Today was the half marathon. This is probably worthy of a lengthy post about the people I saw, how I felt, and the overall experience, but for some strange reason I'm pretty tired! ;-)
It was pretty cool though. It was amazing to accomplish 13.1 miles when my previous farthest distance was only 10 miles last week.
Yesterday, I signed up for the Surf City Half Marathon on February 5th and the OC Marathon on May 6th. I'm going for the Beach Cities Challenge medal!
My dad signed up for the Surf City half also, and I think Mat is going to also. It will be a family affair!
And now it's off to sleep. Good night!
Showing posts with label half marathon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label half marathon. Show all posts
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Beach Cities Challenge
I read about this back when signing up for the Long Beach half marathon, and I ran across it again tonight. The Beach Cities Challenge involves running any combination of half or full marathons in Long Beach, Huntington Beach (Surf City half/full), and the OC half/full. You get a special Beach Cities Challenge Medal if you do all three consecutively, starting with any of the three. That means that after I run the LB half this Sunday, if I run the Surf City (probably the half) on February 5th (happy 1 year of being engaged!) and the OC (possibly the full?) on May 6th, I'll get the cool medal.
I'm strongly considering it. Yes, it costs money, but it still costs far less than ballet, even when you factor in clothes and replacing your shoes. And, I've come to LOVE running. Yeah, some mornings at 4:30 I'm not really in the mood, but that always goes away and is more often the result of it being a work day than it being 4:30 in the morning.
It would be such an accomplishment - complete 2 halfs and a full (or maybe 3 halfs depending on how things go) less than a year after starting to run.
The final of the three, on May 6th, is more than 6 weeks before our wedding, so if God forbid I get injured at least I'll have time to heal before walking down the aisle. :)
I think I'll wait until Sunday to decide. Early registration for the OC Marathon ends tomorrow, but they will also be offering it at their booth at LB on Sunday. That's the one I would try for the full in if I'm going to try a full, but I can't just decide that on a whim. Training for a half has been totally manageable, and even though I would do another half before this full, training for a full requires a ton more time and morning runs would not be as easy.
I'll have to think about it.
But it would be so damn cool.
I'm strongly considering it. Yes, it costs money, but it still costs far less than ballet, even when you factor in clothes and replacing your shoes. And, I've come to LOVE running. Yeah, some mornings at 4:30 I'm not really in the mood, but that always goes away and is more often the result of it being a work day than it being 4:30 in the morning.
It would be such an accomplishment - complete 2 halfs and a full (or maybe 3 halfs depending on how things go) less than a year after starting to run.
The final of the three, on May 6th, is more than 6 weeks before our wedding, so if God forbid I get injured at least I'll have time to heal before walking down the aisle. :)
I think I'll wait until Sunday to decide. Early registration for the OC Marathon ends tomorrow, but they will also be offering it at their booth at LB on Sunday. That's the one I would try for the full in if I'm going to try a full, but I can't just decide that on a whim. Training for a half has been totally manageable, and even though I would do another half before this full, training for a full requires a ton more time and morning runs would not be as easy.
I'll have to think about it.
But it would be so damn cool.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Coyote
On Friday I took a walk and saw two coyotes. It startled me but they seemed startled also and I walked away and didn't worry too much after that.
Yesterday I took the same walk and saw nothing. Ok, cool.
Today I set off to run 5 miles and was very aware the whole time. About 2.5ish miles into it I saw a dead cat on the sidewalk. And trust me when I say dead - I'm glad it was still dark so I didn't have to really see it. Naturally this made me think oh no is there a coyote around here. I get off the sidewalk to avoid the poor cat, stop running, look around, and sure enough there's a coyote up ahead. It's running away and then stops and turns and stares at me. It's not super close, thank God. I go the other way and eventually take off SPRINTING to get home. I saw my mom walking and told her about it, then did a 1 mile loop right by my house so my run could total 4ish miles. I was bummed to not get 5 miles in, but technically I was only supposed to run 4 anyway because the half-marathon is Sunday.
Because I'm a paranoid freak, I googled coyotes all day. The jist is that generally they are fearful of humans, but they are also very adaptable so if they learn they can find food in neighborhoods, etc, they start to lose that fear. I also found the animal control phone number for the city and on its website it says to report any dead, injured, or sick animals (but there's no point in reporting a sighting because coyotes are considered wildlife and therefore are protected by law). So, I called. I learned that there were already two calls about coyotes today and it sounded like two coyotes were picked up. I asked where, and the lady told me one on Euclid and Lambert and the other on Ridgehaven.
