So in the past year or so, probably longer if I think real hard, I have always wanted a runners body... well minus the running if we're being totally honest here.
I liked the sinewy legs and strong cardiovascular health and I liked the idea that in case of emergency I could actually run away if in danger of a bear eating me or something. (I know, not rational but I never claimed to be rational!)
So when I moved back to Buffalo, a colleague of mine, Danielle (yes we share a name and that doesn't begin to explain the connections) and her husband were preparing to run the Turkey Trot. The Turkey trot is a once-a-year 5k race in downtown buffalo on you guessed it,, thanksgiving. Now this may seem insane to any non-native Buffalo person as when I mention the word Buffalo I'm sure you immediately assume that we'll be under 15 feet of snow from Oct-March. Which could very well happen, but not yet!. So why would anyone want to run in the snow or freezing cold? I dunno I guess as a challenge although I haven't gone yet, apparently there are a lot of fun costumes and people carry like turkey rotisseries or something along the trail. I cannot verify any of this propaganda, but perhaps this year I will have some pics to do so.
Anyway so last year I had been working here for approximately two months when this activity rolled around, and I was not at ALL conditioned for this kind of activity. Plus holiday eating after years of being away was pretty darn exciting to me.
Well in a slow attempt to be healthier, lose weight and get closer to obtaining that sinewy self, I have been working out to increase my cardio strength and interval training to run/walk for as long as I can stand. It has gone well but I'm not as disciplined as I would like to be.
And its now November.
So I have been upping the anti, mostly becuz Danielle won't let me off the hook, and also because I really want to try to run as much as possible and complete the task. I know if I can run or complete this one, that I can then train for Corporate Challenge this summer and reach another goal, and it will be far enough between that I might actually be sinewy by summer (say that five times fast!)
So even with my increased exercise and gym-trips and walking outside to try to condition my lungs to cold (seriously I'm concerned about these things).
I'm pretty sure I'm going to die.
I did a little (and by little I mean I typed into google 'death by exercise') and I found this..I"M GOING TO DIE!
So I'd like you to all know that while I"m pretty sure this might be a bad decision, me running long distances at my current weight and physical abilities,, I'm still going to do it,, and I'm fearful, and I'm setting a small goal of running at least the first mile and then run/walking the rest.
PS the race map makes me want to cry
there is not enough stretching that will make me not die!!
Freaking.... but still gonna do it!
UPDATE!!!::: OH Crapballs I just read that is actually an 8k!!! I'm seriously going to die 4.97 miles is going to be impossible!!! Reconsidering the whole thing now.
10 comments:
You are going to be great D!!!! Please take a picture of you crossing the finish line!! I want to see! :) You are going to be AWESOME!!!!!!!
Hahah your so sweet in your belief that I'll make it to the finish line!:)
I wish I could be there to run with you! I swear you're not going to die! :) You can and will traverse 3.1 miles and you will feel tremendous when you're done! What a wonderful way to start Thanksgiving Day - thanking your body for allowing you to run and thanking yourself for the training that you've accomplished thus far :) I completely agree with Nikki! You're going to be AWESOME!!! :)
Laura, a part of me wishes you were there too, but a part of me is hugely afraid of disappointing my friends that would probably be supportive of me mid-run. Like how annoying would it be to run with me and me not be able to keep up. It would be annoying for you and I'd feel even more defeated for myself.
d
Now I really REALLY wish I could be there! The last run I did was about a month ago and there was a woman there who was supposed to run with her brother and his back had gone out earlier that week so she was running alone. And I was running the 5k alone as well (Dave and his friend were taking on the 10k - not I lol). So her and I started talking and decided to run together. And we did the whole thing at a nice even pace and allowed for either of us to walk if we needed to. We kept pace with each other and stuck through it together - that way there was no keeping up or falling behind. Totally mutually beneficial and encouraging and I bet your friend Danielle will offer that same support for you :) And Dave always tells me to remember that your goal time is finish. It doesn't matter how much of it you walk or jog...it just matters that you traverse the course....which you totally can and will do. It matters that you're out there taking on the challenge....and it's a big challenge and will be a great accomplishment - one that you will feel so fantastic about when you cross that finish line :) And I will be running right next to you in spirit, cheering you on the whole way (returning the huge favor of your cheerleading me through job searching) :)
Thanks Laura,
I think the realization that its not a 5k but an 8k really threw me for a loop today, so I'm going to just do my best and your absolutely right, just finish! It will make me feel good about giving back, good about conditioning and make me work that much harder toward the corporate challenge. Ugh!
still scares the bleep out of me!
D
So now I feel like a total jerk for telling you that I will probably run the whole way no matter what.... it's really only because it's a yearly goal for me to try to improve my time over the year before. But know that I totally support whatever you decide to do. I know you CAN do it- even if you end up walking, you CAN finish it! You've been working out and even if you aren't a runner yet (and believe me, I have tried and failed at being a runner more times that I can count), you are in better shape than this time last year. You will feel so good after crossing that finish line! I hope you do it, but if you don't, then I will just bug you to do the Corporate Challenge next summer and the Trot next year.
Danielle you are totally not a jerk, your are my inspiration and my strong support! I would feel horrible if you slowed yourself in any way because of me, and I would feel horrible if I were watching the dust from behind you so its really best the way it is until I can run the whole thing.
Your right I'm much better off this year than last, as pathetic as I am now I'm more determined and hopefully by the time the Trot comes I will be at my best for now. Plus it gives me a number to work on for next year, and Corporate Challenge should be a breeze in comparison to five miles in freezing cold!:) hahaha
Ok- somehow I missed this entire post! Anyway I say - GO YOU!!!!! Yeah that does sound scary, but I bet you will feel like a million dollars at the end. Just finishing the race, nomatter what your time is. I wish I lived closer- I'd totally go cheer you on. I think your new outlook is super. And I'm sooo proud of you!!
PS. It's so funny that your such good friends with laura and Nic now! It's like several spheres of my life are combing! So awesome.
PSS. I just had to say "be sinewy by summer" 5 times- becuase you told me to. It's an illness:)
Thanks Shan,, of course Laura and Nic are good friends, they're good people and they know us Noonan-bred types well enough to know we're as good people as they are.. Plus I cant wait till August to hang out all together!!! So fun.
Thanks I wish you were here to watch me finish/start too but I'm nervous about it anyway so maybe next time or another race in the future. Laura's trying to get me on the 5k circuit so if I can start kicking some running butt then maybe we'll do some fun ones you can see both of us!
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