Treadmill vs. Sidewalk

The Nitty
One time I was staying at my parent's house by myself. They have a treadmill in the basement, conveniently parked in front of a nice TV/DVD/VCR combo.

Yes, I said VCR.

At about 8:00 PM I was craving coffee, so I made a pot.

I drank it.

At about 10:30 PM I was bouncing off the walls. So I headed downstairs to the treadmill.

I dusted off the cobwebs. I turned on the TV. I fired up the ol' gal.

I turned up the volume on the TV.

I found myself watching Storytellers on VH1 - Green Day edition.

I started running.

My legs suddenly felt a little jellyish. I looked down to see what was the matter. On their way down, my eyes happened to glance at the treadmill's screen.

65 minutes! I had been running non-stop for 65 minutes! What the H???

The Gritty
Now I don't have one of those fancy schmancy gym memberships that all those cool kids have. I stick to running outside for my "kicks." And I'm kind of glad. Ever notice how much harder it is to run outside than it is to run on a treadmill?

Why, cruel world, does it have to be so much easier to run on a treadmill???

Why must you build up my confidence so highly in the gym, when the very next day, you smash it so completely the minute I step outside?

Seriously. I can run, like, 5 blocks before I'm huffing and puffing. I think 65 minutes on concrete would kill me.

And why is that? Why is is so much easier to run inside than outside?

Lack of necessary wind resistance? Adequate pacing? Reruns of Deadliest Catch distracting me from the burning of my lungs?

Please, if you know, enlighten me.
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Current Couch Potato | Aspiring Runner:

Completing my first half marathon to benefit the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America will be a community endeavor. Won't you help me change lives?


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Timely Encouragement - 2

I have an Android app that sends me a new Bible verse every morning.

It can be refreshing, encouraging, or annoying depending on whether or not I need/want to hear the message.

I'm sure you know what I mean.

This morning it was nothing but Appropo. Capital A.



Last night the worry was getting to me.

What if I don't meet my goals? What if I can't raise enough money? What if I can't run 13.1 miles? How am I going to raise all that money? What if I injure myself? Everyone else already has so much raised, what if I can't do it?

Will I let my team, and Katlynn, our Honored CCFA Hero, down????

Yeah, try falling asleep to that brain pattern.

But this morning I woke up and found this verse glaring at me from the screen, just waiting to remind me that I'm not alone in this.

I have you, my supporters.

I have my running buds from Team Challenge WI.

And I have my Father in heaven who, yes, actually cares about these little things I do with my life.

*Sigh*

Yes, the stress is still there, but I think I needed that reminder that I entered into this prayerfully and faithfully, and God knows that and will take care of me.

Little ol' me.
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Current Couch Potato | Aspiring Runner:

Completing my first half marathon to benefit the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America will be a community endeavor. Won't you help me change lives?


Follow | Donate
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My First @TeamChallengeWI Practice

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Current Couch Potato | Aspiring Runner:

Completing my first half marathon to benefit the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America will be a community endeavor. Won't you help me change lives?


Follow | Donate
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Napa to Sonoma - July 17th

Get to know Mandi...............................Check
Subscribe to this blog...........................Check
Become one of 75..................................Check
Learn about CCFA................................Check
Check out Napa2Sonoma...................._____
Uh oh, Lucy, looks like you've got some 'splaining to do...
Never fear.
Here's your lowdown on the Team Challenge Napa Half Marathon I'm running - what it looks like, where I'll be going, and all that other good stuff you'd like to know.
When: July 17, 2011
Where: Start at Cuvaison Cameros Winery in Napa, End at City Hall in Sonoma PlazaMore! I Want More!
The race is really a weekend event, with an expo and welcome reception on Saturday, culminating with the race on Sunday.
Did I mention the race is capped with a Wine & Music Celebration in Sonoma Plaza? I must surely celebrate the hard work, determination, and support that will get me to the finish line...and most of all the money you help me raise for a great organization.
So that's the plan.
Now I'm gonna go...and show the plan...to someone else (name that movie).
In the meantime, feel free to watch highlights from 2010:


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Current Couch Potato | Aspiring Runner:

Completing my first half marathon to benefit the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America will be a community endeavor. Won't you help me change lives?


Follow | Donate
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Thank you, Caroline

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Current Couch Potato | Aspiring Runner:

Completing my first half marathon to benefit the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America will be a community endeavor. Won't you help me change lives?


Follow | Donate
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ANNOUNCING: 75 by 7/5

In addition to training for a half marathon - something that will never not bring at least a bit of freak-out into my stress system - I also have to raise $3,800 to benefit the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America.

This won't be easy.

I will need your help.

With that in mind I am launching my 75 by 7/5 campaign.

Here's how it works.

If I can get just 75 people to donate $50 by July 5th (75 by 7/5, get it?), I will have met my findraising goal.

The Team Challenge Napa Half Marathon will take July 17th, 2011. I need to meet my fundraising goal by July 6th (but the 5th sounds so much better with my theme, no?).

And I am FREAKING out!

But kind of in a good way.

I love challenges.

Especially team ones.

With that in mind, please join my team by donating $50 today.

Seriously. I can't do this without you. I don't want to do this without you.

In return I can promise you updates on my progress, and I will take you to Napa with me by wearing your support in the steely determination of my "race face." You will be thanked, and thanked often - by mail, here on my race blog, and as I spread the word of your generosity to everyone I meet in Napa. Want your name on my jersey? Let me know and we'll work something out.

If you can't afford $50, or, better yet, want your name on that race jersey, check out my 75 by 7/5 page to learn about other ways to get involved.

There's room for you, your friends, your family, your work, heck, I'm sure we could even find a way for your dog, to join me in supporting research for this incurable disease and improving the quality of life for individuals who suffer from it.

THANK YOU!

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Current Couch Potato | Aspiring Runner:

Completing my first half marathon to benefit the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America will be a community endeavor. Won't you help me change lives?


Follow | Donate
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Good Timing - Encouragement

I found this message in my inbox today:
I subscribe to The Startup Daily to help prepare for the one day, someday, when I will start my own business.

Don't judge.

It's the Gen Y dream!

Though the message is meant for entrepreneurs, it really speaks to what I'm feeling as I start this journey from Couch Potato to Half Marathon Runner.

I will fail. I'm positive there will be days I don't feel like training. There will be days I won't train, or, if I do, not to the level I should. I also have the fundraising failure potential - $3,800 is a lot to ask of family, friends, and strangers in these tough times.

But I have faith I can do this. I have to do this. Not just for me, but for Katlynn, Team Challenge WI's Honored Hero.

This is worth doing.

Please join me in Doing Something!

Donate | Follow

__________________________________________________________________

Current Couch Potato | Aspiring Runner:

Completing my first half marathon to benefit the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America will be a community endeavor. Won't you help me change lives?


Follow | Donate
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