Softball

Yesterday I had a late softball game. The reason I started playing is because I had convinced myself I could hit the ball...and I  could work on my fielding.

But its practice that makes perfect... not waiting around everday and go to gameday cold. Ugh.  I need to find someone who is willing to go and PRACTICE with me.

Can I call myself a runner?

Can I call myself a runner, even though I only make it 1.5 - 2 miles a day? Can I tell people, "I run everyday"?

Hell yes I can. I may not be a race runner (yet), but I'll be damned if I'm not a runner. I go everyday that I can to make my measly little run and strive to do better. Even when I am sooooo not into it mentally, I still force myself to do some semblance of a run. And everyday I seek new information that may make me better. Even if I only make it down to the white mailbox and back (.60 mi), I still did more than those that just think about running.

So hell yeah, I'm a runner.

Runs lately...

My runs lately have been crap. Its almost like I hit a wall. For about a week now, I couldn't make it past the mile and a half mark mentally... at least I believe it was mental because I wasn't absolutely exhausted.
I have been getting this lovely stabbing cramp right below my rib cage about a mile and a half in... any ideas?
On the bright side, I had a pretty awesome run this evening... I turned off the music and just ran. Tried to keep an even pace, tried not to worry too much on my landing, and tried to stay loose. Went a straight 1.86 miles. It felt good... but that damn stabbing cramp made me stop and hobble home.

Today...

Life is funny.

Funny strange, not funny ha-ha.

Running this week has been dismal. I can't seemto get over a mile and a half hump this week. I am chalking it up to a mental block because ifi had really pushed myself, I would have went farther... but I am just worn out.

Tomorrow is my break from running day. I want to start cross training and doing some sprints. I guess I am going to designate Sundays as my days I attempt to break my current bests. My friend Dustin has said that he will start running with me... help motivate and push me. We'll see how that goes. Off to bed now.

Sleep tight.

9/12/12 - ugh

I haven't ran in two days... and.I am having a hard time motivating myself to do so now.

Stress makes me want to curl up into a ball.

I did, however, play ball last night. Lesson learned: there is a reason those cleats were only five dollars.

9/9/12 - End of the Day crap... I mean, notes.

So, the reason this blog is called "Diary of a Wannabe Athlete" instead of ".... Wannabe Runner" is because I haven't just started running.

I have also started playing softball. Yes... after sixteen years of not lifting a ball, I decided I wanted to play again. I was tired of going to watch Travis play... and just watching. I told him I was gonna start next season...

Well, that didn't happen. I was asked to play on a co-ed team, so I started two weeks ago. The first night we had a double header, and I offer to be the DH because I wasn't sure how I would fare in the field. I did ok hitting, but Trav says I need to stop watching the ball and actually run after I hit it.

This past week, we got rained out - boo hoo.

This Tuesday, we have a double header. I also offered to play right field. We'll see how this goes.

I also plan on going on a short run to warm up before the games. Hee hee.

9/9/12 - Post run notes

What I learned or re-learned today:

1) Mornings/early afternnoons are  not a good running times for me.

2) I need to focus on just running. I think I have been scared into trying to perfect my form when I haven't even really gotten going yet. I think my form is ok, I just need to stop stressing over it.

3) Goals are meant to be reached... and new ones made. My goal by the end of month: 3.1 miles... A full 5k... not stopping. I have 21 days to attain this.

4) Not even seasoned runners run their max distance every day... baby steps.

9/9/12 - A Cooler Day

It's so cool outside... 66 degrees... ahhh!!

As of today, my longest run, after warm up and with no walk breaks, is 2.10 miles. My pace isn't that of a seasoned runner, but I'm not worried about placing right now (I JUST STARTED A MONTH AGO!), I'm more concerned with my endurance.

So, off I go, with my fully loaded playlist, my water, and my super sexy (HA! Yeah, right!) workout clothes.

This is better...

So, I figured I would just start this, for my records and anyone that wants to keep up with my progress... instead of posting on FB every 5 seconds... lol.

How it started:
I've always imagined myself being athletic... a nice toned physique.
However, I come from a long line of big boned, big hipped women who are strong, but not really what I would call "athletic." Sure, Mom played softball, even when we were kids... but just recreational. (Not that there is anything wrong with that...)

When I had my son, I consistently retained a weight above 190 for 5 years.
Thing is... I never saw myself as 'fat'. Just slightly overweight.

I tried several times to start new activities, never finishing them or getting so frustrated I gave up after one try.

After the Boy started school, I was stressed to the max with home life (AKA - sitting on my a$$) so I got a job. Stress levels increased - however, so did my activity level. Within a year and a half, I went from (ugh) 190 + to 150 +/-, where I have maintained ever since then.

RUNNING FOR MY LIFE

It started out as a joke. Travis and I would see couples running down the street and say we should start doing that together... and then bust our guts laughing.

When it came down to my pants starting to get tight again (thanks to my lovely job sitting on my large marge all day), I knew I had to do something.

Looking for gym alternatives (I hate wasting money on a gym membership... I never end up using it enough to justify the expense), I was perusing my Google Play and found a Couch to 5k program... it looked easy enough...

and that's where it started. I ran one evening. Skipped a week... forced myself to buy some (what I call) expensive running shoes, and started again on 8/15/2012.

HOWEVER - This time when I started, after my warm up, I just started running to see how long I could go without stopping. 0.48 miles later, my lungs were burning and my legs felt like they were gonna buckle. So I walked home. But I had my starting point.

I had to beat half a mile.

and I did...