I Ran Again!
Last month I ran a 5K for the first time (read about it here). This morning I ran another one, the 26th Annual Samurai 5K Run and Fun Walk.
As with the last race, this was a co-worker event. Several more people signed up this time, so the Department was well-represented. The course, however, was much different this time, as it included some hills. The race begain in Little Tokyo, then traveled through the Civic Center (where we work) and looped around back into Little Tokyo. The first stretch went west down First Street from about San Pedro Street to just short of Figueroa Street, which is a steep uphill climb. While I was glad this is how the race started and not how it ended, the climb up First was grueling. Luckily, it was balanced out by the next stretch on Temple Street (a block north), which was downhill. For the rest of the race, the terrain was mostly level.
Despite my best intentions, I never did any "practice runs" in the time since the last 5K, though I did buy some appropriate running shorts to replace the weighty denim shorts I wore the first time (this also saved me taunting from my co-workers). Despite my lack of practice and the more challenging terrain, I actually did slightly better on this race than the last (just under 30 minutes). As far as I'm concerned, the key is psychological coaching; I kept telling myself I had to keep running, I had to finish. Where there's a will, there's a way.
I suppose the most amazing part is that I am able to do these runs when I smoke about a pack of Camels a day. Perhaps I should write to R.J. Reynolds so they can publicize my story? It doesn't make sense, but I didn't name this blog "Paradox Unbound" for nothing!
Completing a second 5K felt really great. This is a good way for me to get some exercise, since I've never been into sports. I want to keep running, but it's hard to get the motivation for a short jog before or after work! Regardless, I do hope to commit myself to more races in the future. Sadly, the co-worker who got me into running, Lynette, left the Department last week so she could move back to Hawaii (not that I blame her), so I'll have to find out about future races myself. Lynette did join us today, so I made sure to wish her well and let her know I'd miss her.
No pictures were taken this time, but I was really proud of my t-shirt choice, so I decided to take a self-portrait when I got home:
As with the last race, this was a co-worker event. Several more people signed up this time, so the Department was well-represented. The course, however, was much different this time, as it included some hills. The race begain in Little Tokyo, then traveled through the Civic Center (where we work) and looped around back into Little Tokyo. The first stretch went west down First Street from about San Pedro Street to just short of Figueroa Street, which is a steep uphill climb. While I was glad this is how the race started and not how it ended, the climb up First was grueling. Luckily, it was balanced out by the next stretch on Temple Street (a block north), which was downhill. For the rest of the race, the terrain was mostly level.
Despite my best intentions, I never did any "practice runs" in the time since the last 5K, though I did buy some appropriate running shorts to replace the weighty denim shorts I wore the first time (this also saved me taunting from my co-workers). Despite my lack of practice and the more challenging terrain, I actually did slightly better on this race than the last (just under 30 minutes). As far as I'm concerned, the key is psychological coaching; I kept telling myself I had to keep running, I had to finish. Where there's a will, there's a way.
I suppose the most amazing part is that I am able to do these runs when I smoke about a pack of Camels a day. Perhaps I should write to R.J. Reynolds so they can publicize my story? It doesn't make sense, but I didn't name this blog "Paradox Unbound" for nothing!
Completing a second 5K felt really great. This is a good way for me to get some exercise, since I've never been into sports. I want to keep running, but it's hard to get the motivation for a short jog before or after work! Regardless, I do hope to commit myself to more races in the future. Sadly, the co-worker who got me into running, Lynette, left the Department last week so she could move back to Hawaii (not that I blame her), so I'll have to find out about future races myself. Lynette did join us today, so I made sure to wish her well and let her know I'd miss her.
No pictures were taken this time, but I was really proud of my t-shirt choice, so I decided to take a self-portrait when I got home:
posted by Mitch Glaser @ 12:23 PM
4 comments
4 Comments:
If you can pull off a 5K with no pratice and a smoking habit, you're doing pretty well.
That is so cool. I've always wanted to be one of those people who go for runs for a workout. I'm not though. I've tried a few times and my knees start hurting and I feel so out of breath I start walking. I'm more an aerobic video kinda girl. I do like the elliptical machine at the gym though.
I've never really hung out in LA in my adult life, but we have driven from where we live in Tacoma, to San Diego 3 times now, straight through, and let me tell you, LA seems to go on forever. We finally know we are getting close when we get LA. We are within two hours of our destination after 18 or so hours straight of driving. We usually leave at 6pm and it is usually about noon when we get to LA. Then LA just goes on and on and on and I'm thinking, "AGGHHH!" It also seems to be right when the kids are really sick of being in their car seats and they are not tired enough to sleep, so they start crying sometime when we are stuck in traffic in LA.
I think we will have to spend some time in LA when we haven't been driving so much next time we visit. Josh's grandma lives in Rolling Hills Estates, which is by LA I think.
Anyway, congratulations on your second run!
Congrats on the 5K...I've been training for some roadruns all summer...now comes the hard part--finding them and waking up at 7:00am to go run them.
I used to be a smoker, and I could get up to about 6 miles 3 times a week. After kicking the habit, I could do about 8-9 miles 3-4 times a week. I don't know if you're looking to quit or not, but I found running to be a really good motivator. If I went a day craving cigs really bad, I'd go for a run in the evening and feel all good and healthy about myself and not want that smoke anymore. Plus, it helps counter the necessary weight gain that accompanies kicking the habit.
Anyways, congrats on completing your 5K...happy running!
~Carrie =)
Thanks for all the congrats and encouragement.
Marrie, my feelings towards L.A. are a little more complicated than my t-shirt would imply. The metropolitan region, as a whole, is certainly a sprawling mess, as your observations indicate. If I were to drive home to Phoenix, I'd have to drive for about 75 miles (about 1.5-2 hours) just to reach the eastern edge of "greater L.A." Traffic is absolutely horrible, which is why I live 5 miles from my office and take the subway most days; some of my co-workers live 20, 40, even 80 miles away and I feel sorry for them. There's nothing more frustrating than being on a freeway that resembles a parking lot. Other issues include widespread poverty, crime, and the largest homeless population in the country. On the plus side, you can't beat the weather...it's sunny everyday and never too warm (especially compared to Phoenix). The terrain - stretching from beaches to desert, with many hills and mountains inbetween - is amazing. The city itself is very diverse, I can walk down the street and hear people speaking several different languages, none of them English. Having grown up in the homogeneous, cookie-cutter suburbs, "city life" appeals to me. After 8 years, I'm still not sure that I completely "fit in" here and have considered moving to the East Coast for Grad School, which I may eventually do. In the meantime, I'm proud to be an Angeleno.
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