Running a Marathon

So, you guys know I hate running, right? I mean I really hate running. I’ve never understood the point of it. It is the world’s most boring way of getting exercise. And all the stories you hear from runners are about screwed up feet and legs and knees in addition to bleeding and swelling in places that should do neither. I just don’t get the appeal. Nonetheless, I’ve signed up to run a marathon in mid-October.

Everyone’s heard me complaining about how work-centric I became in 2007. I guess it was good to have a period in my life where I really dug in a kicked ass in corporate America. I certainly chose the right company and right time to do it. My work here has been rewarded well. However, spend 70 hours a week at work and forgo any after-work activities and you end up a pretty boring person. I started to realize how boring I was early this year.

Around February I decided that I needed to actively pursue rounding out my life. Taking that spontaneous, somewhat reckless trip to SE Asia was one of the manifestations of this new policy. And joining Team in Training to run in the San Francisco Nike Women’s Marathon is another.

Team in Training is part of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society which raises money to fight Leukemia. The idea is that you give them a small amount of money ($150) for a three-month training schedule to run in a half or full marathon. They coordinate the runners, set up the runs, provide schedules, invite physical therapists and dietitians to advise the runners, and organize the entire thing through a web site. About six weeks into the training they ask the runners to sign a letter of commitment promising to raise $2800 for the event or cover the shortage.

I’m sure not one do do anything half-assed. Full-assed is the only way I go. So I signed up for the full marathon and went out and bought so much sweet high tech running equipment. I went to a large running store in San Carlos and got my foot mapped out on a pressure pad and my stride studied on a treadmill to get the perfect shoes. I picked up some sort of space age Socks Of The Future. I bought this $200 watch/chest/foot computer that can tell me how fast I’m running and how many calories I’m burning. And it even keeps time! Can you believe that shit?

Anyway, now I’m about two days into the training and its awesome. Check back with me in a week or two and see if I’m still as enthusiastic!