You read my mind....

Hey guys,

I was just thinking that it had been some time since I'd blogged!

Our family just got home from a trip to DC. The sites were amazing and there were people out jogging EVERYWHERE we went. It is probably the "fittest" city I've ever seen. I could have counted on one hand the number of overweight people I saw there. Of the 3 days we were there, I only ran one (4 miles). It seemed like we were "on the go" constantly and when we weren't, I hated to leave the people we were visiting to go and run. Enough excuses...

It felt great to get back home and run. I've done 4.5 miles 3 times this week and have a 30 minutes Cross Training day tomorrow. Saturday is 6 miles. That will be my longest run so far. I'm a little nervous, but very excited about it. I've mapped the run and am anxious to do it.

I have found out a lot about myself with this running.
1) It takes my body about 10 minutes to get in the groove of running, but after that initial 10, I feel like I could run all day. My right knee was bothering me at the beginning of my run yesterday, and I ALMOST stopped, but had to ask myself if it was just annoying, or if it was painful. Turned out to just be annoying.
2) I also found out that I enjoy that quiet time (and get a bit grumpy when I don't get it).
3) I have more stamina at the end of the run than I do at the beginning...I almost always pick up my pace to a sprint the last 200 yards. (We'll see if that's the case on Saturday ;)).
4) I've learned that people look at you a little funny when you're belting out a song and you think no one is behind you...and that, honestly, I really don't care. You my steer clear of me race day as I could embarrass you with my singing voice! ;)
5) I've also learned that runners are a tight-knit group. My girls' swim instructor goes to our church. She is also a Pilates teacher and does all sorts of triathlons and races. (She won 1st place in the Longhorn Triathlon). She is 45ish and is in amazing shape. I mentioned to her yesterday that I was training for a 1/2 marathon and she said, "That's awesome...you're gonna run it, and get the running bug." She just seemed so upbeat and excited. Sort of like a "sisterhood of the traveling sneakers"! ;)

Keep blogging, LJ! You inspire me.