The trick hip rides again!

Ok, just to whine: my hip hurts.

I noticed after my run last Friday that my right hip was a little creaky/achey. This happened a lot when we first started running, but I just stretched often and tried not to overdo it and eventually it dissipated. I still have twinges from time to time, usually when I go out after missing a couple of sessions, but it's a mild ache and goes away within a day or so.

By Saturday evening it felt fine, so I thought nothing of it, but after last night's run, my hip is really, really sore. I had a hard time sleeping because I couldn't find any position that stayed comfortable for more than 20-30 minutes.

Whine whine whine. I feel 100 years old.

Holiday Slowdown

Everyone's running has been somewhat haphazard lately. Christmas just passed, New Year's Day is right on its heels, and there's a lot of traveling going on. I managed to get in 30 minutes on Friday night thanks to Brian suggesting we go out to train, and I've been exercising indoors (using My Fitness Coach for my Wii, and videos) but running has not gotten enough love lately for sure! Don't want to lose all we've fought and suffered for the last eight months - gotta get back in the swing of things. After all, I only have 67 days left to train for the Princess Half Marathon.

Apparently, Mother Nature Reads This Blog

While the rest of the country is experiencing an ungodly winter of ice and snow storms, Atlanta is enjoying temps in the high 60's. It's not like we haven't gotten cold yet. It was evil-grade cold not that long ago. But right now, we are in some magic pocket of warm and rainy days, my dream weather.

I guess my post about being over the cold weather didn't fall on deaf ears!

Thanks, Mother Nature. I'm sorry I've been calling you a frigid bitch lately.

Foolish running ambassador

I do something completely ridiculous when I run. Anytime I am passed by an oncoming car, I smile.

When I'm trotting along, out of breath and possibly delirious, this seems like a good idea. "Show people how FUN it is to run," I think to myself. "It might inspire someone to try it!"

Last night as I was running and flashing my awkward, tired, slightly fake grin, I realized that this could backfire in two different ways:

1. My smile might look so bad when I'm running that it might appear to be a grimace.

2. Say someone DOES try running because I looked so damn happy doing it. Five minutes in, they'll just be thinking, "That bitch is crazy!"

Still, it's kind of a habit now, so I'll probably keep doing it.

Cold weather: I'm kinda over it!

While running with Tricia and Heather yesterday, I was actually ok with the cold weather. I don't know if it was just a post-exertion thing or what, but the rest of the day, I could NOT get warm. Not even indoors, not even in a hot shower. When Brian and I went out in the afternoon to run errands, I was miserably cold every time we were outside. Blech.

On the upside, only 90 days until we spring forward!

My Imaginary Friend, The Fear

During last night's run, I was blathering to Heather about how bad last Friday's run had been. Because of the holiday weekend, Brian and I were the only ones out that night. It was cold and rainy and my legs felt like lead. I got about a mile and just felt like I could not run any more. I walked the rest of the way holding my beloved's hand, which was lovely, but I was already wrestling with The Fear.

The Fear (oh yes, it's got a proper name) is that instant worry when I have a bad run that I will never have a good run again. I always have that negative thought of "This is it. This is exactly how far you managed to get, and now you will never get any better. You've peaked, and now we're on the downhill slope."

Let's be frank - a LOT of my motivation in life is born of fear. I work hard because no matter how stable my job may seem, I'm always scared I could be fired or laid off. Anything I sew or make has to be as perfect as possible because I cannot deal with criticism - I am AFRAID of it.
But the upside is that I have somehow cobbled my various neuroses into a pretty productive method of getting things done. So, at least I'm not PARALYZED with fear, right?

Anyway, the comedy in all this is that so far, The Fear has always been el wrongo. I always manage to get back to my regular run. So far. But there's no telling when The Fear will come true! So I have to keep pushing. Gotta be vigilant. Can't let The Fear win.

Purple Stride Atlanta 08 Race Report

Saturday, Nov. 15th, we participated in the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network's 5k to raise funds and awareness for PC research.

Before the race started, there were several speakers, including a scientist working on research that could lead to a cure for PC, and a 4 year PC survivor who shared with us the startling fact that of all patients diagnosed with Pancratic Cancer in 2007, only 9% are still with us today. It was a very emotional start to the day, to say the least.

The run itself was quite lovely. Great weather, cool but sunny, with autumn's finest colors everywhere. I had a surprising amount of energy.

