Days 1-6: The Soreness

I only signed up to run the Boston half-marathon a week ago, and I can already notice a difference! Unfortunately, that difference mostly involves my body being incredibly sore. As you can see in the About Me and CCFA, I'm going to be running and raising money for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. My roommate Stacey is a giant runner and also has ulcerative colitis, so she appropriately works with the CCFA as an endurance manager, which is the most badass official job title I have ever heard. She helps organize the marathon runners and raise money, which I always thought was awesome, and great for her. For her. Not once did I think, "Hey, wouldn't it be fun if I also started waking up at 6 in the morning on the weekends so that I could be out of breath and develop cramps in my side for a few hours?" I did not think that because I was spending 6 AM, and the four hours that came after it, sleeping. Like a normal person.

Then, a few weeks back, inspired by The Happiness Project, I was trying to think of some way to donate my time and volunteer in some way. After my original idea of hugging orphaned puppies and teddy bears was rejected for being silly, Stacey suggested I join up with the CCFA. As we were in the middle of an all-night, resolutions-making craziness at the time, it sounded like a fantastic idea. She managed to keep me excited after the madness wore off, and last week I went to an informational meeting at Jack Rabbit Sports, officially registered for the June event, had my stride evaluated by a footwear professional (it's neutral), and bought some shiny, vaguely space age-y new Asics. Although I had a sense that I needed new workout shoes, since the soles on my old ones were starting to flap open and talk to me, I had no idea how important a good pair of sneakers was until I started trying on shoes at the store. Running shoes are supposed to have padding and support in them? Who knew!

On Friday, I wanted to test myself and see what my baseline ability was. I've started going to gym at my office in the last few months, so I'm in slightly better shape than I usually am, but so far I've stuck to elliptical machines and yoga/Pilates classes. I stayed far, far away from the treadmills. I've always been averse to running. In my tenth grade P.E. class, there was one day when we all had to run a mile for some state-wide fitness standard. I started out mildly strong and overly optimistic, but quickly tired and ended up spending the last ten minutes walking around with a chain-smoker. But now I had my fancy new shoes, and a goal, and a deadline, so I got on the hamstermill. And managed not to die.

I actually surprised myself - I ran/walked the first mile in 12 minutes (plus a quick trip to the water fountain), and after a Pilates break to stretch out my burning legs, I ran/walked another mile in 11:25 (plus a break to stretch my legs again). This was going to be easy! Once I train my shins to stop being pansies and feeling pain at the slightest provocation, I'll be all set.

Oh, foolish, naive Sabrina. The next day, a friend who lives nearby let me use the gym in her building, and I only barely managed to get through one mile, which took over 13 minutes, not including constant breaks to stretch my legs. The rest of the day was spent on the couch, wincing in pain whenever my legs or abs moved.

On the seventh day*, I rested.

Monday I jumped back on the horse, and banged out two miles, averaging 12:30, breaking them up with long trips to the elliptical to loosen up my legs. My right shin and knee were on fire. Everything else was sore. Even my eye was sore. Running is ruining me. Why did I decide to do this? Oh, right. Helping people.

Another thrilling Monday event was that I found myself switching from a basketball game on TV to women's curling while thinking, and I quote, "Curling has more action going on." Curling. Has more action. Going on. I'm pretty sure this means my brain had joined the rest of my body in becoming too sore to work properly.

I haven't done any running in the past two days. Our training schedule says to alternate days, so I returned to my old friend the Arc Trainer on Tuesday, and today I simply didn't have the time. I hope to pick it back up tomorrow, and my goal for the rest of this week is to be able to get through a mile without stopping the treadmill completely, even if I do have to walk for a minute.

Long-term, my goals are to be able to run a mile without walking, break a 10-minute mile, and raise more money than anybody has ever raised for a good cause, ever. Hey, I never said all of my goals were realistic.

*Give or take four days.