New Year's Day 5k

Hello Dear Reader,

This morning I had an energizing 5 mile run! Talk about a great way to start the day! But enough of that, I wanted to share some exciting news! As I was skimming through various running websites, on a search for inspiration, I ran (no pun intended) across the blog of a woman who recently completed a Jingle Bells race in NYC that qualified her for the ING NY Marathon. The theme of her race got me to thinking about how special this festive season will be. I'll be home for Christmas...and I'm bringing along my handsome Ethiopian running partner! The blog post also gave me pause to reflect on all of the growth and achievements made during 2011 with respect to my running. I strongly believe that the commitment I made to bring in the New Year with running, specifically by participating in the "11km for 2011" race on New Year's Day, set the tone for the months to follow.

With minimal searching, I found the New Year's Day 5km 2012 race in Chicago! Awesome! Even better, the race starts at 11 am (SCORE!!!!), because I do plan on taking part in all of the New Year's Eve festivities! I must say, however, that the best part of it is that I've managed to convince my lovely Habesha man and my mother to participate with me. My guy says he'll be breaking records. We'll see! My father, well he's another story. He said he'll make sure to let me know if he'll join in. The jury is not so convinced with that response! As I told him this morning, at least we'll have great pictures of the race...with me crashing through the finish line at top speed, and my mom and my guy on a site seeing tour somewhere at the back!
I am over the moon excited about being home for the holidays with my family, and to have them join me in starting (what I hope will be) a New Year's Day tradition for me! How do you plan on bringing in the New Year? How will you act on your commitment to live a healthy lifestyle in 2012? I look forward to hearing all about it!

So until next time...put one foot in front of the other (Dani)...and keep it movin'!

Yours in (motivation) training,

Dani

How the real (Maseru) West was won!

Hello Dear Reader,

I'd like to tell you the REAL story about how the (Maseru) West was won! First, a little background.

As with most cities, Maseru is divided up into small communities. One such friendly community is known as Maseru West. This area of town boasts several notable Maseru movers and shakers such as the US Ambassador, the Lesotho Prime Minister, the guy down the street, and my boss!

My boss- a Belgian guy who reminds me of the grown up version of Denis the Menace. From Day 1 of my quest to conquer the Publix Georgia Marathon and my own fear/misgivings/misperceptions about running, he has relentlessly teased me. My running style has been compared to a "geriatric penguin" and an "old tart". He constantly teases me about my "poofy arms" despite losing the weight equivalent to a young child. My boss doesn't believe in marathons. He says they're "unnatural". When I first told him about my endeavour, he reminded me of the first marathoner...who died when he reached his intended destination. Don't get me wrong, he's no couch potato. In fact, I always recommend that he treat his severe case of ADD because he always has to keep moving, and he is a regular at cycling competitions. Furthermore, he is one of the most active and physically fit people I know.

Our offices are on opposite sides of the floor, yet I can always hear him blabbing about wanting to cycle to Ladybrand (a town across the border in South Africa and up one of the most ginormous hills I know of). My response to him, "blah, blah, blah" and "you should try a REAL sport like running!". If I come into the office after a particularly great morning run, I'll stroll into his room with my arms pumped up body-builder-style and say, "Gosh, I'm so fit! I just can't help myself! I was just born this way!". His rebuttal is that he's not a runner, he cycles and plays football. Blah, blah, blah.

As you can see, we have a healthy and all-in-fun competitive spirit!

Monday, after he again referenced my "poofy arms", I said, "dammit, I'm so fit and you're just jealous! Let's compete in a 5k and I'll show you what my 'poofy arms' can do!" He laughed in agreement. Game on! Wednesday, January 12th after work. He'd map the course.

At 6-something pm, he called me. I'd just returned from a 7km run. He said to meet him at his place...Maseru West! I told him that I'd be over in a hot second. He didn't understand what a "hot second was". I had to explain. Boring!

Where he lives in Maseru West is about 3km from my house. I met him outside the gates of his home, he was on his bike preparing to chart the course. He called me a "showoff". I laughed while patting myself on the back!

While waiting, I chatted with his wife and kids, and played with his very big dog Aila (this is Couch Potato #2's girlfriend. I forgot to mention that they have weekly play dates). His wife thinks that the frequency with which I run and the distances I attempt are pure crazy. She detests running, but I'm working on her to stick with it. We're also planning to meet up for yoga once a week.

I digress.

Ready. Set. Go! Maseru West is a beautiful, shaded area with sloping hills throughout. The route took us past the Prime Minister's house, past one of the most beautifully maintained home gardens I've seen in Lesotho, several barking dogs, kids playing in the street. It was great. At every kilometer, my boss would call it out.

First sign of defeat: After 2.5 km, he started shaking his arms saying that they were getting tired from having to hold them up. I reminded him that he had ADHD and needs to stick with the meds. Boring!

