Train.Complain.Run

Still Kicking

2012-11-17T09:19:00.000-08:00

I had thought my brief stint at blogging was over. With moving to a new city, traveling for a billion weddings all summer and learning a new job, the blog too a backseat to pretty much everything in my life--including house cleaning. So when I found myself with a Saturday with NO PLANS (woot!), I thought I might as well post.

Sadly, I haven't done a race since May. I began training for a half, but ended up derailed because of life (read: 6 weddings this summer and all of their related events that were all out of town). So a half remains my next race--hopefully the Shamrock Half in Va. Beach or the Rock N Roll in DC, which are both in March.

I am also considering getting a running coach. Now I know I will never be setting the world on fire with my running, but I'd like to be the best runner I can be within my ability level. That best might be someone else's worst, but I'm OK with that. After reading a few other bloggers, they all have seen a miraculous improvement with a coach. I saw an improvement this year just by joining a running club, so I hope this takes me to another level.

Anyone have any experience with coaches--the good, bad, ugly?

Capitol Hill Classic Race Recap

2012-05-20T13:20:00.000-07:00

Eek, it's been awhile since I've written about running. Today I ran the Capitol Hill Classic 10-K in Washington, D.C. with my running group, and I learned three very important lessons in running:

1. Training with a group makes racing and training MUCH more enjoyable. I was new to D.C., so I joined the group in March and made some great friends who don't mind me obsessing about negative splits and finding the right running socks. It's nice to look around at points in a race where you want to die and see a familiar face slogging it out with you. Plus when I wanted to walk, one of the coaches wasn't having it and came to get me. He got me through the last 1.5 miles.

2. You CAN get faster. I thought I never would. I just thought I was slow and that was that, but looking at last summer/fall when I was running 11-minute miles (10:30 when I was lucky) to 9:20 miles is a feat I never thought would happen.

3. If you fold the top of your water cup during the race it's possible to run and drink.

Here's the recap:
I set a goal when I first joined the group of finishing the race in an hour. My first and only other 10-K race was in 2010, and I ran like an hour and 15 minutes--BAD. I was feeling more confident this time around, especially because my running group raced the route via sidewalks last week, so I knew the course and knew I could finish. I managed about 1:01 last week, so the under-hour mark was in sight.

On race morning, my husband, who I signed up for the run last week, and I made our way to the park to meet with my running crew. We did some stretches and then headed to the start. One coach, dubbed "Big Guy" shuffled us up closer to the start line saying, "We need to get out ahead of the plodders." I was thinking, "Umm, I might be one of those plodders, but OK." He then told us we'd run pretty even 9:30 miles, and we'd be fine.

But once we cross the start line, that was not what we ran. We did the first mile in 9:22, the second in 9:20 and the third in 9:13 and the fourth in 8:55. By the close of mile 4, I was dying. My throat felt chalky, I was running up a hill and the finish still seemed far away. I looked left and I saw people heading in the opposite direction and thought I must be nearing a turnaround. I keep on going and realize the course ahead seems endless. Where is this effing turnaround is all I can think. Then I started counting to 100 to distract myself from wanting to stop. The curb was looking mighty appealing from my vantage. But Big Guy saw my struggles, came to get me and motivated me the rest of the way.

So as you can imagine mile 5 was slower--10:08. So much for negative splits. Mile 6 was 9:24. I was trying to dig down deep to finish fast, but it was like my legs were done listening to me. I managed to get up to 8:14 for the last .2. Aannndddd goal accomplished! 59:09 time! A PR as well! Hmm, speaking of PRs, can I count this as a 5-K PR too?

Oh, and that turnaround I kept looking for in mile 5 wasn't a turnaround--it was people about a mile behind me just heading into that part of the race. Since I was generally a back-of-the-pack runner and not a midpack one, no wonder my brain couldn't process it.

Definitely gearing up for my second half-marathon this fall. Does anyone else say things to themselves while running a tough race like "I'm never running again," but minutes after the race is over you suddenly find yourself talking about what race is next?

