NaNoWriMo Day 1

Word count: 0

Sad?  Yes it is!  It's 8:40am, and the last two years I would have already passed the 5K mark on words, but this year, since the 1st is a Monday, that's a no-can-do!  I need sleep for my long drive to work, so I was in bed for the start.  I love sitting up and counting down, "Happy NaNoWriMo!"  I can't actually start until my lunch break, hopefully I can get a good start, because it's Monday and that also means chore-night when I get home.  I've got to do dishes and vacuum before returning to my words.  Sigh, not a very eventful WriMo yet!

Tick-tock

My countdown has begun for NaNoWriMo '10.  I always start getting SUPER excited about it right before my race.  I love that they coincide, I get all inspired at the race, and that carries over to the month of November.

I cleaned off my desk, which is SO much nicer than my writing hole last year (literally a hole in the boxes with a used desk in a random bedroom).  This is my new desk space:

Looks nice dontcha think? Technically my desk is in the hallway (it's a built-in we had made special just for me!) so I'm concerned about noise pollution....we'll see how this works out.  Next year I may have to dedicate the guest bedroom to my writing so I can close the door.

I'm not too sure how much I will use the typewriter, but I'm going to try it. I need to get some cartridges for it though.  It was a lovely inheritance, and I appreciate Wino's mom for letting me take it home.  I know it's also a nice memento for Wino of his grandparents.

This year I'm feeling much more confident that I can hit 50K words.  I have this great high coming off completing the C25K program.  That was probably one of the hardest things I've ever done, so if I can get off my butt and get around to running a 5K, I can certainly write 1667 words a day to win this thing this year!

Ok, race day is tomorrow, and I'm much too excited to think any more about NaNoWriMo....after tomorrow I'm going to get down to business and do some serious plotting.  I've been lax this year, so hopefully my novel wont end up being mostly passages from the Dares thread!

NaNoWriMo's a-comin'

Here it is again!  The dawn of writing season!  October 1 usually marks the relaunch of the NaNoWriMo website.  Very exciting!  However, I cannot let my excitment to write overpower my need to get my running finished!  I am still 3 days away from C25K graduation.  It's been so darn hot here that running is pretty much out of the question, even in the evenings.  I'm determined to graduate before I actually run the 5K on October 23 though!

So back to writing....I'm getting pumped!  I've got lots of ideas stewing around in the ol' noggin in the evenings while I crochet (working on two afghans for my nieces).  My plot this year, as with most, is going to be another sarcastic/satire/humor novel.  It seems to be the niche that I've put myself in, my attempt to dip into drama last year burned brightly for a while but then quickly fizzled out, I'm not a good person to write suspense....I get to impatient to write the good stuff!

Anywho, I'm modeling my main character after a gentleman I've had a few run-ins with, so this should be good.  I've really got to work on some story development though, I've got a rough outline, but no real plot points.  I may end up winging it like I did every year except last....we'll see.

Inspiration

I love reading or hearing about other peoples' success stories.  It inspires me.  The funny thing is I don't think any of these inspirational people that I've found ever started out to really "inspire" others.  It seems to me that the act of writing, or recording your victories just for yourself to enjoy is the real inspiration.  I know that hardly anyone reads my blog, but I draw such a source of motivation just from seeing where I was to where I am now, that that's all that really matters to me.

What surprised me last night though (and has surprised me several times this month), is that I have apparently become an inspiration to those around me.  When did that happen?!  I've always been the wall flower, the person who blends into the background who doesn't do anything extraordinary, I just exist.

Wino told me last night that his mom was so inspired by my running and weight loss that she's attending some seminars to get healthy herself.  "Really?!" I said, with a huge smile on my face.  I guess I never realized that anyone was even really paying attention to what I was doing.  Sure I post my run on Facebook after I complete it, and I always get a smattering of "likes" but people are really rooting for me AND taking a look at their own lives and how they can improve their own health.

I'm really amazed, and this motivates me extra to keep going, I HAVE to succeed, there's no question about it, so many important people in my life are apparently waiting for my next update to say "I did it!"  Now, not only am I doing this for myself, but I push myself harder because I don't want to disappoint.

