raring to go

Kuliouou V: t-minus when the hell's everyone going to be ready? Aim: 40 - 41 minutes to the halfway point. I think Mart's friends are gonna want to go all the way up, so that's good, as I haven't made an attempt to go all the way up in a long time.

So this is my second week of "base fitness" implementation. Because last week was slow (tried to cross train swimming on Thursday, which took me out for Friday and Saturday), I'll probably go another week of hiking and swimming after this one before making a running schedule. I am relieved, actually. Much as I'm starting to like getting out and being active, I still do not regard running as anything short of torture. Attitude is obviously something I'll be needing to work on.

I think I'm going to nix the pool today because I'll be hiking and probably also taking the dog for a shuffle around Ala Moana park while Scott and Jordan go bodyboarding. I don't own an iPod but am starting to think it might be a good investment, especially as I tackle the aforementioned attitude adjustment. I don't think last year's Great Aloha Run would have been the same if Mart hadn't let me borrow his player, complete with "Kreeesty's GAR Playlist," especially since I did it alone.

Which brings me to my next thought (I have a lot of time for next thoughts, as the young'uns are still rolling out of bed and have rescheduled eye doc appointments and all that). I actually enjoy striving toward and meeting these physical challenges alone. GAR 2007, for instance. S was in Vegas, or he would have run with me, and as I sat half-asleep in the still-dark on the freezing curb near Aloha Tower Marketplace that morning, I realized I was the only one who wasn't in a group. Everyone else I could see was stretching, talking, hanging out in groups. There were groups of serious-looking runners. Groups of distressed-looking office people whose HR departments had signed up the whole company and who were already talking about where they could veer off the course and go have a beer. Mommy groups with strollers. Daddy groups with gung-ho looking toddlers. Teen groups with attitude. Everywhere, groups.

But I wralked alone, propelled by a carefully-chosen list of songs that included, as its starter, "We're All In This Together." And even though I was a solo participant, I felt a really nice fellowship as this huge mass of people started moving together - serious, office, mommies, daddies, teens, me - as one. And even though the wralk was tougher than I'd anticipated (13K is LONG), the playlist and the groups around me (and a phone call from Vegas) pulled me through the finish, where I got a slice of bread, my t-shirt, and a small sense of accomplishment. I went home and slept for the rest of the day.

Currently looking on RunnersWeb.com for a list of smaller runs to possibly sign up for, but as they're not categorized by state or region, I'm scrolling down a long list of runs from Boston to San Francisco. Ooh, Disneyland Half-Marathon in September. So easily distracted.

Looks like it's about time to head out ...