When I decided to start training for my first 5K a short four weeks from the date of the race, lots of people warned me that it would be too fast. That I would get injured. And that I should just relax into a running routine, as opposed to shoving myself into the thick of it. Well, I didn’t listen to them. What can I say, I’ve always been independent to the extreme. And, at the end of the day, I did it. Granted, I didn’t do it that well, but I finished without collapsing, which is good. So as I sat here considering my next race, having realized that Baltimore’s Race for the Cure is the same day as our Redskins game, I decided, oh what the hell. Let’s just go for next Sunday instead. Yep, one week from today, I plan to run my second 5K. It will be a special race for me because it benefits a Baltimore-based colon cancer foundation. And it’s in Towson. It will be great. Just as soon as I figure out where Towson is.

 

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Today was a rest day, so I had some extra time to think. And I thought, ok, now what. I did my first 5K and I’ve been pretty steadily running two miles a day since then. Ok, it’s only been about a week, but what can I say, I get bored quickly. And even though I totally lambasted people who live according to goals and the “five-year plan,” I feel I need, well, a plan. So I’ve decided to add another 5K to my resume. The lucky winner was, originally, the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Baltimore on Sunday, October 18. I was about to sign up when I realized we have Redskins tickets for that very day, for a 1pm game. Doh! So, what to do?

 

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Even though I decided not to become a race addict, per say, I have certainly committed myself to a new lifestyle. At least I hope I have. I also “committed” myself to becoming a guitar player several years ago and, as of today, can only play two chords. In any case, that’s irrelevant. A very important lesson I learned yesterday is that running is, indeed, a lifestyle. And once you commit to it, it’s yours. For as long as you want it to be. Yesterday’s 5K welcomed almost 800 runners from around the area. Families, couples, little people and older runners alike. At first, I thought the little ones and older ones would round out the back of the pack nicely, giving me a solid lead. And as the overly energetic MC was reading the results at the end, I thought, I have one more year until I run in the 30-40 yr-old bracket, which, surely, will give me an advantage. Turns out, I was wrong on both counts. Way wrong. One little guy taunted me for most of mile two. He’d sprint along side me, pass me, start walking and then fall behind. He did this over and over again, as I continued my slow steady pace, until he eventually sprinted out of sight. I came very close to tripping the little bugger. And older runners just know what they’re doing. They are like Yoda’s out there, I swear. Several beat me, by a lot. In fact, most of the finish times in the older brackets were incredibly impressive. That’s going to be me. I’m going to be a running fool.

 

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Hard to believe that with a time of 32:01 I beat the Baltimore City police academy class, but guess what, it’s true. My first 5K is officially behind me and I beat the cadets. Hooah. It was a whirlwind of a day, from my nervousness in the morning to my celebratory beer and nachos by the evening. Not only had I never run in a race, but I’d never even been to one. So everything was new and exciting. It was inspiring to see the hordes of people on the lawns of the park, preparing for the event. The pregnant lady, proudly wearing her race number. The little clusters of families getting ready. The running clubs. The 60-yr-old woman in her running skirt. And then, mere moments later, to see each and every one of them pass me on the god damn trail. I mean really, a 9-yr-old beat me. In fact, 494 people beat me. But whatever. I am a glass half full sort of person and I’m going to focus on my accomplishments. I beat the cadets!

I also got to wear a race number, which they call a “bib.” It made me feel like a real runner. And I got to eat a chicken sandwich from Outback and drink several bottles of water. Delicious. And after we left the race grounds, I realized the pure joy that is the massage chair at Costco. (It was me and three other kids, hanging out in the massage chairs. I wondered if they were the kids that beat me earlier.)

Most importantly, though, I proved to myself that I could do something I honestly was not sure I could.

Race Day: Howard County Police Pace, MD
Total distance: 5K/3.1 miles
Total time: 32:01 minutes

 

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There really is no other way to describe it. Tomorrow is my first ever 5K and I don’t feel 100 percent ready. Granted, over the past several weeks, I’ve trained and worked myself up from being able to run a puny little minute to being able to run 25. Not bad. And today I did a prep run of about 15 minutes. But I still don’t know if I’ll be able to push myself that extra bit to complete 3.1 miles without stopping. Or throwing up. Or just plain being embarrassed. The good news is that by 10 am tomorrow, it will be over, and there will be Outback Steakhouse for me to eat. Because, honestly, who doesn’t love a good steak at 10 o’clock in the morning. Oh, and there’s a long-sleeved t-shirt and the opportunity to win fantastic random prizes. I’m going for the cruise. Above all this, though, my $25 entry fee will help the child of a fallen police officer receive a college education. I think that’s a pretty good cause. All I have to do is cross the finish line.

I’m wondering if participants can wear iPods. God, I hope so. Cause this is the song I’d start with.

