The Need for (More) Speed

I am such a dork. This morning I spent an hour looking up race times from FIVE years ago--before twins, before 50 more pounds settled on my frame, before every waking moment seemed to be consumed by work or being a mom.

It got me excited about running and about my potential. I'm never going to be fast. I'm never going to win anything. But I can be faster than I am now, for sure.

The long and short of my research:

• At distances between 5 & 10K, my times ranged from 9:31 minute miles to 10:06 minute miles, even at altitude. I did three sub 10 minute mile races (and all this time I thought there was only ONE)
• At the half marathon distance (13.1 miles), I ranged from 11 minute to 12 minute miles
• At the marathon distance (26.2 miles), I was solidly doing 12 minute miles (mostly because of walking the later miles)
  

Most of this while I was struggling with torn cartilage in my hip. Not bad for a chubby woman who started running in her 30s.

This time round while training for the Chicago marathon in October:

• I've done ZERO races. ZERO. And I'm ok with that.
  
• I'm not dealing with major injuries (in fact, my Achilles Tendinitis is finally healing in large part to my expensive, miracle MBT shoes and training sensibly)
• I'm training to run/walk
• I'm just hoping to finish the same day I start. :-)
  

Race Ts and My Closet

As I was putting away the last two weeks of laundry (what can I say, I don't keep a tidy closet) it occurred to me:

• I have to get more organized (I always think that when I inventory the mess)
  
• I don't have many recent race T-shirts (two from 2007, none from 2008)
  
• Those that I have are mostly from 2003 and getting threadbare (and I have to stretch a bit to make them fit)
• I've got an impressive array of half marathon and marathon t-shirts
  
• My daily wardrobe is entirely too dependent on race shirts (I'm a candidate for the What Not To Wear Show, for sure)
  

So...I know I'll have a new addition in three weeks (CHICAGO MARATHON, HERE COME!). And I know I want to do some shorter distances in 2009 while I'm losing weight. I don't want to stop running and lose the fitness. And I want to get back to the place where I can run 10 minute miles. And maybe, just maybe, I'll tackle another marathon in fall 2009. :-)

Still Kickin

I've been trying to watch what I eat while marathon training--but I've been using the training as an excuse to let myself slide. Still, I am down a few pounds (four hours of exercise in one day will do that to you!). Not as much as I would like, but it is what it is.

I'm ready to be past the marathon...

• So I don't have to face the %$@#!*! 5:00 a.m. alarm in the cold and the dark
  
• So I can be there more for my kids
• So I can focus on other things
• So I have more free time
• So I can stop worrying about race day. It will be fun. Mostly challenging. But it's for a good cause. I just hope I don't drop on the course! :-)

So, in short, I'm still here, still fat, and still unhappy about it!
-m