Baby, it's cold outside!

The coldest day of the season, in fact.  So cold that my temperature gauge in my car says 0 degrees.  I suspect, however, this is only because my poor car doesn't know how to tell me the temperature is actually in the negative range.  The weatherman, however, does know how to tell me.  And he says it is bitter today. (Thanks, Andy Avalos, for never mincing words and for giving me the forecast straight! Glad I can count on you.)  My good friend Andy also gives me hope.  He promises that the end is in sight, that it will be warmer this weekend.  Here's hoping...with fingers crossed...and toes...

So, what's a girl in (half, for now) marathon training mode to do in the meantime?  Go for a run, of course!  On the treadmill.  Which I hate.  I just have a hard time getting pumped up to run in one place for miles.  Really?  Nowhere to go, nothing new to see.  The best I can hope for by way of entertainment is the spinners in the studio next to my treadmill wearing some really rockin' biking shorts. (Disclaimer: I have nothing but appreciation for cyclists/spinners.  I can't ride those hills the way you do.  I've tried whole-heartedly, and failed.  Miserably.  I just can't seem to keep my feet in those stirrup-y things on the pedals.  But that's a story for another day...) 

Back to the treadmill...running...running...going nowhere...ugh.  Even the TV can't keep my interest.  I need music to keep me running no matter where I'm at, so I listen to my iPod.  Bel Biv Divoe, Michael Jackson, Prince - they get me pumped up and I feel like I'm unstoppable.  For a few minutes.  But soon, after the urge to dance and sing along fades,  I find my attentions wandering and my eyes looking around, in search of that next spinner in the neon yellow shorts.  I swear, one of these days I'm going to miss a step and fall right of the back of that dreaded machine, all in the interests of trying to find some new scenery or something to keep my attention.

I'm counting my lucky stars that for now I'm in the early - 3 mile - stage of my training.  And I'm looking forward to Sunday, my first "long" run day (4 miles!), because that darling weather forecaster has promised me that the arctic temperatures are on their way out and by Sunday I should be able to run outside. (Okay, maybe he didn't quite make all those promises, but I'm hopeful...)  Who would have thought that 35 degrees would be something to look forward to???

Between now and then, though, any tips on keeping focused on the treadmill would be greatly appreciated (by me and those poor spinners I keep gawking at!)

Stay warm!

If He Can Run a Marathon a Day...

...then surely I can run one, right????

And certainly those of you who are struggling with your weight loss or exercise goals can take the next step towards meeting those, right?

Well, that's what Belgian Runner Stephan "Marathon Man" Engels believes, and I do too.  Engels was diagnosed with asthma early in life and was told by doctors he shouldn't participate in sports.  Ha!  I guess he showed them!  As a personal challenge to himself, and, he says, "to inspire people by showing... that anyone could run or bike a little each day or do something about their weight problem", Engels ran one marathon a day for one year - that's right, 365 marathons in 365 days.

So...surely I can run one, right???

Check out the story courtesy of the Associated Press via National Public Radio here.

"Marathon Man: Belgian Man Completes 365th Straight Race". (2011, February 8).  Associated Press.  Retrieved http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=133526944&ft=1&f=

Crazy is as crazy does?

I've done some crazy things in my life.  I've jumped out of an airplane. I've gone scuba diving with sting rays.  I've quit my job, packed up all of my things and moved to a new city for no reason at all, other than it sounded like a good idea.  But this past Friday, February 4, 2011, I pulled what may have been my craziest stunt yet.  I registered for the Chicago Marathon.  Yes, I voluntarily paid good, hard-earned money to dedicate months of my life to running, only so I can spend a Sunday morning in October running 26.2 miles.  (Granted, I pulled this stunt after consuming two beers and previously being locked in the house for two days during what has been described as "Snowmageddon", "Snowpocalypse" and "The Storm of the Century".  Let's just say I was feeling a little punchy and ready for some action.)  But, the thing of it is, I'm stoked.

I can't wait to dedicate my Saturday mornings to running.  I can't wait to push myself to run farther than I've ever run before.  I can't wait for the runner's high and the feeling of accomplishment that comes along with training and meeting my goals.  And I can't wait to share it with you - whoever you are that is taking the time to read this blog - because I've decided to document the whole experience here.  I'm hopeful that through this process of training, running, and blogging, I'll become more fit (hey, I've got a wedding dress to get in to!  But that's for another blog: Musings of a (almost) Mrs.), inspire others who are considering running (you don't have to run a marathon!  If you're thinking of giving running a try, do it!  I'm happy to share my little bit of knowledge and offer my support!), and hopefully meet other runners along the way.

Today was the first day in the long process that will become my marathon training.  It was officially the first day of training for the Lincoln Marathon (I'm running the half !), to be run on May 1st.  This will be my 3rd half since I began running last April , and my 4th will be the Northshore Half Marathon on June 12th. I'm hopeful that by training for and running these two races I'll have myself in good enough shape to endure marathon training through the summer and into the fall, even with most of July eaten up by wedding and honeymooning (which I am thrilled to let eat up my July!)

I'm considering joining a training group in preparation for this half, and will definitely join one to train for the marathon.  So, for all of you Chicago runners out there: what training group do you recommend?  CARA? Chicago Endurance Sports? Something else?

I'm looking forward to hearing your opinions and sharing this crazy experience with you.  But for now, it's off to bed.  I've got to get rested up.  Because, as fellow runner Andrea Abel reminds me, there are only 245 days until race day!