I am only 5 runs away from completing the Couch to 5K program.  I have my 5K coming up on October 23, and I'm excited, I'm ready for it to get here!

Life and Running

Ah Life: you do tend to get in the way sometimes don't you?  No, I haven't stopped running.  I can't do that.  I would be so disappointed in myself if I quit.  The whole point in my embarking in the C25K program was to prove to myself that I could triumph over my own mind and actually accomplish something that I would normally give up on.

My struggles appeared, though, several weeks ago and, believe it or not, had nothing to do with my own motivation, but instead just working run time into a suddenly busy schedule due to a family emergency.  Once I was able to say "it'd be better if we delay this run (or that run)" I was suddenly unable to stop "rescheduling" runs to suit my own needs.  It all started out with the best of intentions but then spiraled out of control.  The worst was when I waited 4 days in between W7D1 and D2.  That was one rough run (though I still completed it without walking).

BUT, we finished up W7 day before yesterday.  That was not without it's own complications.  I was motivated to run, but not very excited about it!  My body had different plans than my mind though: about 10 minutes into the run I got my first-ever shin splint.  I didn't pay much attention at first, it just felt weird so I kept running, then the pain started, gradually getting worse.  I let out a cry and grabbed for Wino's shoulder for support, but still kept running.  Then the paid subsided, until 2 minutes later when I got another pulse of pain.  I slowed down, ran through it and it went away.  This continued until our 25 minutes were up, I was determined not to stop running (I couldn't tell whether I was just trying to subconsciously sabotage my own run, or if this was legit pain).

I got my answer when I got into the house and the searing pain didn't stop, I checked all the symptoms and yep, I had a shin splint AND because I was running funny when the pain hit, I also messed up my knee.  Brilliant!  That's what I get for being stubborn.  I have a 5K race in about a month and I still have 2 weeks left of C25K (that's 6 runs people!) and I need to finish this, I don't want to be set back!  So, I'm going to wait this out (no!  I'm not going to keep running in pain, that's just stupid), but the minute (THE MINUTE, I SAY!) that this pain subsides, I'm hitting the pavement again.

So I'm going to be out of commission for who knows how long, but I'm not going to let this stop me.  I'm running for my sisters, for myself, for Wino, for anyone who has encouraged me, and I don't want to disappoint.

Week 5--Days 1 & 2

So no video blog for these two days. Life has been pretty hectic this past week, and I just can't find the time to sit down and record.  So you get to read instead! :)

Let's start with Week 5, Day 1:

Wow was this easier than all of Week 4 put together.  I was so pumped when I finished that last 5 minute run (tired but pumped).  I just couldn't believe that this was so much easier than Week 4.  It seemed too good to be true.  Secretly I was dreading Day 2....but at the same time I was excited about it.  There were only 2 runs...of course they're 8 minutes each, but still just 2 runs.  Somehow that seems more manageable than 4 runs, or even 3...I'm not sure why.

So on to today's run Week 5, Day 2:

I KICKED SOME MAJOR BUTT!!!!!!!!!!  It was so great, the 8 minutes FLEW by.  No seriously, don't balk...I know some of you are still behind me, and you've got to be saying "Really?  8 minutes?  You complained about 3 being too long how is 8 easier than 3??"  I cannot answer that question, I really can't, I just have to tell you that it is!  When you get here you'll understand.

I had a little trouble picking back up for the last run.  In the 5 minute walk my knee started to get stiff and it took me a bit to work that out after I started running again, it really slowed me down, but that 8 minutes were over before I knew it.  When the chime went off and my phone said "Cool Down" I actually looked at the phone to make sure it was right, I didn't believe it that I'd been jogging for 8 minutes already.

This feeling that I've got today is really empowering.  I feel like I can conquer the world!  It's such a rush.  I never knew what people talked about when they said they get a "runner's high" but I felt it today, and I'm still feeling it, 4 hours after my run was over.  It's incredible!

Bring on Week 5, Day 3!  You don't scare me!

Week 4--Day 3

Sorry this is a few days late (and sorry for the scary face on my video!)I've been busy. I'll hopefully record my thoughts about yesterday's run tonight.

I was in a much better place on Saturday when I did day 3....I'm looking forward to week 5 again, instead of dreading it!