Inspiration Wanted

I admit, February was not one of my better running months. I was on track and then off, mostly because of weather conditions and traveling. So this week I have renewed my half-marathon training and am eying a bit of an unconventional race: the ODDyssey Half. 

Part of the problem with me registering is that I’m intimidated by the half. I haven’t run longer than 9.25 miles EVER and that was a slow run. I know I have time to build, but I feel like I’m also kind of a slow runner so maybe I should be working on that first. I’m just very much doubting my own running ability.

I need some inspiration, but don’t know where to find it. Even this post is uninspiring. Sorry for being a Debbie Downer on a Friday!

In Love With a Guy Named Garmin

Garmin and I went on a very long awaited first date tonight. I've known him since Dec. 25--heck, he's even been living with me. But with bad weather and busy schedules, our paths didn't quite cross. Enter Valentine's Day and 50-degree weather.

I got home form work and we hit the town together. At first his conversation skills were a little lacking (locating a satellite took forever), but after about 10 minutes we fell into an easy pattern. We had a lovely jaunt about town and spent about 35 minutes getting to know each other (otherwise known as 3.5 miles).

I had such a great time I'm thinking of seeing him again tomorrow.

OK, so I couldn't help this theme. I have more things to say on the Garmin. Probably my issues with it stem from skimming the manual on Christmas morning and then never again. He kept telling me to slow down, and let me tell you, no one tells me that. I run at about the slowest pace that still constitutes a run. Anyway, more thoughts on the Garmin in a later post. I'm sure I'll have more insights when I finally plug him into my computer (baby steps-I did just take it out of the house for the first time today.).

Goal Setting

I've been reading a few posts on my fellow running bloggers' pages and I think I need to follow their lead and really work to set goals for myself each week. I have a training plan that I follow, but that doesn't always happen.

So this week,  here is what I'd like to accomplish both running-wise and in the other realms of my life:

Tuesday: Run 4 miles with a group (outside) and use my Garmin (finally); mail handbags I'm selling to Bag, Borrow, Steal (they've only been sitting in my entryway for 2 weeks now).

Wednesday: Cross-training and attending a fundraiser to benefit PAWS.

Thursday: 3.5 mile run outside, barring more snow.

Friday: Cross-training and perhaps a happy hour.

Saturday: haircut I need desperately; selling clothes I no longer like to Plato's Closet.

Sunday: 5 mile run--haven't done one of these since before Christmas; dinner to celebrate friend's engagement; one course ends, another begins.

Actually looking at these goals written out, it really doesn't look too bad. Although the one thing I left off is that I also teach a course on the side, so every night also involves grading papers and starting discussions online.

Running is Expensive

Now before you inform me that running is actually free (minus the shoes and the gear), I’m talking about races. Up until now, I’ve been doing 5ks and I ran my first 10k in November. These short races only run me about $15-$30. Half-marathons in my area do not seem to be as affordable.

The fact that a half marathon is going to run me close to $100 at this point is somewhat my own fault. It was about $60 back when registration opened in the summer. However, last summer and even last fall, I wasn’t sure I could run a half. I only really made the decision in early December, but put off registering because I had so many gifts to buy. Fast-forward to Jan. 31 where I sat on my couch poised to register for the Longbranch Half Marathon, when my brain suddenly held my finger back from confirming the entry. Couldn’t I buy something more fun with that amount of money? Clothes? Accessories? Did I really want to spend $95 to sweat and pant along for 13.2 miles? I kinda didn’t.

So here I sit on Feb. 1, with the price going up again, debating. Can I just map my own 13.2 race and run it for free and then spend $95 on clothes as my “medal”? My fiancé says there is something about running a race with other people and the crowd cheering you on that makes it worth the money. I am not sold. Yet.

I came up with a few cheaper options; however, I don’t think my friends will be as interested in watching me run in these locations:
http://www.halfmarathons.net/usa_half_marathons_pennsylvania_lehigh_valley_half_marathon.html

http://www.halfmarathons.net/usa_half_marathons_delaware_running_festival_half_marathon.html
http://www.halfmarathons.net/usa_half_marathons_pennsylvania_oddyssey_half_marathon.html

Am I being really cheap? Should I just suck it up and pay? How much do you think is too much for a half?