Holdouttrout

I've done 4 5Ks. The first I exclusively walked. The second I ran about two minutes' worth and walked the rest. The third I ran the first and last thirds (or so).

Then, one of my coworkers, M, said we should do the holiday run. I had a grand plan to work on being able to run the whole 3.1 miles--as well as work a little on my running speed. I had a six-week plan and seven weeks to do it.

Unfortunately, I didn't actually follow the plan. In fact, the last three weeks, I didn't run at all. I was already committed to do the run, though, and my coworker S was counting on me running/walking with her.

So today I set out running with S. Our plan was to run as much of the course as we could, and then walk the rest. We passed what we thought was the one-mile mark and celebrated... and then passed another one about a quarter-mile down the road. The first one, of course, was for the half-marathon and not the 5K. But either way, we'd run one mile. Then we passed the two-mile mark, still running. At that point, we figured we'd better keep running, because we were really almost there.

So without thinking about it too much, I ran an entire 5K--for the first time ever! I ran it in 47:05, which is about the same speed I would have walked it. :-)

I keep seeing other people apologize for not having posted in a while, and think, "Oh, yeah, I haven't seen them around." Then I take a look at my own journal and realize I'm in the same boat. I keep thinking that I post more often... probably because I read my fee just about every day and comment on other people's posts. Anyway, here's some news from my life:

Running
Previously, on The Running Saga, I ran for 35 minutes straight. Recently, I ran for a lot longer than 35 minutes and ran for 3.25 miles on Labor Day. I estimate that the running part took me approximately 55 minutes or so, making my running speed considerably slower than my walking speed and probably putting me in the running for the Slowest Runner Ever award.

The season finale of The Running Saga was my attempt to run through the entire Color Run (an easy, flat 5K). I DID run approximately 2/3rds of the course, but the middle was really loose gravel that defeated even my sluggish pace. I finished strong and definitely feel good about what I did accomplish.

It's weird, because if anyone had told me I'd ever run three miles at once, at any point prior to oh, last October, I would have laughed in their face. Now I find myself saying things like, "What I really want to do is work on my speed and get to where I can run a 5K in about 30-35 minutes."


Condo
My condo and I are getting along really well. There is still plenty to do, but nothing that needs to be done Right Now. My roommate also moved in a couple weeks ago, and I think that's going to work out well. The only problem so far has been making myself go to bed instead of staying up and watching TV and talking with her!


Video Games
I am always so far behind on these things--but I want to record this here anyway: I FINALLY beat Mass Effect. Yes, the first one. I'm still unspoiled for the next two, too (well, mostly), and I'm pretty happy about that. I really enjoyed it, especially once I figured out where I'd gone wrong (let me count the ways) and fixed it. So once I get a few minutes, I'll start on the second one and see what happens.


Ficathons
I signed up for sg1friendathon with a Sam & Janet prompt that I have no ideas for. I started writing something that I think has potential, but it doesn't really fit the prompt at all. I'd feel worse about that, but... it was my own prompt. So hopefully I'm the only person I'll disappoint. Anyway, the dealine is coming up way too quickly, so we'll see what happens.


What I plan on watching this fall
Once Upon a Time
Once Upon a Time in Wonderland
Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (okay, I think that'll just be SHIELD from now on)
The Neighbors
New Girl
Castle
Parks and Recreation
Arrow
Supernatural

I can't see how I'll have time for all that, but if I have extra, I have these two on my list:
Elementary
Person of Interest

Anything else I should DEFINITELY put on my list?

I started off the year right and decided to try running another mile (my second) on January 1. This despite the fact that the most I'd run since I RAN my mile was a quarter of a mile. I don't mean at once. I mean at all. I mean, it WAS all at once, but... well, you get the point.

But the good news is that I DID run a whole mile. I did!

I'm just paying for it today. Yesterday I felt a bit sore, but not too bad. Today my legs are trying to get me to cry.

Ow.