Ridgehaven was the street I was running on.
I felt better knowing that something happened, but I know that two coyotes being picked up does not mean there aren't more. However, from googling I learned that when coyotes are threatened by humans, the natural fear returns. The lady on the phone also said, when I asked, that I should obviously be aware but that they are generally afraid of us and to just leave the area.
So, I'm still a little freaked (I think the poor cat has a lot to do with that) but everyone around me isn't too worried so I figure I should just calm down. That and keep on carrying the pepper spray and not be afraid to yell or throw a stick at it.
Yesterday I took the same walk and saw nothing. Ok, cool.
Today I set off to run 5 miles and was very aware the whole time. About 2.5ish miles into it I saw a dead cat on the sidewalk. And trust me when I say dead - I'm glad it was still dark so I didn't have to really see it. Naturally this made me think oh no is there a coyote around here. I get off the sidewalk to avoid the poor cat, stop running, look around, and sure enough there's a coyote up ahead. It's running away and then stops and turns and stares at me. It's not super close, thank God. I go the other way and eventually take off SPRINTING to get home. I saw my mom walking and told her about it, then did a 1 mile loop right by my house so my run could total 4ish miles. I was bummed to not get 5 miles in, but technically I was only supposed to run 4 anyway because the half-marathon is Sunday.
Because I'm a paranoid freak, I googled coyotes all day. The jist is that generally they are fearful of humans, but they are also very adaptable so if they learn they can find food in neighborhoods, etc, they start to lose that fear. I also found the animal control phone number for the city and on its website it says to report any dead, injured, or sick animals (but there's no point in reporting a sighting because coyotes are considered wildlife and therefore are protected by law). So, I called. I learned that there were already two calls about coyotes today and it sounded like two coyotes were picked up. I asked where, and the lady told me one on Euclid and Lambert and the other on Ridgehaven.
Ridgehaven was the street I was running on.
I felt better knowing that something happened, but I know that two coyotes being picked up does not mean there aren't more. However, from googling I learned that when coyotes are threatened by humans, the natural fear returns. The lady on the phone also said, when I asked, that I should obviously be aware but that they are generally afraid of us and to just leave the area.
So, I'm still a little freaked (I think the poor cat has a lot to do with that) but everyone around me isn't too worried so I figure I should just calm down. That and keep on carrying the pepper spray and not be afraid to yell or throw a stick at it.
Monday, October 3, 2011
On Running
I ran 10 miles on Saturday. That's right, 10 miles. I know it doesn't sound like much to a marathoner, but it was my first attempt and success at double digits.
This Sunday, 5 days from now, is the Long Beach Half Marathon. I'm excited and a little nervous. I'm not so much nervous about the actual run as I am about just doing something new and it being unfamiliar. I think adrenaline will get me through the final 3 miles, so I'm not worried about that. But when something is new and weird, it can be nerve-wracking. At least there should be a feeling of camaraderie, as my dad said, that's really cool at races like that.
On another note, I absolutely LOVE what running has done for my body. I'm in better shape now than I've ever been, both mentally and physically. I feel thin but STRONG. I feel lean and muscular and for probably the first time in my life, confident about my body. I can put jeans on and not be a skinny ballerina and look at myself in the mirror and say, "Hey, I like my body - I look good!" I even went to ballet on a random Wednesday a few weeks ago and wore a leotard and cut off tights (like bike shorts) and felt good. I could look at skinny people and finally NOT think, "ugh I feel fat."
I know what you're thinking. You're thinking, "How on earth can you EVER feel fat?" Yes, I know. It sounds ridiculous. But if you've never lived and breathed the ballet world as I have for essentially my entire life, you can't really understand it. And if you can't understand it, in some ways I envy you.
And on that note, I'm getting up at 4:30 to get my last 5 mile run before Sunday. Wednesday will go down to 3, and Thursday down to 2. Yesterday was rest, today was a 2 mile walk, Friday will be a walk, and Saturday will be REST.
Good night Monday! I won't miss you...
This Sunday, 5 days from now, is the Long Beach Half Marathon. I'm excited and a little nervous. I'm not so much nervous about the actual run as I am about just doing something new and it being unfamiliar. I think adrenaline will get me through the final 3 miles, so I'm not worried about that. But when something is new and weird, it can be nerve-wracking. At least there should be a feeling of camaraderie, as my dad said, that's really cool at races like that.