It's funny: after the race, I felt like it had fewer hills than the Run Like Hell 5k, but Heather felt like it had more. Go figure! That all goes back to that problem we have of never both having a good run on the same day.

This was one of those runs where I did a lot of thinking and sorting things out in my head. Brian and I had been grousing just before the race, and as I ran I realized how stupid that was. It's inevitable, because married couples will always have "off" days, but by the time I saw him near the finish, I was so completely done with my bad feelings that I couldn't help but yet "I love you! I'm sorry we had a rough morning!" I didn't care that I was letting every runner around me know I had argued with my sweetheart; it was just really important to me to tell him those things right that minute. When we were done with the race, he came over to me and put my track jacket on me, which he had been keeping warm underneath his jacket the whole time. I'm lucky to be with such a caring and thoughtful person. He amazes me every day with his kindness.

I also had a sort of personal revelation about running and being thankful during this race. As we ran up one of the hills, I remember thinking "This sure sucks!" Then, that teeny tiny part of brain that is the voice of reason threw some tough love my way. It said "You lazy dumbass. This can't even be one shred as difficult as dealing with something like chemo treatments. Don't you dare stop to walk. You run this whole thing, and be damn thankful you can!"

She's kind of a bitch, my voice of reason, but she's right a shocking amount of the time.

Let me be clear - I totally will never think less of a runner that needs a walk break - it's often me! My voice of reason just knew I was being a baby at that moment. Sometimes, you gotta walk! The important thing is, you keep going.

Suck it!

Last night since I was a solo runner, I decided to try to run around my neighborhood. Can you say I kicked my own ass? It was cold which is fine, - I usually like the cold because I feel like I'm really awake when I'm running in it - except last night there was a nippy wind biting at me and my neighborhood is HELLA hilly. I haven't had such a painful run since we did the Oakland Cemetery Run Like Hell run. I mean, I'm glad I did it, but I hurt through a lot of it and the wind was making my eyes sting and water. (Hmm, perhaps I should invest in goggles?) Running is definitely pushing the envelope of my tolerance for discomfort. Ironically enough, I think that I'm falling in love with it because of that. Maybe I have a thing for abusing myself? I really hope this weekend's 5K PanCan run isn't windy. Cold I'm okay with. Cold, windy and hilly evidently is not my thing.

8 Miles of Therapy

Heather and I did an 8 mile run-walk on Saturday morning. I am so thankful.

Last week at work was particularly rough for me, and I am still reeling a little from it. It was so therapeutic to talk things through with Heather. It turns out her week was also rather icky, so we both got to unload. For me, just verbalizing my feelings often takes away their power, intensity, etc., but oddly enough, I don't always do it out of shame for having them. Stupid, I know.

I love that running has afforded us this camaraderie. Somehow, running side-by-side, it's easier for me to open up. Looking ahead at the trail or sidewalk makes me more able to be truthful with my feelings and fears than if I were just sitting and having a face-to-face conversation.

I had no idea running would provide this fabulous side benefit.

Cold Runnings

Last night was the first time we really ran in the true cold. I don't know what the actual temp was (Brian? Info?) but I know that there was a freeze warning for the evening.

I wore long pants, a long sleeve tee shirt, a light fleece vest, and a little fleece skull cap that I whipped up right before we left the house. I have read many times that you should dress as though it's 20 degrees warmer out than it is, because your body will heat up that much on a run. Since overheating is just as bad for you in winter as it is in summer, this makes sense.

I haven't had a good run in a while. I've had a lot of outings, but somehow, getting back to running 30 minutes at a time post-vacation has been really rough for me. Apparently, I just needed to run in the cold! I started out slow until I felt warm, and then I just followed my music and let my mind wander a little. Once in a while I'd check in with myself, think about how my bothersome leg was feeling, etc. It just felt great to be out running again. Huzzah!

The downside: I sweat a lot, and under that fleece skull cap was a damp sweaty gross mess of hair when I was done. Oh, well! Good with the bad, you know.

Fall Back!

Don't forget, this coming weekend we set our clocks back.  This changed last year -- Daylight Savings used to land on the last Sunday in October, now it's the first Sunday in November!  You may have noticed some older "smart" appliances in your home already set back...  Our VCR did.  Old programming!

So look out your windows now, here at 6:45pm...  This is how comparatively bright it will be again on our outings starting next week, yay!

