Much like running itself, I am hot and cold on blogging. Sometimes I appreciate it as the wonderful creative outlet that it is, one that I don’t really have anymore in my professional life (I used to write headlines; now I write emails). Other times it’s just a huge pain in the butt, requiring more time and maintenance than I’m willing to give. I’m sure my fellow occasional bloggers would agree that the activity also comes with its fair share of nagging self-doubt. (Where did everybody go?) The blogosphere is a mercurial place to inhabit.
I mention this for two reasons. One is by way of explaining my recent on-again, off-again approach to S&J, which has been driven by my lingering IT injury, work and life busyness, and the reasons I mentioned above. The other is that I was doing a sweep of all the blogs I have followed over the past 12 months and was astounded by how many have just fallen by the wayside. They were good bloggers writing about interesting things who obviously just decided they didn’t have the time for it, or that directing valuable effort to something that, for the most of us, winds up in an internet vacuum is rather a waste. Motivation to write, or run, for that matter, is a tough thing to maintain.
Indeed!
For those of you fabulous folks who have been following me during the year, I haven’t given up. In fact, my run last weekend, No. 46 in the 52 Weeks, 52 Runs challenge, was my best 5K yet. I have no idea how, and have decided it’s probably better not to think about it too much. The words “course not measured properly” keep entering my mind.
The run was the 5K4Life, to benefit Prize4Life, a nonprofit aiming to spur innovation in the search for a cure for ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease. There were a number of participants in the event who have ALS, and it was truly stirring to see them out there. It’s a horrendous disease with no cure, and I was thrilled to be doing my small part to support the cause.
Chilly, chilly start.
Of course, when I was waiting around to line up at the start (sans Hubby, who was Guarding), I wasn’t really thinking about the worthy cause (shame on me). All that was really going through my head was: “Dang it’s cold!”
We seemed to have skipped fall here in New England. I may have been sartorially prepared for the coldness of this event (although I thought perhaps it was premature to bust out the CW-X tights), but I wasn’t mentally prepared. I think our long hot summer has made me an even worse weather wuss than I used to be. Part of me is glad this challenge is almost over, because the thought of running every weekend again through January and February gives me the chills.
This photo was made even tougher by the fact that I was wearing gloves.
Once I got underway on this 5K, however, and got over the blue-lipped start, I realized that I was being pretty silly, and this was probably the most ideal running weather you could get. The wind was biting, but the sky was bright blue and the sun was quite lovely. I must take advantage of it, I thought.
I was slightly freaked out about my IT band seeing as I hadn’t taken it for a spin since the Color Run, which doesn’t count. It had been worked on, though, and I figured the worse that could happen was that I would end up walking and post another 38-minute 5K.
I got through the first mile and was then thwarted by a couple of hills. I walked them both and my PR fantasies went out the window (for those keeping score, I needed 30.02). Just before mile two I started to feel the tell-tale twinge in my hip. Crap. I can’t quite explain what happened next, but all I know is that I started to go faster. I guess my subconscious was trying to avoid pain by making the run be over sooner. Or something like that.
Nice bling.
I guess I ran an elusive (for me) negative split because when I turned the corner to finish, I could see the clock up ahead and there was a 29 on it! What the …? I sprinted like a crazy person and saw it change to 30 about a second before I crossed the line.
I didn’t want to get too excited, but I figured I must have gone under 30 because I always start a little farther back in the pack. The lovely people at Millennium Running were doing the timing and they had one of those trucks that instantly give you your results.
29.41, baby!!
It’s been a long time coming. My only sadness was that I had no one there to share my triumph with. But that’s OK. I was very happy. I just hope I might be able to do it again some day. And I hope the course was the right length …
Nothing like achieving a goal to get you re-motivated, wouldn’t you say?
The event: 5K4Life
The location: Kendall Square, Boston
The date: November 4, 2012
My time: 29.41
The cause: ALS research
The T-shirt: White long-sleeved cotton
The aftermath: Chowder, quesadillas, pasta
Stride and Joy 
I can’t believe the challenge is almost over!!! Are you going to keep doing as any runs? =P The sub 30:00 was so close for so long.. and now you got it! Awesome!
Wooohooo, almost over!! I’m happy and sad at the same time. I’m sure I’ll still do some runs, just not as many in the cold, as you know. 🙂
Congratulations on your sub-30 race! Woot woot!
It must be in the air because I, too, recently was looking at my list of blogs I follow and was surprised at the number that have gone silent. I struggled with doing the “unfollow” thing or hanging in there and hoping for a resurrection.
I hope you don’t give up your blog entirely. It is delightful here at S&J. 🙂
Thanks! You’re so sweet. Definitely not going to give it up. I really wish I had more time to devote to it though. Ah, for the halcyon days when I was looking for work and had all this time on my hands. 🙂 I know what you mean about the “unfollow” dilemma. I definitely wrestle with that!
So glad you are back on the run again and posting! These always make my week.
Thanks for being my preview buddy!
Congrats on your PR! And nice to see you posting again!