First D.C. Run

2012-03-01T18:06:00.000-08:00

After many days of packing, moving and slowly unpacking boxes, I set out for a run in my new city. It was 68 degrees, sunny and I wasn't at work, so basically a perfect day. I only did 2 miles because I had many boxes to get back to unpacking, but it was wonderful! I did a city run and not through Rock Creek Park as I originally planned so I could try to get my bearings for navigating the area.

I also wanted to see where I would be meeting the running group I joined on Saturday morning to train for a 10k on May 20. Should be doing a half, but this group training was starting my first Saturday in D.C. so I just went for it. This is my first time training for a run with a group and I'm excited to meet new runners and to hopefully improve my speed.

Contemplating Some Changes

2012-02-16T11:36:00.000-08:00

Since change is on my brain with moving to a new city, I have been thinking about other changes I want to make. One of them is including more cross-training in my workouts. Last night, I just couldn’t convince myself to get on the treadmill, so I rode a bike instead for an hour and set it on hills. I kinda liked it, and I do own an actual bicycle, so it’s my goal to really bike some miles when the weather turns. Rock Creek Park is supposed to be some kind of amazing, so I hope to be running and riding over the trails next month!

The second change is one I’ve thought about for years but never done much about. I think I want to go vegetarian. Not only because I love animals and don’t like the way many are treated but also because I think it will be healthier. I don’t eat a ton of meat to begin with, but much like I wouldn’t go run a half marathon with no training, I’m not going to dive into cutting out meat all at once. I’m going to start by slicing out red meat, which I eat maybe one or two times a month at most anyway and only eat chicken once or twice a week. Once I’ve said goodbye to red meat and chicken totally, then comes the seafood. So it will be a process, but one I think will be a good choice.

If anyone knows of any good vegetarian recipes or cycling training, let me know! Or if you live in D.C. and want to be my new friend, I’m looking for those too!

Making Running a Priority

2012-02-13T09:06:00.001-08:00

Running always seems to take a backseat when something else is going on in my life. Last week, I was sick and didn’t set one foot on a treadmill or trail. My last run was Feb. 3. Today, I am back at the treadmill after work, hoping and praying my week off doesn’t mean any ground I gained with speed has already diminished.

I’m also preparing to move to Washington, D.C. My husband tells me I will find so many people to run with there. I hope this is true because I need a very specific running partner—a slow one. So while the next few weeks are doing to be insane with moving and starting a new job, I am going to try to get out and run 4 days a week. I hope that putting it in writing will make me more likely to do it!

Adventures in Cross-Training

2012-01-09T06:33:00.000-08:00

I know cross-training is a good idea. I read about it, hear about it on podcasts and see my own friends doing it, yet I rarely do any myself. One of the biggest reasons I got into running was because you only had to do one activity. I’m not a switch-machines-at-the-gym-for-two-hours kinda girl. I hate working out inside. I’d rather be shivering outside on a trail running than sweating my butt off on the treadmill watching whatever annoying program the person next to me picked out.

However, I have two issues that I need to work on that I think will need cross-training to be resolved.

1.) I overpronate. I don’t know how to fix this other than by trying some strengthening exercises.

2.) I want to be faster.

So I’m not going to get crazy with the cross-training. We’re talking one day a week of cycling and another day of the week where I will do strengthening moves.

Anyone find cross-training hugely helped them? What kind of exercise do you do when you’re not running?

2012 Running Goals at a Glance

2012-01-02T07:09:00.000-08:00

With the new year, everyone's resolutions are kicking into high gear. I am channeling my own resolution energy to make a plan for my running this year. I think my first half marathon will be in May and it will be the New Jersey one in Long Branch.

Since I have one race under my belt, I'm actually going to set a time goal for this one (TBD). I'm debating shelling out $14.95 for one of Hal Higdon's plans. Has anyone done this and found it worth it? I know it's a minimal investment, but I'm more interested in if you felt getting the daily emails and detailed workout plans helped you more than the free version you can grab online.

Happy 2012 running!

20 for 20!

2011-12-21T11:03:00.000-08:00

Who thought I would run 20 days straight? It hasn't been easy. Many, many days I had no desire to face the treadmill or bundle up to go outside, but once I dragged myself there I was able to follow through. Only 11 more days to go!

