3rd Times the Charm

A lot has happened since the last post: Tuesday's bridge run with Gilly (that's the name decided upon between us) was canceled because of torrential downpours. I went to my sister's house to pick up my dress for the December wedding (we both have it and they got switched somehow) and her roommate and my friend Curly asked if I wanted to go to the gym with her, so I obliged. Put in a good 3 miles on the treadmill and went home and watched The Biggest Loser, because it always motivates me. Last night, Gilly and I ran the bridge again. Neither of us has found the perfect balance of what to eat, when to eat, how much water to drink before, etc., so we are still learning in that aspect. Overall, a great run.

I am beginning to see that some issues that I used as excuses before are not issues at all. For instance, I used to blame my dad for my "bad knees" and the fact that I "couldn't" run. In reality, they were still caused by my dad (sorry, Dad!) but not from a genetic perspective. Growing up and running with him, a few things stuck with me from our runs around the neighborhood: 1) Girls always run on the inside, lest we fall in the path of oncoming traffic; 2) Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth; and 3) Your feet should hit heel first and they should never make a sound. Well, Dad, thanks for the first 2, but that last one is crap. My entire running career since those days with my dad, an approximate total of 30 days prior to last week, was spent running this way, and I always had knee pain. Well someone told me recently that running should be very natural, you shouldn't really have to think about it, which I have found to be true. And when I don't think about how my feet are hitting and if they are making a sound, no knee pain.

Another "issue" I've used as an excuse to stop while running: side stitches. I get them very frequently - so frequently you could say that that is one of my talents. Again, Dad's advice to 13-year old me sticks around and this time, helped me out. He told me to "breathe out hard" to alleviate this pain. I was doing this, but would often give up if it didn't go away in, oh about 10 seconds. I know, I'm a huge wimp. Running with Gilly, though, has taught me that if I just keep going and concentrate on my breathing (sorry Gilly, I know my heavy breathing is annoying!), that pain will go away. This has been crucial in allowing me to run for much longer periods of time at once.

Tonight, Gilly and I will run the bridge for the 3rd and final time this week. The title of this post alludes to tonight being the night we (hopefully) will be able to run the entire bridge without stopping. Once that happens, who knows where we'll go from there - the world is our oyster, as some would say. Just kidding, we'll probably just continue to run the bridge at least 3 times / week. I'm heading home again this weekend to visit with my Memaw, who broke her hip and wrist earlier this week. Will update after the weekend on how much running I got in while home - hopefully its better than last time.

Going Strong

Over the weekend, I managed to squeeze in a run on Sunday, but once again, couldn't get motivated to do anything huge. The majority of my weekend was spent with family and friends, including a wedding shower and a 1st birthday party - hopefully pictures will be surfacing here on Croft's blog shortly, but here is one for now.
Last night after work, my friend (she needs a name - suggestions?) and I ran...you guessed it, the bridge. We were feeling particularly optimistic, so we decided to run up the big hill. This time I didn't have the traffic haunting me and pushing me, but I did have her. I was able to get farther than I got before, going uphill at least, but still didn't make it to the top. We walked from Diamond A (refer to the pic if you must) to Diamond B and ran all the way to the turn-around and ALL THE WAY BACK!! That's exactly 2 miles for those of you interested. I am going to brag for a minute and say that I took my long-sleeved shirt off mid-run AND managed to tie it around my waist...all without breaking stride.

We caught our breath (more so me than her) and ran from in-between the 2 diamonds all the way down. It was our most successful bridge run to date - a whopping 3.5 miles total, with about .25 of that walking. If the rain holds off, and maybe even if it doesn't, we will be going again tonight. The only thing about running in the rain is chafing - I'm afraid of that. I swear, running with a buddy is going to be what makes this possible for me. Also, considering I hate to diet and I have a dress to fit in (for above-mentioned wedding in December), that is my current motivation - not to mention I announced to the (blog)world that I was doing this, and I clearly can't stop now.

Halloween is this weekend, and I don't have a costume. Maybe I'll come up with one between now and then - I do have 2 ideas that I won't share with you, yet. No hints on the surprise this time, but hopefully next time I post, I will have something more to tell you.

The first run of the rest of your life...

