As of today, I have 15 weeks and 5 days until that day - November 5th - when I lace up my shoes and run or run/walk or crawl or whatever I have to do to complete 13.1 miles. So far, I have gone a little over 126 and I estimate that I will do at least twice that much before November 5th.
Some time in the last few weeks, I have really started to believe that I will be able to do this. Yes, yes, I know - I signed up, so I better be able to do this, but there is a difference between thinking you should be capable of something and truly believing that you are strong enough and if you keep doing what needs to be done, you will have success.
Here are some things that I've noticed in the past 10 weeks...
1. Pretty much most of what I do starts with this question: How will this affect my running program? The shoes I wear, the food I eat, the things I drink, what time I go to bed, what time I get up...yes, pretty much all those essential things are done with running in mind. Now, that is weird for me. Obviously, I am not now nor have I ever been an athlete. I don't think there has ever been a time in my life when I've felt that way. Yes, it is a good thing, but I will say it is consuming, too. I pretty much know that if I eat junk, I'm going to feel like junk when I run and I made a promise to run, so that means I'm running -whether I feel great or not.
2. I have run over 126 miles and I have not lost a single pound in probably 6 weeks. Yes, at first I did lose a few more pounds, but since then...not one single pound. I'm really wondering how this is possible. I see people and they ask if I've lost weight because they think I look thinner, but the scale says - nada. Did I mention not one pound? For now, I've decided not to worry too much about it. Yes, I need to lose weight. Yes, I'm a bit confused as to why the weight is not budging, but losing weight was not the focus of this journey. So, I've decided to stay focused on one reason for this journey and remind myself that the goal is to complete a half marathon - whether I am one pound less on the scale or not. I have lost some inches, but eventually you would think the scale would start to move down. I'll keep y'all updated on that.
3. After the above paragraph - I would like to say that my running pants are still tight, but I can actually tell a difference when I put them on. I will count that as success....those things were not made to have room in them. ha!
4. For this one - you will have to stay with me. When I first started running, I can remember how excited I was when I clocked my first 13:33 mile and that was only for ONE mile. I realized the other day that I ran for an entire hour and for an ENTIRE HOUR I averaged faster than I did when I hit that 13:33 milestone (I averaged like 13:09 that run or something like that). I think the fastest I've maintained is 12:something for 50 minutes...probably closer to 13 than 12, but still. =) You see...I am still slow - very very slow - but I am reaching milestones I really didn't think were possible for me.
5. I've realized that while I've previously not put too much thought into my toe nails or how I want them to look, I am now constantly checking to make sure they aren't showing signs of bruising. I've done a ton of reading on how people who train for half marathons or marathons often lose their toenails, and the way you know that is starting to happen is if you start to see bruising under the nails. I realize that in the grand scheme toenails aren't that big of a deal, but when I'm not wearing running shoes, I like to wear open toed shoes and I'm a little freaked out about the possibility of losing my nails. I'm okay with gnarly looking calluses, but I want my nails gosh darn it. I guess vain inner Kim isn't quite as squelched as I thought. So far, they are looking just fine. I took the polish off over the weekend just to make sure. Just like the weight loss - I'm sure I'll let y'all know if my nails started to fall off. Please, Lord, no.
6. This is probably the most shocking to me: I am actually looking forward to running. Okay, let me be very very honest here. I am not saying that every single day three minutes before I run, I am just jumping for joy to go out in 90 degree weather with 95% humidity and sweat like I've been sitting in a sauna. However, I am saying that I look forward to that feeling I get when I hit that runner's high (trust me, it even happens to those who are basically running in place...ha), and I'm definitely looking forward to how I feel after I'm done. As I sit here on the couch tonight, today was a rest day, so I actually am looking forward to going to get in the bed and set my alarm for 4:50 and see how much I can bring tomorrow. It's very weird. Weird, I tell ya. Of course, I am more of a morning person, so I know that I have to get up and do my running in the morning - if not - I'm grumpy all day thinking about how I have that hanging over my head.
7. I'm more competitive than I previously thought. No, I'm not feeling like being in a competition with others, but I'm definitely pushing myself to do more than I thought possible. It's nice to look back over my Excel spreadsheet - where I've documented each run - and see the progress I've made. Who knows where I will be in 16 weeks....
8. Last for tonight, but definitely not least - my skin is nicer than ever. I have not suffered from dry skin one single time this summer. It is seriously baby smooth. I'm sure that has to do with the fact that I'm drinking close to a gallon of water every day - that's why I'm including it here. All those things that "'beauty experts" say about how water makes your skin look so healthy really is true. Try it. =)
Okay, it is about time for me to call it a night. I've got to try to get a little sleep before my run tomorrow.
This is a beautiful life.