December Running Challenge by Tall Mom

2011-12-01T13:49:00.000-08:00

Tall Mom saved my fitness routine today. I was sitting at my desk, realizing it was 4:30 and that even though I had packed my running gear to hit the gym after work, I really just wanted to go home, sit on the couch and watch Pretty Little Liars on Hulu. (You're right--my life is extremely interesting.)

BUT, then I read Mel's post about a December running challenge to run every day this month. You only need to do at least a mile each day. I knew this is exactly what I needed. So I will be hitting the gym in the next 30 minutes so I'm not shamed into quitting on the first day (hmm, really the first hour) of signing up for the challenge.

You can do it too: http://www.tallmomontherun.com/2011/12/winner-and-december.html

Thank you, Mel!

Tale of a 5K PR

2011-11-18T09:50:00.000-08:00

You know how when you decide to start a blog and you are amped to write every day, but then every day becomes every week and before you know it you're updating your blog twice a year and always apologizing for it? Yeah, that's me, minus the apology. I've been told women apologize too often, so in that spirit, on with the blog.

Like most slow runners, I have dreams of being fast like everyone else. I spent the past four weeks doing speedwork and tempo runs. And lo and behold, that stuff works. I haven't run an actual 5K race since 2009 (In 2010 I focused on a 10K and in 2011 I did my first half), and that time was something around 34 minutes. In my defense, it was also 96 degrees that day and there was a hill that lasted about a 1/2 mile.

Anyway, so I do this speedwork for four weeks and last Sunday at the Giralda Farms 5k/10k, I finished in 31:26. I still am dying to break under 30, but I'll take what I can get.

I'm also deciding on my next race. Right now, I'm looking at the Shamrock Marathon in March in Va. Beach.

In the meantime, I am going to finish our 2011 still vying for that under 30-minute 5k.

Cheryl vs. Her First Half

2011-10-17T09:51:00.000-07:00

It’s been a month since I ran my first half-marathon, but I am finally writing the race recap. Hopefully my brain remembers all the sensations I felt during those 2+ hours.

Race Arrival

I’m really bad with arriving to races on time. I just don’t like standing around pretending to stretch and watch people doing strides. I just don’t do prep. When I go running, I walk outside my house and just go, so I follow the same motto at races. I showed up about 8 a.m. (start time was 8, but I knew I wasn’t going to cross the start line for about 30 minutes). Lots of standing around. I thought I would meet my new running BFF, but I didn’t speak to anyone until about mile 8.

Miles 1-7

So stupidly, when I was doing all my standing around to cross the start line, I had to pee, but I was hesitant to get out of my corral because what if they left without me? So I waited until mile 2 when I saw porta potties without much of a line. I knew I was losing minutes off my time, but it’s not like I was about to win any medals here.

I can’t even believe I am typing these words, but miles 1-7 flew by and miles don’t ever fly by for me. I remember and feel each one. But I was running along and just enjoying it. I also saw my husband twice and he had made a sign (aww!).

Still smiling at mile 5

Miles 8-11

Around mile 8, my left knee started to hurt. And then the right one followed. I was forced to take walk breaks and stretch breaks to try to get a little relief. The course also started to suck at this point because we’re winding along a river trail and since there is basically no parking, there are really no spectators to cheer you on until you get much closer to the finish line.

This is the moment when someone finally spoke to me. A woman turned my way and told me she wanted to die. Not feeling particularly inspired by her energy, I took out a GU and trudged ahead.

By around mile 10, I was just annoyed at my knees. But suddenly all the clouds in my brain cleared and I realized as the 11 mile marker was in sight that I only had 2 miles left. The end was near.

Miles 11-12

These really just sucked. I knew I was near the end, but the pain was rough. I also saw an ambulance coming to pick up another runner, which is always scary.

Less smiling is involved at this point.

Mile 13

I was never so pleased to see a finish line in my life. I hobbled my way across, took my medal, and sat down to enjoy Bret Michaels. (sidebar—does he have hair or is that a bandana attached to a wig?)