Mountain Marathon

Almost turned "the mountains into a morgue" this year...
Times Online story

The Original Mountain Marathon, founded in 1968, is regarded as one of the toughest endurance and navigation challenges in the world. Entrants in the point-to-point race, made up of pairs, choose their own routes through the valleys and mountains and have to use maps and a compass, rather than modern satellite navigational methods.

The website says: “Your first source of help is your partner and if you retire you are responsible for getting yourselves back to base. In these days of 24/7 contact and total support this is an event to test and indeed help develop teamwork and self-reliance.”

Go, run coven!

The Oakland Cemetery's Run Like Hell event this past weekend was a total blast! Our little group of witches totally represented, and we had an awesome time.

There were a few little glitches in setup and start that are normal for a first year of an event. I don't think the event organizers were quite ready for the vast numbers of runners that showed up for a little fun in the cemetery. Even so, the vibe was really upbeat and the crowd was great. Fabulous event, and I will be running it ever year, for sure!

Brian set up a whole groovy page about it here: http://halfmoth.com/5ks/RunLikeHell/RLH.html

Half Marathon Test-Drive

Ok, I have read plenty of training plans for running a half marathon. I have seen the workout schedules, the gradual increase of mileage, the tapering info, the whole nine. And of course, I am completely disregarding them.

Fine, fine. That's not entirely true. I'm sort of custom-building my plan taking various others' plans into account. Which is why I thought I'd just jump right in and try to go a little over 13 miles this weekend, just to make sure I could.

I know that veteran runners would see the above statement and tell me how wrong and foolish that idea was. Yes, I KNOW you're supposed to increase distance in 5-10% increments over a long period of time. BUT, I walked plenty of it, and I know my limits. And quite frankly, before I spend the money to register for the Princess Half Marathon in WDW in March, I just wanted to know that I could complete the damn thing in the allotted time. 

And you know what? I found out I CAN!

It wasn't exactly easy, but it wasn't that big a struggle, either. All told, I probably only ran about 4 miles of the whole thing. I was sore later in the day, but I stretched, and I woke up the next day still mobile, so I have no regrets.

Now I just have to work on my time, and doing this thing with regular intervals, rather than my "run when I feel like it" approach for this first one. 

Woot! Princess, here I come. That tiara is MINE!

The Belated Everest Report

The day of the Everest challenge was probably the most laid-back day I've ever spent in WDW. Usually, there are a thousand things I want to do, see, ride and buy, but since we'd be running in the evening, we all felt like a relaxed day would be best.

Breakfast at Boma - culinary bliss! Then, boating on Seven Seas Lagoon. It is SO relaxing to me to be out on the water. I think this must be what massage feels like to other people. After boating, back to the hotel for just hanging and dozing.

While Brian and Tricia got some z's, Stephanie and I headed to the jacuzzi (also known as the j'accuse-y and the yakuz-i) which, once we found it, provided some fantastic muscle relaxation. Then we grabbed a quick lunch from the counter service restaurant at the lodge. We took it up to the room, and since our compatriates were still dozey daisies, we decided to eat on the balcony. This was one of my favorite times from the whole trip. As we sat eating our cheeseburgers and fries, we were treated to a full-on show as the animals at the hotel's savanna were also being fed lunch. We got to see a see a giraffe self-serve from the back of the feeding truck (hilarious), ostriches manically gobbling their feed and even zebras nuzzling each other. It was one of those idyllic scenes where you just feel completely happy and in awe of the world around you. I think stuff like this can only happen in Disney World.

Anyway, after lunch, I got a brief nap before it was time to get ready for the race. At around 5pm, Heather and Chris joined us so we could all head over to Animal Kingdom together. Once we got there (we drove so we could keep extra stuff in the car if anyone wanted to change, etc.), we set about trying to figure out exactly where to go and what to do. We found the corrall assignment board and discovered that Brian and Chris (running as Abstract Athletics) would be in corrall 2, while Heather and I (Faster Pussycats) and Tricia and Stephanie (Spazmanian Devils) would all be in corrall 4. Jeff and Berni (Code Monkeys) would start way back in corrall 10! We had yet to see them, and I'll confess that I was a little worried we might never locate those two, since they were starting so far back.

