I'm tired. It's cold outside. My job is keeping me too busy. 26.2 miles is SO MANY MILES.
Why the heck did I sign up for a marathon next month?
I am really considering bowing out of this one. I'm still signed up for the 24 hour race, so it's not like I would just STOP running. But what if I did? What if suddenly, I no longer did marathons or 5ks or 10 mile races? What if MarathonMennone turned into just...Mennone?
It's a tempting thought sometimes, but it's also terrifying. Running has become a huge part of my identity. It keeps me focused and gives me a hobby other than "watching reruns of the Real Housewives." It is a much more remarkable hobby and it makes me feel special when I tell people "I run marathons." But I'm also just really tired...maybe 3 marathons a year is just too much for me. But at the same time...maybe it's not enough?
I know that I probably will not skip this marathon. But I need something to motivate me and I haven't been able to find it yet. Any suggestions?
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Monday, January 31, 2011
Needed: more bang. less buck.
Have you noticed that I hate winter?
I am completed unmotivated to run. There. I said it. I don't want to run. I want to sit inside and eat ice cream.
EXCEPT I DON'T. I just want the snow to melt so that I can go outside and not worry about breaking my hip. So naturally, to motivate myself to run, my thought is "better buy some cool stuff." Like a new GPS/tracking system to see how far I go. Like new shoes. Like a new running outfit. Like a new hat. Like a new Kate Spade purse...oh so pretty...wait, wait focus, FOCUS.
But unfortunately, I know that the only thing that will get me to run is to start running already. Just get out there on a regular basis and move my feet one step at a time. Sure it's nice to have the cool accessories. But if you don't train, you'll just be the dofus who makes it to mile 8 of a marathon and bows out. And you'll have a useless, albeit beautiful, Kate Spade bag full of GU.
Let's move it, move it!
I am completed unmotivated to run. There. I said it. I don't want to run. I want to sit inside and eat ice cream.
EXCEPT I DON'T. I just want the snow to melt so that I can go outside and not worry about breaking my hip. So naturally, to motivate myself to run, my thought is "better buy some cool stuff." Like a new GPS/tracking system to see how far I go. Like new shoes. Like a new running outfit. Like a new hat. Like a new Kate Spade purse...oh so pretty...wait, wait focus, FOCUS.
But unfortunately, I know that the only thing that will get me to run is to start running already. Just get out there on a regular basis and move my feet one step at a time. Sure it's nice to have the cool accessories. But if you don't train, you'll just be the dofus who makes it to mile 8 of a marathon and bows out. And you'll have a useless, albeit beautiful, Kate Spade bag full of GU.
Let's move it, move it!
Friday, January 21, 2011
This is NOT a democracy.
So you remember how I made you all vote for which race I should do this spring?
And how NONE of you voted for the DC marathon?
Well friends...this is not a democracy. This is a Mennocracy. I'm doing the DC marathon!
Holy crap, I better get serious about training!!!!!!
And how NONE of you voted for the DC marathon?
Well friends...this is not a democracy. This is a Mennocracy. I'm doing the DC marathon!
Holy crap, I better get serious about training!!!!!!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
So much for gung ho...
It's cooold. I don't LIKE being cold.
Feeling whiney and unmotivated. Will signing up for a marathon help? I haven't decided yet, but I have become the proud new owner of a pair of Nike Free bright pink sneakers. They are pretty awesome, but using new minimalist shoes means that I'm doing shorter runs and using the excuse that I'm "adjusting." I really don't think it's that hard. I haven't felt incredible pain in my calves. So I really need to step it up.
I have chickened out as of now in buying the Vibram 5 fingers, but I am going to go with the Bilka when I do finally decide to take the plunge.
Marathon in March? Anyone? Chime in here?
Feeling whiney and unmotivated. Will signing up for a marathon help? I haven't decided yet, but I have become the proud new owner of a pair of Nike Free bright pink sneakers. They are pretty awesome, but using new minimalist shoes means that I'm doing shorter runs and using the excuse that I'm "adjusting." I really don't think it's that hard. I haven't felt incredible pain in my calves. So I really need to step it up.
I have chickened out as of now in buying the Vibram 5 fingers, but I am going to go with the Bilka when I do finally decide to take the plunge.
Marathon in March? Anyone? Chime in here?
Monday, January 3, 2011
Ringing in the new year...barefoot.
Hello, my name is Sarah and I haven't blogged in 2 months.
