So it begins.

Once upon a time (for 6 months of the glorious year 2008), I was thin and physically attractive. I looked like this:

This was a happy time. I proudly sported shorts, bikinis and other revealing garments in public. I felt light and airy, and could run up to 4 miles in a row at about an 8 minute/mile pace. Unfortunately, time caused 2009 to dawn, the sun set on my running abilities and my physical condition -- athletic, aesthetic and otherwise -- consequently deteriorated.

Things are different now. I have grown considerably in size, and will not disclose photographically the current state of my body. It is not good. So, after a year of attempting to revive my former interest in running that yielded little more than a few huffing-and-puffing-then-stopping visits to the treadmill, I decided things must change.

One day about 2 weeks ago I decided the time was now and it would be cool to force the issue and run really fast for as long as possible. I kept this up for about 4.5 miles. In a row. To me this fortuitous event seemed to call out to me, what better time than now to sign up for the soonest possible 5K race? And start an intermediate training plan in the middle, because pshh, I'm clearly in great shape already, seeing as I can run 4.5 miles in a row and all -- why not go for the gold?

Because, I found out the hard way, people who have been running for 1 day are not "intermediate" runners.  Clearly (in hindsight) my initial tack was too vigorous, and after 3 days of elated, dedicated training I injured my leg and unfortunately (the kind of "unfortunately" that really makes one secretly thrilled and relieved, like being able to avoid an annoying family function because you couldn't request off work that day, DAMN) was out of workout commission for 3 days. I'm pretty sure I've recuperated now, so I've started up again -- this time at the beginner level of an "Advanced Beginner" 5K program designed for someone like me, who has some running experience but has not been running for a while.

My workouts this week have been consistent with the training instructions. Instead of pushing myself to uncomfortable extremes in the name of progress, as I tend to do because I am an insanely competitive perfectionist, I reluctantly accepted the advice of a few experts in some running articles I read which told me to run at a "conversation pace," where one is not too out of breath, as the name implies, to carry on a conversation while running. I discovered for me in my current state this is about a 9:40/mile:

•  On Sunday, I ran 3 miles at this pace, and it felt absolutely great!
• The training program stated Monday was to be a rest day, but I rode the recumbent bike for 45 minutes instead, and lifted a couple of weights a few times each.
• On Tuesday, I was supposed to run 2.5 miles, but resources were scarce in the Fordham gym and each of the two treadmills was occupied. I did the elliptical for 20 minutes, then hopped on the treadmill, ran 1 mile, was too winded to go on, took a break, then ran another slightly slower one. I also played considerable amounts of DDR, if that's good for anything.
• Today does not look promising. I am supposed to run 3 miles, but it is already 9:52, and I ate a lot today. I am also tired. We'll see!
  

Anyhow, my race will be on 31 Jan at Jones Beach. I am excited! My goal is to get through the whole thing without stopping -- I am going to force myself to not care about the pace. My cousin Amanda is running with me, too. Hopefully following this athletic feat I will look something like this (and not, as I did in the picture, look like this because I went out in the uncannily athletic-looking clothes I'd slept in without showering and stood near some signs):

 Wish me luck!