La Jeune Fille

How is it possible to be on time and late?

I don't have the exact answer, but I'm sure I did just that yesterday at my 5k marathon.

The plan was to wake up at 4.30 in the morning and leave my house at 5.15 to be in Huntington by 6.45. That all worked out according to plan... Sort of.

Let me set the scene.

6.25 am: Starbucks, Newport Beach Blvd, Newport. We decided to stop there for water and a bathroom break. About 20 minutes away from destination.

6.43 am: Coasting down PCH towards destination (Huntington St & PCH, Huntington, CA).

6.45 am: Thanks to my anxiousness, we pulled into the first parking lot for the event (Brookhurst & PCH, Huntington Beach, CA). What we didn't realize at the time was this parking lot was a little over TWO MILES away from the start line... And we walked it.

7.05 am: My anxiety increases as I realize that not only the start line but the event center tent is no where in site and my run starts in 10 minutes. I speed up as I realize the other runners around me are here for the half marathon which starts at 7.45 am.

7.15 am: Still haven't arrived at event center, realizing I need to go to the bathroom and wont be able to run 3 miles until I do so... I took off at a faster pace, leaving my mom with plans to meet her at the finish line.

7.28 am: Finally, I arrived at the event center and to my dismay the line for the restrooms is a million miles long (ok, maybe that's an exaggeration but it felt that long)

7.47 am: After waiting in line for what felt like forever, I headed out to find the start line for the 5k race. Because it was so late, I started to feel discouraged. Would they even let me start so late? How am I going to get across the street with hundreds of runners running?

7.51 am: I decided to cross the street and start somewhere in between the start line for the half marathoners and the 5k start line...

I can't believe it. Thinking back on it. I dont know how I did it. It felt so much shorter than what I expected. It was great.

I'm totally doing it again next year.

I did it. I made it to the finish line.

And it feels good.

So in honor of crossing that finish line I'm going to give you a little insight. Into me.

Over the past few months I've really learned a lot about me and what I'm capable of. I am determined, self-motivated (for the most part), a dreamer, a romantic.

I love with my whole heart which is, at some moments in my life regrettably, worn on my sleeve. I'm open, and most hours in my life outrageously happy. I prefer to see the good in people instead of picking out the bad.

I'm impatient. Yes. I said it. I am, I know it, now you do.

I'm anxious, sentimental and easily distracted...

I have been and will always be slightly over weight, and I'm okay with that. For a long long time I wasn't. I wanted to be like the girls you see in magazines. Obviously. I mean, with the social expectations we Americans place on ourselves, what girl doesn't? And if they say they don't they're (a) lying, and secretly do or (b) have come to the realization, as I just have, that you are who you are and what you are is beautiful.

Cheesy?

Yes. I know. I'm that too.

I try to compartmentalize my feelings. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. When it doesn't, you can read my face like a book and I hate it.

I hate showing my vulnerable side, I hate being weak.

I'm a nurturer. I love taking care of other people.

... I'm more than this, but it's a start into getting to know who I am.

So. Hello. :)

Remember that 5k marathon I've been training so hard for?? Well, it's coming!!! It's in February and this marathon is for a cause. The cause is called the Free Wheelchair Mission which you can read about on this website.

I love helping out with charities whenever possible and I'd really appreciate it if you could show your support for me through a monetary donation to this charity. Any small amount helps!!! Thanks!!!

To make donations, please use the secure website below.

http://r4m2009.kintera.org/phil413

So you're probably wondering why I haven't updated you on my status on training for the 5k in February...

Well, just to let you know. I haven't dropped the ball (training wise), I've actually started running on the treadmill at my gym instead of outside. Because of the time change, during the week when I wake up at 5.45 it's still super dark outside and that doesn't exactly motivate me to jump out of bed and go for a run.

Especially in my neighborhood...

Thankfully my college is right down the street and their gym opens at 6am for all those crazies who like to get their workout in before the crack of dawn. Like me.

Anywho. I don't know if it's just me but doesn't it seem like it's easier to run on a treadmill versus the track???

Since I've made the transition to the gym I've been able to get up to a mile and a half! That may not seem like much to you, but to me it's huge!!! I've NEVER in my life run more than a mile...

And when I was forced to run the mile it was in middle school and part of the time my friends and I'd walk... We were too cool to run, for reals.

So that three mile goal seems a little closer now.

Yay me.

So, I've decided to run a 5k marathon... I hate running and it was a widely accepted belief that the only way someone could get me to run is if I was being chased by a murderer, rapist, psycho, etc.

Anyway, I've decided that just for the sake of seeing how far I can push myself and how much sheer determination I have that I'm going to start training. My new workout regime goes as follows... Mondays and Fridays I have off, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays I run, first few weeks I'll be running for three to four minutes and walking one and repeating this for a mile and a half. Wednesdays and Sundays cardio in the gym...

My marathon is in February so I have plenty of time to get into shape right? Haha... I guess we'll see!