It's so close

My training is complete. The only thing left to do is finish the race.

Coach Kathy says we runners-in-training are as prepared as we're going to be and that we can't increase our fitness by the weekend, so we should just take it easy and not get hurt this week.

We did six miles last weekend, and I've been running very few miles this week to let my body rest for the weekend.

Tomorrow is a day of hydration... all water, all day. Maybe some Powerade Zero (I LOVE that stuff). I'm not supposed to be on my feet much. I like this plan.

As you'd expect, I'm excited about the race and eager to cross the finish line. But I think at this point, I'm most looking forward to dinner on Saturday. I'm planning to eat lots of noodles and maybe even some chocolate cake. NO guilt. All delicious. It's going to be awesome! :)

Also as you'd expect, I'm nervous. I'm worried about my toes hurting during the race. I think my shoes are a bit small once my feet start swelling after several miles, but this is not the time to get new ones... Not sure what can be done to prevent that.

Despite the nerves, I'm trying to stay positive. I have run 13.1 miles before. I can do it again. I am visualizing the finish line. I am thinking of my wonderful mom, sister and boyfriend who will be waiting there to give me hugs. It's going to be a good day.

Mission accomplished

Yesterday, I did it. I ran 13.1 miles, the distance of a half-marathon. It took 2 hours and 45 minutes.

It was our last long training run before the race, April 25. Run leaders told us to treat this run as a "dress rehearsal" for race day. I certainly did.

I spent all of Friday hydrating. Powerade and Water all day. I had plenty of carbs Friday evening, as well. For breakfast, I had a PB&J sandwich (my favorite!). On the trail, I ate a Snickers Marathon Bar. It was good. Chocolatey. :) I think that's what I'll bring with me for the race.

My group and I stopped for two bathroom breaks. I'm hoping I won't need those stops on race day. Other than that, I hope the memorial run goes just like yesterday.

Today, my legs are sore. Walking is OK, but climbing stairs is a killer. I can't imagine trying to run today, but I do plan to hit the gym for some abs and arms.

Next Saturday is an easy six miles so we can rest up for race day the following weekend.

I can't believe how close I am to the end. I've come a long way.

In loving memory

It's no secret that I haven't posted in a while. I could say I've been busy. Or lazy. Or not feeling creative.

But all of those excuses would be lies.

The truth is that my grandmother passed away two weeks ago. I've been feeling pretty down and not in the mood to do any of the things I normally love: seeing friends, writing this blog or running.

But even that's not the whole truth.

My grandma was subscribed to this blog. She would receive an e-mail every time I published a post. And she replied — to all of them.

She sent sweet notes with words of encouragement. Or links to running articles. My favorite e-mails were the ones that said those simple words: "I'm proud of you."

I've always thought I'm a lot like my grandma. She, too, was a writer. She loved to meet people. She loved to laugh. She loved being around friends and family. I'm not too proud to admit I shared even some of her less-positive traits: big feet and a lack of organization, for example.

I haven't posted in a while because I know that after I hit "publish post," an e-mail will go to her account. And she won't respond.

That thought has been just too much to bear for the past couple of weeks.

But the half-marathon is coming up quick. I have a 13-mile run this weekend. My grandma wouldn't have wanted me to quit writing or running, for that matter.

So instead of focusing on my loss, when I push "publish," I'm going to remember the best part: She was proud of me.

In loving memory of Mary Ellen Cooper

It's official

I am registered for the OKC Half Marathon. I have 54 days until the race.

So excited!

Good Day Sunshine

Saturday's run was a preview of what running in spring time must be like. The sun was shining. The wind wasn't so fierce. And I didn't need gloves. It was wonderful.

Several of my group members were missing. And those of us who showed up seemed a bit sore from the previous Saturday's 10 miles. We were a bit more sluggish than usual.

Still, we finished strong.

Next week is 11 miles. We're getting close to the half-marathon distance.

Double digits

Why, oh why, must the Creek Turnpike trail be so hilly?

Five miles along there Saturday morning was hard work. Thankfully, five miles was only half the run.

The other five took us on a nice, flat jaunt through Jenks. It rained a bit, but the weather was undoubtedly the best it's been for a training run so far.

Within two hours, my group and I finished our 10 miles -- the longest run many of us, including myself, have done to date.

I ate a laffy taffy at the half-way point. It's not the sports-electrolyte snack of champions, but the pure sugar definitely helped boost my energy.