Welcome back and happy 2011! What a fun and wonderful year this will be! So far, I have already decided that this will be the year of barefoot running. Yesterday, I went and tried on my first pair of Vibram 5 Fingers. First of all, the name "Vibram" is quite sexy. Kind of sounds like vibrator. Amazing. Then it really is like "5 fingers" - there is a spot for each of your toes. Which sounds weird and personally made me think it would be super uncomfortable because I happen to not be a huge toe person. BUT they are surprisingly comfortable and felt AMAZING for the 8 foot jog I took them around the store. I'm perfectly aware that they will be an adjustment...but I WILL be buying a pair of PINK VIBRAM FIVE FINGERS TO START MY NEW YEAR OFF RIGHT!!!!
How are you starting YOUR 2011? Can you please start it off in an awesome, new, insane way?
Let's sign up for some races folks...so far all I have on my calendar is the 24 hour race in July.
Welcome back and happy 2011! What a fun and wonderful year this will be! So far, I have already decided that this will be the year of barefoot running. Yesterday, I went and tried on my first pair of Vibram 5 Fingers. First of all, the name "Vibram" is quite sexy. Kind of sounds like vibrator. Amazing. Then it really is like "5 fingers" - there is a spot for each of your toes. Which sounds weird and personally made me think it would be super uncomfortable because I happen to not be a huge toe person. BUT they are surprisingly comfortable and felt AMAZING for the 8 foot jog I took them around the store. I'm perfectly aware that they will be an adjustment...but I WILL be buying a pair of PINK VIBRAM FIVE FINGERS TO START MY NEW YEAR OFF RIGHT!!!!
How are you starting YOUR 2011? Can you please start it off in an awesome, new, insane way?
Let's sign up for some races folks...so far all I have on my calendar is the 24 hour race in July.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Marine Corps Marathon #2
It hurts so good!
Man I love marathons!
This one kicked my BUTT, but it was awesome!!! A perfect day for a race. The morning was hectic - I was going to metro from a nearby station to the Pentagon stop (Arlington was closed, meaning that once I got to the Pentagon station, I had to walk over a mile to the start line!) but I ended up taking a bus down to another metro stop and riding from there. While waiting for the bus, I managed to meet a woman who had travelled from the Dominican Republic to DC for the race and we rode together. We picked up another marathoner on the bus and it was actually pretty fun!
I managed to find my parents right away at the metro stop and we worked our way out and to the race start. It was chaotic. We ended up waiting in line for about 25 minutes so that I could use a port-a-potty and then I had to run to the start line (about another quarter mile from the portapotties!). So in general - lots of walking/running before the race even started. Not very cool.
So the race started but I didn't even cross the starting line until about 10 minutes after the gun went off. The Marine Corps Marathon is wonderfully crowded with runners and spectators. It's amazing - you really feel like people are there just for YOU. Even if you don't know them! If you ever want an ego boost, sign up for a race. People will tell you how awesome you are!
I feel like I didn't train well enough for this one. By mile 5, I was wishing I had eaten more breakfast. By mile 15, I was exhausted. By mile 18, my knees were aching. I felt out of it. I couldn't find my family and was doing this kind of hyper-heaving thing that was kind of uncontrollable for a few minutes around mile 20. I swore so loudly during the Crystal City part that I jolted another woman into running faster just to get away from me. I was hurting.
But I still managed to finish in 4:15:40 - almost 10 minutes off my previous MCM time! And by the time I saw my family, I was just so happy to see them that nothing else mattered!
During the race, I saw a man pushing his disabled son. His son couldn't move and his dad was pushing him up a hill when I saw them. Everyone was cheering for them and it was so touching. That kind of determination really reminds you of what love really is. You bare your whole soul in a marathon even when you're not pushing someone else. I can't even imagine how tough you have to be physically and mentally to do that. Needless to say, I was impressed.
At the end of the race, they really corral the runners. After I got my medal I managed to trip on the sidewalk and almost fell into a Marine, who grabbed my hand and asked, "Ma'am, are you ok?" (they called me ma'am all weekend but it somehow didn't make me feel old. When a Marine calls you ma'am, you feel sexy!). I somehow grunted, "where is the water??" and he pointed me in the right direction and asked if I needed help. I'm pretty sure he would have carried me if I had said yes, but I said I was ok and stumbled on. I managed to find my parents right away, which was sooo lucky. No begging strangers to let me use their cell phones!
Today, I'm pretty sore and sleepy. But I'm so excited to do another one! When I was going across the bridge at mile 20 (complete agony, I hate that bridge!), I thought to myself - I should only be allowed to sign up for these stupid things within days of completing one so that I remember how agonizing they are! But I'm completely ready to sign up for one, even though less than 24 hours ago I was wheezing and ready to break down and beg for mercy (from whom I don't know, but I was ready).
Now the only question is: which one?
Man I love marathons!
