After running my first 5K, I felt a tremendous sense of accomplishment.  Running 3.1 miles in a row, without stopping, was definitely not something I could have done a year ago.  It’s not even something I could have imagined doing a year ago: my whole life I have been plagued by breathing problems, and running outside led to painful wheezing, which led to me avoiding running or anything requiring running, which led to me being a total no-confidence wimp about my athletic abilities.  True story.

Getting an inhaler again, for the first time since I “outgrew” my childhood asthma, has made a huge difference.  (BIG shout out to my allergy doctor who recommended it.  She was kind of nonchalant about the whole thing, actually:  “You wheeze when you run outdoors? Let’s put you on an inhaler to use before you run outside.” Me: “Does this mean I have asthma again?”Her: *shrug* “Does it matter? If it works, it works.”  Me: *mind: blown*)  Running outside is now, while not exactly pleasurable, a nice way to get in a workout outdoors, instead of stuck in a dank gym.

So: first 5K. I ran it, I ran it pretty fast, I felt like a superhero.  I immediately started looking for other 5Ks to register for.  Having a goal, a race, to prepare for is a REALLY GOOD motivator for me.  (I fear embarrassment, so I am motivated to train to prevent being embarrassed during the race.  If that’s not a window into my effed-up psyche, I don’t know what else I can give you people.)

As I was shopping for 5Ks, my friend Tribecca suggested that I start training for a half marathon.

My actual reaction?  “Hahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahaha (gasp gasp) hhahahaahahahahahahaha.”

Tribecca: Please?  I’m coming to Chicago to run the half in September.  Run it with me! Please?

Me: I’ll think about it.

So I’ve been kind of, tentatively, noncommittally training for a half marathon.  It still feels a little ridiculous to say out loud.  I am not a runner.  I am a wheezer.  Runners run half marathons.  Wheezers WATCH half marathons.

According to my “novice half marathon training program” schedule, I was supposed to run 6 miles this weekend, my longest run yet. (And yet still less than half of the half marathon distance!  WHAT AM I THINKING?)  You know what 6 miles is?  It’s 10K.  So I got this idea in my head that I would be more likely to actually DO the 6 mile training run if I registered for a 10K.  I did a quick search of local runs, found one called the “Fleet Feet Women’s 5K and 10K Festival,” and signed up.

Then I panicked.  See the title of that race?  See what it says in there about “women’s”?  Um, that means I can’t force John to do it with me.  This is my main strategy for training: I make John do things with me, so when I want to wimp out, he talks me into sticking with it.

So! I was running at 10K…by myself.

Sunday morning we got up at approximately dawn and made our way to the race site.  The airhorn went of and I started running….and running….and running…and dear god is this ever going to be over?….and oh! there is the woman in first place, doubling back towards the finish line while I’m still at mile 2! she is fit! and tan! ….still running….This Common song seemed like a good idea at the time but is insufficiently peppy to take my mind off this torture…still running….oh my god we just ran by that woman’s FOUR CHILDREN cheering her on, she has four children and is definitely running even faster than me, I have got to step it up…still running…..hi John! Thanks for riding your bike all over the course to cheer for me at various points!….still running…..oh my god make it end….

Etcetera.

I had to take a little walking break in mile 5, which made me disappointed in myself, but I finished, in under an hour, which was my goal.  Unlike the 5K, though, where I felt a joyful rush IMMEDIATELY and was like “when can I do that again?” my feelings after the 10K tended towards “I might barf”, followed by “and people expect me to run twice this far in a month and a half?  Not bloody likely!”

In fact, it’s taken me almost two whole days to start feeling like actually, maybe that wasn’t so bad.  Maybe I could do another one of those.  Maybe I should start surreptitiously checking the schedule of upcoming races in the area.  So yeah, I guess I get “runner’s high,” I just get it on a 48 hour delay.

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Unrelated note: a bunch of people are coming into Chicago this weekend for BlogHer.  I have put together a little food and insider tips mini-guide for the area around the hotel where it’s being held.  I really would be delighted if BlogHer folks were spared the mediocre chain stuff that’s unfortunately the easiest to find in the area around the hotel.  Anyway, if you’re coming to town this weekend, or know someone who is, feel free to check it out, and forward it widely.