I had a body-achingly good workout yesterday. I busted out Ab Ripper X (the ab workout portion of P90X) first thing in the morning. Reasons you should do this DVD:
- It’s only 15 minutes long. Any longer than that and I’d scare myself out of doing it.
- There is a countdown clock that shows the amount of total time remaining and the amount of time for each move.
- You can feel the burn immediately (that’s how you know you are getting your money’s worth!).
I could only do about half the total number of reps. Ab Ripper X is tough stuff! But I’m glad I did it. I love that achy-ab-straining feeling afterwards. Great way to start the day!
After some toast, I headed out for a 3 mile run. Geronimo did the first half with me, and I did the second half solo. I also used this run for some much-needed speed work. I haven’t worked out this hard in a while. My body is happy!
All this is great, but Runner Me isn’t happy these days. I have yet to find a suitable race to participate in. My last race was Glow Dallas at the beginning of August. August! So wrong! I yearn for the days of racing once a week, or even once a month. It seems so long ago that it’s all fuzzy in my memory.
Last night I was reading the Facebook page of one of my all-time favorite races (the New Year’s Double). The comments are full of excited runners sharing their hopeful finishing times and discussing the start of training. Waaaaah! Reading it was a form of self-torture. I miss my running community hardcore these days. (Insert picture of me looking pathetic here.)
The wonderful Janelle (who is my bloggy bff) e-mailed me a website with German races. There a TON of races on this website. Every day I spend some time reading the details of each race and then googling the race location. I have yet to find a race within driving distance. Seriously, every race is 4 hours away. Where I live must be a geographical oddity. 4 hours from everywhere!
If I was doing a marathon, sure, I’d go far away. (In fact, I’ve been reading this website plotting which European destination I want for my next full.) But for a 5k, 10k, or even half? 4 hours each way is a tall order.
Is a runner still a runner if she doesn’t race. Of course! But is that the kind of runner I want to be? Nope. Can I stay motivated without a race to run? Can I survive the winter with no race season? I hope so. This post has no big takeaway, no happy or hopeful sign off. It’s just me whining about the sad state of running in my life. A big poop sandwich.*
Aw so sweet of you! That warms my little down-in-the-dumps heart. Now may I suggest putting something on your sandwich besides poop? That’s what friends are for, right?!?
Wouldn’t it be freakin suh-weet if you created your own race? It’s a ton of work but it’d be so cool to put on your resume “designed and directed a 5k race which was attended by 500 runners and raised $2000 for X.” Or how bout hosting a virtual 5k? You could totally do that. Or um, get to writing a book! Become a handball player! I don’t know… dream big! Something fun will come along
Are you running the turkey trot?
There is a Turkey Trot here, but November is tricky. Stephen will be attending a training, but he’ll be off on the weekends. I need more info about when I need to pick him up/when he gets out/when graduation is before I can commit to a race that weekend. I’ll go crazy if I don’t race until then, but I might not have a choice. Sadness upon sadness!
I did think about contacting a few race directors to see if they’d let me do a shadow race. (I pay the race fee and shipping and they send me the swag after I run the distance on the same day in my neighborhood.) But I’m too shy! I don’t want to get a rejection e-mail. So instead I’ll just sit here and think about how awesome that would be while I do nothing.*
Classic case of Army-hasn’t-given-enough-info-yet. I hope it works out for you!
A shadow race is an awesome idea! Get to emailing!
What about organizing a race on post??? Your probably not the only runner there who doesn’t want to travel 4 hours esch way to a race??
I’d love to organize a race, but it is way outside my skill set! But I’ll take it as a compliment that you think I am capable of such a thing!*
Oh wow, didn’t know there are THAT many races around here. And even one just around where I live.
Oh I don’t think its beyond your skill set!!!
I’m not sure what I would do if I couldn’t race! I’m addicted to it! And that’s a really long time to go without running a race too. I think I would loose motivation so kudos for sticking with it. Are there any friends around that you could set up group runs with? I know that’s not a race by any means but maybe just other people might take the edge off!
Your race addiction is part of why I love your blog! Keep on racing away, Girl!
As for running groups, I have yet to find anyone to run with. I know, it’s a tragedy!*
I’ve done that ab ripper work out before and it’s pretty crazy. I CANNOT stand that guy, though. My husband has done p90x start to finish a few times and his voice is like nails on a chalkboard.
You don’t like Tony?! He cracks me up! (Please don’t think less of me now!) But I can admit, he is sometimes better on mute.
Kudos to your hubby for doing all of P90X! I think I lasted a week. My ability level is just so low that on many of the videos I couldn’t even do the modified options. I could do nothing. That’s not a good workout. Plus, I’m lazy. That also got in the way of me attempting it.*
I totally understand! I can’t afford to race very often (I’ve only done as many as I have recently because the bibs were free) and it makes me sad. Races are so expensive and take enough time that driving (or taking a train) four hours seems like a little much. I did tell my husband that if I ever run a marathon it will be Disney. I feel like I deserve a trip to DIsneyworld for running a marathon. Not that I ever would do such a thing.
I whole-heartedly agree with you on Disney. I’d race there! You should def think about doing it when Charlotte is a little older so she can do all the Disney stuff.*
That’s the plan! My husband HATES Disney, so I think we’d probably go with my mom. Either way, it’s on the bucket list. And Harry Potter World while I’m down there!
I totally agree with Lori and Janelle – you could organize a race, that was my first thought when I read this post. The shadow race is also a great idea. I was reading the Katie Couric book you gave me on good advice last night, and there was a piece from Broadway Choreographer Susan Stroman called “Whats the Worst That Could Happen?” “Someone might tell you no, but there’s no harm in that.” That’s the advice she got from her Dad & I think it’s great! So, ask the question – you might be surprised at the answer!
One more thing – you could start a running group for beginners with a goal of training for a 5K and then do a small race within your group. It won’t be the same as the big race experience but you would be sharing something you love with others and that always feels good.
Goodness I just want to hug you for your comments. Amy, I agree with your mama!
I exactly know how you feel! Since I have only done one race this entire (and it was a mud run so it doesn’t really count) I was definitely feeling less motivated. I need to have races on the calendar to get my running mojo going. I think its great that you are looking for races to do farther out — and honestly with the weather in Germany you might have to wait until spring if it gets too cold there soon. I also feel that twinge of jealousy over reading about awesome races that my friends are doing back home — ones that if I was there I would be doing. But I remind myself that I’m in a new place and a new adventure will come. I like your mom’s idea of starting your own group!
I bet you could organize a race through the MWR or something!
I need a race too. Badly. I have my sights set on a 10 miler but that isn’t until January. Colorado Springs is going to be COLD so I doubt I’ll do anything before the spring
Awwww, totally couldn’t imagine being in the predicament! You are right, you are still a runner! You’ve been keeping up with that and to that you deserve a BIG GOOD JOB! Four hours for a half or a full for us, but yah not something smaller than that!