Last week was the poker run. I'm embarrassed to admit that I couldn't finish the five miles. I had done a seven-mile run the night before, and I don't think I had enough water to hydrate afterward. The consumption of a few adult beverages later in the evening probably didn't help either. I had to turn around before the two-mile mark. :(

You live; you learn, I guess.

My upcoming Saturday runs look like this, in terms of miles:
7, 11, 8, 12, 8, 13, 12, 6, HALF MARATHON

It's getting closer. I'm getting excited.

Good week for running

I am surprised to say this, but ... nine miles wasn't so bad.

In fact, I wanted to keep going. And I'm bummed that this Saturday's run is only five miles. (It's the POKER run. You get a playing card at each mile marker. Then you get to make a hand at the end and play. You should come out. $5 donation. Meet at Veteran's Park.)

This running thing really is addicting.

I did four miles last night and the night before. I downloaded some more songs from iTunes, so my playlist is pretty good.

I'm feeling confident about my ability to finish a half marathon. And I can already tell that I'm going to keep training after April. I might give a full marathon a try. (I can't believe I just said that.)

Nine miles??

I'm attempting nine miles this morning. Yikes.

Wish me luck!

Oops

NERD ALERT: Last night, I decided to skip my training run to go to a social media "tweet-up" in Broken Arrow. I learned more about Twitter and its applications in five minutes from a book publisher there than I have in years of reading articles and working with professors. Amazing stuff, @PublishingGuru. Thanks for your tips.

Feeling guilty about missing my run last night, I made a promise to myself to run this morning. I did it. I ran 3.8 miles. It was cold, but I feel great.

So why the title "Oops" title? I'll tell you.

I have no idea how long it took me to run because I have no idea when I left my house. I know I got home at 5:30 a.m., the time I would have sworn I set my alarm to wake up. I guess I accidentally jumped the clock forward an hour?? That's the only thing I can figure. So I got up at 4:30 to run? I'm not sure. How did I not notice?

I don't know. But I'm making lemonade of this life lemon. I am back at home ready to start to my day early.

Oh what a beautiful morning

I have good news to report.

I stepped on the scale this morning to see that I have lost three pounds since I began running. That's not much of a change, but it's enough to put me in the "healthy weight" category, based on my Body Mass Index. (If you're interested in figuring out your BMI, there are several calculators. Just Google "BMI calculator.")

This is the first time in my adult life to be in that category. I am thrilled. (I have also noticed some once-tight clothes fitting a little better.)

I made up for my lazy snowed-in weekend with a six-mile jog down Riverside last night. I ran by myself.

I had no idea what a difference running with a group makes! Six miles on my own felt like such work. I had to keep motivating myself, telling myself I was close and doing well.

I'm too proud to even consider giving up when I'm running with the group. I couldn't let them leave me behind.

So, thanks, my fellow Halfsquatches, for making this doable. See you Saturday (if not before then).

Confessions of a lazy half-marathoner

I didn't run on Saturday. Or Sunday.

I have 82 days left until the half marathon.

I need to get back on track.

I'm headed to Riverside after work. I pinky promise.

Searching for the perfect running playlist

I am in the market for the perfect running playlist.

I have an iTunes giftcard left over from Christmas that I plan to use for this mission.

I get e-mail updates from SparkPeople — a cool online community for weightloss, which I definitely recommend to anyone serious about shedding pounds. Through that site, I found an article raving about using music to intensify workouts. The site suggested the following playlist:

"The Sign" by Ace of Base
"Caught Up" by Usher
"Uptown Girl" by Billy Joel
"Ain't Too Proud to Beg" by The Temptations
"Lose My Breath" by Destiny's Child
"Take Me Out" by Franz Ferdinand
"Rock Your Body" by Justin Timberlake
"Respect" by Aretha Franklin
"When It's Over" by Sugar Ray

Anyone have any other suggestions?

Tips from friends along the way

Since starting my blog, I've gotten some great tips from other runners and fitness experts with far more experience than I have. I thought I ought to share that knowledge. That's what the Internet is for, right?

Danny Cahill, Broken Arrow's own winner of "The Biggest Loser," responded to a Facebook message from me asking for advice on marathon running. (Yes, I did feel like a celebrity when he wrote back.) He suggested I look into books about the Galloway method. I haven't checked out any books, but I did look at Jeff Galloway's Web site (http://www.jeffgalloway.com/training/marathon.html) for some tips. His method sounds a lot like the training schedule Kathy and Brian already gave me. Don't overdo it. Walk some. Build up distance. I'm thankful I have a group to do this with. I would hate to train by myself. Thanks for the tip, Danny!

