6 10 minute miles? I told you I was a beginner!

Tonight, I went to my first running club experience ever. Saturday when I was at Paragon, the guys there told me they have a running group that meets on Tuesday, and that it was ok even for beginners. The workout today was a 1 mile warmup, 6 3min fast/2min slow intervals, and a 1 mile cool down. I was assured we'd be split into pace groups, but they only divided us into two groups: faster than 10. min miles and slower than 10 min miles. My half marathon pace is 12:45 per mile, so that was really, really fast, especially since my max distance before tonight was 2.25 miles. Tonight, I ran almost 6 miles at my fastest pace yet, and I didn't even mean to. It was hard and I almost quit halfway through, but I started walking the slow sections.  I completely lost the group and was absolutely the slowest person there, but I got back and joined them before the cool down. When I rejoined them, 3 women from the group who had noticed my struggle gave me high fives and congratulated me for making it back:) My app told me that even though I had been walking the slow bits, this was my fastest and longest run ever. Bf and I are signed up for a 5k this Sunday, and after tonight, I'm super confident that I can kill it! Tonight seemed good, but I'm still reserving some judgment, cause I haven't seen the footage yet:)

Running in a Couple?

On Sunday, I ran with the BF, who's a bona fide marathoner. I was excited to have a running buddy, and someone to give me some pro tips, but a little scared to totally embarrass myself. Fortunately, as always, he was patient and sweet, even though he's MUCH faster and stronger than I am. I ran 2.25 miles and picked up the pace to average 11:30/mi. I'm  glad that he's with me encouraging me as I start all of this, and happy that we have another thing that we can share, especially since he'll be moving away for a bit soon. Our running goal is the Anchorage Marathon next June:)

A Paragon of Epic Shoe Fail...then Shoe Buying!

I finished my 2 mile run that I never though possible! Woohoo! But now my feet hurt, due to my sad excuse for shoes (a pair of fashion Pumas from 2005...seriously, 2005). This problem required immediate attention. I went straight from the park to Paragon   Sports. I had heard it was the spot for athletic shoe buying, and I had no other ideas, so there I went. First, I went crazy in the apparel section (my shorts cause chaffing, which was also a problem that needed fixed...immediately). Then I descended to the almighty footwear basement. I stared hopelessly at the giant wall of shoes for at least 5 minutes, praying that someone would offer me some help. What are all these brands, tags, support types, colors, numbers? I needed serious assistance. Fortnately, at the exact moment I began to seriously despair, a lovely salesdude appeared, like some kind of running angel.

Salesdude: Can I help you?
Me: Yes, please, please, I'm so confused. I just signed up for a half marathon and I never ran a day in my life before today and I really need shoes!
Salesdude: You've never run before?
Me: No. Yeah, I know. Please help.

Salesdude Angel put me on a treadmill, told me I overpronated, and brought me pairs until I found one that made me feel like I had been born with them on. I bought the Asics GT-2000 (in purple, natch), and kept it moving. Thanks, Salesdude Angel! Now, hopefully I'll be able to avoid the agony of de feet:)

How It Started/I Can Run 2 Miles? Take a Hike!

So last week, I'm talking to my lovely boyfriend (heretofore referred to as Bf), who is himself a marathon runner, and somehow, I also decide to run a marathon. I'm not sure how it happened, but all of a sudden I was googling training programs, and entrance fees, and shoes, and there I was, down the running rabbit hole. One small problem:

I'M AN ASTHMATIC SOCIAL SMOKER WHO HAD BARELY RUN A DAY IN MY LIFE.
(And that counts high school gym, which I usually used my asthma to avoid)

Now that's out of the way...

I decided to take it down a notch. Maybe just the half marathon for now, see how that goes, and try for the big kahuna later on. Before I could change my mind, I registered for the Staten Island Half Marathon in October, and signed up with a virtual training plan through NYRR.

But the training plan starts with a 3 mile run! I can't run 3 miles! I can't run 3 meters! Can I?

There was only one way to find out. On Saturday, I laced up my pathetic excuse for athletic shoes, put on some 5 dollar Sofee shorts, and hopped the train to Central Park. I downloaded the Nike+Running app (highly recommended), put on some jams, and started running...slowly. Just as I was getting tired, the little Nike voice told me I had completed one mile. One mile! I decided I could survive running back the way I came. It was rough, but when the voice said 2 miles, I almost died of happiness. If I could run 2, I could run 3. And if I could run 3, I could run 4, and so on until 13.1 (and eventually 26.2)!  It's not gonna be easy, but here we go! I'm hitting the ground running (there's the pun)!