The Loooong Pause

Well runners, I’m back with renewed vigor! I know it’s been a long time since I’ve blogged about running (I’m just not that great of a consistent writer even though I do it daily and as a way to make my living) but I finally have something to talk about. Three things to be exact.

1) My sister and I decided that, to celebrate her 24th birthday on October 3, we are committing ourselves to running the Baltimore half marathon on October 11 Obviously, everyone is more than welcome to join us!

Even though we’re both pretty into exercise/fitness and are both pretty insanely competitive, we’ve never competed against each other in the same race before. This half marathon isn’t necessarily a competition, it’s just something fun that we’ll do together to celebrate her birthday, but I have the feeling it’s going to become a battle.

She has a triathlon next weekend in New Jersey that she’s been training for for, like, months now. And she’s in really good shape. I am super excited to drive up there with her and cheer her on. I believe this is her first tri, although she has done marathons and half marathons before. Me, I hate the biking and swimming, so I’m resigned to the running bit.

2) I nearly killed myself on my run last Thursday. I was moving along my normal Thursday night route (but this time I did it in reverse direction) when a guy passed me! I know there are lots of runners out there (well, not a whole lot, but a good number) and I know there are lots who are much better and faster than I am; but in this space and at that particular time, I am used to being one of the only runners on the trail and one of the fastest.

Anyway, this guy (in a blue shirt and headphones) ran up on me and passed me! Stunned, I drafted behind him for a while until I could pass him at a light. THEN our back and forth, passing and drafting turned into a race. WOW…sprinting from Bethesda down Wisconsin Ave. to my street in Tenley Town almost K.I.L.L.E.D. M.E. Sadly to say, I ultimately lost the race

3) I started running sans ipod This started a few weeks ago when I accidentally left my headphones plugged into my computer at work and was forced to go on my run without music. For the first time in a long while, I could count my steps and breath and could hear bikers and other runners. It was great! Now I do it all the time.

I think it’s helping me improve my running. Instead of singing songs in my head while I’m running, I’m now aware of my breathing and my steps and my running form. I think I’ll continue without my ipod maybe until the marathon. But, I am wondering if I should run with my music during the marathon since I will be running for more than 3 hours, but hopefully not more than 3H 30M.

What do you all think?