Run #1 - Can I Call Do-Overs??

Last night I had my first official run as I count down to the half marathon that I've been looking forward to for almost a year. I was so optimistic! I knew it was going to be an awesome run. I was going to impress even myself with the grace, ease and speed of those 3 miles.

It was raining when I got home from work, and I was cold. So I stupidly prepared for the elements. Shoes. Socks. Leg sleeves. Super comfy new pants. Polka dot undies (but did you really need to be told that?). New sports bra that Sushi Guy picked out. (I still giggle over that one.) New long sleeved shirt that I planned to race in next weekend. Loose Adidas jacket that would easily hold my iPod and keep me warmer. Road ID. Garmin. Gloves. Will Run For Margaritas headband to keep my ears warm. Visor to keep the rain off my face. Red flashing light on the visor so maybe someone in a car won't use me as a target - or will this prompt them to actually aim for me??

And so there I was ready to go!

It stopped raining. I just went as I was since I was actually really comfy. And then I started to run.  "I am amazing. I can run better than anyone else right now." (I was the only one running in the dark through our neighborhood, like usual.) "This is going to be awesome. I will finish this run, upload it to Daily Mile, and then tell all of Facebook how I am the next big thing in running!"

My music was new. Updated play list. New songs. Old songs. I was feeling great, mentally.  Then I was rudely awakened by my body. Apparently my stomach just wanted to growl. My legs just wanted to stop.

It was the most agonizing 3 miles I have ever run. I ended up walking way too often. I just couldn't even move. It was a huge mental battle. I would tell myself that I KNOW I can do this without a problem. But then my legs would laugh at me and just say No.

In the end I won, and I completed the three miles. Was it the way I wanted it to go down? No. But I'm just going to brush it off and do better next time. It is very possible that I put too much pressure on myself. It is very possible that I just wasn't physically ready for that run and I pushed myself out the door too fast.

And it is very possible I won't be running in that shirt. Nothing like unzipping your coat and seeing your shirt had ridden up and you feel like an old man with his beer belly hanging out. Damn. I had the matching outfit all ready for race day, too.

So that one is done. Tomorrow will be a fresh start! Tonight I will do some fun Ronda version of cross-training .... after watching Harry Potter and decorating my tree. (My mom and I have been having an HP marathon so that she can watch the 7th one in the theater with me and actually understand it.)

Alright - Happy Running everybody!