Insert [Sometimes]

Let's just pretend like there hasn't been a massive gap between the last post and this one.

At this point, the name of this blog should probably change to Mark & Amy Run Sometimes. Every now and then I will sign up for a 5k or a 4 mile race and without training just run. I'm always sore for a few days afterwards and it's never as easy as it should be but I can do and actually finish in a pretty decent time.

I ran the Amy Thompson 5k Run on Memorial Day. I finished in 30:43.  Not too shabby right?

Sure my time may not be too bad, perhaps the half-marathon training has taught me to push myself to keep going even when I feel like stopping, but I'm so out of shape. I've put on pounds and feel like more of a marshmallow than I have for a while.

So now what? I'm signed up (in verbal agreements, not actually registered) for a 5k in September, but there are no other major races on the horizon. I keep talking about strength training. I am going to give the Insanity DVD workout plan a try I am going to follow the Insanity DVD workout plan and get ripped. I've heard it's a killer but pays off. Oh, and, you know I'm not going to be sweating it out by myself in the basement. Mark's on board too.

Time to get at it and feel better....right before the holidays hit and we start noshing on deliciously unhealthy foods.

Dread-mill

countdown to race: 81 days

We live in Missouri and are wussies, so this time of year the majority of our runs are on the treadmill. Contrary to the post title, I don't mind the treadmill. I can watch free cable and not have to worry about getting hit by a car - win, win. The worst thing about training in January is the wait to get on the machine.

I've been trying to run in the morning, but more times than I'd like to admit, when that alarm clock dings at 4:35am, I don't even bother to hit snooze - I go straight to the off button. So, having slept through my morning run, I joined the post-work crowd at the gym. It sucked.

Ten minutes. Ten minutes I stood there watching other people workout, every minute getting more and more tempted to jump on the elliptical or go home. But I didn't. I wanted to. I was very, very close. But I didn't.

If only I couldn't remember that moment when my alarm clock goes off.

Accountability

countdown to race: 120 days

Our training schedule is on every single calendar I own. I'm reading Run Like a Mother (which is great, you should really check it out) and telling everyone I know that we're training for the half.

Not only to brag, although I enjoy that part of it too, but so that everyone asks how it's going. It feels good to wow people with mileage and if we start slacking off, I'm going to feel like a loser having to say "Egh, we've been busy or it's just so hot" or any other lame excuse I've let throw me off a running schedule before.

It would be amazing to not miss a single run in a four month training schedule, but let's be realistic. We're parents, who work full-time and again, running is not our life. The important thing is that we keep a positive attitude and instead of making excuses, we work to motivate each other. And we might as well use our families, co-workers, calendars, etc. to remind us of the commitment we've made to running the half.