In the interim: He told me that I run funny. Said I don't run like a professional athlete. He proceeded to show me exactly how a professional does it by kicking his legs up close to his bum. I told him that he was wasting energy. Reminded him that I wasn't trying to be a professional. I just want to finish!

Second sign of defeat: At around the 3rd kilometer, we ran up a street with a slight and steady incline. His exact words, "Now this hurts." I, on the other hand, was just getting started.

In the interim: We talked about the facts and fiction of development work and if "sustainability" really works. Blah, blah, blah.

Third sign of defeat: He was sweating buckets, while I only had a light mist on my face. This might not be a fair sign cause he sweats sitting down. I suggested that he down a tube of Botox. He said it is related to his early menopause. I agreed.

Fourth sign of defeat: When the race was over, he started stretching as though he just completed a 1/2 marathon- a true spectacle. To my numerous comments, he replied, "I'm old, remember?" I agreed.

Final sign of defeat: He requested a rematch on Saturday. His wife and children will be the judges.

All in fun! So much fun! And this is, Dear Reader, is how the real (Maseru) West was won!

Until next time...one foot in front of the other...keep it movin'!

Yours in (making training fun) training,

Dani

5 minutes off

Hello Dear Reader,

All day today I've been in recovery mode from the four hour hike and slumber party (nice combination?) with friends yesterday. The hike was actually supposed to take only 2 hours, but my tour guide got us lost and we ended up wandering around several little villages trying to find our way back to the main road. Needless to say, we had loads of fun and made it back in one piece. Upon returning to my friend's house...a party ensued.

The late night party, adult beverages, crazy movies, and returning home at 7am, however, didn't exactly put me in the running mood today. All I actually wanted to do was lay on my couch in my fat pants and watch or be watched (nap time!) by Ghost Busters (Part One & Deux) as advertised on tv all week. For the majority of the day, that's exactly what I did, yet running was never far from my mind. During periods of sleep, I dreamt about jogging around the city. Whilst awake, I running blog stalked and mapped out several routes around the city (neeeeeeeeeed to get a long run in this week).

Towards the evening, my guilty conscience got the best of me. I wasted a perfect, rainless day by spending it on the couch THINKING about running instead of actually RUNNING. With less than 1 hour of remaining daylight, I slipped on my running clothes and headed out for a 5 km run (not much, but something). Route mapped out, playlist jamming, stop watch on...ready, set, go!

The course took me directly through the city center. I passed my office building, where I ran into (no pun intended) my boss who laughed and said I run like an old lady (this week we're planning to compete with each other to see who has the fastest 5km time). In town, all was quiet. As it is Sunday evening, all of the shops were closed and only a few stragglers and myself populated the streets. Perfect!

Before I could really get into the run, however, I reached the end of my running route (which is always set at the base of the hill leading up to my house). I pressed the "stop" button on my timer and guess what? I ran 5km in 29 minutes! That's a full 5 minutes off my most recent 5km time of 34 minutes! Woohoo! I'm getting faster!

Every time I mange to cut even the slightest amount of time off of my 5km, I feel particularly proud. It brings me back to the first day I ran a 5km without stopping- 41 minutes. I think that was some time in August 2010. 5 months and minus 12 minutes- I'm getting better! Hopefully, within the next month or so, I can knock 2 minutes off of that time. My goal this month is to run 5km in 27 minutes!

Well, that's all I have for now- a short, yet meaningful post!

Until next time...one foot in front of the other...keep it movin'!

Yours in training,

Dani

4 Things

Hello Dear Reader,

I've got four things on my mind:

1) Something I've noticed: when the goal is to run a 5k (which takes about 33 minutes), I feel super tired and I'm ready to call it a day. When the plan is to run for about an hour or so, I get tired initially, but seem to get a second wind and feel like I can go for days. My conclusion is that a mental and physical warm-up (for me) takes a good 20 to 30 minutes.

2) Rain, rain go away! For almost the past five days, it has rained every day! Several months ago, Lesotho was desperate for rain. The King of Lesotho, at one point, called for every person in Lesotho to pray for the rain to come. Clearly, the heavens were listening and now it just won't stop. On one hand, I'm loving the rain because it cools everything down (me included) making a nice morning run very comfortable and I don't come back home sweating like a pig on the spit! On the other hand...dang...can we get a light rain instead of the big grape sized drops? And mud is not exactly my favorite thing to run through either. You win some and you lose some, I guess!

3) Because the rain let up this evening, I decided to run 5k after work. Although it was interesting to run through the pulsing city- people knocking off of work, people heading home, cars zooming past, a setting sun- I definitely prefer to run in the calm of the early morning hours. At 5 am, the city is refreshed, people slowly trickle into the city, there is a slight chill in the air, and most importantly- all of the riffraff have yet to arrive. Simply put, I feel much safer running in spandex pants when there aren't groups of men standing around/staring/commenting...you get the point.

