Jingle Bell Run

I was so not ready for this race. I started running again in August, then stopped, then started, then stopped... I figured I'd go for a run last week, and if I could make it for 30 minutes, I'd do the race. Even though I made my 30 minute goal, I was still nervous. I found out a few days beforehand that it would be at Sugarhouse Park, which meant the course would have hills! 😧 I didn't train for hills. I don't do hills.

But Nancy showed up to a race a few months ago that she wasn't totally ready for, and she did it anyway. She inspired me and I had to at least show up and try. I kept telling myself that, even if I had to walk up the hills, it would still be a win.

(This is what I said, but I wasn't fooling myself. If I had to walk at all, I would count the race as a failure and be super depressed about it. I have no grace with myself.)

My alarm didn't go off that morning and I woke up at 8:32. The race started at 9:10. When I went to get my pants out of the dryer, they were still wet. I had no time for breakfast. I threw on a pair of hiking pants and ran out the door. Luckily, the course was just a few minutes away from my house, so I made it with a few minutes to spare.

It sucked. There was one hill towards the end that made me want to die. I'm sure that people could have walked beside me and kept pace with my "running," I was going so slow. But I didn't walk. And I made it to the finish line.

Morning Person

Well, apparently I have become one of those people who goes running before sunrise. Never saw that one coming. But really, it's the only way to run outside in Phoenix right now. It's still too hot at 10:00 p.m. The low at night is just under 90 degrees, so before sunrise is the coolest time. And it wasn't so bad, watching a beautiful sunrise while I slowly jogged a very short distance. I will be happy when I can regularly run 3 miles at a time.

I started Weight Watchers again yesterday, too. I have 35 pounds to lose, but I'd even be happy with 25. I'm hoping that the running will speed up the weight loss this time around. I'm really unhappy right now. I had to buy some cheap work clothes the next size up, and my friends want to set me up on dates, but I can't meet anyone when I look like this. It feels good to be doing something about it.

All Is Not Lost

Today was my first run since Memorial Day. It was ugly, but not quite as bad as I thought it was going to be. I only did one mile! But that was better than I expected... I was afraid I'd have to start over on Week 1, Day 1 of Couch to 5k. Hopefully I'll be able to work my way back up to 3 miles soon.

I'm going to have to adjust to running here. It can still be 100 degrees at 10:00 at night, so the best time of the day to run is right before sunrise. I hate running in the morning, but I'll just have to suck it up. It was only in the 80's when I went out this morning, but the sun felt really hot. I'm also going to have to be a lot more careful about staying hydrated.

Despite all that, I'm so glad I ran. I got really out of shape this summer, but I'm going to get back on track. I have two things to train for. Sadly, the Tinkerbell Half Marathon filled up already, but the Rock and Roll Half is here in Phoenix that same weekend, so I'm considering doing that. And in November, I'm doing the Summit Challenge with Kristin: 12 hours, 7 peaks, 26 miles.

It's good to be back!

Why Joe and Jason are the best coaches EVER.

Tonight I texted Joe and said, "Joe, I am FREAKING OUT over what to wear to the race tomorrow. (You are the only person I could text who wouldn't laugh at this.)"

My phone rang just seconds later, and just as I expected, he was not laughing at me; he understood my dilemma.

(This wasn't about vanity; this was a weather situation.)

It's weird, because Joe has only been my friend for about a year, but I feel like he GETS my anxiety more than most people do.

So he talked me through it and offered several creative solutions, and I think it's gonna be okay.

I talked to Jason earlier this week, too. I love the speech he gives me about how I'm running "Erin's race," and how important it is to ignore people around me and just do my thing. We discussed how I get into the "zone" at Mile 4, and techniques for getting there more quickly. I told him I was worried about not being able to finish, and he told me that, once I start that race, I WILL finish, because he knows me and I will crawl across that finish line if I have to. Knowing that someone has that kind of faith in me makes my heart happy; that was the sweetest thing he could have said. And he's right; even if I'm struggling, it will be sheer stubbornness that gets me across the finish line tomorrow.

I'm nervous. But thanks to Joe and Jason, I'm ready.

Name Change

I have a feeling Nancy is going to yell at me for changing the name of this blog, so I thought I'd explain.

Long story short, Bernie's ex-girlfriend looked at his phone, got my number, and called me a fat bitch and just about every variation of that. Over and over. Hours of constant texting and phone calls.

Don't worry, friends; I Urkeled the bitch, and now she leaves me alone.

But a few days after all this drama, I went on a long run, and I thought, "I may be a fat bitch, but this fat bitch can run 8 miles."

Hence the name. For now. I do plan on losing weight when I get to Phoenix, so hopefully I won't be a fat bitch forever.

Zombies, Run!

And this is why I love Pinterest.

Someone pinned a running app called Zombies, Run! I was pretty excited to add a little something different to my routine.

The way it works is it tells a story as you're running. You're in some helicopter that crashes in an area with lots of zombies, and someone at base camp is talking to you and trying to help you. As you run, you acquire materials. I haven't gotten much further than that.

It did make my run a little more interesting. You can sync it with your playlist, and the narration only happens around every other song. There was a particularly interesting moment when I was listening to "Just the Way You Are" and a voice came into my headphones yelling, "The zombies have spotted you! Run! RUN!!!"

Not sure if I'll use it every time, but I enjoyed it. And what a brilliant idea!

Things I See While Running in My Neighborhood

The kids down the street with the portable basketball hoop (one of the little boys once told me I "look very nice")

Lilac bushes

Hipster running fashions (Dude, isn't it hot running with all those dreds? Put them in a ponytail!)

The sno-cone guy from Coco (who cheers me on)

Elegant old buildings

Ducks (like Ed and Dolores) in the pond

Green grass and big old trees

Grafitti

Tee ball games; dads coaching their kids

The same people running (we pass each other doing laps in opposite directions; one girl waved at me today as we ran by each other)

The Night Ministry truck helping the homeless

Kids swarming all over the massive playground

Old Puerto Rican guys smoking cigarettes on the corner

Community garden plots

Art at the Peanut Gallery

People smoking pot (well, this one I smell more than I see)

Really pale people (gotta love spring in Chicago)

People of ALL different shapes and sizes getting in their workout and enjoying the weather