Running for two--or, mostly walking

This is now my third attempt to write an entry about my first ever 5k. It seems that hitting the "save entry" button doesn't really save anything for me except the info in the header. I just might give up if it doesn't work this time and call it a day.

My first ever 5k. Whoopee! I was pretty bummed that Paul couldn't run today, but I was more glad that he was feeling better after his adjustment. Hopefully he can run tomorrow. I definitely have to preface this race report with a shout out to my support crew: the Drapers. Bethany got me through this race and Cody came and pushed the pace on the final straightaway. I can't say enough good things about the Drapers, especially Bethany without whom I would have quit before halfway.

The race started at an arbitrary point on the road, which seemed to bother some (Cody), but didn't bother me, since that might have made the race oh-so-slightly shorter. Also, I'm not out to win any awards or break any records, so starting lines really don't concern me. We started right behind this guy who was running with his Golden and got passed early on by a woman pushing a jogging stroller. This is my idea of fun. Running in the dark at 15 degrees in downtown Ogden. I'm sure complaining a lot for a race that was my idea.

So, one block of slight uphill followed by one block of steep uphill pretty much kicked my butt. I tried to convince Bethany to go on without me, but she insisted that she wanted to run with me. Have I mentioned how great she is? She could have gotten a PR today, but she chose to run with me instead. I never would have even finished without her. When I got to the top of that hill I could barely lift my legs, but somehow she got me through that. I will admit that the uphill section of the race (the first half) pretty much destroyed me, but the downhill section was a lot more fun.

When we got to the part of the course where the loop joins back up with the straightaway we saw Cody run around the corner and gave him a little team spirit. He, of course, returned the favor and went on to take 2nd overall. Nice comeback, Cody. We turned onto the loop part of the course, saw some interesting (read: tacky) Christmas decorations and started on the downhill. So much easier to run downhill. I need to stick to the downhill races. I'm just not conditioned for the uphill stuff.

With I'd say about a mile to go Cody met back up with us and ran us in to the finish. I appreciate him pushing the pace a little because I was kind of just on cruise control and Bethany was just sticking with me. Anyway, I guess we were pretty hilarious, or at least that's the report I got from Paul who said that Cody told him how funny we were. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it's the comedy stylings of Draper and Petersen. We'll be here all week. Don't forget to tip your waitress.

When it came to the actual finish I tried to get Bethany to take it and she tried to get me to take it, but we ended up pretty much crossing together (I ended up letting her take it by stepping behind her). Then I went back to my coat rack (Paul) and we hit the Rock part of the Rock and Run. Dinner was good and we met some interesting people (John and Cindy Patterson, who seemed to know everybody there), who tried to convince us to move to Ogden and in turn we tried to convince them to join the blog. We'll see how that works out.

So, about my goals. I think that, despite being cold and complaining a little (read: a lot), I do think that just getting out there and doing it and actually enjoying it is pretty good. I hope that God was glorified in the fact that I just finished, which, again, I owe to Bethany. You know, I'm not really a racer. I'm not really a runner, either. I am trying to take care of my sanctuary, though, and I'm pretty sure that counts for something.

I hope everybody had a good 2007! I know I did. I can't wait to see what 2008 holds! Hopefully more running and more blogging. Two things I can't get enough of.

I took yesterday off and lounged (it was a holiday).  I really enjoy having a really relaxing day sometimes with no pressure or plans or anything.  My calves were still a little sore today, so I just did 1.5 on the treadmill.  SLOW.  Who am I kidding?  I'm always slow, but speed isn't what it's about.  Getting out there and using my body for something good is what it's about.  Sitting around is enjoyable at times, but you can't do it every day.

Oh, did I mention that it was 5 degrees when I got to work this morning.  5.  I know I grew up in Michigan and all, but I never got used to the cold.  Snow, rain, hail, these things I can handle.  I draw the line when it comes to cold.  It was a good thing I was running on Monday or I would have probably frozen.  It made me appreciate those who came out to cheer us on all the more.  It also made me appreciate Planet Fitness.  Anyway, I don't think this is even an inversion.  It's just cold.  Is winter over yet?  (Have I lost my commando points yet?)

