Why Running is Dangerous

So, I totally forgot to mention that I’m running a 5k tomorrow! YAY! Kind of.

I finally got my act together and signed up for a race. Why would I do this? One, because I said (in April) that I would complete the C25k running program. We’re not going to dwell on the fact that it’s now November.

Reason number two: I’m not one to just up and train for anything, especially when there’s no actual deadline. Big shock. So, when my roommate mentioned the Hot Chocolate 5/15k, my little ears perked up. What? Chocolate? I can totally run toward chocolate…especially Ghiradelli chocolate. Yep. At the end of my 5k race, there’s a chocolate fondue station AND Ghiradelli hot chocolate. If you think I’m running this for the exercise, you’ve lost your mind.

If you don’t know me, I hate to look like an idiot (which is ironic considering the rest of the story). So, I started the C25k program and was kicking butt and taking names up until about 2.5 weeks ago. I was on my first 25 minute straight run. About ten minutes in I was feeling good. “I can DO this,” I thought.

Because I live in the city, it’s a little tough to find a continuous path unless you live on the lake (I don’t.) So I just run around my neighborhood on the sidewalks. Well, as I was jogging in place waiting for a stoplight to change at a busy intersection, I landed wrong on a crooked piece of sidewalk. And I went down. Way down. I totally rolled my ankle.

After I checked to see how many people had seen me fall while RUNNING IN PLACE, I limped for the next five minutes. Then, I decided I was ok enough to finish the last ten minutes. And I did. Go me.

I got home and like a good former gymnast, I elevated and iced my ankle for the rest of the night. I mean, I had run on it for the last half of my run, so how bad could it really be?

I woke up the next morning to this:

  

Um, my ankle doesn’t normally look like someone shoved a baseball in it! I couldn’t wear normal shoes for almost a week. And running? Forget about it. I could barely limp to the train; running was clearly out of the question.

So, I took a week and a half off. This doesn’t sound like too much time, but when you’ve been running three times a week for 6 weeks, it really takes a toll! I’ve gotten back up to 25 minutes without dying. I figure that once I get out there tomorrow that I’ll get psyched up and really just go for it. Plus, I won’t want to look like an idiot in front of the 30,000 people also doing the race.

I don’t like doing things alone, so I enlisted the help of my friend, KK (the one who runs marathons for fun) for this race. Her exact words were “I’M GOING TO ANNOY THE CRAP OUT OF YOU FOR THREE MILES!” And she will…but it will motivate me.

Motivation is something I’ll definitely need at 7:30am on a Saturday in November!! Who schedules a race that early!? It’s not even light yet! And it’s only 35 degrees! Totally sucks. But, I paid good money for this and dangit, I’m going to run this stupid race before I eat my weight in chocolate!

My ultimate goal is to not walk AND to finish in less than 35 minutes. That’s more than an 11 minute mile (my average is 10:30). So that’s all I got.

To recap: Running in place is dangerous, but running toward chocolate is good. Very good. Amen.

"It's a Deep Burn"

I have a very love/hate relationship with working out.  Growing up, I was a gymnast for ten years and also did diving for four years.  I was never one for team sports - anyone who's seen me play kickball can attest to this.  Anywho, for those sports years, I was in pretty rockin' good shape...we did weights and throwing yourself off a 12 foot springboard will give you a decent cardio workout.  But, then I got to high school and decided that I would rather socialize with my friends (read: watch Trading Spaces/run around Super Target) than be committed to a team sport.  I've always had issues with commitment.  So, I quit sports and ran around with my friends.

Then college.  In college, you have FREE access to a fabulous gym and pool.  You can even take athletic classes such as swimming, aerobics, and bowling. I took all three because I'm an over-achiever.  I also took flower-arranging.  Many thanks to Jess for "helping" me pass that class.  During college, I probably went to the co-rec a total of 20 times in four years.  I also didn't do much in swimming/aerobics classes because I was too busy socializing.  Shocking.  The thing is, I didn't have to work out.  I was eating whatever I wanted, drinking frat boys under the table and managing to stay the same size/shape I was in high school. 

Then college ended. 

Turns out, after graduation, that "drink whatever, eat whatever and never, ever work out" regimen doesn't work the same way.  It was a subtle change that I didn't even notice until I started looking back at pictures. Now, almost four years later to the day, I'm 20 pounds heavier.  Um, hello!?  Not ok in my book.  I realize that 20 pounds isn't a lot, but I have a very small frame and I'm short.  It shows and it bothers me.  I did random workouts (stupid Jillian Michaels Shred...she CAN kill you in 30 minutes) and a few assorted things, but nothing ever stuck.

So, while still in Nashville, I joined a gym and signed on for personal training (Note: it's not cheap and I don't recommend going on a date with the director of personal training.)  However, I managed to get into a great routine with the training and going to gym at night.  At one point, it was up to five times a week.  For someone who counts walking up one flight of stairs as a workout, this was huge.  I was actually starting to see results! Then I got a job in Chicago and it all went out the door. 

Because of my living situation right now, I haven't been able to join a gym.  So, I did a bit of research and found this: Couch to 5k.  What!?  A work out program for people who enjoy sitting on the couch?  Sign me up.  See, I've always wanted to love running.  My friend KK runs marathons for fun.  She actually said she'd run a half-marathon with me just to help me.  I think she's insane.  But, at the same time, I'm jealous!  She was a swimmer in high school and learned how to work out...and subsequently fell in love with it.  Now, she's a little work-out freak. I want to be a workout freak.  No, I will be a workout freak.  I just have to convince myself that it'll work...and then go buy a DVR because I can't miss Idol.  I figure if Megan over at Tale of the Trees can do it, so can I!  (Looove her blog by the way!)

Game on, Couch to 5k.  Game on.