Run, baby, run!

Life is crazy and I feel like I'm always making the mad dash to get something important finished. It's even more of a speed trial as a working mom. This all may make a bit of sense since I am a runner at heart. I love it, I absolutely love everything about it. And I recently decided my return was way overdue.
I haven't been running because I had a baby and then I wanted to lose all my baby weight before I got going again. So a round of P90X helped shrink me down to pre preggo size. Now that summer is over and my life has a bit of a routine to it, I decided the time is NOW. Off to Fleet Feet we went so I could get fitted for the perfect pair of running shoes and have my many questions answered by such an amazing and knowledgeable staff.
One of the lame-o reasons I always give up on this thing I love to do is because I have a tendency to get awful shin splints. I've researched and looked into so many things. I have to get fitted for the perfect shoe because of the way my feet roll and other mechanics that I just don't really understand. That's why I go see the pro's. So after running up and down the sidewalk outside the store, I came home armed with a new pair of shoes, inserts and knee high compression socks.
I've heard amazing things about these magic socks and since I also have an issue with my feet going numb while I'm running, I was sold on them as I discussed them in the store. They are also a wonderful PREVENTION for my injury prone shins. So here I was, with the goods that were gonna help me jump back in where I belonged.
I already own the cursed foam roller which is supposed to also be a wonderful contraption to help prevent and treat injuries. But I'll be completely honest, it hurts and I don't do it like I'm supposed to. However, this time was going to be different!
I had to wait (rather impatiently) a few days before I could try out my new gear. Thanks crazy schedule. But last night, I was finally able to try it all out. And you know, this may seem so boring but it was pure enjoyment for me so I must write about it.
Yesterday I decided was my big running debut. So I came home from work, and decided to go while Addy was napping and Aaron could be at the house. Mind you, it was still a "mild" 94 degrees at 4 pm but I tried not to let that bother this Louisiana girl. (ok so it was really bothering me. It was freaking hot.) I took my shiny new shoes out of their box and opened my package of magic socks. Ok at this point I have to explain that these compression socks are not easy to get on. There's actually a special technique to it. I tried to remember my in store demonstration and got to work. Let's just say, I hadn't even gotten the first one all the way up and I was sweating. But my legs felt all tingly and wonderful with them on. I was hooked immediately.
I used my foam roller, downed a protein shake, stretched and headed out the door. I had my water bottle in hand and I was ready to hit the ground running....literally.
I've been reading my running magazines and so I wasn't quite sure what to do. I knew I had a 5 minute warm up walk to figure it out. Do I do intervals? Or do I just run until I puke up a lung, which will probably be after 1/2 mile? Even as I rounded out my warm up, I wasn't even quite sure what to do so I just took off. It was after the first few steps I settled on interval training.
Let me just tell you that right away I was at home.
I started off at an easy low key pace and finally looked at my watch. 4 minutes. Well, I said to myself, this is probably a good time to stop seeing as how I have to do a 30 minute workout. So I decided to walk for 2 minutes and then I ran f or 2 and walked for4. I repeated this throughout the run for 30 minutes.
I wish people could hear all the things that go through my head when I'm running. It's hilarious. Not only am I concentrating on my running technique and posture, and my breath, but my thought life is just jumping around like a crazy person with no direction. I spent a lot of time wondering if I looked as stupid as I felt with my knee high black socks on in the stupid hot temps. But I knew that other runners out there who passed me would know why I was wearing knee highs in the middle of the summer. I spent a lot of time wondering if I actually "looked" like a good runner and not some prissy girly girl out bopping around. After all, its not a beauty contest. It's hot and I sweat. (ok so maybe i matched my running shirt to my new shiny shoes but I needed to look good for my running debut!) I spent time thinking about all my running articles I devour. And most importantly, I thought about how stupid I am to take that much time off from something I just love doing.
I knew going into the running store that I would be training for another half marathon. I plan on walk/running one at the end of Setpember and then concentrating on running the whole 13.1 miles in April. Funny things happen though when I'm running and my dream of doing a full Marathon danced once again in my head. I'm a runner after all. Isn't it every passionate runner's dream? Ok so maybe not, but it's mine. Like I said, funny things happen to my mind when I'm running.
This run was quiet. There wasn't anyone on the usually crowded sidewalks. It was just me and the pavement. My body and breath quickly fell back into their usual pattern. I wondered if no one was out because they were all smarter than me and didn't want to pass out from a heat stroke. But I ran with my water and trust me when I say I was drinking up.
My calves and shines felt good, I had some twinges every now and then but for the most part, they felt great. And my magic socks were awesome. They are made of a special material that keeps you cool in the heat and warm in the cold. And I honestly don't feel like they made me any hotter. I was just plain hot. I sweated from everywhere possible but I DID NOT CARE. It felt so good to be home.
Not only do i have crazy ran dome thoughts, I also yell at myself internally. Sometimes, I listen pretty well and other times, I just flat out ignore the yelling. A perfect example is this. My workout would end with 4 minutes of running. I walked the last 2 and headed into the run. I was hot but still felt pretty good. But after 2 minutes of running, my lungs were burning and my thighs were saying, we can't go on so I stopped. And I immediately became very angry with myself. I'm all too familiar with those particular physical feelings. It's called Sarah Rice's Runners Wall. I hit it consistently at around 1 mile and then at other random times during my run. Half of the time it successfully overtakes me. I'm so used to the nausea feeling I get right after starting but I'm pretty good about ignoring that one. It always goes away. But Sarah Rice's Runners Wall has a really good way of stealing a completed goal from me. But NOT TODAY. I told myself, i still have 2 more minutes, I freaking pushed out a baby for a long time without any drugs, so I better get my butt moving. And I did.
I carried myself home on my cool down walk with such a sense of pride. I haven't run in so very long. I wasn't even sure what to expect from myself but I was even more pleased at how I conquered an all too familiar stumbling block. (If only I could apply my running principles to my daily life... Wouldn't that make life so much easier?)
I came home and told Aaron all about my run and how awesome it felt. He actually interrupted me to say, "Did you weat that shirt because it matches your shoes?" I swear, men just don't get it. But in all seriouslness, he is my biggest supporter and coach and I love how he encourages me to keep it up.
Call it a runner's high (I am an endorphin junkie) but I decided to run the St. Jude half marathon in December and possibly training for the full marathon in April. I don't know if it can be done, but it's out there in cybrspace now so I may just have to commit to it. I'll start my training program for the December half at the end of September and I couldn't be more excited. Although, I did say during my last half marathon that I wasn't ever going to do it again, I find myself actually wanting to do it again. I guess you can just say I'm addicted to running. :)
This is the last time I ever stop doing something I enjoy so much.
I. Am. A . Runner.