So, lo and behold, I had a race during my rejuvenated training regimen!

I ran three times last week - a mile (or slightly more) each time.  This week I had a longer workout on Sunday.  My boyfriend Alan and I took Honey (our dog) with us...we walked 1.5 miles, ran 1 mile and walked 1.5 miles.  And then the rest of the week was busy with work and us celebrating Alan's birthday, so I did not get my mid-week run in, despite bringing running gear on our little getaway to St. Pete.  Oh well.

This morning I got up at 6:30 am and since everything was ready and waiting for me, I was out the door and on the way to Busch Gardens rather quickly.  I gave myself more time than last year, so I was not rushing to a parking spot and despite some traffic, it only took me about 10 minutes of waiting to get one.  I had time to hit the porta-potty and ran into my keeper friends from Disney - Craig and Melaina - as well as co-workers Christy and Morgan dressed as wildebeest.  We all chatted a bit before the race started and I got some quick photos as the start gun was going off, and then we were running through the park.

It was great to see fellow zookeepers along the way - staff from Bird Gardens, Myombe, Edge of Africa and Jungala.  And it's always fun to run past the animals.  Although I didn't stop to take any pics along the route - Melaina is a fast one! - I did see the cheetahs, flamingos, tortoises, tigers, alligators, and we heard the lories.

Despite a ~2 minute walking break (that Craig and Melaina were kind enough to join me on), I still managed an 11:01 pace per mile for a total race time of 34:08.1.  So, it wasn't my best 5K time ever, but I'm pretty proud of myself for running almost the entire race with very little training.

I realize that even though I'm not seeing results NOW - other than being able to run more than a mile without completely dying - it will take time to see more results, i.e. weight loss.  That is my primary goal at this point - to get healthier and lose some weight.  I was pretty low during my marathon training.  I hit 199 at one point, but I have now returned to my prior-to-marathon-and-possibly-worse state and I do not find it acceptable.  I am trying to change my eating habits, but that is a lot harder for me than going for a 3 mile run.  They are habits after all, and I am the pickiest of eaters.  With time, and hopefully with resolve, I will be able to physically better myself.

I fully realize that I've devoted little time to this blog and that is mainly because I've also devoted little time to running.

I've let my body get to a point where I am unhappy with it, and certainly not anywhere close to "marathon-shape."  At the same time, I realize that training for a marathon was a part-time job and I am not in the same place, vis a vis my personal life, that I was at that time.  I am very happy with my boyfriend and to be completely honest, I enjoy spending a lazy morning with him more than I do sweating and tiring myself out for hours on end.

That being said, I've instituted a new running "program" in which I currently run three times a week - Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday, and on the off-chance I break my promise to myself, then Sunday, Wednesday and Friday.  I visited my parents in chilly Massachusetts at the beginning of November and used the cooler weather as a launching pad for my new regime.  I ran twice when I was home (3 day visit to see my Mummu) and walked 2 miles with my Dad as well.  Those excursions basically told me what I already knew - that I was out of shape - and allowed me to be honest with myself - I need to get back in shape.

I have tried my boyfriend's gym, but seeing a bunch of muscled gym-boys peacock around each other does not encourage me to return --- until I can peacock as well, of course.  So, running it is.  I find it relaxing and meditative and it's about time I turn this flab into fab again.

So, hopefully, I will be writing on here a lot more.  My first week back, I ran a mile on each day - Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday.  My boyfriend and our dog joined me on Tuesday's run (that's my "Saturday") and it felt good.  I was able to get up early enough - on my weekend! - that it was only sweltering instead of scorching.  I signed up for the Busch Gardens Run for Wildlife 5K so there's that to try to not embarrass myself at, but my time will be nothing like last year's and that's okay.  I hope to continue my quest for a half in every state this year, but as the Wildfire Half Marathon in Denton, Texas in July taught me...I will be training for them.  :)