Thank you!! I’m glad to be posting, although I wish I could do it more often. I run more than I post these days. 🙂
I’m so happy that you had a great race this late into your year long adventure. I totally empathize with the fickle blogging community, and my own dedication to my blog. I left my expat blog two months ago when I felt settled back in our US life, but I wanted to keep blogging. I’m trying to find a new direction, but I’ve been pretty irregular. Even though I’ve got almost 3 years of blogging under my belt, it can still be hard to stay motivated! I hope you’ll continue to write – even if it isn’t about your running challenge! 🙂
Thanks so much for the support! Glad to know there are others who feel the same. 🙂 It’s definitely tough, especially when the words aren’t flowing as freely as they once did. I’m sure you’ll find your motivation again!
Way to go on the sub-30, S&J! Congrats from your shame-faced, haven’t-blogged-in-months slowrunnings pal! Still running, just not writing, which would really have been whining about the humidity all summer, so probably for the best for everyone!
Thanks!!! Nothing to be shame-faced about. No judgment from me on the blog silence, that’s for sure! 🙂 I’m glad you’re still running; that’s the most important part. And I hear you about the weather. Sometimes I think my blog is a big weather whinge-fest, especially in the summer!!
YAY!!! Congratulations on your PR. I am so happy to see that you are back. Gonna go check out your race schedule and see if our paths cross again anytime soon. Inquiring minds want to know, as the challenge draws to a close and you look into your crystal ball, what do see for next year? I look forward to running with you again soon Laurie
Hey!! Thanks so much. Sucks that we haven’t run into each other again yet. But it will happen!! I’m trying to figure out what to do next year. Still some running, but not every weekend. More swimming too. Triathlon, maybe? Hmmmm, we’ll see! Look forward to seeing you again soon too! 🙂
That’s amazing! Congrats on your PR!!!
Thanks so much!!!! 🙂
Congratulations Tracey on the sub-30 minute time. Only 6 runs to go – that’s very impressive. I was telling some of my running colleagues about the Will Run For Beer (or similar title) series and they rather liked the idea.
Thanks Miss Tash! The Will Run for Beer series is fab. Andrew is going to do it again next year. Beer after a summer run is glorious.
I knew you had it in you! Congratulations! That is awesome.
I can totally relate to your thoughts on blogging and feeling like what we write ends up in the internet vacuum.
For the record, I still love reading your blogs and look forward to them every week. So, don’t stop!! 🙂 What happens after your next 6 runs finish?… something new for us I hope!!
Aw, thanks so much!! Same for your blog! I’m definitely not going to stop running or blogging, but still trying to figure out exactly what to do next. Can’t believe it’s almost over, but it has gone pretty quickly! Thanks for your support! 🙂
Most excellent!!!! On the timing and the write up. Good for YOU!!
Thank you thank you! Great to see you again!! Hope all is well. When’s your next run? 🙂
I don’t have a run lined up as of yet. Working my way up to working out again. School kinda consumed me and now I need exercise more than ever. 🙂 Love your write ups!!
You can share your achievement with us! So proud of you — that’s a huge milestone! Congrats!!
Thanks so much! I’m so grateful to have you guys to share it with. 🙂
Yeah, baby!!! I’ve been following most of the year, I’m so proud of you! And with an injury. You rock, girl.
No, you rock!! Thanks so much for following my adventure. 🙂
So proud of you!
And I hear you about the blog… I’ve been very lax about mine.
Oh, and by the way, I recall having sub-30 for a goal for a 5K when I was 18 and training to play college basketball (I am SO not a runner). So as far as I’m concerned, that’s darn impressive 😉
I am quite proud of myself, I must say!! I never thought I’d be able to pull it off. I am really not a runner either. Can’t figure out what takes it out of me more, that or blogging. Haha.
Tracey Lazos, you are a dead-set legend! Your acronyms leave me clueless but I can only surmise that a PR is the same thing as a PB and is not some weird mind trip back to your university major (shudder) on a musing on the relative merits of Permanent Residency????
So, o legendary one, homage from the nancy st crew. x
Lippings!!!! How fabulous to see you on here. Haha, yes I remember when I first heard all this talk of PR. I was flung back to the halls of Uterus. Shudder indeed. It’s definitely what we would call a PB in topsy-turvy land. Who ever thought I’d be talking such nonsense. 🙂 Hope you guys are all well! xoxox
Congratulations on the sub 30!! I’ve definitely been one of those people slacking on writing on my blog. Life has gotten in the way! 🙂
Thanks!! Life gets in the way far too easily, I’m afraid. 🙂
fantastic…can’t believe you are at 46..amazing!! i was worried about your IT band as mine is a perpetual WIP….where was hubby? and congratulations on your discipline…i am always pleased to see S&J in my mailbox…it reminds me i am slacking…:) off to run in the rain.
Thanks!! IT band is still being a bit of a jerk, but I’m trying to get it sorted out. Hubby was off doing his monthly National Guard training, hence the solo run. Oh, and you’re definitely not slacking, btw!! 🙂
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