At the risk of being repetitive...

...OUCH. Still.

When will it not hurt to stand, sit, walk, flush (I have a public restroom phobia and must flush with a foot)??

OUCH!

The Half Mary From Hell

I ran the entire thing - all 13.1 miles. That was goal no. 1.

I bested the two gals I trained with by 20 minutes. That was goal no. 2.

I did not, however, reach goal no. 3, which was to finish in under 2 hours. My time was 2:05. Five lousy minutes. FIVE! Those 5 lousy minutes were all lost in mile 11 when I was forced to run up the Atlanta hills from hell.

But I did it. And it hurt. And it still hurts. Thank god for ibuprofen...

I'm Not A Loser

Today's 5K promsed to be a shitty race: it was a hilly course and it was less than 50 degrees and fairly windy. AND I was representing my employers.

And yet I won 3rd place in my age group. Cute plaque and a not-so cute picture of me holding it backwards.

And just like that, this will go down as a good day.

BOO!

I'm ashamed at how I've let my blog go....

...but my extra time has been filled. Filled with running (I'm training for a half marathon in November) and filled with photography. I've been trying to market myself and my photography such that within the next year I can quit what I currently do (and HATE) and do what I love...my dream job...to be a full-time photographer.

Sigh.

But I'm still around and still fine.

I've run 5-6 5Ks and 1 10K. I'm running my "long run" each week with two women I've teamed up with for the half mary. We usually take those runs on Wednesdays. 10 miles. Ouch. Yesterday after work was our run. Through and around downtown. Ouch.

Mini - we need to connect privately so I can share my new website with you. Must retain my anonymity here, however. Thanks for poking me....

Oh! I never posted results of that 10k! I finished in under an hour AND well ahead of the woman I was running with. Those were my two goals, and I met them. I was a happy and sore camper...

Butterflies - in my butt ?

Now that I've got your attention, let me explain.

I have performance anxiety. Stage fright. Always have. I started ballet at the ripe old age of 3, complete with at least one "recital" yearly which included several dances performed on stage, in front of people. Before each one I got ill. Even when I was a semi pro dancer in a ballet company I would become ill before EVERY performance. You'd think that after performing on stage in the neighborhood of 100 times I would get over it.... Yes, you'd think.

In the 9th grade I was on the track team. Guess where I was before every meet. Yep, in the bathroom.

Just as others complain of having butterflies (in their tummies), I too get butterflies, but MY butterflies are aflutter in my butt! I don't know why. I can't explain the sensation any other way, but when the butterflies are flyin' I have to potty.

Not sure why I divulged all that, except to say that I'm nervous as shit (pun intended here) about my 10k on saturday. Not for fear of not finishing. Of course I'll finish. Not for fear of finishing last. Of course I won't finish last. Why, then? Hell if I know. Fear of not performing up to my expectations, I would imagine.

Anyway, I'm as ready as I can be at this moment. Did a short (3 mile) run today at lunch and the next two days are OFF days.

Thanks for thinking of me, Mini. I was thinking of you earlier as I read this and wanted to share....

http://lifestyle.msn.com/relationships/articleoprah.aspx?cp-documentid=10274156>1=32023

I've been remiss....

I haven't posted in eons it seems.

I'm here. I'm well. I'm running.

It's taken me so long to climb back up the running ladder. I've had to go so slowly and carefully. But I'm back. I'm really back. I'm finally up to 5-6 miles now and trying to work on speed. For now my speed really sucks, but at least the endurance is up. I'm only up to 9 minute miles right now.*[edited - I'm a dumbass and put 9 miles/hr]* But that will change. I will get there.

I have a 10k on September 20 and a half marathon on November 16. I'm scared. I'm way too competitive to race. What will happen is this: I'll get out there and finish with no problem, but because my speed isn't even REMOTELY competitive yet I will not finish as close to the front of the pack as I'd like and then I'll beat myself up about it. Yep, that's how it will go....

In other news: Today is my 5 year anniversary at work. Oh joy.

But the anniversary comes with an annual review (always stellar), which comes with a bonus, which I will use to buy new glass for my camera. And THAT rocks.

Truckin'

New goal: half mary 11/16/08.

I'm still being consistent with my new schedule: t, th, sa, su - run; m, w, f - weight training and elliptical.

I feel better. Stronger.

My wings are New Balance 1223s. They rock. Running is much less painful for me now.

Gosh, I almost forgot the most exciting part for me - I've lost weight. It seems to just be melting away slowly but surely, unlike before when I ran every day. Makes no damn sense, but whatever....