NEWS FLASH

I just ran for a second time today! Yes, that is correct - two workouts in one day. Has the whole world gone crazy? Did I ingest crazy pills along with my marshmellow peeps this morning? Who knows! But the idea of running around Lake Calhoun with my friend, Jihone, and enjoying the last few minutes of sunshine in the day made me realize I. Had. Not. Had. Enough.

This means I ran about 6 miles today. I'm not sure if I could have done it consecutively, but I am going to start pushing myself for more speed now that I know I have built up more endurance.

Benefits to Running at the Lake: No Shortcuts

I plotted a three mile course around my neighborhood this morning, and set off with full intentions on completing the course. Flash forward 25 minutes later, and I really just want to take a shower and eat some Easter breakfast. If I were running around the lake, I would HAVE to finish the loop, or else start swimming (hmm have I just found a new brick exercise strategy?)

Ok ok, fine, I admit, once - just once! - in February, I was running and just felt like going home, so I walked across the frozen Lake of the Isles and went home early....

So today, I cut four blocks off what I was originally supposed to run. Yeah, ok, whatever, keep your disappointment to yourself. I'm still proud of myself for getting out there and running as soon as I woke up this morning. Exercising before breakfast, or even before noon, is something the old me would never have done. Things are on the up and up.

Plus, I get my new ipod shuffle in the mail tomorrow! I ordered the pink one (obvi), and I'm loading it up with tons of Gaga, Britney, and Cher. I have been running with my old ipod, and it just hasn't been working out for either of us. When I say old, I mean ancient in Applespeak. It's six years old *gasp!dinosaur technology* and it's so fat that it won't even fit in those new-age arm bands they make for the kids. So for the sanctity of our six year relationship, old ipod will be reserved for buses and planes, while new ipod will become my electronic running partner.

Now that the weather has officially turned the corner for spring, I will be riding my bike more often and prepping for the 12k ride. Can't wait to wear my superdork Microsoft bike jersey I bought in Seattle!

First Timed Run

I ran another lap (5k) around Lake Calhoun tonight, and for the first time I actually paid attention to my starting and stopping time. I made it around again without walking, although I must confess, it was harder to do on my own and with the 25 mph wind gusts. My time per mile was what I expected: 10 minutes. I'm not sure how to decrease that time, other than running faster. My hope is that the more I run, the better my time will become. I will have to read some books about this.

I don't think I have explicitly stated my goals on here for my first triathlon, but they are as follows:
1. finish the race
2. don't be last

Although I am far from swimming, biking, and running a complete course, I looked up last year's race times to get a general idea of where I need to be in 142 days. The top woman finished in 1:08 and the last place woman finished in 2:51. I would love to finish right around the 1:30 mark, but unless I buy a new bicycle, I don't think that's happening. Some time under 2:00 is realistic. More about getting psyched out about expensive triathlon gear that "makes you faster" later.

And on a final note, I haven't exercised this much in a week since high school - and that was because we had gym class daily....

Peer Pressure Made Me Do It

Last night I reached another goal: running around Lake Calhoun (5k) without stopping! I have no idea of my time per mile, but I kept a constant pace and finished strong. But I didn't do it alone! I can attribute much of this success to my friend, Rachael. We ran around the lake together, and running with her forced me to keep a steady pace and to continue going when I really felt like stopping. If I had been alone, I likely would have stopped to walk at least once. Thanks, friend! For the first time I see the benefits of having a running buddy, and I hope that we can go running together often.

Today's lesson: peer pressure can be a good thing!

In other news, I saw the homeless clown on Nicollet Mall again yesterday, but he wasn't assaulting anyone this time. Keep on the path of straight and narrow clownman.

Cemetaries, Lakes, and Clowns

The perils of moving apartments include learning the buses that stop near your new apartment. In my haste to get home last night after eating free Punch Pizza, I boarded the wrong bus and wound up by the ghetto Kmart near midtown. Umm what. The letters after the numbers on the bus line actually mean something? Next time a friend offers me a ride, I'll swallow any guilt I have towards wasting their time and accept the offer. Fast forward an hour later, after taking another bus and walking over a mile, I finally arrive at my doorstep. The entire walk home, I had been attempting to convince myself that my walk constituted exercise, which meant I wouldn't have to go running later. Well, guess what, evil part of my brain, NOT THIS TIME. I put on my running shorts and headed out the door.

The next challenge involved in living in a new place: not knowing a running route. I'm attempting to stick to my guns and not pay for internet, so without the aid of Google maps, I decided to run in the general direction towards Lake Calhoun and run for about 30 minutes.

The good news: I ran for 30 solid minutes and felt really good about it when I got home.

The bad news: I ran past a cemetery and saw way too many freshly dug graves. creepy!

Oh, yeah, and the bonus that I got for taking the wrong bus: I saw one homeless man dressed as a clown, slap another homeless man in a wheelchair across the face on Nicollet Mall.

Progress!

Who ran all the way around Lake of the Isles today without stopping? THIS GIRL!!!! yes! sweet, sweet victory! Prior to this date which will live in infamy, I had NEVER, I repeat, NEVER, completed an outdoor run without stopping or walking at least once. Not once! Unless, that is, if you count the times when I time myself runnig from my car to my apartment at night, but that's just basic survival skills training in case I'm being attacked by kidnappers, so I don't count that as exercise.

ANYWAY, It was a 2.74 mile run, which is just short of the 3 miles I'll need to run in the triathlon. This is by no means the end, but it is progress with a capital P. The craziest part of it all, is that afterward, I didn't contemplate killing myself. Yes, yes, that's right folks, I think *gasp* I am actually starting to enjoy exercising. Who knows what I'll start liking next - children? snakes? Taylor Swift? I'm loving this exercise high so much, I'm even considering running again tomorrow. That would make another first for me: working out two days in a row.

Now I'm off to the liquor store to buy a bottle of Belvedere to take to the Chelsea Handler book signing.

Moving = Exercise?

Working out this week has been seriously hindered by the fact that I'm moving to a different apartment this weekend and have been slowly but surely packing up all my stuff each night after school. I had been feeling really badly about not running as planned, BUT THEN my cousin told me about this fun moving company in Chicago called Move-tastic! The movers are triathletes who run back and forth from your apartment to their truck. It's a speedy move and it sounds like they get a lot of exercise too. GENIUS.

Therefore, this Saturday, I will be re-creating my own Move-tastic company as I run back and forth to my Uhaul trailer. And it won't just be for exercise. Oh, you haven't seen the forecast? Yeah, it's supposed to rain...


Have I ever mentioned how much I HATE rain?!