4) I'm happy to announce that I've reached a milestone. Somehow, I don't think I'm the only person who has outgrown a pair of pants, and not because they shrunk in the dryer (ps, I haven't had a dryer for over4 years). Furthermore, some of you may be able to relate to keeping said pants in hopes that one day, you'll be able to pull them up past your ankles (jokes, but really!). Yesterday, I was in the midst of changing out of my work clothes when my "when my body is RIGHT pants" caught my eye. If all calculations are right (although I'm super suspicious of the gym scale I used in the beginning and don't really trust the one I bought a month ago), since the beginning of this whole running thing to now, I've lost a little more than 17 lbs. With that information, accurate or not, I figured that I could give the pants a shot. As I said to a couple of people yesterday, the picture can speak for itself:

Well, that's all I have for now! Until next time...one foot in front of the other...keep it movin'!

Yours in (staying focused) training,

Dani

A different experience

Hello Dear Reader,

Yep, I was pounding the pavement this morning at 5:15 am. My normal interaction with the central business district is limited to a mad dash in and out/people walking this way and that way/drivers (sometimes) making up their own rules of the road as they go. This symphony of cars and people runs its course throughout the day, and as if on cue (6:00 pm), there is a dull silence. Everyone pours out of the city to return to their respective neighborhoods. The city is left barren, save for a few hangers-on. Hours will pass until a new, party-driven set takes their place in the song that is Maseru.

Pre-work hours Maseru is a different story- quiet, inviting, vulnerable, empty (until 6 am when street-side vendors begin setting up). In the past two days, I have become intimately involved with this Maseru...running through its streets...up and down its familiar terrain...this time fully appreciating its many curves. True, I've seen the solitude of pre-work hours Maseru whilst driving to and from the gym, but running its streets is a totally different experience.

During today's 5.6k run, I saw small things that I've failed to notice while in my car- the stone detailing of the police station, the exchange of night time and daytime employees, little purple flowers springing up from cracks in the sidewalk- just to name a few. These things (and those yet to be noticed)are what I've been missing during my time spent within the gym's four walls. I've missed out on getting to see Maseru wake up and transition from winter to spring/summer.

Running outside is definitely kicking my a$$. The hills (we are the mountain kingdom after all) have made me submit...reminded me that my running experience has been tethered to a treadmill. My leg muscles are sore just as they were when I first started this whole running business back in August. Sore legs, however, are my reward for getting to know the city I call home.

I look forward to exploring the streets of Maseru and learning new things as I plod along. Additionally, I am excited to earn my right to be called a runner!

Well, that's all I have for now.

Until next time...one foot in front of the other...keep it movin'!

Yours in training,

Dani

Finally, a run...and things

Hello Dear Reader,

As this will likely be my last post until Monday, I thought I'd let you in on something I'm pretty proud of. This week at my job, we've had people in from our head office. One of the ladies asked if she could accompany me to the gym...I definitely wasn't planning to go since I'd already been this morning...and I was planning to head out for my vaycay...but alas! She ended up working later than expected, so we ended up going for a workout at about 6:45 pm today.

If you've been reading my posts this week, you've noticed that I have not run once since Sunday. (***Dani hangs head in shame***) The day before yesterday, I was feeling pretty guilty about doing everything but running. Additionally, all of the stored up energy left me a hot mess. Needless to say, running was my priority for this evening's workout. And running...not Spin class...not strength training (ok...there was strength training, but after the fact)...was exactly what I did.

The treadmill was set for 3 minutes of warm-up walking. It was reset for 31 minutes at a 9.6 pace setting on level (intensity) 2. How far did I run in 31 minutes, you ask? 5.3k! Yes, 5.3k in 31 minutes...faster than I've ever run a 5k. Remember when I ran my first 5k over a month ago? It took me 41 minutes on a zero incline and only one hill...that's 10 minutes off of my 5k time! Wow! I feel really good about that! I wasn't even tired during and afterwards. This type of progress makes me feel even better than the 3kg I lost. Remember, my primary goal is progress on my running, not weight loss. Today's 5.3k in 31 minutes clearly illustrates progress. I would love to be in a place where I can run 5k in 20 to 25 minutes. Guess I've got to keep working at it. You'll come along for the run, won't you Dear Reader?

Just think about it, if I would have given up on my workouts (like I have done so many times before) when I was frustrated because of the seemingly lack of progress...or because I had a bad day at work...or because it was just too damn cold outside to be working out...or because it was too damn hot to be working out...or I was too tired and just wanted to sleep in for a change...or I didn't want to expose my out of shape-ness to the world...or...or...or....I know that I wouldn't be feeling as good about myself and my accomplishments as I do now.