Eventually, we DID see the JohnsAllens, and we all agreed to meet up in front of Triceratops Spin after the race. We also spotted a couple making out in the pre-race area, and when I use the term "making out" I really mean "dry humping." I have my suspicions that those two never finished the race, and instead stole away somewhere to do it in the Animal Kingdom. We drank some hot water, we tolerated some very loud and screechy pre-race "entertainment," and eventually, we all separated into our various start positions.

Finally, at 7pm on the dot, fireworks went off at the starting line and the first group was off!
Waves started every five minutes, so as the 4th wave, we started at 7:15.

This race was oddly challenging for me. I was tired faster than usual. Nonetheless, it was still totally amazing to be running through Animal Kingdom, high fiving cast members and taking in the park at night. The sun set as we were running, which was beautiful. Seeing Everest sparkling in the dusk was completely amazing. Heather was full of vem and vigor, and broke into sprints a few times (go Heather! Yeah!). I ran with her, but I was totally wiped out by the time we finished the 5k portion of the challenge. I choked on the obstacle course. Didn't make it over a single chest hurdle, but the ropes were fine. Fell off the balance beam, but had no issue crawling through the dirt (except that it's, well... dirt). Scavenger hunt fun time! It was weird trying to find our way to our clue locations in the dark. Also, by this point, there were people with friends and family tickets for the after party meandering in, and many runners were still starting the last few waves of the 5k. So there were three separate groups of people crossing and overlapping paths, which got a little chaotic at times. We managed to get through the first three clues without too much trouble though.

All this while, we had been wondering where the boys were. We saw them at one point on the 5k, near the hairpin turnaround on the course where you could see other racers going in the opposite direction. We were finally reunited on the last clue of the scavenger hunt. As Heather and I stood there puzzling, I heard Brian call my name. Blissssssssssssssss! We finished up the last clue after a little head scratching (the hint in the passport had NOTHING to do with the actual solution), and then, the four of us sprinted to the finish (Chris and Brian's idea). I was holding Brian's hand as he finished his first race, and I don't think I could have imagined a more special or perfect moment. I was so proud of him, so proud of all of us in our little running crew!

Chips turned in, medals, Powerade. We waited for Tricia and Stephanie for a few moments, and then once we were all together, Kali River Rapids! We got drenched, which I found quite refreshing, but it left Tricia shivering. We rode Expedition Everest in the pitch black, and it gave us a momentary glipse of the land around us, night time lights twinkling, dotting the landscape. Complete awesomeness.

Once we got truly worn out, we all reconvened back at our hotel room for champagne and a group photo. I love those pictures. I look ridiculous and exhausted, but we all look happy. And exhausted. 

Did I mention the exhaustion?

Our last training run before Everest!

Tonight will be our last chance to get in a run before we all head down to Orlando to conquer Everest and the Yeti! It's exciting to know we'll all be part of this event together. I have total vacation rabies, and am probably driving everyone mad with my incessant chatter. Wheeeeeeee!

In 48 hours, we'll be picking up our registration packets! Yeah!

So I fell. But I got back on that pony.

We tried a new route yesterday and I don't know why that always throws me off a little but it does, but I do think that it's important to challenge ourselves to new terrain. Unfortunately yesterday I fell. I felt so clumsy and embarrassed that I was glad nobody actually saw it. I think I wasn't used to the uneven and hilly terrain and I wasn't able to see when my toe caught a snag on the sidewalk.

I even scraped my nose and chin. Which, I admit, scared me a little but as soon as I realized I was okay aside from scrapes, I decided to run back as much as I could. There was one hill that I had to walk it was SO steep.

But that was all good because I have fallen and gotten up and I'm okay so at least that fear seal has been broken. :)

New route!

So, I went to Stone Mountain early Saturday morning to run with our friend Courtney. It's a longer run than we usually do - almost 5 miles versus the regular 2.5. It's hillier. But what a great run! The views are lovely, there are tons of people out, all there for the same reason, and it's just a lovely way to start a morning, that's for sure!
We should consider a group run there some weekend. Good training for the Princess Half Marathon in March.

Of course, I got home and promptly went back to bed. :p

Run ye bilgerats!

Happy Talk Like A Pirate Day Mateys!

Go Team Go!

Last night Halfmoth, Surly, SuperHFunk and her man, and I were rocking the running last night. I can't believe that our 5K is next weekend. This is my first 5K. Ever. And it will also involve an obstacle course and a scavanger hunt. I hope I'm up to it. But it will be great having a bunch of us there to support one another even if we are competing as teams.

