Ready, Ready, Ready to Run

Having a lot of free time in a foreign country can provide one with incentive to take up new hobbies. Like blogging. And surfing. And, also, running.

I am the most unlikely runner. I used to be one of those who could not comprehend this running phenomenon, except in the case of being chased by a cheetah or lion (which luckily, we humans have mostly evolved beyond, what with our cities, and putting wild animals in zoos where they can't typically manage to eat us).

Well, an extreme amount of free time has a way of putting strange ideas into a person's head ... time, and a story that my fabulous friend Libby had published about a woman changing her life through running.

After reading that story, I dove headfirst into the world of running with the fervor of the newly converted. I began the Couch to 5K program that day, and I signed up for my first 5K, which would take place about six weeks later. I decided that I needed a goal to keep me motivated.

It was tough going, at first. The first weeks of the program have you running just a minute or so, then walking, then running another minute or so. It was hard, I can't lie. I would have done much better if a lion had been chasing me, but I'm pretty sure the lion would have won, nonetheless.

Then, in week 3, I got completely sidelined by an awful case of runner's knee; which was brought on by the horrible shoes that I was trying to run in - these goofy, flimsy tennis shoes that I'd once picked up at the Goodwill for $5 or less. Big mistake, as I found myself at the point where I could hardly walk, let alone run. It took me more than two weeks to recover; and I did not start back again without a trip to see Steve at Athletic Edge. The store was very far out of my way, but many runners on online forums recommended him They were right. He was the nicest man ever, watched me run down the street in several different shoes to find the right style, gave me recommendations for stretches and supplements to help with my runner's knee, and forbade me from wearing my old shoes for running again. I ended up in a pair of Brooks Adrenalines, and my knees and I have not looked back.

I completed three 5Ks over the summer while I was in Georgia. I'm still very slow, and didn't do any of the races without walking some, but I discovered that I loved the environment of the races and the chance to compete. The summer heat was a hindrance to my progress, and I had to join a gym to train on the treadmill. The great thing about the gym was that I started lifting weights, also, which has helped me move forward exponentially with my running. My mom and Partner-in-Crime both commented on how much healthier and happier I looked by August.

When I returned to Sydney, it was winter, so running outside was no problem - except that running on pavement and running on a treadmill are quite different. I started myself back out on Week 5 of Couch to 5K and hit the road, Jack. The great thing is that we have a wonderful park for running right next to our house. My run looks like this:

Entering the park:

Cross over the little bridge:

Curve around the bay:

Get rewarded with the glorious view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge:

Straight on:

Touch the wall and turn around:

The worst part of my run comes at the end, when I've already finished running, and am just cooling down on my way home. I like to think of it as my personal Himalaya.

(Just a little housekeeping for the crazy stalkers in the house: I should probably mention that I always run during daylight hours, at unpredictable times, and when there are lots of witnesses people around).

I'd built up enough confidence to tackle a race here in Sydney last weekend, and what a race it was. The Blackmores Sydney Running Festival is a massive event, with four different races (marathon, half marathon, 7K, and 4K Family Fun Run), and 34,000 participants. All of the races go over the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which is shut down to traffic for the morning. They all end at the Sydney Opera House.

I decided just to do the 4K, with the personal challenge of running the whole way, without walking. It was an achievable goal, and moreover, it was just an incredible high to be in the company of so many runners and having the chance to go over the bridge. The whole event was a rush of energy I can only compare to a rock concert.

(This is a great shot from the Sunday Morning Herald):

I ended up finishing in the 80th percentile of runners in my race, which actually is not that hard when you consider that half of my competitors were, you know, pushing strollers. Nonetheless, I was thrilled with the experience.

Here's a little picture of me from the race that I may have cut from the event photographer's proof. I'm about to cross the finish line:

Mmmmkay ... the actual watermarked photo shows me getting smoked by a little kid:

Still, I hope that you can see the joy in my face - and the fact that I am not even on the verge of passing out. Considering where I started just a few months ago, that is a feat in and of itself.