I met up with the OKC Running Club with my friend Tricia.  It was dark and very cold (6:45 a.m. & 31 degrees)  brrrrr.  I did worse than I thought I would.  At the beginning the course had a slight incline which I was unaware of until we turned to come back.  Coming back was WAY easier!  The front of my calves hurt like hell until we turned around.  I'm wondering was it because of the cold?  Do I need to stretch more? I don't remember my calves hurting like that before . . .

Anyway, we walked more than we ran.  I felt like such a looser!  Tricia was great though!  She encouraged me and kept reminding me that this is the beginning and that it will get easier. I would not have done as well mentally had she not been there.  Thanks my friend!!  

The course there and back was appx. 2.8 miles (per google maps).  We thought we'd only done 2 miles.  We walked/ran this in about 45/50 minutes.  Sweet!

The good news:  I did it!  I will do it again. I learned more about myself. I had a great time with Tricia.

The bad news: I didn't eat well on Friday (did this have any bearing on how I felt this a.m.?); Nor did I exercise (may have needed to do yoga). It was painful this morning.  I will do it again.

For breakfast I ate only a 6 oz container of greek yogurt.  I knew I needed to eat something, but I didn't want to eat anything too heavy, too acidic or too much.  This worked fine as far as I can tell.  I also drank 1 1/2 glasses of water.  

**Note to self: Bring water to the course next time!**

Observations:  Most folks that are experienced runners look like gazelles while running (Bridgid and Katy come to mind).  I feel (and most likely look) like the Rock biter from Never Ending Story!! 

All in all, it was good beginning.  

Well, it's been since 2007 since I blogged.  Unbelievable.  

I'm back though!  I need to vent about my latest project and keep a diary for inspiration:

I've set a goal to run a half marathon this year.  

I've never run a marathon before.  In fact I've never run long distances before.  At my best, I only ran while playing sports in school (20+ some odd years ago) . . . when in track and field, I ran the relay -- not much.  Other sports have been softball, volley ball and a little soccer.  Mostly sprinting types of running. Run fast and get done quickly.

Why, you ask did I decide to run a half marathon this late in life?  I'll be 46 for God's sake at the end of the month!  Last year while watching the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon runners go by my friend's house, a reporter came and interviewed me and my youngest daughter.  I blurted out "I plan to run the half marathon next year" and they printed it.  Black and white in the Oklahoman.  Ugh!  

Really, I've always fantasized about running a marathon.  It is one of those goals to achieve.  I think the first time I seriously thought about doing it, was when Oprah ran a full marathon for her 40th birthday (in 1994).  Hell, if she can do it, surely I can.

Well, I started "training" in November.  I'm way overweight.  Out of shape. Old and tired.  I couldn't even run a full block without becoming winded. Pathetic huh?!!  I thought so.  I became very concerned with this goal I'd set.

Come December it got cold and I got lazy, then I got sick (I'm still recovering).  I lost all momentum.  

Now it's January, time to make all those stupid resolutions, and for me to get serious about training for the marathon.  

I ran on Tuesday (Jan. 4th), well, sorta ran.  I did not eat to fuel my body. I was not dressed appropriately.  I had my big winter coat on and a t-shirt under that.  I ran a block and walked two blocks, then ran another block and walked about three blocks, ran one more block and walked the rest of the way.  I got home; I was hot, sweaty and coughing up a lung!!  I started though.

Yesterday, instead of running, I did some Pilates Yoga from a DVD I had on hand.  The yoga part felt good, but the pilates, well, it kicked my butt!  Did I mention I was out of shape.  I hated doing it.  

Today.  Today was a much better day.  I think I fueled my body better. I still walked more than I ran, but I ran more than I had before.  I was able to run about a block and half, walk two blocks and run 1 1/2 blocks.  I did this for about 30 minutes.  I still came home hot and sweaty.  But I wasn't coughing up a lung.  And I did not feel wiped out when I was done.

For breakfast:  Avocado smoothie (enough for 4 or 5 servings).  

I added a few ice cubes because it wasn't cold enough.  Very tasty and very smooth.  Even the girls liked it.

Now headed over to Runner's World to set up a training schedule (as suggested by my family doctor!).