It has taken me (what seems like) a while to get to this exact moment...this space that allows me to say "don't worry, it will happen" when I can't muster up the energy to run 30 minutes straight...or the scales and measuring tapes show little to no change. There have been lots of perceived failures in my journey to get tothis point. There have been a lot of broken promises made to myself about getting in shape. Dear Reader, I'm still one baby step away from being pulled back to the couch...but I look at this whole running/lifestyle change/getting my body right-thing as a process that is re-evaluated on a daily basis...every time my alarm clock goes off at 5 am. I have a choice...roll back over and go to sleep...or...proving myself wrong...that I CAN do something that, for so many years, I told myself that I could not do. Dear Reader (FTTE specifically), I'm in no way special. I know that, if I can get this far (with my highs and lows), you can too. Make a commitment to yourself that, with all of your other priorities in life, spending time to take care of you...showing yourself that you can and will do it...is equally important.

Forgive me if I sound a little too Dr. Phil-ish on this post...but this is an emotional ride Dear Reader...so thanks for coming along with me.

Until I have something else to write...put one foot in front of the other...keep it movin'!

Yours in (I CAN) training,

Dani

P.S. On a completely random and (most likely) inappropriate note...what I wouldn't do for a Wendy's cheese burger (#1)!

Darn!

Hello Dear Reader,

My cold from a couple of weeks back has trailed off for the most part, but there's a slight (yet annoying) cough lingering. It's irritating enough to still take a bit of cough syrup every couple of days, right before bedtime. Last night was one of those nights, plus I stayed up several hours past my now normal bedtime of 9:30 pm on Tuesday. Having said all of that, I was super drained and sleepy! Last night, my head hit the feathers around 7:30 pm and I woke up SUPER refreshed this morning for my gym appointment with mad-dog trainer.

Time on the treadmill was set for 50 minutes. The aim was to warm up for about 3 minutes and see if I could get 7k (4.35 miles) for the remaining time. About 15 minutes into the run, I let my arms drop, hit the emergency stop button by accident, and reset my program. Dang! I didn't even know how many kilometers I ran. Mad-dog trainer gave me the side eye while resetting the time to 30 minutes. Within that time, I managed to get 4.3K.

So, let's do the math: 4.3K/30 minutes= 6.97 minutes per kilometers (6.97 x 1.6= 11.15 minute/mile). If I continued at that pace, it would have taken me (6.97 x 7K= ) about 48.79 minutes to run 7k. So, I would have been about 7 minutes short of my goal.

Hmm...with an 11.15 minute mile, that means that it would take me about 1hr and 9 minutes to complete a 10 k; 2 hr and 42 minutes to complete a half marathon (13.1 miles); and about 5 hr and 26 minutes to complete a marathon. (For the sake of my entire elementary school education, I hope my math is correct). I understand that this time may shift as I progress (I might run at a turtle's pace or that of a slow hare). At this point, I'm not preoccupied with time. I really just want to accomplish my distance goals, and in the end, (as mentioned in a previous post) cross the finish line before the sweeper bus gets me!

Following the run, I worked on my bu-bye arms. Using 2 3kg dumbbells, I did 3 sets of 12 bicep curls, and 3 sets of 12 (what I like to call) Sunday morning newspaper curls. Imagine opening up a newspaper...elbows down and to the side...make the motion you would to open a news paper...only with dumbbells. I also used two different machines to work on my triceps. Lastly, I worked out my triceps by sitting on the side of a step and lifting myself...3 sets of 15 reps.

After the workout routine was complete, mad-dog trainer weighed me and took my measurements. My weight has not changed, however, I've lost an inch or two here and there. A bit disappointed by these results, I must admit, but I've definitely improved in other ways: running longer and faster than I ever have, going to the gym just about 5 days a week for the past 5 weeks, more motivation to workout than ever, and a digestive system that could put a 20 year old's to shame (tmi?)! Also, I can definitely notice the increased definition in my legs and stomach. Mad-dog trainer told me not to fret or get discouraged, as it is not uncommon to not see drastic physical changes/weight loss for months. I'm holding her to her word! My primary goal, after all, is to run and complete a marathon by March 20th. Since I'm nowhere close to running 26.2 miles, I'll be "up in the gym, just workin' on my fitness" (Fergalicious) for the next 6 months!

I'm not going to push myself too hard, but I'd definitely like to hit the gym on Saturday morning to check out my 7k time. Hmm...can I fit 7k into a 50 minute run? I'll let you know tomorrow, for sure!

Until next time, one foot in front of the other. Keep it movin'!

Yours in (perseverance) training,

Dani

Sometimes, I get obsessed!

Hello Dear Reader,

I wanted to leave you with ooooone more post before I head off for my much needed vaycay.

Linesiya and I have been emailing each other all night about this BIG Dream, which would raise funds for HIV research and programming via organized marathons? 1/2 marathons? 10K? 5K? road races/fun runs.

