Pages

3/8/12

On your mark ...

I don't want to jinx myself, but I'm running again. And I'm just so excited I could jump up and down ... assuming my legs aren't too tired. I had such a great experience with St. George and I've wanted to run another marathon for awhile now. I signed up for Ogden last year, but had some lingering IT band issues that seemed to love me a whole lot more than I loved them. So I began stretching and then stretching some more. Babying it. Becoming BFFs with my foam roller. Apprehensively testing it out over and over again with 3-4 milers, which usually ended in pain and disappointment. And having to spend even more time with my nemesis -- the elliptical. I am the only one who hates that machine? It's Awful with an actual capital A.

I started thinking that maybe long distance running just wasn't in the cards for me again. But here's the thing: without a good goal for exercise, I'm useless. I can come up with just about every excuse in the book. I've proven to myself that I always feel good after a workout, yet I can still convince myself that an hour of The Bachelor (shame on me) or grazing through Ikea will produce the exact same effect. Yes, something intimidating like a marathon is what I need to shove me into a routine. Not to mention how great I felt while training for St. George. I want that again.

Are you feeling like this woman yet? If so, sorry! You have my blessing to stop reading now. I try not be one of those annoying people who think you're just dying to hear about the size of their running blisters or what crazy stuff the wrong kind of gu does to their body. Rest assured I won't ever burn such knowledge into your brain. The less gross material people have to blackmail me with the better.

And now back to rruuuunning! (It helps if you read that in a sing-song voice). So what to do about that pesky IT band, huh? Well, I went back to the physical therapist, stretched a million times more, tried a few new strengthening things, said a few prayers, and here I am - 2 months in and so far so good. I'm doing a few things differently this time around, namely more strength training, some yoga, etc. I'm continually worried about injuring myself, but all I can do is be as careful as I can. My fingers are tightly crossed that I can make it make it through training injury-free, because if not I have unpleasant visions of having to spend the rest of my workout life on that bleeping elliptical. No thanks. I'll need to take it slower, so I've decided to forgo being concerned with time at all - just get across that finish line without limping. The quietly competitive side of me will have to stuff it and just enjoy the fine scenery.

And so here we are. Running. And stuff. Stuff like listening to some great music while running. I have no doubt that when I get up into my higher mileage I'll start listening to Stuff You Missed in History Class or This American Life (both highly recommended) and some mellow stuff. Anything over 15 miles and my mind starts screaming for something different. But until then - some old songs, some new songs ... working wonders. So for anyone looking for a few song suggestions, here are some that have been great for me:


To sum up, I like to run. And I'm hoping to do it more without injury. And because I'm a bit superstitious, I'll going to end this post with a hearty KNOCK ON WOOD. No really, I'm actually knocking on wood right now. I'll give you a virtual high-five if you'd do the same for me!