Final time: 2:46. Not what I wanted. I was hoping for 2:30. But I learned a few things. One, don’t trust your Garmin. Mine had me finishing miles before they were marked. However, this could be because I don’t run very consistently and veer all over the course, so maybe I added distance on myself.

Two, don’t doubt yourself. The week before the race I felt unprepared and wanted to drop out. I dragged myself there and ran 13 miles for the first time.

Didn't Die During the Half

2011-10-04T09:49:00.000-07:00

I really need to write a run-recap. I've been planning on it, but just haven't done it yet. But I did finish! Update to come!

Still Alive, but Maybe Only Til Sunday

2011-09-16T09:57:00.000-07:00

I don't think I've blogged in over a month. But hey, things got crazy--I got married, our huge work conference is coming up, and I have my first half-marathon on Sunday. I am EXTREMELY nervous about this race--I wanted to drop out last week and forget running. I haven't dropped out yet, but it's still in the back of my mind that 13 miles is no picnic and maybe I'm not really prepared to do this. I've done 12 miles, but I just don't feel ready.

At least Bret Michaels will be there. Don't try to tell me you didn't watch Rock of Love Bus.

So stay tuned. You'll either get a race recap next week or some excuse for why I didn't run the race at all.

Giving 10 Miles Another Go

2011-08-08T13:52:00.000-07:00

The one good thing about thoroughly sucking at something the first time you do it is that you are almost guaranteed to do better the second time around. This was the case with my second 10-miler I completed Sunday. I shaved 17 minutes off my time! (You can write awesome stats like that when your initial time is so bad.)

I'm not sure why this run was easier. Maybe because I varied my route a bit and ended up running through part of a SheRox Tri. Don't worry, I stayed on the path and didn't get in their way. It was kinda nice to be running through a crowd and to have other people running around me. And I got to enjoy some of their music.

Or maybe because I had already done 10 and knew I could do it. Or because I dragged myself out the door at 7:30 a.m. so there was less heat.

They say third time's a charm--I'll find out this coming Sunday when I run 10 miles for the third time!

10 Miles is Tough

2011-08-02T10:10:00.000-07:00

I can't even be original with this title--running 10 miles was hard. I had intentions to be out the door by 7 a.m. Sunday to beat the heat (it's pretty much 90+ every day, which I love, except when I have to run). That didn't exactly happen. I was out the door closer to 9, so it was already quite hot. I turned on This American Life on my ipod because I knew that a whole hour would be over by the time that podcast ended. Things were trucking along until about mile 6.5/7. I was tired. At mile 7, I took a Gatorade Prime. These are supposed to be for pre-workout, but whatever, I'm a rebel. These are funny little blocks. They taste pretty good, but they are covered in a communion-like wafer (I suppose for easy swallowing.).

I keep going and around mile 8, I spot my fiance coming from the other direction on the running path I was on. He had been hoping to catch up with me. I was really glad when he arrived because at mile 9, I wanted to quit more than anything. I was walking a lot and telling him I was done, I wasn't running ever again, that I was dropping out of my half in September and that he should go get the car and pick me up. But he pushed me to keep going and kept talking to keep me occupied. And eventually, I did complete 10 miles!

I have to do it again on Sunday, and hopefully each time it will be slightly less awful.

Best/Worst Idea Ever

2011-07-29T05:54:00.000-07:00

Yikes, I need to get back into blogging! I have been running though--just not writing about it. This weekend will be the first time I attempt to run 10 miles. I've done 9.25, but never more. Cross your fingers for me!

I also may have the best/worst idea ever. My first half is scheduled for Sept. 18. Over Labor Day weekend, I will be in Virginia Beach, where a half-marathon is taking place that Sunday. I already have to run 12 miles that day. Should I just register and run two halfs in a month?

The one thing (other than the running itself) that is holding me back from registration is the $110 price tag that comes with the Va. Beach half. Would it be really terrible of me to run rogue? Meaning, I wouldn't drink any of their water or take any GUs or anything--but I would run the race course. Will someone come kick me out if I attempt this? Am I being really cheap? Should I just map my own 12-miler and prep for the Philly half on Sept. 18 as planned?

