First Run After the Marathon

I felt a little nervous as I approached the treadmill today. I remember feeling the same way about my first run after the Kiawah marathon. Even though all I had planned was a slow and easy three miles, I felt jittery. Like, what if I couldn't do it? Or what if it hurt so much that it made me not want to run?

[Quick side story. On Sunday after the marathon I woke up and felt great. Minimal soreness. We spent all day gardening and then went for a walk. I was like, "I am a running God.  I must be in phenomenal shape to run a marathon and feel nothing the day after!" Then I woke up Monday morning and set foot out of bed and thought, "Ohmygod." I clutched my legs and hobbled around the bedroom. Boom-a-rang karma for bragging.]

But my treadmill run this evening was fine. Nice, slow 9:30 pace to some of my favorite music. My legs felt strong and, even better, I'm breaking in new shoes and didn't even notice them. They feel like I've been running in them for weeks.

The plan is to take it easy for a couple of weeks. Have a couple of 15 mile weeks then build back up to 25 miles/week by mid-June. Mid-June to mid-July will be semi-serious training, where I'll start throwing in some hills and long runs. Then July 22nd is D-day. That's 18 weeks out from the Richmond Marathon. From there forward, it's focus, focus, focus.

I've been thinking about why I'm so taken by running and have decided it has to do with control. Hi, my name is Dena and I have control issues. (Hi, Dena!) To a great extent, I control my running. I can improve my speed and strength by a series of planned exercises. I do the work, I see the results.  It's as simple as that. This is almost in direct opposition to my life as a writer, where I do the work  and maybe, if I'm lucky and know some people, and the stars are aligned, I might kinda-sorta land an almost book deal. I do the work, but whether a payoff will occur is quite often questionable. It's one of the things about my chosen career that both frustrates and intrigues me. (Give me a challenge and dare me to back away from it. Can't be done.)

Anyway, the beany enchiladas I have in the oven are almost so done, so this concludes our deep thoughts portion of tonight's blog. Here's wishing you speed, strength, and control in your path in life.

Food On The Farm

Ah, yes. My springtime crops are coming in and I'm feasting on fresh arugula and spinach. Tomatoes and cucumbers are planted and I hope for a bumper season of squash.

Oh... I hope you don't think moi  is foraging in the dirt. Please. My thumb is so not green I all but kill produce in the store as I walk by it. No, I owe my seasonal crops to my neighbors. God love them, the people on all sides of me overplant each year and Blair and I are the beneficiaries. The phone call came in tonight from a panicked neighbor who had too much fresh spinach and didn't want to have to throw it away. Take if off your hands? Well... I suppose I could. If it would help you out.

I love how food magically appears on my doorstep each summer. Cherry tomatoes, fresh zucchini... who knows what the food fairy will bring?

I know what you're thinking. Don't I feel some guilt, being a taker without giving back? The answer is yes, I do. But those who know me know I'll have to find some way to give other then with food. Me, plants, and soil just don't mix.

Maybe I can pet sit for them or collect their mail while they're on vacation. Something with low food-poisoning potential would be good.

Writing? I Don't Need To Do No Stinkin' Writing...

My mind's splurting in about ten different directions this morning and I can feel it's going to be one of those days when I'm challenged to get much done. Or rather, much writing stuff done. I've got a list of things I'll tick off my list, most of which have nothing to do with "work."  In no particular order I need to:

• Attend yoga class
• Jog an easy 3 miles (time to shake off the stiffness)
• Bake pumpkin muffins
• Stop by the local nursery and find flowers for our side cement flowerpots
• Update the checkbook
• Drive into GSO and: have lunch with a friend, get my allergy shot, buy new running shoes
• Finish a book I'm three-quarters of the way through and that's due Friday
• Stand in front of a mirror and mess with my hair (I don't need to do this but I will, so may as well include it)
• Call my mom
• Prepare for an evening phone interview
• Slog through some e-mails I've put on the back burner
• Acknowledge the cats existence and maybe even play a round or two of chase-the-feather

It's all itty-bitty tasks, but it's amazing how quickly they fill up a day. What do people who actually work do? ;)

Dena

Vote Today

Today is the North Carolina primary. We're not used to our vote actually counting (a May 6th primary? Come on.) and the state is all a flutter. Blair and I were at the polls at 6:30, when they opened, and there was actually a short line--almost unheard of in our tiny community. There were a couple of young girls in front of us, voting in their first election.  Good for them.

I'm amazed at the number of women who don't vote.  Who feel like their voice doesn't matter in the least and no one will listen to what they need or what they want. There are more women than men in this country. If we would just grab hold of the reins and get serious about making our voices heard, think of the changes we could enact.  As a small example, it still just absolutely floors me that some health insurance will cover Viagra prescriptions but not birth control. Are you freaking kidding me?? Tell me that's not a male-dominated decision.

Anyway, this post isn't a political rant. It's just to say that Democrat or Republican or Independent, we all ought to exercise our right--our privledge--to vote.

I'll wear my "I Voted" sticker with pride today.