Am I ready?

Hello Dear Reader,

The question I find myself asking on an almost day-to-day basis is, "Are you ready to run the Publix Georgia Marathon?" Well this morning, Dear Reader, my an email in my inbox gave me an answer. It said, "Ready or not, here it comes!":

Can you believe it? I got my first race update! This means that it's official-the race is right around the corner!

Update #1, in addition to confirming that I've registered for the race, also gives out other interesting information:

Several enhancements are being added to the 2011 Publix Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon to improve the runner experience and celebrate the 5^th anniversary of the Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon. See below for all the details.

Publix - We welcome Publix as our new title sponsor. Learn more about Publix Super Markets Publix has been the Food Sponsor for the Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon since the inaugural year, providing a great variety of tasty fruit, yogurt, pretzels, and mini bagels to participants after you cross the Finish Line. This year, Publix is providing additional food items and a surprise 5^th anniversary treat!

Marathon and Half Marathon Shirts - The tech race shirts are different colors for Marathoners and Half Marathoners, making it easier to distinguish between the two races.

Publix Goodie Bag - Each participant will receive a commemorative drawstring goodie bag at packet pickup, courtesy of Publix.

Expo Parking - Participants will have access to a discounted parking lot for the Expo. Expo parking coupons will be available online and emailed to all participants in March.

Course Enhancements - A special "Support Station" featuring orange slices has been added to the Marathon course. A GU Station has been added to the Half Marathon course in addition to the GU

station before the Marathon/Half Marathon split.

New Medal Design - The 2011 finisher's medal designs are race specific and feature the Atlanta downtown skyline in 3D!

VIP Race Package- Looking for the ultimate race experience? New for 2011, participants have the option to purchase a special race package which includes:

• Express Packet Pick-up Line at the Expo
• Reserved Race Day Parking
• Private Restrooms
• Private Gear Check
• Pre-race Continental Breakfast
• Free Post Race Massages
• Post Race Buffet
• Printable Results Available Immediately Post Race

* Ooooh! Post Race Massages....sounds good to me!!!

Now that I have less that two months before the race, an increasing "To Do" list is being developed.

To Do

1) Book accommodation near Centinnial Olympic Park in Atlanta

2) Start thinking about my race day outfit (my friends own a company called Basotholand, Inc., which represents all that is Lesotho. They've promised me a couple of race shirts!)

3) Study and become one with the Publix Georgia Marathon race route

4) Complete my training/race plan (and I use this term loosely):

Feb 05- Sasol Half Marathon (13.1 miles)
Feb 12- Crocodilian 32 km (20 miles)
Feb 19- Winburg 10 km (6.2 miles)
Feb 27- Township 15 km (9.3 miles)
March 5- Maluti-A-Phofung Street Mile (1 mile)
March 20- Publix Georgia Marathon (26.2 miles)

5) Add more tracks to my Pavement Pounding Playlist

I'm just so excited!

Well, let me get up so that I can knock out my morning run!

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

Yours in (Publix Georgia Marathon) training,

Dani

Change in the air?

Hello Dear Reader,

I'm sensing a change in my attitude in 2011, specifically about running partners. Gawk! I know...I'm the one who was adamant about not wanting Mad-dog trainer standing next to me on the treadmill while I ran...well, that's just annoying. I'm still the one who has refused to take on a running partner, other than my jazzy pink iPod, for fear that I might be distracted.

Now mind you, I definitely don't want a regular running partner, but lately, I've become more open to the idea of running with others for the sake of doing something different/added motivation/advice. This potential change of heart was brought on by an event that took place yesterday. So in a Sofia Petrillo-styled way (a la Golden Girls), I'll tell you about it.

Picture it: Maseru, 2011, at the only seafood restaurant in town. A lovely young lady (i.e. me) met up with two friends (Doc and gym girl) for lunch and ran into yet another friend- we'll call this friend...Lady T. The four friends began talking about signing up for the Two Oceans (Ultra) Marathon in Cape Town. All of this running talk sparked an interest in the lovely young lady to make an attempt at running the half (because she's not crazy enough to run 35 miles), so Lady T invited the lovely young lady for an after work planning meeting.

