Training: Day One

So I'm planning to run a half marathon on April 22nd. I'm a planner, it's how I was designed. I think God finds it humorous to encourage my planning, you know-with my DNA, and then screw the plans all up.

I found out I broke my foot, not sprained it like I thought. That was a mandatory 2-3 weeks of non-running. I about lost my mind. Just as I was about done with my "resting", I got a wicked sinus infection. I mean nasty.

See, guffawing.

So today was my first day of training for the half marathon I'll be running on April 22nd. If you're counting, that is indeed in only 7 weeks. I am NOT in that good of shape. But press on, I will. Running is, I've discovered, what keeps me healthy, sane and my children alive. Ok, that was a joke. But seriously, running is good for me. It's like my husband commented recently. "I just wish you'd get well so you could get back to running. Cause it's just true what they say; when Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." Which I guess is not a glowing reflection of my personality when I'm not feeling well....

Because of the lack of time, I will be running at least four days a week. With four small children, this can be difficult. So, we've purchased a family membership at the community center, complete with kid-watch coupons! Yay!

This morning, I prepped my gym bag with all the necessary items for me to shower after my workout. I psyched the kids up for the fun time they were about to have. Schlepped all three of them up there (Madelynn was in school) and discovered that the kid-watch was closed because they were full. I almost cried.

But no. I was not giving up. We put our names on the waiting list and went to the "free room" to play. FORTY FIVE MINUTES LATER, they came and got us. I had exactly 40 minutes to run, shower, dress and pick up Madelynn from school in time. So something had to give, and it wasn't going to be the shower!

I found myself a treadmill, started grooving to my tunes and took off. One song later, realized the iPod was on repeat. While attempting to change that, I misstepped. Yep. Hit the side of the treadmill and went all funny. Caught myself on the bar and managed not to fall all the way off, but I'm sure I looked like quite an idiot! Once I regained my balance, and my breath, I hovered over the still running belt and starting back in like nothing had even happened.

My husband asked me if anyone was laughing at me (while he was laughing). I told him I'm sure they were. I didn't look around to see. I pretended like it didn't even happen. However, because I had my ear buds in, I'm sure I made all sorts of noise! Oh well, I'm sure it made someone's day!

Because my shower was not to be skipped (people, you have no idea how hard it is to fit a shower into the middle of a day with four little ones-it was now or never!), I only had time to run one mile. So I determined to run that mile like my life depended on it! 12:15. Not half bad for the first day and a near tripping!

Went to pick up the children and attempt to herd them out the door, but McKenna had trouble getting her shoe on. Marek, however did not feel the need to wait. And everyone was very accommodating. They held open the kid-watch door for him (I didn't notice, as I was helping with the shoes) and then several kind, elderly people held the TWO outer doors open for him. That's right. My teeny, tiny one year old, strolled right out the front doors. Very obviously alone. I finally caught up to him as he was getting ready to step foot onto the parking lot. Yeah, I don't really understand that either.

So, for a first day of training, I'll just say this: It can only get better!