Aaron Henson, president of Fitness Together, told me I need to do some weight training to go along with my running. This will prevent injury and balance my muscles, he said.
Below is his message:
"A moderate weightlifting program helps marathoners strengthen muscles that aren’t used in running. If running is your only form of exercise, certain muscles, such as the hamstrings, will become stronger, but the quadricep muscles will not. This imbalance can set the stage for an injury.

"When you are working out with weights, try to use the same or similar amounts of weight for opposing muscle groups, such as the biceps and triceps, or the quads and hamstrings. The weights you are lifting with your hamstrings may feel easy, but that’s OK. Your hamstrings get plenty of exercise from running. If the amount of weight you need to challenge your hamstrings is a struggle for your quads, it is better to lift less weight with the hamstrings than to overtax your quads. Once you build more strength in your quads, you will fell comfortable lifting the same amount of weight with both muscle groups.

"You don’t need to spend hours in the gym for effective weight training. In half an hour, you can fit in 2-3 sets of 10-15 repetitions for a few key muscle groups:
• hamstrings/quadriceps
• adductor/abductor muscles (inner and outer hip)
• the calf muscles
• biceps/triceps
• shoulders
The weight should be heavy enough that your muscles start to feel tired during the second or third set."
I have started doing some moderate weight training in my living room. I've been using a set of workouts from "Women's Health Magazine." Thanks for letting me know how important weight training is, Aaron.

Deborah, a run group leader for a different pace group, sent me a recipe for homemade protein bars. I haven't made them yet because I'm afraid they would taste too good, and I'd eat WAY TOO many of them. (I've been eating like a pig after runs!) But here's the recipe for those with more self control than I have:
1 1/2 cup honey ( I found this to be a one pound jar )
2 cups peanut butter ( again a one pound jar )
microwave until soft ( I skip this step )
Stir in 2 cups protein powder ( I use Whole Foods store brand of whey protein powder--chocolate flavor of course ! )
3 cups of old fashioned oats
press into a 9x13 pan and refrigerate

After they are chilled, you can cut them into serving sizes. We do ours about a one-inch cube (think fudge). We keep ours in the fridge and pull one out for runs as needed. I had my youngest daughter figure out the calories in a batch that we made, and it came to 143 per cube.
Thank you for the recipe, Deborah.

I hope these tips help. Let me know if you have more. I'm always looking to learn more.

Thanks to everyone!

8 Mile

So, Saturday's run was eight miles. I've spent the past 48 hours trying to come up with a clever play on Eminem's movie, "8 Mile." As it turns out, I'm not that clever. A Wikipedia entry and an IMDb post later, I still don't have any clever lines for you.

I guess I'll have to go all journalist and give just the facts.

This was, by far, the least fun run I've done yet. It was raining. Really raining. Last week was a bit misty, but this was straight rain. It hit me in the face — taunting me, torturing me — for the first five miles.

Thankfully, one of my fellow Half Squatches let me borrow a poncho. (You're a goddess, Becky.) There's no way I would have made it without that bright red, BOK-logoed gift. I would have been soaked.

For the first leg of the run, I was leading my pace group, running right alongside Sue, one of our group leaders. She was going faster than I would have if I were picking the pace, but I liked the challenge of trying to keep up. That challenge was the only distraction I had from the rain.

The rain was so unpleasant, a few of our group members cut out early. I don't blame you, friends. Without that poncho, I would have made the same choice.

I tried an on-trail snack. At the water stop/five-mile mark, Sue shared a couple of sports beans with me. They were delicious. After eating them, I had a lot more energy. But that might have been because the rain died down rather than because of the sports beans. Still, Sue deserves a thank you. I'll definitely get my own beans for our next long run.

The last three miles were great. I spent some time getting to know some of my fellow group members. I talked to Archie, who's in training because he wanted a challenge. I met Chad. He was wearing a Mythbuster's T-shirt, so I instantly knew we could be friends. I met Jeff, a new member of our group. He has run a half marathon before but was looking for people to run with. And I raved about the new radio station, GenX 106.1, with Heather and the Ambers (we have two of them). They're close to my age and a lot of fun.

Our group finished the run at the same time as another group — only the other group ran 12 miles, instead of just eight. I must admit, that bruises the ego a bit. But Jason, my other group leader, assured me that it's OK. You can't train for distance and speed at the same time, he said. First, I have to build up my distance. Then I can work on my speed.