Last night I was able to run the full 30 minutes again and actually got to a "zone" for the latter half of it.

Weeeeeeeeeee!

Get it together, ladies!

So, Heather and I never seem to both have a good run at the same time. When she's having a good one, I'm dragging legs that feel like lead. When I'm buzzing along, she's hating it. We don't know why we can't manage to sync up. One day, perhaps we will solve this puzzle.

Last night was a case where I had a surprisingly enjoyable jog. It was something of a relief, as I haven't been terribly consistent lately and have been worried about being race ready for Everest.

Now if only I could keep from feeling sore and rickety the next day...

So very alone tonight...

\;^)

I have a running hangover.

Last night's run was extra rough somehow. Legs felt heavy, harder to breathe than usual --  just not right. Heather and I both got really fatigued and had to walk for a couple of minutes towards the end.

This morning, I totally overslept, and now I feel like I was out carousing all night. My eyes are achey, I have a headache and I just feel generally sore and drained of energy.

What gives, running? I thought you loved me!

Getting Expedition Everest Excited

I am so excited to be participating with friends in the Expedition Everest Challenge at the end of the month. I wanted to thank Surlygirlie, Halfmoth, SuperHFunk, and Satan for instigating, organizing, supporting and doing this. I never thought I would be able to say I was running a 5K. I still think it's weird to say that I run for 30 min 3 times a week. So when I think, well, I'll never be a hardcore runner, I have to remind myself that I never saw myself being a runner. At all. Especially not in my 40s.

I feel like even though I'm tired after a run, I have more energy during the day.
I feel like I am challenging myself to push beyond my own "I can't" thinking.

Most importantly, for me, running has helped me address body issues. Having struggled with an anxiety disorder most of my life, running has helped me confront the fear I have of not being able to breathe. I don't know if that makes sense, but I think runners learn to deal with pain and with fatigue, and with breathe control; all those things are issues for me during panic attacks. I feel fatigued, in pain, and I feel like I can't breathe. This helps me learn that these are not dangerous physical symptoms and that I can control them.

So I just wanted to say thankyou to my friends!

Catching back up!

Well, after my Wednesday sickie run, where I had to walk after 16.5 minutes, and then managed to run a bit more at the end, last night I made it the whole 30 minutes!

I had been kinda concerned that I wouldn't get back up to speed in time for Everest, but now I'm reassured. Yay!

Still waiting for that magical time when 30 minutes go by like a breeze with no struggle at all, though...

Dunder Mifflin Fun Run T-shirt

I don't know if anyone here is a fan of "The Office" on NBC...  The original BBC version starring Ricky Gervais is to me -- as is his way of comedy -- mostly uncomfortably painful and sometimes funny, while the Americanized version (with Gervais as Exec. Prod.) is mostly very funny with Steve Carell usually providing the [fewer] cringe-worthy moments.

Anyway, in one episode:

Michael hosts a Fun Run for the Scranton Business Park. A freak accident leads him to believe the office is cursed, and he questions his employees' religious beliefs. The office relationships are also explored, with Pam and Jim's new romance and Dwight and Angela's continuing relationship.

And at NBC's website is the shirt!

http://www.nbcuniversalstore.com/detail.php?p=42382

Take up the cause and spread the word, with Michael Scott's Dunder Mifflin Scranton Meredith Palmer Memorial Celebrity Rabies Awareness Pro-Am Fun Run For The Cure T-Shirt.

Semi-Terrified

I haven't run in over a week (DragonCon).
I have some sort of plague. The usual boring symptoms: sore throat, mild fever, congestion. It's just a cold, really, but I am a wuss of the highest degree.

Anyhoo, I'm gonna try running tonight. I am not really counting on having much endurance, but we have a race in 3.5 weeks and I want to be ready. Besides, I'm hoping a good bit of exertion will clear out some snot. Huzzah!

New Shoes and Clothes for Winter running

I'm thinking about getting new running shoes soon. (One day, at least when I can afford them.) Also, I need to think about what the hell I'm going to run in when the weather gets cool/cold. I found some shoes at Title Nine that I like (Meg's favorite shoe.) I also really like the clothes at Athleta.

I'm looking forward to today's run, even though it will be raining. I missed Friday's run and I can feel it.

