For Father's Day, Ezra (only 16 months mind you) got me an 8GB iPod Nano. So...I had to get an armband and the new Nike+ pedometer thingymabobber. I plan on running tomorrow whilst some lady tells me how far I've run, and how fast I did it in. I'm purdy excited!
Last year if you would have told me that I would be a runner I would have laughed at you. Although my physique doesn't conjure up images of Jesse Owens or any other athlete besides a rodeo clown...I have seen huge improvements in my energy, stamina, and weight.
So far, I have run a 5K race and a 13.1 mile half-marathon. I went from running a consistent 11-12 minute mile, to a 10 minute mile average. During the 5K I ran a 9.5 minute average! It was rather quick for me! Now I'm off to my next challenge....a full marathon. Yep...it's out there. I said it. I am planning on running the Okc Memorial Marathon in April. This is a full loop 26.2 miles of pure torture! My goal is to do this in 4 hours....
The coolest thing about running for me, is the mind game that goes on while you're running. Your body keeps telling you to stop, that you need to take a break, but you know that you can run as much as you're running. You have to push past the pain and focus on the end goal. If you give in to the "slow down" mental game you'll postpone your goal and it will keep you from getting faster.
I've learned to use those cues to pray and ask God to help me through the pain. I'm reminded of scripture that I quote while I'm in pain...
So there is my new goal. Check in on me and see how the training is going... Do you guys have any goals this year that seem overwhelming?
Yep, I ran the half-marathon a little over two weeks ago. Now, this weekend I'm running a measly 5k. I got a small addiction to running over the past few months. Part of it is the hangout time with people that I enjoy being around, and the other part of it is challenging myself and meeting goals. At any rate, in order to meet another large goal that I've set for myself, I will have to participate in smaller races through the winter to keep up the goal setting pace!
This weekend we are running in the Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis in Tulsa. There are a lot of people that singed up from the Tulsa campus of Lifechurch.tv. We have formed a team and will be wearing some nice red shirts that advertise our church and point people to the website. If everyone who signed up at church actually registers, we'll raise at least $1,000 for Arthritis and we'll have around 50 people running together. If you would like to donate, you can do so at my donation site. We're really trying to find ways to partner with our community and reach out while making people aware of our presence in the area.
So my boss Chris let me and Aaron take off of work this past weekend so that we could run the Route 66 Marathon. Over 4,000 people ran in either the Full, Half, or Relay Marathon. Only 1,300 or so actually finished the Half Marathon. Aaron and I were two of them! My goal was to run the 13.1 miles in two and a half hours. Our official time was 2:28:01. I beat my goal by two minutes! The main thing was that I have never really put a physical challenge before myself like this. I've been training since August and feel like I did pretty well....except for the two miles of up hill starting at mile 10! So now, I'm thinking of running the Okc Memorial Marathon in the spring of 08' and doing the full thing. That's a hefty goal! 26.2 miles! Aaaaah!
Here are a couple shots of me and Aaron running, and posing afterwards. Oh and a video my wife took at about 4 miles into it. Both our wives brought our kiddos out and met us at several points during the race to cheer us on....that was awesome! Enjoy...
I went downtown today and picked up my number for the impending Route 66 Marathon. I am not subjecting myself to the full torture but only 50% of the torture! I'll be running a 13.1 mile half-marathon on Sunday! I bought a couple of items to make my time a little easier. I bought Body Glide, which is less naughty than some of you may be thinking. I also got 4 pairs of Balega socks. Not that I plan on using all four but at least one pair for sure, and it was buy 3 get 1 free. So, with my tech shirt, running dri-shorts, specially fitted running shoes, synthetic running socks, red bandanna, and race bib number 5315...I will be sweating across the finish line in style and comfort, along with some sobbing probably.
So last week I ran....and ran....and ran. We did 5 miles for 3 days. Then on Saturday, I punished myself and Aaron and I ran 7 miles. Wait, did you read that right...yep. 7 MILES!!!
This has been a really cool thing the past month. Apart from my right foot falling asleep on the third mile, all has been really good. I went to Fleet Feet to address the foot issue. What I thought was going to be a 30 minute process turned into 2 hours. I had to run on a treadmill while they videoed me, told me what I was doing (Overpronating.) Then, they gave me 4 different brands of shoes, made me run in them all and narrowed it down to the best shoe for me. When I told the lady helping me that I like the way another shoe looked (actually a more expensive brand) she said that my foot didn't know how my shoe looked so it didn't matter. Hmmm, works for me!
So, my goal is to run a half-marathon (13.1 miles) at the end of November. The Route 66 Marathon is here in Tulsa and will be a great goal! I'm not planning on running that fast, since a 10 minute mile kicks my butt, but mainly just want to finish!
If you see me around, be sure to ask how it's going. I could use the accountability!