In addition to organizing a race and supporters here in Lesotho, she is busy organizing similar events State-side. If you're in the States (I see some of you are) and would like to work directly with her, leave a comment on her blog. If you'd like to help, and aren't in the States (waves hand at my international "Dear Readers"!), still, leave a comment...get involved (I'm a member of the global community, aren't you?)! Don't be shy, get involved! Don't be nervous, we don't bite! No need to wonder, YOUR INPUT HELPS!!!

So, before I have to love you and leave you, I have an excerpt of Linesiya's latest blog post, entitled "A call to runners", in which she has some questions for you...we need your help!

(or if you can't read that...I can't)...here are her questions:

#1: I need people who can help me organize an event here, in the States. If you’ve ever organized a 5K, or you know “the right people” to contact – please, please let me know. Especially if you live in the NYC area, but even if you don’t – leave me a comment or find me on Twitter!

#2: I’ll be posting updates as the event develops. I hope we can get lots of people involved! I’m hoping to also include a 5K walk to make this event even more accessible. Consider signing up to run, walk, or volunteer when we reach that stage in the event planning!

#3: Consider making this your “cause” in races you’re planning to sign up for. Dani has made some contacts to people involved in the microbicide trials and I’m hoping to set up a donation arrangement. Check back for updates!

#4: WHAT MAKES A ‘GOOD RACE’? I want to hear about your race experiences, and what about the way a race was organized made it good or bad.

Thank you to everyone who reads this and leaves me a comment. This project is in the early stages yet, but that’s exactly why I want this feedback now!

Well, that's all for now! I look forward to your input, as well as updates on your own running, BIG DREAMS, and motivational tips to keep me going!

Until next time, keep it moving! One foot in front of the other...

Yours in training,

Dani

Weekend Updates

Hello Dear Reader,

I just wanted to give you a few updates since we last spoke...and because it's Labor Day on Monday (No, I don't get the holiday off in Lesotho)...I'll take a break and get back to you on Tuesday.

So, ready or not...here we go...

1. Friday was an everything fail. I have a cold and couldn't manage to get out of bed at 5:30 am. After work...all I did was crash...and burned. Since I could only breath out of one nostril and my face felt like it was going to explode from all of the pressure, I figured that this was deserving of a break, no?
2. I woke up on my own at 1:30 am on Saturday morning...dreams of Bultfontein and charts displaying my (running) personal records (PR). In my dreams, however, the Bultfontein 5K remained.
3. Saturday morning 2.0...I woke up, took a swig of cough syrup, and hit the gym. 20 minutes on the treadmill, 10 minutes on the elliptical machine, and a bunch of stretches was all I could manage. Clearly my knockoff cough syrup came with the 1 hr relief guarantee.
4. Sunday morning...my run felt more like a morning stroll in the park...cause all I could muster was a walk with a light jog here and there.
5. Head cold + entire weekend= Training FAIL= Booo!

On another note...Apple recently revealed the Nano Touch...sexy...me likey...happy it came out before I bought one to use with my Nike+...SCORE!!! Dankie Steve Jobs! Dankie!

Well, that's all for now folks! I'm planning to take another sip of my cherry flavored cough syrup and pray that it gets me through the night with both nostrils clear!

Until next time...keep it moving!

Your in (Please Dear Baby Jesus...make me feel better soon!) training,

Dani

Bultfontein Boertjie Fees 5K FAIL

Hello Dear Reader,

As you can see from the title of this blog post...my participation in the Bultfontein Boertjie Fees 5K is a F-A-I-L. When I called the race organizer last week to get all of the details (registration cost & time, location, directions, etc.), I was told that Bultfontein was about 50K (appx 30 min) outside of the closest major city. Just to get to the closest major city takes about 1.5 hrs. Because I wanted to make sure that I didn't get lost, this morning I made a call to a random Bultfontein B&B for distance and directions. Err... correction ...Bultfontein is about 97K outside of my next closest major city.

Let's do the math. My next closest city takes about 1.5 hr to reach. Add on top of that a 45 minute drive (or more) to Bultfontein. A one-way drive would take me 2.15 hr. Umm...for a 5K race that will take approximately 34 minutes? Well ok...so like I've said before...waking up at 4 am is early as hell, but I could manage. Factoring in "getting lost time" and making it there by 6:00 am to register...I might as well pull an all-nighter. As much as I seem to be fasinated with running and waking up at 5:00 am in order to run my little tooshy off...the thought of possibly having to be on the road at 3:00 am is a no-go.

Perhaps if Bultfontein was either closer by or had something super sexy about it (other than the Bultfontein Boertjie Fees 5K) to stop me from running .5 extra kilometers beyond the finish line...right to my car and back home...maybe we could talk. So I guess that the Bultfontein Boertjie Fees 5K will be the race that never was (in my books)...FAIL!

I guess that it's back to the road racing calendar...5K anyone? Err...local 5K anyone?

Yours in (local 5K Google) training,

Dani

***Disclaimer*** A girl has the right to change her (go out of her) mind. If I end up going for it, you'll be the first to know!