At 5:30 pm on the dot, the lovely young lady found Doc, Lady T, and two other running gals at a tiny "French" cafe discussing race trip logistics. As the lovely young lady began to introduce herself to the running gals, she was interrupted by running gal #1, "Hey, I know you! I see you out running in the morning! We pass each other all of the time! Yeah, you're one of those crazy runners- you're so focused! You must run all over the city! How do you do it?". The young lady, who has been stopped on several occasions by strangers to tell her she's a crazy runner, smiled and said, "don't believe the hype!"

The entire group stated talking about their running routines and how they were going to prepare for the Two Oceans. Almost simultaniously, the group (other than the young lady, of course), suggested that they start a running club. "We can help each other train." The first reaction from the lovely young lady was a big "hell no", but that was strictly an inside conversation. As they continued talking about their experiences running marathons (as in plural) and ultra marathons (as in plural), and working on hill drills, the lovely young lady began to warm up to the idea of training partners. The idea might not be so bad, particularly since, for her, discipline was hard to come by lately. This training club might not be such a bad idea after all.

They all laughed at the young lady's fear of running hills and purposely running routes with a lot of down hills. The young lady sat jaw-dropped as they shared running stories. They all agreed that their first meet up would be Monday morning and departed.

The moral of the story is that this young lady left with a more open mind to running with partners...and a commitment to never be crazy enough to run an ultra marathon....that story is a "to be continued"...

Well, until next time...one foot in front of the other...keep it movin'!

Yours in (mind opening) training,

Dani

New Year's Resolutions

Hello Dear Reader,

Christmas at the beach with Couch Potato #2 and some pretty amazing people was just what Santa Claus ordered! Clearly, Old Saint Nick thought I was good enough this year to be rewarded with such an amazing experience (or he chose to overlook one or fifteen small things)!

As I begin to prepare for the excitement that is New Year's Eve & Day, reflecting on all that has taken place this past year never ceases to amaze me. Specifically, I've grown up a whole helluva lot both personally and professionally. Frustrating experiences have been turned into lemonade, which have been turned into a thriving lemonade stand, if you will. Things that were great from start to finish were the quintessential cherries on top.

This new endeavour of running has been both frustrating and extremely rewarding. In the past 137 days/4.5 months, I have gone from being unable to run 8 minutes straight to running my first 1/2 marathon. There were times that my knees wanted to take a rain check. At one point, my ankles gave me an ultimatum- quit now or never walk again. I went from feeling uncomfortable running outside in fear that I would have to walk all the way back with tail between legs. I managed to run my first non-stop 5k in 41 minutes, two weeks into this journey. Now I can run a 5k in 31 minutes (and the time keeps dropping). Finally, I have managed to fit back into pants that have been keeping the back of the top shelf of my closet company for two years. My shoulders are set back just a little more than they were initially. My chin is raised ever so slightly higher than before. Most importantly, the word "can't" and all the ways it manifests itself are slowly, but surely slipping away.

Four days away from 2011 or as they are starting to say in South Africa- 2000-elevation, my resolution for the new year is to use the lessons learned from 2010 and apply them in all things that I do moving forward. It is my hope that I continue to break down the barriers I've set for myself (many of us have that problem); set ambitious goals and achieve them; and continue to seek a healthy lifestyle through running, eating well, and maintaining a positive outlook.

Concretely, in 2011 I plan to do the following:

1. Run 1 marathon in a country other than the US of A before the end of the year.
2. Every quarter, run in at least one race.
3. Renew my membership to the gym.
4. Encourage one person to begin a regular exercise and healthy eating routine.

So there you have it good people! I'm still working on getting my mind back into running shape...a lot more difficult than it has been before...but I'm getting there!

Until next time...come up with a few of your own realistic and measurable goals for the New Year (and don't forget to share them)...and of course, keep it movin'!



Yours in (still getting my act together) training,

Dani

P.S. Within the next day or so, I have to decide if I'm going to run in the "First Eleven" New Year's (11.1k) race at the Pretoria Botanical Gardens. This morning, I called the race organizer to find out the details...that's the first step, right?!

