First Three Miles and No Heart Attack

I didn't poop myself.

I ran three miles in Venice at 7 a.m. this morning, I didn't die, and my pants are clean. I'm proud.

Okay, so it may not be that big of an accomplishment. Paying to join a marathon training group and registering for the LA Marathon for March 1, 2009, though, is the biggest commitment I have attempted to make so far. Move over journal entries, gym memberships, or daily flossing, marathon training is my new priority. Hopefully this one sticks.

I have to admit that I was extremely nervous for the first run. I have never been a long distance runner, hell before this morning I had never ran three miles. I naturally chose the slowest running group at a pace of 11 minutes per mile (If it wasn't for my running partner, Laura, I might have lazily joined the walking team). I felt comfortable with the pace and received support from the group energy and cheering. I'm still in shock that I might have actually, for the first time in my life, enjoyed running. Okay, I may have just accomplished the pants soiling.

The fear didn't sink in to my skull, though, until after the race. As the training group will do on a weekly basis, we met after the run to stretch and discuss issues that may come up while running. I already know that I have the worst possible training gear. I don't have good running shoes, I had never even heard of a dry top T-shirt and I learned that there's a sweat resistance lube in existence. I'm scared that my nipples will chafe and that I'll soon be broke. At least I'll have sweat resistance lube.

The hardest part of the training will be following through with the runs during the week. Running by myself is not fun. To make matters worse, they recommend leaving the iPod and excitement at home. I'll miss you Shania. The good thing is that after I start to talk to myself and experience flashbacks, I'll easily fit in with bum row on the Venice boardwalk. Yeah, that's right, I'll be the redheaded one dizzily convincing myself to keep moving. If I miss my training this week due to my normal routine of nachos and beer I'm pretty sure I wont make the four miles scheduled for Saturday. Maybe it's not too late for speed walking?

Come back and follow up on my trials to run the LA Marathon. I'll try to leave my thoughts as clean and respectable as possible, but it's ME...running...so I'm going to have to let them out somewhere. You lucky reader, you!

Please, come back...hey!