Dani knees a break

Hello Dear Reader-

Just as I said in yesterday's post, the next couple of days will be "knee friendly" (i.e. no running). This morning's workout routine consisted of a 15 minute warm-up on the elliptical machine, followed by a 3 sets of 15 reps on about 5 different chest and arm machines. My chest, arm and shoulder areas are clearly not very strong. I had to stop in the middle of a few sets...mad-dog trainer said that she'd forgive me because this was my first "arm" day (said with one warning eyebrow lifted). 25 minutes were devoted to wrap-it-up treadmill time (completed at varying incline and speed settings (5.5 setting and under). No knee problems then and now. Keeping an eye out while continuing to train and keep up my motivation.

The rest of today and Friday will be spent taking it easy on the knee. Saturday, however, is a different story. I'll be hitting the road (by car) at 4:00 am in order to get to Bultfontein, Free State: Bultfontein Boertjie Fees 5K. Registration starts at 6:00 am and race kicks off at 7:00 am. I certainly don't have any time goal...just to finish with running most to all of it.

Until next time...one foot in front of the other...keep it moving!

Your in (knee friendly activities until Saturday) training,

Dani

As we say in the South, "God willing and the creek don't rise!"

Hello Dear Reader,

Before I start babbling about my workout this morning, I'd really like to thank my parental units, and my three BFFs (Gerald, Jestein and Jami) for really giving me the motivational push that I needed yesterday and today. Sunday's run, although I ran most of it, didn't give me that "runners' high" from the first time I ran 5K. Truth is, while I was able to run 5K 3 times within a matter of 3 days, the "real life" conditions of the world outside of the gym were a lot to handle. Firstly, the varying elevations of the road clearly weren't comparable to a smooth treadmill surface. Secondly, my asthma partially rears its ugly head outside whereas inside, running is a breeze. (My allergist once told me I should live in a bubble.) blah, blah, blah.

So, after Sunday's run, I started getting anxious and doubting my abilities to measure up to my training schedule's weekly expectations....10.5 miles in 9 weeks? 26.2 miles in 6 months? Heck, I can barely run 4 miles now. But with a trusty set of good friends and parents, I was convinced that, with work, my goals are all reasonable. I can do it! Right now, my confidence in that affirmation is shaky at best, but either way...I'm gonna keep waking up at 5 am and bust it out so I can get close to my goal. Or...ride that bad boy like a pony!

I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.

Now that I've addressed the most important topic...my workout this morning (mad-dog trainer assisted)...I completed a solid run. The whole time I ran, my trainer would manually increase or reduce the incline and speed. She was very clear that, while the treadmill is good, you have to make it work for you...enabling you to get a feel for what to expect when pounding the pavement. Man, I feel great. That high...it's baaaaaaack! Each time I prove to myself that I can do what previously seemed impossible, it makes me want to go farther...pushing myself and my self-imposed limits closer and closer to the edge. And to just think- this is only the beginning.

After the 45 minute run, and just as I thought the workout was over, I was pushed along to the next set of exercises...all things abs. The previous weeks of daily ab workouts definitely prepared me for today, cause I'm not in pain like I expected. Shoulda kept my fat mouth shut when she asked me if I felt the burn. Let's just say that, according to her, tomorrow will be a different story! Ummm..... Never thought I'd hear myself saying this but...bring it on mad-dog trainer!

Ok...now we've reached the point where, if you'll let me, I'm gonna ramble on a lil' bit about how to prepare/test myself to reach March 20th, 2011 alive and running.

Now that I'm in this new relationship...with running...it's all I think about. I spend my evenings plotting and planning...my mornings in an awkward dance with the treadmill. Running is all I think about...all I talk about. Officially, it's called being obsessed. Blog-stalking has become my new hobby. Living vicariously through virtual people like the Running Fool, Jen, and M inspire me to keep going (Thanks ladies). Although they're waaaaaaaaaay ahead of me in this running game, I'm pushing/want to push myself to be a full-fledged member of "Club 26.2". I want a shiny piece of marathon swag to hang on my neck!

Blog stalking has me thinking of entering 5K's, 10K's and half marathons (13.1 miles)...so on my lunch break, I searched for local races taking place in the next few months. Here's what I've come up with:

September 4th (yes, that's right...this weekend): Bultfontein Boertjie Fees 5K

October 16th: Bloemwater Kovsie 10K

November 6th: Soweto City Half Marathon (13.1 miles)...this one is just too sexy to pass up! The route goes past Nelson Mandela's old house and Winne's current place of residence.

November 20th: Ficksburg Cherry Half Marathon (13.1 miles)...this one is close by and is part of a cherry festival...fresh cherries off the tree...nom nom nom! Went to the festival last year with friends and had a cherry-pickin' good time! Plus there are freshly made doughnuts and fries on a stick- delish!



So much to think about! A 5K this weekend...that I have to drive 2.5 hrs in order to get to...race starts at 7am? Well, I've done crazier things...

