Jumbo Shrimp: The Race Is On!

I hope you didn't think I was too embarrassed to come back after my farting story. The truth is, flatulence is much more of an issue for me than it ever has been. Geez, the pressure to keep the romance alive at home!Then again, it's not like I fart more than my husband. No, when that happens I'll definitely see a doctor. Or change my diet or something.

Anyways, I've been running. Not running around Christmas shopping or running errands or definitely not running around on my husband (although there was an ugly accusation which we shall let go, because 1. I am mature and 2. I am generally the psychotic member of our union and it was refreshing for my husband to play the role for once.)

I'm running a race. This race. On May 10th- it's 15.5342798 miles. I'm not worried about the 15 miles- it's that .5342798 that concerns me. Seriously, I've never run more than 5 miles and I'm probably the least active I've been in my life. So really, what better time? I've done the 5K of this event a few times over the years and it's always fun. There are so many people and they have really good food afterwards (who needs more reason?). I've considered trying it in years past, but it always seemed like there was no way I could commit the time to the training. But the kids are a little older, I'm tired of feeling bad physically (whatever is causing my weird physical symptoms, which still come and go, is going to have to step aside) and we have a treadmill in the basement, negating the excuse of having to go somewhere to train.

So the training started this past week. I had done a few walks on the treadmill last week and a few aerobics classes here and there to get 'tuned up'. Monday came. Monday went. Ooops. Yes, I missed the first day. But wait! When you stumble you must pick yourself up! Get back on the wagon or the train or whatever. Oh yes, the treadmill! Yesterday was supposed to be a 2 mile run but I taught an aerobics class so I traded my Sunday off- did aerobics yesterday and ran my 2 miles today. I'm only going 12 minute miles right now, which I hope to improve (or else it's going to take me over 3 hours to complete the race...and really, who has that kind of time on a Saturday?). I'd like to tell you that this is entirely about the fantastic sense of accomplishment I'm going to have when I stumble across that finish line, but there's also an appeal to burning some serious calories by the time I'm running 60 miles a week. I frequently eat lunch with a tri-athlete I know, and there are moments of serious bacon cheeseburger envy. This girl can eat! And then there's me, with my side salad and broth-based soup. Oh yeah, I'm gonna carb-load!

I'll keep you posted-and I'm sure you'll cheer me on, as you always do!