For now, I'll just try to feel accomplished with my eight miles in 93 minutes.

Next week is a relaxing six miles. Who would have thought I'd look at six miles as a short run? Half marathon training is pretty cool.

Crazy

Something must have come over me.

This morning, I woke up at 5:24, more than half an hour before I normally wake up for work. (That's not the crazy part.)

Instead of rolling over and going back to sleep only to hit snooze and repeat that process about three more times, I got out of bed to do some weight training in my living room. That's crazy, right?

I have some 5-pound dumbbells, and I found a workout specifically designed for my body type (thank you, Women's Health Magazine e-mail updates).

I squatted and lunged my way through the rear end-targeted workout and followed it up with a ab video by Denise Austin. (She might be a little too peppy for 6 a.m.)

It felt great. Afterward, I had some breakfast and headed to the office.

I'm not sure whether it was the workout or the sweet 1990s jams of GenX 106.1 during my commute, but I walked into work feeling pretty good.

Cross training

I'm looking for tips on cross training.

Several people have told me weight training is important. Coach Kathy even sent an e-mail with three reasons everyone in the training program should look at weight training:
1. Muscle burns more calories.
2. Strong muscles reduce the potential for injury.
3. Strength training can help you run faster, longer and more efficiently.

So I'm trying to get into a routine. Looking for tips or suggestions.

My 11-mile weekend

What better way to follow up last week's six miles in the snow?

Seven miles in the rain. :)

I am proud to say that, despite Friday's unplanned visit from my younger sister, which resulted in a late-into-the-night Band Hero jam session, I managed to get out of bed Saturday morning to do my run.

This week's trail was MUCH hillier than my first week. A mile into the jog, I was panting. I thought I'd never make it. The rain droplets collecting on my eyelashes didn't help either.

Thankfully, the trail flattened out (and my pulse managed not to). I made it all seven miles. No walking at all.

My run group leader suggested I try high-carb or sugar snacks for Saturday's run, but I didn't. I don't think I need snacks on trail... yet. The thought of running so far I need a snack still baffles me. Does anyone have any suggestions? I don't think that Gu is for me. Maybe the sports beans, though...

On Sunday, I was feeling pretty energetic and decided I would take a jog. The weather was nice, so I planned a three-mile jaunt along Riverside. But when I got to the 1.5 mile marker, I decided to keep going. I ran to the 2-mile marker before turning around for a total run of four miles. That felt good. I don't think I've ever set out to run a distance and then chosen, midworkout, to go farther. That was a great feeling.

Next week is eight miles. Maybe the weather will cooperate.

Works hard for the money

I have some more bad news. It looks like I'll have to miss training on Tuesday and Thursday this week.

As the education editor at the Broken Arrow Ledger, I will be at the public forums introducing the Broken Arrow schools superintendent candidates on Tuesday and Thursday evening.

I am going to try my best to make it to the gym on other days to get in my two three-mile sessions.

Wish me luck.

Saturday is seven miles, again farther than I have ever run before.

At least it's getting warmer.

Pain in my lower back

I am posing a question to those more experienced runners:

Immediately after completing my six-mile run, my lower back was in extreme pain. I tried stretching, but it didn't seem to help much.

One of the other runners suggested I go home and lay a rolled-up towel beneath my lower back. He said that would help my hips and back relax.

I did that, and it helped a lot. But I'm wondering if there is anything preventative I can do.

Does anyone else have suggestions?

Do I have the wrong shoes or do I need inserts? Should I change my posture while I'm running? Should I stretch out my back before I run?

Any tips or suggestions are welcome.

Thanks!

Six miles in the snow

I have taken many great showers in my life.

My sorority in college had an annual mud party, during which some 60 women and their dates played in a mud pit. The showers immediately following that event were, without a doubt, some of the best of my life.

For spring break my senior year of college, my best friend and I rode a Greyhound bus to Washington, D.C. The ride took 40 hours each way. There was no showering during the journey. We smelled rank by the time we reached our hotel in the nation's capitol. That shower, too, was a memorable one.

But none of those can compare to the amazing shower I took Saturday morning after completing a six-mile run in the snow. The steamy hot water beating on my back, comforting joints and warming body parts I feared I'd never feel again, just can't be beat.

Before I could step in the tub, I spent several minutes disrobing. I had to peel off the layers upon layers of clothing I wore to keep myself warm: underarmor, a cotton T-shirt, a jacket and a hooded sweatshirt on the top; two pairs of pants on the bottom; a pair of gloves coated by a pair of mittens on my hands; and a hat, a scarf and a hood around my face and head.