Race Report - South Dekalb Striders' 5k for Hope 8/23/08

Another personal record day!
Both Heather and I beat our previous times by about 20 seconds. We're still slow as Christmas, but we're improving!

The morning started with our dear friend Lili meeting us at our place. She offered, for no other reason than the fact that she is a wonderful person, to wake up early and come out and cheer for us. Awesomeness! Brian and I finished getting ourselves together and then all three of us climbed in the Freymobile to head down to Decatur. Next stop: Casa Williams!

At the door to the Williams abode, we spied on Heather and Chris' television set through their window to see the CNN headline that Obama picked Biden as his running mate. Frankly, at 7am, I'm not really ready to think through any sort of political happenings, but it was an interesting bit of info to start the day with.

After a bit of kitty visiting with Heather and Chris' cats Amelie and Tenzin, we all climbed in Heather's car to actually get to the race. It was definitely more low-key than our last race, which had been very heavy on corporate sponsorship and marketing. I wasn't even sure where the start line was for the 5k for Hope until we were very close to race time. Not so much in the way of frills on this one, but the vibe was very relaxed and upbeat.



Once we actually set off, I kind of hit cruise control. It was cooler weather than we're used to running in, and it felt really nice. There was a downward hill near the beginning of the course that I suspected might really suck on the way back (the course sent runners halfway in one direction, then turned them around to run back). Once we left the main road, the course was really lovely, and we got to just enjoy the run. That hill did indeed suck when we were running up it, but we've handled worse, and there's always that feeling when you've reached the crest that the next part can't be THAT bad.

Some of my favorite sights along the way:

-A girl speed walking the course while cradling her chihuahua like an infant.
-A woman running alone and grinning ear to ear like she was just enjoying the ride.
-The group of older men who smoked the rest of us. They were SO FAST, and totally inspirational.
-A father and his very young (maybe 5) son running together. The father followed his son's pace, so they would alternately walk and sprint. When the boy was getting ready to sprint, he would cock his right arm back like he was winding up. It was really fun to watch the two of them together, and I feel compelled to mention that they finished ahead of us by several seconds.

What really stood out on this run was the heart of the volunteers from the South Dekalb Striders. What this race lacked in corporate dollars, it made up for in friendliness and positive energy. In addition to the usual assortment of volunteers handing out water and calling out times, there were people stationed every half mile or so along the course that cheered every runner on and gave positive encouragement. It was a really nice touch, and gave the whole event a great energy.

When we got towards the end and one of the volunteers called out "You've only got 200 yards, girls! Run it on home!" I floored it. Admittedly, my "floor it" pace is a total turtle trot to most runners, but I felt so exhilarated to be running flat out. When I saw the race clock and that we were actually going to beat our time from the last race, I was totally shocked. It sounds silly, but I actually started crying a little. Wooo for us!

After catching my breath and getting some hugs from my husband and a cup of water, it was off to our traditional post-race Chik-Fil-A breakfast. Huzzah! A great way to kick off a Saturday. :)

Many thanks to Heather, my partner in crime, and to our awesome cheering section! I'm so grateful to have all of you in my life.

Mid-life crisis?

I turned 40 this year. I have increasingly gained weight since my late 20s and last year was told by my doctor that on top of having osteoporosis, that I was also borderline overweight, my cholesterol was 240, and my blood pressure was a little high. So when invited to join the running group I thought to myself this is it. It's now or never. If I don't do this, how else will I slow down my bone mass loss, lower my cholesterol and lose weight? My family has a history of heart disease. Both my parents had a parent die around the age of 50, and my own father died around the age of 50. So I worry. (And that's prolly what is going to kill me... the worrying).

I'm pleased that I have made it from barely being able to run for a couple of minutes to being able to run for about 28 minutes (even though my pace is so slow!). I'm not really loving it, yet, but I do find that I sleep more soundly and generally feel healthier. Which is good.

So right off the bat I want to thank my friends for inviting me to do this because it certainly would be less fun and harder to stick with the routine if it were not for them.

Back in May of this year, a few of us started running together on a "Couch to 5k" plan. At the end of September, we'll all run together in the Expedition Everest Challenge in Disney's Animal Kingdom.

In an effort to capture the ups and downs of our newfound sport (hysterical since most of us are over 35), I thought it would be cool to blog together about this brave new world of trotting.

Wheeeee.

Type on, mateys.