Running: With Groups and Training

I have a confession: I have written out almost complete posts, then deleted everything I wrote. ON PURPOSE. Why? Because sometimes I feel like what I wrote doesn't matter anymore, or it was gibberish. When I say doesn't matter, I mean I don't really care about what I was talking about anymore. Eh. It happens.

What I do care about is the fact that I went on a fantastic run today, and I happened to run it with my sister!

My sister and I tend to do runs together on Sundays, along with one of her friends. They're usually the easy runs of the week, and they're one of my shortest runs of the week. For today, we were doing a long run.
I thought I would be too tired. I thought I would be too hot or too cold. I thought my legs would be sore because I ran yesterday, and I usually don't run the day before my long run.

None of that happened today. I felt good and I probably could have even run more! (I should be running more, but I've been keeping it chill. I have no marathons in the future, thankyouverymuch.)Plus it was an exploration run, which always makes up a good run. The only part where I felt week was on the killer uphill, and that's why I need to work on my uphills more. Funny thing is my sister kills uphills, but hates downhills. I adore downhills and despise uphills. Too bad we can't trade off.

With running in mind, I'd like to think of what distances I would be in shape for right now. I totally could do a 5k, a 10k, or even a 15k right now. I think I could do a half marathon in a month from now if I set mileages, or do one sooner... if I wanted to be aching the next day, that is. The point of all of this is that races need proper training.

I mention this because of a certain blogger's post I read recently. In it she says, "And here's something that probably doesn't surprise you... I'm extremely unprepared."

I wish her well obviously, but at the same time that totally worries me. I don't know what "extremely unprepared" means, but it's not exactly a good phrase for your first half marathon.

Alright, I know that different runners need different mileages for training purposes. Heck, I know someone that ran 14 miles as their farthest distance before a marathon. Granted, I think it wasn't her first, but still. And she still ran it fine.
On the other hand, I know a guy who was in excellent shape that tried a half marathon. Problem was he was in good shape from swimming, not running. His longest recent run had been about 3 miles. He couldn't walk afterwards, he had to be helped.

Therefore, I think that training is very important. You don't have to run the whole distance (my longest marathon training run was 21 miles), but just prepare your body.

So Lexie, I wish you good luck (although by now I think you've already run it). I hope you can walk after.

Other than that... On my exam on Friday, I didn't do as well as I wanted. However, the professor added up my grade, and what I thought would be a B+ became an A-. This is why you do the extra credit, folks! I could try to get an A if I get a good enough grade on the final... but I don't have to take it. He drops the lowest of the three exam scores. Yup, that's a 100 level class for you.

Excited for tonight, and tomorrow. Just going to be good times.

Also, can I just say that the sun staying out after five is amazing? Ah.

Oh, I almost forgot! It's St.Patrick's Day! Happy St.Patrick's Day! (Obviously I have nothing planned around this event.)

What are your thoughts on proper training?

The Pace Makes the Runner?

What pace makes a runner different from a jogger? Apparently an eight minute mile pace does. Does that sound a bit ridiculous to you? Yeah, me too.

Today I received an email regarding the running club that I had signed up to get info about. I was excited, especially after all of the things I had heard about it. Pace didn't matter, a lot of people were there just to have fun. Within this email though, it said and I'm paraphrasing only slightly:
"We are a group of runners, not joggers. We would like to have those with an eight minute mile pace or less inquire only, because anyone slower will not have anyone to run with."

I definitely don't run an eight minute mile. Think a minute more, on a good day. I don't think of myself as a jogger, but according to this email, I am. So that's been on my mind for the day.

The chaos of school is finally starting to settle down it seems. I'm glad. Honestly, I've been up to a lot of stuff. (Strangely enough, it didn't feel like I was up to much today but I probably got a lot more done than usual.)

Let's start off with cooking. I'm working from being a lousy cook to slowly becoming a mediocre cook. Sure, I probably didn't cook my chicken right last week but at least it's been edible. I also made a frittata.

Seemed scary, but surprisingly simple. My spinach did wilt a little too much though. Ah well.

The next thing I've been up to is getting information about groups. You saw how well the running club thing went, but I'm also getting info about something I didn't think I'd ever try ever: Triathlon.
I know. I bitch and moan about biking, and I'm slower than drying paint. Still, I've been getting some encouragement to try it, and talking to one of the guys in the club made it seem like I could learn. He was just a runner himself at first, and he admitted he was still bad at it. Confidence booster? Perhaps.

Lastly is organization. I've finally got a single notebook for each subject. Sad, huh? My notes have been organized, my planner is looking especially plan-y, and my homework list is up. Basically, I'm finally getting my junk all together. I like that feeling.

Geez, I'm starting to sound more and more diary-like each day. We'll work on that. For now, I've got to make sure I actually know the information I need to for a quiz tomorrow.

Do you think speed makes the runner a runner? Why or why not?