon, I want to run i in 3:40 so I can make Boston. My heart rate was already up to 200 during this run session, and I wasn't even averaging ten minute miles!

Eager to see improvement.

Weekly Check In
Weight: 118.6
Body Fat: 22.3%
H2O: 56.7%

DAY ONE: Bizz Johnson Marathon--it's (gulp)official.

2008-03-31T14:38:00.000-07:00

There are countless reasons that people attempt to run a marathon. Pride, health, a love of running, charity, you name it. Quite honestly, I'm not completely sure why I decided to take on the challenge of the 26.2 miles with such conviction at this point in my life. I always said I would run one by the time I was 25, and then woke up one day and realized somehow, I was 27. Frankly, another reason to run could just be that my ass doesn't look nearly as good in jeans as it did at 22, and that, my friends, depresses me. I'm not exactly the pillar of health, here, but I'm working on it. It also intrigues me to see what it would actually be like to put my body and mind through that kind of a ringer. 26.2 miles...that's a long way to run...

As you may be able to tell, I'm certainly not your model marathon candidate. But something inside has been yearning to use the marathon as a catalyst for change. In training for a marathon, perhaps I'll finally feel what it's like to be "okay" with being alone, and doing something completely on my own. Perhaps I will have something that will break me down, and build me up again. I'm not quite sure what this all means yet, but I have reached a point where I feel like extreme regimen and discipline are what I need. I need to take my life to Marathon Boot Camp.

There's something you should know about me: I'm a quitter. There is absolutely no reason that you should believe me when I say I will run a marathon. About three years ago, I trained with the LA Leggers for the LA Marathon, and quit after the 18 mile training run. I wasn't doing the mid week training sessions, and my knee joints felt like they were being rubbed raw with sandpaper. I attempted to train for LA again this past season, and quit after 1 run. My workouts have been sporadic at best. I can't seem to stick to a workout schedule to save my life.

I'd like to say that this is the day everything changes. This first day of my training is the moment that my entire life falls in line, and I become disciplined. I don't want to make that promise, though, lest you call me a liar later. The only promise I make is that I am taking my training very seriously. I will be gentle on myself. I will take my exercise day by day. I will blog my aches and pains, highs and lows. Perhaps someone like me will stumble on this blog, and realize that they're not the only ones who have a very hard time staying motivated.

On October 12, 2008, I will be in Susanville, CA running the Bizz Johnson Trail Marathon. I chose that particular marathon at first, on a fluke, because it falls almost exactly 6 months from the day I start training. However, the more I looked into it, the more excited I got. This is a 27 mile trail run in the Lassen National Forest. There are a maximum of 600 runners. The trail is silent and beautiful. This seems like the perfect first marathon for me. I have booked a room at the Super 8 Motel in Susanville. I will fly to Reno. I will rent a car and drive 85 miles to town. I will run.

Today I ease myself into Day 1 of training hung over from last night. Not a good way to start. Nevertheless, my ass will be at the gym at 8PM, easing myself into a 30 minute walk on the treadmill. Also, just to be honest, I ate Popeye's Chicken for lunch today. Not a great start, but hell, things can only go up from here.