Here is a (not very good) picture of the bridge I have been running, the Arthur Ravenel, Jr. bridge, for those of you who may not know what it looks like. For any of you nerds out there (you know who you are), this bridge is currently the longest cable-stayed bridge in the country, with a main span of 1,546 feet and total length of 13,200 feet (approximately 2.5 miles). With that said, the above picture does not show either of the entrances to the bridge, pedestrian or vehicular. Please keep in mind that entrance ramps are part of the "bridge run" I will talk about frequently. Also, the ramps are the hilly parts, which is important to note.

So, last night I had my first solo bridge run experience. I have walked the bridge alone many times, but never attempted to run...I told you I was lazy. With great intentions and gusto, I skillfully began running up the first incline on the Mt. Pleasant side of the bridge (right side of the picture). Disclaimer: I began my ascent at 5:45, when traffic was at its peak. Being the awkward and self-conscious girl that I am, this freaked me out. I think it also helped me and here's why: even though I was absolutely dying running up this "big" hill, I wouldn't stop because I thought about all the cute boys in their cars driving home from work, and what would they think if I stopped running?? That only worked until 3/4 of the way up the hill when the traffic wasn't stopped, and then I totally quit.

I was so winded (I'm being brutally honest here) that I had to walk the rest of the way up the hill and even stop to stretch, aka catch my breath, at Diamond A (right side). I began my running again at Diamond B (left side) and ran nearly all the way to the usual "turn-around" place. Then, like a loser, I turned around and walked ALL THE WAY back up to Diamond A. I have never been more disappointed in myself. I realized just how hard this is going to be if I don't have someone there pushing me to go just a little bit more, just a little bit longer - at least in the beginning. To console myself, I ran all the way back down to my car from Diamond A and that made me feel marginally better, but not totally because that downhill run is so easy my friend's one-year-old could do it and he can't even walk yet.

This weekend I am headed home to Columbia, where I plan to run around my neighborhood, maybe even up "Death Hill." I kid. Speaking with my dad this morning, who had a hip replacement in January (no, he's not old, but 30+ years of running and other factors contributed), we discussed my trip home and how we both wished he was able to run with me this weekend. In order to satisfy my need to run with a companion, I joined the Charleston Running Club, a group who meet on different days and times for different lengths of runs. It will be a while before I run with them, because the shortest run is 5 miles. More on that as it happens.

Oh, I promised hints on the surprise. Here is the first: I am going to need to learn at least conversational Spanish. I can't say anymore until I know some more, but trust me, if everything works out, you people are going to be in for a big surprise.

New Adventures...

Hello, Blog World (and friends)!

This is my first ever blog, so please bear with me while I figure this out.

In an effort to increase my involvement in life in Charleston outside of work, I have set a goal for myself: to run a half-marathon. Not just any half-marathon, but one that takes place in Nashville, TN - a city brimming with country music stars...and mountains. Lots and lots of mountains. Now, as some of you may know, I have never been "fond" of exercise. Playing tennis in high school and walking the sprawling and slightly hilly campus of Clemson University were the extent of my exercise...until about 2 months ago.

A friend and I would walk the Ravenel bridge about once every 2 weeks, and we would always discuss certain issues - one of which was our exercise regimen, or lack thereof, since leaving college. I decided, with the help of some internet research, to set a goal to run a half-marathon, and recruited my friend to join me. Well 2 months has come and gone, and aside from some once-a-week bridge running (we did eventually upgrade to running!), I am in no better shape than I was back in August - nor do I have the ability to run 30 minutes without stopping, which I hear is semi-crucial to running 13.1 miles.

Enter: The Blog.

I know myself, and I know how I respond to peer pressure - I tend to fold like cheap lawn furniture. This blog is deisgned to update my readers (hey Mom and Dad, certainly my only 2 right now) on my progress, which will, in turn, motivate me to keep up the training and reach my goal. As if that wasn't enough incentive, I am going to pull an Emeril and kick it up a notch. But more on that surprise later. Tonight is my first solo bridge run, and my intention is to keep running it on a regular basis (no, not everyday - I do have some semblence of a life) until I can run the whole thing without stopping. Even the hills. When that happens, I will let you know. Until then, I will slowly fill you in on the surprise...