The Best Part of Running...

... the new things you have to buy! I mean, it's also one of the worst parts of running because I have NO money, but if I must.... I love shopping.

So, for all those people out there who, like me, thought you could run a marathon in a regular cotton t-shirt, you are wrong. And there are more things that runners should buy.

What I have now that I didn't have before:
-2 long sleeve shirts & 1 short sleeve shirt made of polyester
-A winter running jacket
-Winter running pants
-These really nifty things that you apparently put on your sneakers so you can run in the snow:

-A knee brace for when my knees inevitably start to die
-runner's mittens

There are still things on my list (sports bras, polyester tanks, more songs for my ipod), but I'm making good progress.

The unfortunate thing is that eventually I'll have to use all these things. I think I like buying them more.

No running today. Training will begin on the 17th (giving me plenty of time to get over my swollen cheeks). All running up until then will just be for fun. Ha.

I need a new sports bra

I went on a run today. I don't plan on starting my training until I get back to school (because I'm getting my wisdom teeth out soon), but I just felt like getting outside today. I haven't ran since I've been at school, due to my lack of winter running clothes before christmas, and the giant snow storm after. Also, I haven't been outside to run since last spring, due to the air conditioning at the gym. So, naturally, I WAS TIRED.

And I only ran 1.69 miles.

UGH.

To give myself some credit, my neighborhood is extremely hilly. Even when I'm up to 7 miles on a treadmill, I can barely run 3 miles around my house. It's very unfortunate because I prefer running outside, but the hills are just too much on my lungs at this point. Also, I underdressed. I was freezing. I figured wearing a long sleeve polyester t-shirt, a vest, and running shorts would be enough. Nope. It would have been OK if the wind wasn't ripping through all of my clothes. If it weren't for the clothes situation, I would have pushed my self to at least 4 miles, but I was just TOO DAMN COLD!

So anyway, as I'm running, two unfortunate things take place:

1). I realize the sports bra I bought freshman year (1 of the 2 sports bras I actually own), no longer fits. And, not only will I need to buy a new one, but it will have to be made from a material that isn't cotton if I want to not die during my training. So, "why don't you just buy one and stop complaining" you ask? Because they're EXPENSIVE! If any one knows of any stores selling a good running bra for less than a million dollars (or $35), please let me know. I'm poor.

2.) It's cold outside, and when I run in this weather I have to blow my nose. I can't very well bring tissues with me on a run because I don't really believe in littering, nor do I have pockets in my favorite running shorts. So, naturally, I decided to quickly press my finger to one nostril, and blow quickly out of the other unto the ground. I thought this would be a good idea. It would have been if a long stream of snot didn't linger long enough for the person in the car driving past to totally judge me.

Things I need to spend even more of my money-that-I-don't-have on:
-A nice running bra
-Better running socks
-A running hat (one of the nice kinds that has holes at the top), or a winter running hat
-A watch.

Things to improve myself for next time:
-Run some where else
-Wear proper clothes
-Take time to make a mix before hand so shuffle won't keep giving me slow love songs (the.whole.time.)

“Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”

I have a lot of good ideas. Infact, I think it's safe to say that I'm more of a idea-person than a do-person. For example, when I first created this blog, it was because I wanted to release a poetry book. After about 20 poems, I got bored of writing them and ended up deleting all of the entries. I've started many books, too, but about half way through them I realize that I'm not really sure what I'm writing, and give up on them, too. This is just kind of what I do.

And I'm not proud of it. I don't want to just be an idea person. For a long time I just assumed that was my personality type and that there was nothing I could do about it. Unfortunately, I'm starting to realize I was wrong, and that I could be capable of finishing something if I only tried. Trying is another thing I'm not good at. Like, I could be really, really good at music if I had ever learned to actually read it. But I never felt like learning. So I'm mediocre at music, too.

So basically, this is why I've decided to run a half marathon. I know it's pathetic, but it's true. I just don't want to look back on my life and realize I never finished a single thing I started. I don't want to be that person. I'm courageous enough to admit it- the whole reason I want to run is so I can finally feel like I can do things. Also, I won't mind people thinking "wow, a half marathon is pretty intense". Also I'm hoping for rock hard abs.

So anyway, this blog will (hopefully) benefit you people, too. Because if there is any possible way that I'll be able to run a half marathon ever (and train for it!), then you'll be able to do it, too. Because I am REALLY lazy. Really.

Maybe this will be inspirational to you, somehow. Maybe you'll feel like, if lazy Katie can do it, I could DEFINITELY do it because I'm in way better shape than her and much less lazy. However, it's more for me. I want to write this so I'll feel embarrassed not writing in it anymore. I kind of have to make this a big deal for me to ever go through with it. So please read, and make me feel like I no longer have a choice. I need you guys now!

PS- I just bought winter running gloves and cleats to put on my sneakers for when it snows. I got a winter running suit for christmas. I'm gonna go through with this.

I hope.