This one kicked my BUTT, but it was awesome!!! A perfect day for a race. The morning was hectic - I was going to metro from a nearby station to the Pentagon stop (Arlington was closed, meaning that once I got to the Pentagon station, I had to walk over a mile to the start line!) but I ended up taking a bus down to another metro stop and riding from there. While waiting for the bus, I managed to meet a woman who had travelled from the Dominican Republic to DC for the race and we rode together. We picked up another marathoner on the bus and it was actually pretty fun!
I managed to find my parents right away at the metro stop and we worked our way out and to the race start. It was chaotic. We ended up waiting in line for about 25 minutes so that I could use a port-a-potty and then I had to run to the start line (about another quarter mile from the portapotties!). So in general - lots of walking/running before the race even started. Not very cool.
So the race started but I didn't even cross the starting line until about 10 minutes after the gun went off. The Marine Corps Marathon is wonderfully crowded with runners and spectators. It's amazing - you really feel like people are there just for YOU. Even if you don't know them! If you ever want an ego boost, sign up for a race. People will tell you how awesome you are!
I feel like I didn't train well enough for this one. By mile 5, I was wishing I had eaten more breakfast. By mile 15, I was exhausted. By mile 18, my knees were aching. I felt out of it. I couldn't find my family and was doing this kind of hyper-heaving thing that was kind of uncontrollable for a few minutes around mile 20. I swore so loudly during the Crystal City part that I jolted another woman into running faster just to get away from me. I was hurting.
But I still managed to finish in 4:15:40 - almost 10 minutes off my previous MCM time! And by the time I saw my family, I was just so happy to see them that nothing else mattered!
During the race, I saw a man pushing his disabled son. His son couldn't move and his dad was pushing him up a hill when I saw them. Everyone was cheering for them and it was so touching. That kind of determination really reminds you of what love really is. You bare your whole soul in a marathon even when you're not pushing someone else. I can't even imagine how tough you have to be physically and mentally to do that. Needless to say, I was impressed.
At the end of the race, they really corral the runners. After I got my medal I managed to trip on the sidewalk and almost fell into a Marine, who grabbed my hand and asked, "Ma'am, are you ok?" (they called me ma'am all weekend but it somehow didn't make me feel old. When a Marine calls you ma'am, you feel sexy!). I somehow grunted, "where is the water??" and he pointed me in the right direction and asked if I needed help. I'm pretty sure he would have carried me if I had said yes, but I said I was ok and stumbled on. I managed to find my parents right away, which was sooo lucky. No begging strangers to let me use their cell phones!
Today, I'm pretty sore and sleepy. But I'm so excited to do another one! When I was going across the bridge at mile 20 (complete agony, I hate that bridge!), I thought to myself - I should only be allowed to sign up for these stupid things within days of completing one so that I remember how agonizing they are! But I'm completely ready to sign up for one, even though less than 24 hours ago I was wheezing and ready to break down and beg for mercy (from whom I don't know, but I was ready).
Now the only question is: which one?
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
I am RUNNER, hear me....roar?
One of the things that's been on my mind lately: I've taken to calling myself a "runner." I don't know when that happened. For a long time, anytime anyone called me a runner, I'd say, oh no, I wouldn't go that far, it's just a hobby. But somewhere in between the 3rd and 4th marathon, I've started to adopt the title. Someone asks "oh, you're a runner?" and my response will be, "yes."
But am I?
what IS a runner anyway? I am and always will be a human being. And a girl. But will I always be a runner? Am I runner if I stop doing marathons? Am I a runner if I never compete in any races? Am I a runner if I never qualify for any race? Am I a runner if I don't like to run in the rain (I don't)? Am I a runner if I wear Nikes? What about if I run barefoot? What about if I run really slow?
What makes someone a runner? I can't figure it out and I can't figure out why I'm suddenly comfortable calling myself one. It seems cocky and a bit insulting to all the real runners out there to give myself a title like this. But then again...what distinguishes a "real runner" from me? I can only think of 2 things:
1. speed
2. endorsements
And perhaps real runners don't even consider things like this. Maybe they just know.
Can I ever overcome the hurdles I've set up for myself and finally allow myself to just be "runner?"
But am I?
what IS a runner anyway? I am and always will be a human being. And a girl. But will I always be a runner? Am I runner if I stop doing marathons? Am I a runner if I never compete in any races? Am I a runner if I never qualify for any race? Am I a runner if I don't like to run in the rain (I don't)? Am I a runner if I wear Nikes? What about if I run barefoot? What about if I run really slow?
What makes someone a runner? I can't figure it out and I can't figure out why I'm suddenly comfortable calling myself one. It seems cocky and a bit insulting to all the real runners out there to give myself a title like this. But then again...what distinguishes a "real runner" from me? I can only think of 2 things:
1. speed
2. endorsements
And perhaps real runners don't even consider things like this. Maybe they just know.
Can I ever overcome the hurdles I've set up for myself and finally allow myself to just be "runner?"
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