It's on Folks!

Following a not so brief hiatus, I am happy to announce that, it's on folks! We're running again.

Brief update (Claire): I more or less ran twice a week until the winter. I don't have central heating in my house and that makes for a cold morning. Also, my junior high school, like most across Japan, doesn't have central heating and uses kerosene space heaters sparingly. Running before or after school was a terribly unattractive option and since the marathon was months and months away my motivation took a nose dive. Also, I have a job interview and a friend's wedding in October so the Chicago Marathon is out.

Quad Cities Marathon? IN! September 26th we'll finish our first marathon.

Tomorrow I will start the official marathon training. My pre-training has been consistent but sparse. Instead of four times a week I've been running about twice a week for the past three weeks. I am very intimidated by the 3 miles I need to run tomorrow morning.

I've been having two thoughts run through my head, "Just run until it's time to stop" and "You always have more strength." The first I got from the book we're following The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer. The second I wrote in my journal during my trip to the Philippines with Habitat for Humanity. We mixed concrete was manually. Pour in mix, pour in water, add dirt, grab shovel, and stir. After a day in the terrifically hot sun doing this I knew I'd avoid this station the next day. Next day came and I was somehow at the concrete mixing station again. So I did it. And that night I marveled at how when you need to do something, there's always more strength left in you.

Let's running!

Restarting the Sedentary Ball

At the writing of the previous post by my esteemed running colleague and BUFF (best ultimate friend forever, please verbally cite us if you plan on plucking this diamond of a catch-phrase out of the rough) all I had was the best of intentions. Intentions to continue my running schedule while on my trip back home. The allure of Chi-Town and the long-missed company of my family and friends was too much, I'm afraid.

My will power is only so strong.

I had been doing a 5 minute walk/run routine for thirty minutes three days a week. During my trip home I managed two in two weeks.

But when we began this we decided that this needed to be only a positive experience. Difficult, yes. But one in which abject self-loathing plays a key role, no. So I decided to just enjoy my trip home and get the ball restarted upon coming back to Japan.

Easier said than done.

Since returning two weeks ago I have only gone on two run/walks. Whoops.

Here's what I've got so far...

1. Thinking about a marathon while huffing and puffing my way through the first 5 minutes of my run/walk may not be the best way to motivate my out-of-shape-but-still-trucking self to keep at it.
2. I have never encountered so much goodwill from the strangers that are my neighbors as I have while running.
3. Running through the little paths in between rice fields seems like a good idea pre-mouth-full-of-bugs. Never again.

Keep on keeping on.
Claire