I have changed my fitness routine to try to be more well-rounded.  Running only develops certain muscles, while others are neglected.  Don't get me wrong.  I'm not going to start lifting (my most hated of all forms of exercise) or anything.  When I started running at the gym I intended to do some lifting, mostly lower body, but that happened about twice.  No, I'm opting for the more soothing, calming, enjoyable activity of yoga.  I've taken classes before and really enjoyed it.  I need to increase my flexibility, especially in my hamstrings, so I figure this is a step in the right direction.

So, today, instead of running, I did 30 minutes of yoga.  I haven't done yoga for a long time, so today I was mostly learning the poses for a new routine, but I should be able to do it longer (and be more focused) once I get back into the groove.  I have to admit that I'm easily distracted, so I think I might need to find a different room to do it in, too.  There's too much going on in the room I was in today and I allowed myself not to focus, but instead to look around the room at all the stuff.  And believe me, when it comes to stuff, we have a lot of it.

Anyway, my plan is to still run 4 times a week and do yoga 3 times a week.  This increases my fitness routine to 7 days a week, but decreases my mileage.  I'm hoping that having some rest days will help me to have more energy to run, since I've been so tired lately and my runs have felt pretty fruitless.  Also, the tight hamstrings.  Have I mentioned the tight hamstrings?  I would love to get to a point where I could run and do yoga in the same day, but, like I said, I've been tired.  So, 3 rest days a week that aren't total rest days, I'm optimistic. 

So, I'm still tired today.  It's getting kind of old.  I think I might take a page from Paul's book and start taking more naps.  I really didn't want to go to the gym today.  I was tired, like I said, and really wanted to get a jump on that whole taking more naps thing, but I went to the gym anyway and promised myself I would take a nap after work (which I did and it was awesome).

I did 1 mile on the treadmill and decided to do some elliptical because the treadmill just isn't doing it for me lately, so 15 minutes on the elliptical.  I'm counting it as 2 miles total.  Here's the thing:  I'm getting a better workout on the elliptical these days.  It used to be the other way around, but I've gotten pretty treadmill lazy.  So, when I run on the treadmill, I go at a REALLY slow pace and kind of run walk.  If you're running as slow as I am, you can pretty much start walking without changing the settings (yes, it's that slow).  So, since I know how easy it is to walk, I get tired and I start walking.  On the elliptical, however, I can slow down when I get tired (which I do), but it still makes me keep doing the running-like motion, which is where the workout actually comes from for me.  So, I know I've said before that the elliptical doesn't help my running, but it does help my stamina.  I think I'll try to just mix it up like I did today and see how that treats me. 

I slept in this morning until an embarrassing time (embarrassing for somebody else if they knew what time I got up, not necessarily for me because I love my sleep). Went to the gym with Paul and did 30 minutes on the elliptical. I'm calling it 2 miles. I know what I said yesterday about mixing it up, but I really felt like getting a good workout in today, so I stuck with the elliptical and I felt pretty good about it. It was pretty warm today, so I was tempted to run outside, but pretty much all of the sidewalks are covered with ice from all the snow melt re-freezing. I did try to run home from the gym, but the ice really made it difficult. I tried to do a little skating in a few places, but wasn't really excited about the idea of falling on my butt (or face, as the case may be), so I kept the skating to a minimum.

I spent some time today trying to plan out what I want to do during our trip to the Green Valley Spa in February.  I mean, obviously I want a massage, but what kind of massage?  They have at least 50 types of massage that they offer (yes, I'm exaggerating, it's more like 15) and it's hard to know which one is best.  Maybe a facial would be nice?  They have 5 kinds of facials.  We could do some hiking, but there are so many great places to go in St. George that I wouldn't know where to start.  Run with the St. George Running Club?  Well, Paul has pretty much told me that I don't have a choice on that one.  Anyway, this free trip to the Green Valley Spa is actually going to be anything but free, but it'll be worth it.  If anybody has been there and has suggestions for which kind of massage I should get, let me know, I'm open for suggestions (I know.  If the biggest problem I'm having is that I can't decide what kind of massage to get, I must be doing pretty well).