Interval: 5 minute warm-up, 15 minute run, 5 minute cool-down
Total distance: 2.7 miles + a bit
Total time: 25:00 minutes

 

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I’m in trouble. So last night was, in fact, very fun. So much fun that I was physically unable to run this morning. That would normally be ok, except for the fact that I’m supposed to run my first 5K in four days. Oh my god. I think I just threw up a little bit, inside. Again. And remember that crazy training schedule I developed a few weeks ago? Today was the day I was supposed to up my interval to 15 minutes from the 12 I did yesterday. And tomorrow I’m supposed to reach a whole 20. I don’t remember why I thought these drastic increases wouldn’t be a problem. At this stage in the game, I honestly have no idea if I can run 20 minutes without stopping for a walk break. Well, I guess I’ll find out. Right now, I’m inspired by how good this night’s sleep will be. I have no doubt that I’ll pass out shortly. And I’m inspired by these tennis players at the U.S. Open right now. They’ve been running around for a good two hours. Two hours! And they’re ready for more. One just ate a banana.

I was faced with two routes: go up and over the serene Misty Mountains or into and through the treacherous Mines of Moria. And, yeah, I just made a LOTR reference. And I used the acronym. Please don’t hold that against me. In any case, I’m referring to my recent decision to do this 5K in what is now eight days. I officially signed up today (very exciting). I paid the $25 dollars and my name is now on the list of runners. So there is no backing out at this point. I’ve entered the mines so to speak. A big part of me still feels it’s kind of crazy to try to prep for this in such a short period of time, but I also know that I’m making progress. I did my 10-minute intervals this morning for the first time and they felt pretty good. So, progress is being made. But is it being made fast enough? By this time next week, my body has to be ready to run for about 30 minutes (or less, hopefully) without stopping. My legs feel pretty tired, and I’m scared of coming in last. But now that I’m officially on the list, I can’t quit. I have to channel my inner Frodo. But of course, I’d be a lot taller. And I’d be wearing shoes.

Interval: 10 minute run, 1 minute walk
Total distance: 2.7 miles
Total time: 26:40 minutes

It’s somewhat ballsy of me, I have to say, to create what I’m calling “a training schedule” for a race that will take place in 16 days, when I can’t yet run more than three minutes at a time. I’m actually getting nauseous just thinking about it. Although this morning, my run was surprisingly successful: no toad, no demonic rabbit on the side of the road and I was feeling energetic. So, amid a strong sense of, “I must be frickin crazy,” I do have a glimmer of hope. Below is the schedule I developed for the race. It’s a 5K. If you asked a running expert to review this, I bet he or she would scoff. It’s super ambitious, and there are not enough rest days. But I’m willing to aim high. There is just no guarantee I’ll make it through and still retain my ability to walk. Only time will tell.

Here is the schedule:
Thursday, August 27, 3 minute intervals
Friday, August 28, 4 minute intervals
Saturday, August 29, 5 minute intervals
Sunday, August 30, 5 minute intervals (optional rest)
Monday, August 31, 5 minute intervals
Tuesday, September 1, 7 minute intervals
Wednesday, September 2, 7 minute intervals
Thursday, September 3, 10 minute intervals
Friday, September 4, 10 minute intervals (optional rest)
Saturday, September 5, 10 minute intervals
Sunday, September 6, 12 minute intervals
Monday, September 7, 12 minutes
Tuesday, September 8, 15 minutes
Wednesday, September 9, 20 minutes
Thursday, September 10, 25 minutes
Friday, September 11, 28 minutes (about 3 miles at 9 min/mi)
Saturday, September 12, 14 minutes (about 1.5 miles at 9 min/mi)
Sunday, September 13, RACE DAY

Interval: 3 minute run, 1 minute walk
Total distance: 2.7 miles
Total time: 29 minutes

Well, I didn’t make it out yesterday morning. The alarm went off, but then the snooze somehow stopped working. After too little sleep, I really didn’t mind. I look at it as a rest day. I need rest days, after all. Right? Wow, even I recognize the convenience of that rationalization. It worked out, though. J and I both got up this morning to embark on our respective morning routines. Despite being threatened by what was obviously some sort of demonic rabbit on the street corner (his clever stillness was disturbing), I easily returned to my three minutes on, one minute off run. Only 18 more days until the magical 5K I mentioned. Tonight I plan to develop an actual schedule to prepare for it.

Interval: 3 minute run, 1 minute walk
Total distance: 2.7 miles
Total time: N/A (not recording this yet)

Let’s face it, sometimes three minutes is all you need. And today, I proved to myself that I could run for a whole three minutes. Repeatedly. It was a great feeling. As you know, I’d been doing one-minute intervals (one minute running and one minute walking) for a few weeks. Well, today, I upped it to three. And I’m ok! I have survived. And I feel no soreness. My total run time for the 2.7 mile loop actually only decreased by a few minutes, and that surprised me at first. But then I realized that, because I was running for longer periods of time, my speed probably decreased slightly, which is ok by me. If I really want to do this 5K in what is now 22 days (yikes), I need to work up to longer runs. Shorter intervals can be satisfying, but I’m not really a runner until I can make it last.

Interval: 3 minute run, 1 minute walk
Total distance: 2.7 miles
Total time: N/A (not recording this yet)