Catch Up

Hello Dear Reader-

While I may have been on a blog-writing vacation, I certainly haven't been sitting on the couch! Friday morning, I wasn't feeling so well, but knew that this could not side-track my goal- marathon preparation. After work, with a make-up workout session on my mind, I headed to the gym for a 45 minute fast walk/run. Although I was a bit worn down from not feeling my best, core strengthening was up next: side, abdominal and back crunches (4 sets of 20); and the beloved ham string "crunch" capped the day off. In total, my workout lasting about 1.5 hours.

As you know, Saturday is my designated break day, but rest, it was not. My roommate, who I've managed to rope into running with me, and I went to Bloemfontein, South Africa, to pick out new running shoes and a few other things. To be honest, that was the most productive Bloem trip I've ever had. Usually a trip to Bloem equals a mall meander, dinner, movies and light shopping. My roomie and I, however, were on a mission, and in the process, took the opportunity to explore the "other side" of Bloem (read: got lost).

While looking for shoes, I actually found the Nike + iPod gadget that helps you set and keep track of running goals (distance, time or calories burned). The special Nike + shoe includes a little pocket under the insole for a little sensor. A tiny white receiver fits on the bottom of the iPod to capture the data being transmitted from the sensor. In addition to pace/distance/calorie monitoring, the Nike + iPod gadget also keeps you updated with motivational songs and a spoken account of your progress. The things that Apple comes up with! Pretty cool, huh? Yeah, I thought so too, until I got home, plugged the receiver into my iPod "classic" and got the message that "this accessory is not recognized"! What!?! A call to the Apple store confirmed that the Nike + iPod= Nike + iPod "nano"...the baby version of what I have. In other words, I have a super cool, fantastic gadget that I can't, at this point, use. Boo for Apple on this one! Perhaps someone from the Apple store is reading this little blog o'mine. If you are...I'm giving you the side-eye and hoping that this intimidates you enough to expand this tool to the rest of the iPod users. Please?!?

Nike + iPod gadget or not, I have running shoes, sports bras, thin running socks, and running pants with a zipper pocket in back for keys and things. Oh, did I mention that I got a hammock and a blender too? Can we say together..."Summer is (almost) here!" True, the hammock is an outdoor couch of sorts, but hey, I've gotta sit down sometimes! The blender, in addition to many planned frozen adult beverages, is a great way to get your daily fruit and veggie intake...a round of smoothies for everyone- on the house!
Bringing it back to exercise...after returning from Bloem, we drove around to clock our planned Sunday morning running route- 4.1 K. At 7:30 this morning, we walk a little over 1K to our starting point. Remember, it's always a good thing to "warm up" prior to any exercise. A positive note was that we ran the majority of the way with only a few short slow down breaks (completed in 28.14 minutes). Furthermore, I wasn't physically tired at all. What frustrated me however, was that my asthma, caused my chest to tighten a bit and forced me to stop to catch my breath. I'm sure that, with better management and listening to my body, this will not get in my way. Management includes carrying an inhaler, taking prescribed asthma meds regularly, and a few other tips and tricks.

Running was followed by a "cool down" trip back to our flat, and back out again for a walk to the grocery store. Delicious fresh fruits (blueberries, strawberries, bananas and passion fruit) and yogurt were blended to make a fantastic morning breakfast drink. A fruit smoothie, along with pancakes from scratch, was a nice way to start off the day! Speaking of breakfast, remember that eating well is just as much a part of marathon preparation as running. Without the proper type of fuel for your car, it won't run to its full capacity, right? Eating balanced meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner...along with healthy snacks...helps your body to perform at the optimal level. Because I'm interested in performing my best, I've started working with a nutritionist. This week, we're focusing on healthy snacks for (before and after) running: carbs (fruits and easily digestible carbs like white bread) before & protein (nuts, beans, etc.) afterwards. Pre-run carbs assist in providing your body with the energy it needs for continuous movement. Post-run protein aids in muscle building. As I get nutrition tips, they'll be passed on to you.

It feels great to have maintained my goal of running, working out and eating well. Because I'm feeling so motivated, I'll head to the gym a little later for some core strengthening...as a reward (of sorts). Never thought I'd "hear" myself calling a workout a reward for working out...but I'll take it however it comes!

Thanks again for all of your encouragement and for following along with me in this journey!

Until next time...

Yours in training,

Dani

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!