The first run

I've been running consistently for the better part of 15 years, yet this morning's run felt like the first time I'd ever put on running shoes and gone a mile. I haven't run since mid-June when my belly got too heavy for me. And I had to stop walking in mid-July because of contractions. So up until three weeks ago when I started walking several times a week, I haven't done much in the way of exercise in about 4 months. Boy did I feel the lack of activity this morning.

Much to my surprise, my legs didn't give me any problems - I actually felt pretty strong. I guess lugging around a 13-pound baby on my walks helps with strength training. My lungs, abs and stomach gave me the most trouble. It was cold and dry out, which made my lungs burn. I'm now afraid I'm headed for a bad episode of asthma. My abs hurt where the doctor sliced me open to deliver Campbell, and I'm not sure what was up with my stomach; maybe it was just in shock from the unfamiliar activity.

I planned to run Gallow-miles - 9 minutes of running, 1 minute of walking - for 20 minutes. Instead, I switched to Gallow-half-miles. My friend Jennifer trained me to run very slowly at the beginning of runs, almost tip-toeing along, and I did that this morning. It worked! If I had started out trying to run "strong," I would have died and gotten frustrated. Instead, I tip-toed through my run and held the same pace. I even passed a woman who was running on the other side of the street.

I did pretty well until minute 12, when I tripped over an ant or something just as small and fell full-length on the pavement. My right knee and left should caught the brunt of the impact, as usual. My knee is scrubbed up pretty well, but my favorite Decker Challenge shirt saved my shoulder from too much road rash. I'm just pretty sore. A woman out walking her dog helped me up and then complimented me on my shoes (stupid Frees). I managed to finish running, despite my injuries. I didn't have any umph left for strides, though - sorry Jen.

While it was far from a successful run, it was my first and it can only get better. Heck, any run where I don't fall down will be better. It was a gorgeous morning for running, and I was child-free doing something just for me for 20 minutes. I can't ask for much more.

On another running note - the course for the Austin Marathon comes right in front of our house. I'm totally geeking out about it, and I'm planning a huge marathon-watching party. I'd always envied people who lived on race courses - they could just sit in their yards and cheer. I figured there was no way a race would ever come down our little street, but I was wrong. I saw several training groups out running the course this morning, but they all had missed a crucial turn in the 'hood. I tried to redirect one group, but they claimed to know where they were going, so I gave up. Yesterday morning several packs of runners came down our street - the girls cheered for them as they went by. They're going to love race morning!