I am currently in the beginning stages of re-negotiation with my running partner (thinking about bribery). I’m the wild card in the commitment department so she doesn’t trust me anymore. I’m almost positive I am going to have to “prove” myself worthy before she will even consider training with me again. What seems like a hundred years ago the two of us went on a great adventure. The lazy runners ultimate challenge: the Marathon. I enjoyed almost all parts of this adventure. We got marathon training books out of the library (and read them), tried out new running gels and “sport beans”, we certainly did not restrict carbs in our diet in any way (yippee!), bought new, amazing running shoes and gear and we emailed and called each other about a million times a day whenever we discovered some new important marathon running tip. It was fun. Oh, except the three hour weekend runs and the training. THAT sucked. Oh, and the no alcohol thing. THAT sucked to. As it turned out we both got sick the week before the big race and did not have the experience we had been dreaming of. It did not help matters that an older gentleman (like 80 years old) was race walking beside me the entire time and at a certain point in the race he PASSED me and finished before me! Alas we did finish and managed to drag our worn out carcasses shopping within hours of finishing (although there was a number of times a shelf had hold me up and prevent me from passing out!) The post marathon shopping was a bigger accomplishment than the freaking race.
After that I think I ran twice. Then I quit cold turkey. I was so sick of running, drinking water and all the other things that went along with this self induced torture that I needed a break. Oh and a break I took. I tried running a few times over the last year or so. I even conned my running partner into training for a half marathon last year (which again involved travelling and shopping so I wonder where my heart was really?) That training ended for a number of reasons. I decided that a half marathon could be run in my sleep, even with the extra winter fat I was sporting so I went with the Weekend Warrior Training Schedule (read: only running once on the weekends, and that’s it). I mean heck, had I not run a full marathon not to long ago? I should still have some kind of running mo jo right? Um no. Ended up injuring myself and going to physiotherapy for my knee. Not one of my brighter ideas.
So here I am again thinking about dusting off the running shoes and getting back out on the street. Mostly because I hate all other forms of working out and something has to be done about the rolls and I am not talking dinner rolls. Jumping of any kind is stupid and hurts my head. I don’t mind yoga if I can tolerate the instructor and they don’t mind me laughing hysterically during the class every time they say “sit bones”. That and running is the only exercise for us uncoordinated people. Seriously, you should see me trying to catch a ball – think alligator arms.
There was a sign along the marathon route that I will never forget: “The pain of running this marathon is temporary. The pride is forever.” Oh really. Even if your talking up the "Marathon" at a party two years later, 20 pounds heavier and you get winded walking up 10 stairs? Do you still get to gloat? Really don’t you have to keep it up to still be considered a “runner”?
Progress notes to follow. Might wait until I move out of Cranky Town into Brought This On Yourself Burbs (its called out of denial and into self-realizing disappointment). What of it? My brain is still sharp(ish). That and I have at least worked out once in the last two weeks. That must count as effort. Right?