I'll keep you posted, but if you have any suggestions on which one(s) I should try out, speak up!

Until next time...keep it moving!

Yours in (5K this weekend?) training,

Dani

Ain't nothin' but a 5K thing baby! (Sorry Snoop Dog)

Dear Reader!!!

When my alarm clock went off at 5:00 am this morning, getting up was the last thing on my mind! Dragging myself out of bed every morning for running/working out is not my idea of fun. A possible second evening workout and going to be dog-tired...at 8:30 pm (almost regularly)...is not a good look. Fortunately, my evening sloth turned out to be my saving grace this morning, because I left the alarm clock downstairs. If listening to that annoying beep starting at 5:00 am, followed by beeping at 10 minute intervals, sounds cool to you...God bless you!

This is a recap of my morning:

5:00 am: Alarm goes off/eyes open.

5:10 am: Convince myself that evenings are MUCH better for workouts.

5:15 am: Got up and shut my bedroom door. Got back in bed.

5:20 am: Put pillow over my head.

5:30 am: Hope my roomie can't hear the noise...beep...beep...beep.

5:35 am: Start feeling guilty. My roomie likes evening workouts for a reason. Get up. Put dirty workout clothes on (cleaning lady comes at 8:00 am...booyah!!!).

5:45 am: Wake Beef up for a morning potty. Drink water and snack while waiting.

5:54 am: Spill into the gym thanks to the revolving front door.

6:00 am: Push "5K" mode and start walking. Wondering if my body can stand to run another 5K (don't want to over do it for now). Watch other treadmillers start. Listen to music while wearing my "Lost in Music" t-shirt (one size too small).

6:15 am: Notice a hottie on the treadmill across from me. Turn the speed notch up to 9 and hope that I look like Bo Derek in the movie "10".

6:22 am: Watch treadmillers leave. Wondering when this 5k will be over. Incline mode kicks in. Notice people squinting their eyes from across the room, trying to read my t-shirt.

6:34 am: 5K is over.

6:34:05: Wait...just wait a minute...let's go back to 6:34 am...the 5k is over? I just reduced my Sunday time (40 minutes) by 6 freaking minutes! Weeeeee! Now that's the biz-ness!!!

6:34:06: Keep it movin'! One step at a time! One foot in front of the other! 5k down, about 37k to go!

You must be thinking (out loud) to yourself, "Dani has been pulling my leg! She's not a couch potato! She could run 5k in her sleep. Clearly, this was a weak attempt to get me to read her blog. (Beginner my a$$)"

Trust me Dear (if I may call you that), no one is more surprised than me! I guess this is my reward for keeping at it. Ok, ok...I'll stop patting myself on the shoulder (Narsassism) and keep my eyes on the prize. For a second there, I was starting to sound like Michael Scott from the beloved show, "The Office", after completing his 5k to raise awareness about rabies.

"Finishing that 5K was the hardest thing I ever had to do. I ate more fettuccine Alfredo, and drank less water than I have in my entire life. People always talk about triumphs of the human spirit. Today, I had a triumph of the human body. My guts. My heart. While I eventually puked my guts out, I never puked my heart out. I am very, very proud of that."

~Michael Scott, The Office

Well, this will have to do for now...so, until we meet again (read: tomorrow)...keep it moving!

Yours in training,

Dani

P.S. I just found a really cool blog yesterday: Black Girls Run! Loads of motivational stuff! Perhaps a discussion on the site's title will follow! Love it!

M is for "Marathon"; "March"; "Me"!

Hello Dear Reader-

Who knew this goal-setting/marathon-training/achieving/believing/doing-thing could feel so good?!

Still on a high from Sunday, I was at the gym bright and early on Monday morning...ready to prove myself right (That I am going to do this. That I am doing this. That I will continue to do this). According to my 10K training plan, Mondays are for cross training/stretching/strengthening. I started off with 20 minutes on the stair master, followed by core strengthening and circuit training. Part of me felt as though I could run 5K again, but the better part of me said that the good folks who developed the plan have a bit more expertise than me. My body needs periodic "breaks". Perhaps I should follow the rules? Even without running, I left the gym with a sense of accomplishment...determined to keep it up...keep it moving!

Since I had to take care of a little business at the gym (aka speak with my M.I.A. trainer), in addition to the fact that my roomie was going for an evening workout, I decided to stay for a workout session of my own. Twenty minutes on both the eliptical machine and stair master provided the exercise high I needed! Feeling good!

Tuesday morning (as in today)...my alarm went off at its (now) regular time...5:00 am. Q: What did I want to do? A: Go back to sleep!!! My spot in the bed was so warm...so comfortable...an evening workout sounded really good...could you blame me? Q: What did I actually do? A: Got up. Put my gym clothes on. Focused on my goal: M is for "marathon"; M is for "March"; M is for "Me"!

