Get Ready to Run!!

First training run 7-22-10

Earlier  today,I felt so strange. Sick to my stomach, my knees started to ache, I had a headache and I actually cried. Nerves for my first run tonight. Had to be talked off my ledge. As excited as I was, I was terrified that I would embarrass myself, trip, hold Stephanie back from running at her pace, etc. etc. So many people have been encouraging me, and I really didn't think about disappointing anyone but myself. I really appreciated all the feedback and support I have been getting so far. But I was still freaked out.

I showed up at our meeting place and discovered Stephanie and I would be running alone, the others in the group were somewhere else doing stairs. Dodged THAT bullet, for sure. Steph was clear about it being about me tonight, to see how I did, where I was in my fitness level, no music, she wanted to make sure I could talk to her. We began with walking about .25 miles, then began a slow jog. Christ, my endurance is crap when it comes to running. I felt like I had run only 100 feet before I had to stop! We were running in Redwood Shores, around the lagoons, by Oracle, through Marlin Park, around the neighborhoods, and I barely noticed my surroundings! We had to walk/run for the first mile (who am I kidding, the entire way!) but the first mile was the hardest. Felt like I had to slow and walk so often. We were going at about an 11 minute mile pace, according to her Garmin watch thingy. The thing is, my body felt fine. My problem seems to be that I run out of breath. I tried breathing in through my nose, out through my mouth. Then I was panting. Then I tried yoga breathing. I  had to slow down to walk so often just to catch my breath.

Then, the funniest thing happened. The farther we went, the easier it got to go longer, jogging more and walking less. Then Steph would , instead of me telling her when I had to stop and go, she would tell me we would walk for 1 minute and then I would have to go until she told me to walk. It was gentle coaching, pushing me a little more as she saw I could take more. And then when we made it back to our starting point, outside a grocery store, she ran ahead of me and cheered me to the "finish line" OUT LOUD with people around! She is so funny. I had to rush to the bathroom because even though I went before, I had to go again. Hope I don't pee in my pants in the future.

Felt GREAT. Was so amazed at myself that I actually did it and had fun doing it. We went 3.3 miles in 46 minutes, which I don't know if that's good or not, Steph said it was for my first time out, but I am very proud that I went that far and it didn't feel like it was all that bad. All I know is I think I am really going to like this running thing :)

I felt sick to my stomach when I got home. I'm sure it has to do with what I ate/didn't eat before, I was hungry, I don't know. I will continue to research the nutrition aspect and Steph has a book she will lend me about eating for marathon running. I'm sure the chocolate before hand didn't help!! Rest tomorrow, then Body Pump Saturday, then on Sunday we are running at Crystal Springs. Haven't been there in years. Really looking forward to it!! Wow. This is so cool.