On another note, I absolutely LOVE what running has done for my body. I'm in better shape now than I've ever been, both mentally and physically. I feel thin but STRONG. I feel lean and muscular and for probably the first time in my life, confident about my body. I can put jeans on and not be a skinny ballerina and look at myself in the mirror and say, "Hey, I like my body - I look good!" I even went to ballet on a random Wednesday a few weeks ago and wore a leotard and cut off tights (like bike shorts) and felt good. I could look at skinny people and finally NOT think, "ugh I feel fat."
I know what you're thinking. You're thinking, "How on earth can you EVER feel fat?" Yes, I know. It sounds ridiculous. But if you've never lived and breathed the ballet world as I have for essentially my entire life, you can't really understand it. And if you can't understand it, in some ways I envy you.
And on that note, I'm getting up at 4:30 to get my last 5 mile run before Sunday. Wednesday will go down to 3, and Thursday down to 2. Yesterday was rest, today was a 2 mile walk, Friday will be a walk, and Saturday will be REST.
Good night Monday! I won't miss you...
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Tomorrow is FRIDAY!!
As usual, I'm thrilled that tomorrow is Friday. It's been a pretty crazy few weeks (and weekends for that matter) and it will continue to be this way, but it's sure making the time fly!
Our wedding is 9 months from today. :) It still feels like forever, but 9 months isn't all that long anymore. I think. At least that's what I keep telling myself.
Today I got paid for the first time since June. Thank God for that. Of course, after paying the credit card bill which was not exactly small, I don't have much left for the month of October, but this is how I've been living since February, so oh well. Lots of expenses and things to save for right now. I can't wait to be married and have things settle down a little in terms of money. We're saving to buy furniture and go on a honeymoon and buy a house eventually, so at least after we get married the furniture and honeymoon expense will be gone.
However, I don't want to think about the honeymoon being over because that's just sad. The nice thing about still having 9 months to go is that I can keep looking forward to all the good stuff we have going on. :)
I still CANNOT WAIT to move though. That will never change. 4 months-ish. Not that I'm counting down to that too, or anything...
I should take advantage of not having to be doing something tonight and go to bed early. That's the smart thing to do.
Half-marathon: 9 days. My birthday: 14 days. Vegas for the sister's 21st: 77 days. Wedding: 273 days!
Our wedding is 9 months from today. :) It still feels like forever, but 9 months isn't all that long anymore. I think. At least that's what I keep telling myself.
Today I got paid for the first time since June. Thank God for that. Of course, after paying the credit card bill which was not exactly small, I don't have much left for the month of October, but this is how I've been living since February, so oh well. Lots of expenses and things to save for right now. I can't wait to be married and have things settle down a little in terms of money. We're saving to buy furniture and go on a honeymoon and buy a house eventually, so at least after we get married the furniture and honeymoon expense will be gone.
However, I don't want to think about the honeymoon being over because that's just sad. The nice thing about still having 9 months to go is that I can keep looking forward to all the good stuff we have going on. :)
I still CANNOT WAIT to move though. That will never change. 4 months-ish. Not that I'm counting down to that too, or anything...
I should take advantage of not having to be doing something tonight and go to bed early. That's the smart thing to do.
Half-marathon: 9 days. My birthday: 14 days. Vegas for the sister's 21st: 77 days. Wedding: 273 days!
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Half Marathon?
This past Thursday, the 14th, was the first day I ran 2.5 miles. I ran that distance again on Friday, took Saturday off (from running anyway, I still walked a lot down in Newport) and then ran 2.5 again this morning. I'm hoping to get to 3 miles sometime this week.
I'm also debating running the Long Beach International half marathon in October. A friend saw my Facebook post about having run 2.5 on Thursday and mentioned that according to her training schedule for a half, that day was supposed to be a 2.5 mile run. Even though the entrance fee is $80, I'm very intrigued. It would be such an accomplishment, and definitely not something I ever thought I'd do.
I'm seriously considering just signing up and paying for it because that will certainly get me committed! It's on October 9th, which is 5 days before my birthday. It would be quite a nice birthday present to myself!
I'm also debating running the Long Beach International half marathon in October. A friend saw my Facebook post about having run 2.5 on Thursday and mentioned that according to her training schedule for a half, that day was supposed to be a 2.5 mile run. Even though the entrance fee is $80, I'm very intrigued. It would be such an accomplishment, and definitely not something I ever thought I'd do.
I'm seriously considering just signing up and paying for it because that will certainly get me committed! It's on October 9th, which is 5 days before my birthday. It would be quite a nice birthday present to myself!
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