Staying focused turned out not to be such a bad thing...I ran 5K...again! Instead of Sunday's running pace/setting (between settings 7.5 and 8), I was able to run the entire way on 8.5. During my next workout, I'll note how these settings correspond to minutes per kilometer. What I do know, however, is that I'm progressing and will continue to do so!

As I was leaving the gym, two trainers (one was the Spin instructor) stopped me and noted how dedicated I seem to be during my workouts. They were curious if I was "working so hard" for any particular reason. With a smile on my face, I said, "I'm training for a marathon for my 30th birthday!" One trainer said, "Keep it up, you're almost there!" The other trainer replied, "I'm going to keep my eye on you!" With two verbal pats on the back, I headed out of the gym, prepared to start my day!

One day at a time...one foot in front of the other...I'm getting there!

Until next time...

Yours in (marathon) training,

Dani

News Flash: I'm a superwoman!

Hello Dear Reader,

I know you're probably wondering what I'm talking about when I call myself "Superwoman." I'm also sure you're wondering why I'm adding another post for today. It's just that...well...I feel great about something I've just accomplished and wanted to share!

As you know, this morning, my roomie and I ran the better part of 4.1K, and our plan was to hit the gym for core strengthening later on. Well...we just got back...and I felt the itch to try to run a little more...just to test my running legs out.

I. just. ran. 40. minutes. without. stopping- 5K!!!! Wow, I feel like a beast!

Remember when I told you that, in my past, I've had a trainer, but lacked the motivation to keep a regular workout routine. Well, he was at the gym today and saw the whole thing. As I walked passed his office, he waved me in to congratulate me on a job well done. He said, "You look great! You even look like you've lost weight. What have you been doing?" My reply, "I'm staying focused. I'm really going to run a marathon this time!" To that, I was told, "If you keep it up, you certainly will!"

Core strengthening followed my run, but I was still beaming from ear to ear!

That's all for now!

Until tomorrow...

Your resident superwoman in training,

Dani

P.S. If you look at the 10K schedule...or even the marathon training schedule, Sundays are supposed to be for "long runs". After today, I'd say I'm right were I'm supposed to be!

Oh, and as a "reward" for my achievement, Mr. Beef-Smellington and I went on a 40 minute walk around Pope's field! What a great way to end the day!

Anybody up for a 10K fun run?

Hello Dear Reader-

Have my mother tell it, I'm like a dog with a bone. I'd prefer to say that I'm more like Atlanta's Channel 2 News: Dedicated, Determined and Dependable. Anyway, this whole marathon prep thing has me focused on all things related to helping me set my sights on making it to March 20th. All of the marathon training articles for beginners suggest that, in order to get a feel for what to expect at/from a running event, participation in 5K and 10K races is recommended. My research has led me to events both in Lesotho and in South Africa: Fun Run Calendar. I'll be checking for events which take place in the Free State and Gauteng (Johannesburg) Provinces.

A "fun run", from what I understand, is a non-qualifying race/event. There are races, such as the Boston Marathon, which require you to have participated in, and met specific time requirements within your age group before you can enter. The famed and ridiculously long (56 miles) Comrades Marathon, held every year in South Africa, is another race which requires you to qualify before entering. Marathons over the standard 26 miles are known as "ultra marathons".

Having said all of this, my sights are set on participating in the 10K Bloemwater Kovsie on Saturday, October 16th. Even if I don't run the whole thing, it would be nice to get a feel for what I'm getting myself into. I've never been to a race, much less participated in one, so I'm excited!

My search has also yielded results for national running clubs in South Africa. I found one in a city about 1.15 hours away from where I live. An email has been sent to the club management, requesting information on any weekend beginners clinics. All of this might be overkill, but when I say I need help, I mean it! Plus, if you don't know an answer to a question, isn't it always best to ask for help?

Have you ever participated in a 5K or 10K fun/run? Was this your first organized running event? What motivated you to register? If you wouldn't mind, please tell me about your experience? What was it like to finish? Did that get you pumped up to try out your running legs in other events?

Eek! I'm excited! I called the 10K fun run manager and was told that registration will commence on October 4th! You already know that I'll keep you posted!!!

Yours in training,

Dani

P.S.: Training Update- This morning's workout went on as planned. I managed to increase my time by two minutes and went from a 7.5 setting yesterday, to an 8 setting for the entire run today. Not much, I know, but more than I ran yesterday, so I'd call it an accomplishment! I must have been extra jazzed, cause I managed to stay on the stair master for 20 minutes without stopping...ummm?!?! Post stair master, 4 reps of 20 side (each side) and lower back crunches were capped off by a 15 minute stretch.

I don't know if it's that my leg muscles are starting to get used to the workouts, stretching works miracles, or the adrenaline is preventing me from feeling pain...but I'm not sore or stiff at all. As a matter of fact, I feel great and could actually stand to go for a jog this evening. Hmmm...Life is good!