The top layers were frigid, but the bottom layers were sweaty (and FROZEN), proving that you sweat no matter how cold it is out there. My hair was a matted mess. Ew.

After the shower, though, I can't even describe how accomplished I felt. Six miles is the farthest I have ever run at one time. It felt good.

For much of the run, I jogged alongside my pace group leader, Jason. He's great. He gave all sorts of encouragement and tips.

He said if I can keep up with my current pace, I should be able to not only complete a half marathon in April but also a full marathon in November. That was thrilling to hear.

I am excited to keep up my training this week.

Good news and bad news

I'm a firm believer that the bad news should come first. So here goes.

I chickened out. I decided running at the river last night was just too cold. So I returned to the gym for a treadmill jaunt. I ran my three miles while watching "Law and Order" (NOT the Food Network). Part of me feels like a wimp for skipping, but many family members and friends urged me to be sensible.

Now for the good news! After the gym, I made it to the nutrition meeting at RunnersWorld. I learned so much. It was awesome.

Here are some tips from sports dietitian Sloan Taylor:

• Carbs are not evil. This is great news for me because I love carbs: bread, pasta, bagels, fruit, beans and corn. Yum! Those training for (half)marathons should eat at least one carb at each meal, Taylor says. Count me in! The night before you run 10 miles or more, you should "carb load," or eat a dinner of pretty much all carbs. I can't wait! Spaghetti with red sauce, here I come.

• Breakfast is important, especially on race day. Even if it's just a piece of bread, breakfast gets your metabolism going. Coffee does not count. This won't be hard for me. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day.

• Do NOT skip meals. Even if you aren't hungry, you should not skip meals, Taylor says. This slows the body's metabolism.

• You can — and should — eat DURING a race. When running long distances (more than 10 miles), runners should snack. RunnersWorld sells carb gels, but Taylor likes variety, so she eats jelly beans, PayDay candy bars and granola on the trail. She made marathons sound like trick-or-treating for adults.

• Everyone needs at least 1,200 calories a day. Starving yourself is silly, especially if you're in a distance-running training program. And it's OK if your body is hungrier than usual during training. It's burning more calories, so it makes sense that it needs more calories.

• Weightloss is another good-news/bad-news situation. The bad news: Women likely will not lose weight during a training program. Their body-fat composition will change, making their clothes fit more loosely (YAY!), but the scale is not likely to reflect that change. The good news: Men typically notice weightloss...immediately. The world isn't fair.

Those are the highlights.

Saturday morning is my six-mile run. That is farther than I have ever run at once before. I'm nervous. Terrified.

It's going to be cold.

To run or not to run?

Is it dangerous to run outside tonight?

A windchill advisory is in effect. But I'd hate to skip day 2 of the training.

Thoughts? Advice? Experience?

He stole my thunder...among other things

I did it. I ran three miles in the cold.

But celebration of my accomplishment was cut short when I returned to my car parked along Riverside.

Apparently, while I was running, someone broke into my Ford Escape.

He shattered my passenger-side window, stole my gym bag (including yesterday's work clothes and one boot — he dropped the other one), my iPod and my coat, and got away without anyone catching his license plate number.

I know the thief was a "he" because one of my fellow runners — Paul, my hero! — saw the whole thing happen.

Paul is a faster runner than I, so he returned to the parking lot minutes before I did. As he was climbing into his car to go home, he heard the sound of glass breaking.

He said he thought the white SUV parking next to my car just got too close and broke the side-view mirror, but he quickly realized this was no accident.

He saw the crook reach into my car, so he shouted at him. The thief, realizing he was caught, jumped into his car and took off.

Paul, being the lightning-fast runner he is, chased after the bandit.

He couldn't catch him, but he did call the police. He then waited with me until the police arrived and told the officer all the information he had about the crime.

I filed a report, but I'm not optimistic. The officer said my case was her FOURTH one in the same parking lot in the past two days.

Needless to say, I didn't make it to the nutrition meeting after the run.

But I did learn some tips from the officer to keep my car safe. She said I should hide my valuables, park under a streetlight and leave my car facing the street, not the river.

Anyone know any good glass repairmen?

In the meantime, I'm focusing on the bright side. I ran three miles. And thanks to Paul, the thief didn't get to my purse, wallet or iPhone.

It's good to have fast friends.

Consider me oriented

Jan. 4 has come and gone. I'm alive and optimistic.

