First blog entry EVER

Posted by StellaTortoise on 7/11/2007 on StellaTortoise's blog

So here it. My very first blog entry EVER. What took me so long? Well, lets just say that I'm a private person and am more of a listener than a talker. But after years of tossing around the idea to run a marathon, I finally decided that this was the year. I signed up to run the Marine Corp Marathon this October.

Upon getting my confirmation e-mail, a wave of panic spread over me like cream cheese icing on carrot cake. Yes, I was excited but crap! what did I just get myself into. I've been a recreational runner since college (10+ years ago) and it's only been in the last year that I've been a consistent runner, but a marathon? The only thing I knew about marathons is that they're 26.2 long miles ON FOOT. It didn't take me long to realize that I needed some help. I had visited a local running store a few months ago and the salesperson mentioned that the store owners also running a running club and a marathon training program. Sign me up!

So now, I have a training schedule, the brains and experience of the store owners (one of which is a professional triathlete), and the 3 G's (gear, gel, and Gatorade). My husband recently started training for triathlons so it's been great to be able to share our training experiences with one another. But I'm feeling the need to share my training with others and also have witnesses for when I'm slacking off because I had one too many drinks the night before, or stayed up too late watching some TV show like Lost or Grey's Anatomy that always manages to suck me in no matter how hard I try to resist the temptation.

So here I am my new friends. Glad to be here and looking forward to getting to know all of you.

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6 comments

littlemamalopez says:

It is hard to get up after staying up to watch LOST. Why did they have to change the time? Welcome!

by littlemamalopez on Wed, 2007-07-11 22:54

StellaTortoise says:

Thanks! I agree that the new time is just too hard for us early risers. I may have to break down this year and finally buy a DVR. :)

by StellaTortoise on Thu, 2007-07-12 13:16

simon says:

Good to "see" you here.

While I'm temporarily here in London I'm finding out that no matter how tired I feel, or how good the excuse is not to run, if I just ignore the mental/physical bleatings and get out the door, start walking then running VERY slowly, eventually everything turns on and I am OK. Slacking off really is all in my mind, no matter HOW bad my body thinks it feels :)

What time are you going for?

by simon on Thu, 2007-07-12 10:50

StellaTortoise says:

Hi Simon - I agree that 99% of the time it is all mental. I always just try to remember how much better I'll feel physically, mentally, and emotionally after my run.

I'm telling everyone that my goal for the marathon is just to finish. But I guess in my mind I have another goal which is to maintain at least a 10 minute/mile pace throughout the race. I'd be absolutely estatic if I could do that. When it comes to running I'm wondering how many of us have public goals that we share with everyone and private ones that we really strive for. Maybe I'm weird, but it's those private goals that really keep me motivated.

Anyway, hope all is well in London.

by StellaTortoise on Thu, 2007-07-12 13:27

weltal327 says:

Welcome. I think we all have goals that we keep private that we don't want to tell other people about in case we don't succeed or just sound too ambitious. My last 5k I had an outward goal of getting a PR, but I didn't tell anyone what my real goal time was that I missed.

As Yogi Bera said "90% of the game is half-mental"

by weltal327 on Thu, 2007-07-12 14:13

simon says:

It's a line I find difficult to tread: if you tell enough of the right sort of people they can really help you achieve your goals; but yes, you also don't want to come across as too ambitious, nor end up looking a complete pratt if you odn't get anywhere near the goal.

It gets harder the more successful you get (so they tell me)... it is much easier to compete as the underdog or the "surprise package" than to deliver a performance that is expected of you.

Thanks for sharing your goal, StellaT. If that is your real goal, yoiur secret is safe with us!

by simon on Thu, 2007-07-12 15:31