I Swear I've Been Running 2.2, 2.3, 3.1 of B210K

Sometimes I feel like I explain my whole life on Facebook, so I feel like there's no need to share. Except that this is really a journal of something great... My journey. I can explain myself more deeply and correctly that I can in a paragraph of summarized deep thoughts.

Let me tell you about some running experiences I've had...

Last week I ran Week 2, Day 2 of Bridge to 10K. The run was relatively uneventful. However, my GPS said I ran 3.94 miles, and I was kind of bummed! I wished I had known I was SO close to 4 miles, I would have pushed myself harder. As it was, I took two walking breaks that were unscheduled. They were brief... See, had I blogged, this would be A TON more exciting than this, which appears to be a Facebook status update. haha. Sad I've lost it, since I neglected to record it.

The rest of the week was saturated with more obstacles than were realistic for me to run the third run of the week. It was VERY frustrating. I decided I would deal, and move on to 2.3 on Monday.

Monday came and my three kids seemed eager to go out. Except I couldn't get them ready. AT ALL. hmmm... Finally we were out the door, but my timing had to be perfect because of the necessarily post-run shower, and a doctor's appointment for Lambie.

We went to the school track, because it is easiest to watch my kids from the track loop. They played a while, while I ran (wow! How often can you say "while while" and have it make sense. Funny you pronounce them differently... nerd alert, sorry.) it was relatively easy.... My kids were playing on their scooter, and ran with me here and there. They tried to play with Peach, who was in the stroller, Bear tried to hold my hand and run with me, and for the warmup wanted to listen to my iPod with me. So sweet!

Throughout the run, there were two young girls who each did a lap and vanished. It was seriously bizarre. You would think I would see them heading off some direction, but no. I thought about how "unnaturally" thin they were (know that I understand there are ectomorph body types in this world. Their thinness just led me to think...), and pondered the future of my two beautiful daughters. Would they be horribly self conscious of the ample thighs and booty they may well inherit from their mother? How hard would they try to be thin? How would I know when it's a problem? I confess I was glad when they each left so that my mind would stop worrying.

With each minute that ticked by, I was amazed with myself, but was more and more tired. My legs were starting to ache, but I pressed on. The kids started wanting a countdown of minutes. I was amazed how well this propelled me. I continued a practice I would do during Couch to 5K of dropping a clover flower every loop I go. Although my GPS was on, I still liked the verification. I'm very precise and meticulous.

My run was over, and I had just dropped my 16th clover flower. 4 miles. My GPS read 3.85 miles. This is an impossible discrepancy, isn't it? It's either 3.75 or 4... ??? I know I did 4. So there it is. I had looked forward to this day, reaching 4 miles, and it was so weird, that I was a little... let down.

The day after 2.3 I walked to the park for a picnic the congregation of my church was having. On the way back, I was pushing Peach in the stroller, and we passed a youngish new mom, pushing her stroller, wearing a super cute workout outfit, sunglasses, iPod, tank top, with coordinating hoodie strategically drooping off of one shoulder. As she saw Peach, she pointed for her distracted young son, and yelled (unaware of her volume) "BABY! LOOK! BAAAAABY!" It was a terrific site, and I had a good laugh.

I feel I'm not doing what I'm doing for looks, like she was... But then, I am. I suppose so I can be gorgeous the OTHER minutes of the day. I'll get there someday.

Run 3.1 was Wednesday of this week. I loved it. The Captain was home, waiting for his carpool to work. I got to set off on my own, a rare treat. It's always weird running without a stroller, now. Without the stroller, for some reason, it takes a long time to find my rhythm, without feeling like I'm running like Will Ferrell when he thinks he's on fire in Talledega Nights (except not nekkid). I finally caught my stride, which I need to perfect, but a stride nonetheless.

I passed a mom running with her two teen boys. You could say they "needed" to run, for the visual... I was proud of them. They did the best they could for a very long time. Each time I passed them, I told them they were doing great, and to keep going! They smiled and thanked me with each passing.

At one point I passed two ladies who must have been in their 70's. They were saying how everyone was blowing by them, directed at me. At that point, I had my one minute break to walk, so I told them that I wasn't running prior to May 1st, but decided to reclaim my body. One of them said, "You are surely doing that!" And then, "We just saunter. And we are thankful for that." I loved it. I thought about it all day. When I am 70+, sauntering might be my only option, and I want to be thankful that 1) I'm 70+, and 2) I can still move, with my wits about me. But for now, I run. And I am so thankful for the ability to do so.

My distance for 3.1 was 4.11 miles. I am bummed it wasn't further, but I am really happy with how long and far I'm going. I did the run without extra walk breaks, and I'm excited to do 3.2 on Saturday.