I didn't begin training (read: RUNNING) last night. That happens tonight at 5:30. But during orientation, I did meet the folks I'll be training with: Brian and Kathy Hoover, who own RunnersWorld Tulsa.

They're great. Friendly, funny and motivational. It's clear they love to run and want to help others learn to love it, as well.

They talked about the program: how and why it works. I will run with the group three times a week: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The weekend run is the long one and the most important, Brian and Kathy say.

I met other runners in the group. Many of them were beginners like me. But some were experienced full marathoners just looking for friends to train with. Everyone seemed to be in good spirits.

We each filled out a questionnaire to place us in the proper pace group. You're supposed to add 60 to 90 seconds to your normal time to find the right distance pace group. I run 11-minute miles on the treadmill, so I signed up for the 12- to 13-minute mile pace group.

My pace group leader is supposed to e-mail this week. This person will lead the long runs, as well as answer questions and encourage (read: NAG) me when I feel like giving up or quit showing up to training. I look forward to meeting this person.

After the orientation meeting, Brian fitted me for new running shoes. (That's them above.)

Tonight, I will run three miles with the group. Afterward, a sports dietitian will give us tips on what to eat throughout training. I am looking forward to that.

I leave you with this:

Things I learned last night

1. I've probably been running too quickly every time I've gotten on a treadmill. The trainers say that if you can't carry on a conversation because you're too busy huffing, puffing or wheezing, you're running too fast. Oops. Maybe that's why running has always been a chore instead of a joy.

2. You can survive a run in the cold, rain, snow, ice, etc. I am still a bit skeptical on this one, but I guess I'll know for sure after tonight. Brian and Kathy say they run in pretty much any condition. They even talked about adding screws to the bottoms of their shoes for traction on ice. That's commitment!

3. If I stick with their plan and complete my training runs, I have about a 99.7 percent shot of completing my half marathon. The long Saturday runs (at 7:45 in the morning, I might add) are the most important, Kathy and Brian say.

4. Running shoes are a pricey investment but definitely worth it. If you're going to run 13 miles, you need good shoes that provide proper support, Brian and Kathy say. Sounds smart to me. I didn't have a clue how to pick the right shoe, but Brian helped me find just the right pair. I also learned running shoes need to be replaced every 300 to 500 miles. I've never thought of my shoes' mileage before.

The Food Network

Don't get me wrong. I love the Food Network.

I'm not much of a cook, so those chefs are magic to me. In my book, Alton Brown is a wizard; Robert Irvine a sorcerer.

That being said, I have a hard time enjoying Gina Neely crafting the perfect sangria-swirled margarita while I'm huffing and puffing on the treadmill. Not to mention the commercials: warm brownies and gooey chocolate-chip cookies, straight from the oven. Mmmm...

Wait, what was I talking about? Oh yeah. Working out.

At least three of the TVs at the gym were set to the Food Network when I went Jan. 2 to take another stab at three miles on the treadmill. Maybe that's motivational for other people, but I found myself longing to be anywhere but the gym, namely the Neelys' kitchen!

Despite a variety of distractions (do you know how crowded a gym is on Jan. 2?), I managed to complete my three miles.

Confession: I didn't run them straight through. After two miles, I was terribly bored on the treadmill (and wasn't about to plug my earbuds into the FN), so I stopped to do weight training and abs, promising myself I would go back and complete the third mile.

True to my word, I did it. So, there you have it. I can run three miles.

I still have some concerns about this half-marathon (like if I get bored after two miles, how will I ever make it to 13?), but I am feeling much better about Jan. 4.

I'm ready. Bring it on!

Testing the waters

As Jan. 4 approaches, my anxiety grows.

What if I'm not in shape enough to do this? What if I can't keep up with the others in my group? What if I started a blog — shared my goal with everyone I know — only to fail?

This kind of thinking can drive a person crazy.

By New Year's Eve, I knew only one thing could help me calm my fears. I decided to hit the gym, specifically the treadmill.

I'm to run three miles during my first training session, so that was my goal for this gym trip: three miles on the treadmill.

On account of the holiday, the gym closed early. 5 p.m. I managed to sneak out of work a bit early. Unfortunately, not early enough.

By the time I was dressed in my running gear and to the treadmill, I had only 20 or so minutes until the gym closed. I was definitely not about to pull out 6 1/2-minute miles.

I jogged the full 20 minutes, not quite reaching two miles.

I left feeling good but fears not completely assuaged.

I knew I'd have to hit the gym again before Jan. 4.