So many questions and so few answers!

9 Miles Looming

2011-07-15T19:31:00.000-07:00

Usually I can save my long runs for Sundays and sleep in on Saturdays. This Sunday I will be in NYC for the day checking out Alexander McQueen's exhibition Savage Beauty (eeeeee!!!!), so my run gets bumped to Saturday. I'm a little nervous. My 5-miler on Thursday started out well for the first 3 miles. BUT, I had decided to give a protein powder a shot before the run. Worst.Idea.Ever. I won't get into details, but I had to walk the last two miles of it. I think the protein will be a post-run type of thing.

At least I know this run will most likely be better than the last!

More of the Same

2011-06-27T12:13:00.000-07:00

I have nothing exciting to report in my running. I've been doing it, my times are getting a little better each time and that's about it. I do have my first 8-miler of 2011 on tap for this weekend, which will probably end up being Monday because nothing says Happy Fourth like sweating your butt off on some hills in the 'Burgh. Also mostly because I am attending 2 weddings in 2 days, which won't leave me any time for runs.

Hope everyone's running is going well!

Running Machine

2011-06-20T12:40:00.000-07:00

Just after I told you last week that I was getting ready to renounce running as my preferred method of exercise, last week happened. Every run was good. Seriously, all four of them didn’t make me want to die, I enjoyed portions of them and I ran well! This never happens. It’s like running overheard me getting ready to cut it from my life and decided to rope me back in.

I can attribute this stellar week to two things:

Every run was a morning run. Waking up early is not my thing, but I hauled myself out of bed around 6 on the weekdays and at 8 for my weekend run. I could definitely feel a temperature difference, so I think that was helpful. Interestingly, I don’t eat when I run in the morning—I just go. So I would have thought my runs would have been poor since my energy levels were quite low, but I surprised myself.
I have stopped my warm-up walk. I would usually walk a few blocks/minutes to get warmed up. Now I just start running.

This week I continue with four runs, all of them are pretty easy, I guess because last week was tougher. But I saw the following week my first 8-miler of the training will be on tap. Kinda odd because at no point have I done 7 miles. A bunch of 6-ers and 5-ers, but now we’re just moving into 8. But I can blow worrying about that off for a little less than 2 weeks.

On a totally unrelated note, today is exactly 2 months until my wedding!

In Love

2011-06-15T10:00:00.000-07:00

I can’t decide if I can fully embrace morning runs. I had no choice but to wake up at 6:30 this morning to bang out a quick 3 miles before work. As I hauled myself out of bed and into running clothes, I counted the ways in which this run would suck.

BUT IT DIDN’T! The weather was cool and the sun was just starting to fully take over the sky and I ran the entire time. No easing in with a walk for a block or two. Just full-on running and no stops (except at a light where traffic was steadily moving). I thoroughly had a good time!

Ironically, just last night I was asking my fiancé (who is a marathoner) if he’s having an awesome time while he’s running. He told me at some point in the run he always likes it. Sometimes not until halfway through, sometimes not until it’s over. I told him that maybe running isn’t for me—that maybe I would run this half-marathon in September and then switch to a different workout—like dancing, yoga or even a go at P90X or Insanity. Something I like more. Then today happened and I am in love with running again!

I may indeed try Insanity or P90X at some point, but perhaps when life is a little less hectic.

My First Race Recap!

2011-06-12T18:04:00.000-07:00

For someone who has been trying to be a runner for quite some time, I don't race very often. So this will be my very first race recap!

My fiance and two friends ran the Warrior Dash in northern Pennsylvania on Saturday. It was one of the most fun things I have ever done!

Our wave of runners wasn't taking off until 12:30 p.m., so we took our time leaving Philly and stopped for McDonald's breakfast for the ride up (breakfast of champions? I actually ate fruit and a croissant from Whole Foods to make everyone else in the car feel guilty.) I was in one of my cutest outfits: a free shirt I received on spring break in 2003 that dubs me "official keg stand coordinator 69" and a pair of shorts circa 2002 with "Outer Banks" plastered across the butt.

We took our place at the start and some fire blasts signaled our start. The first mile was pretty uneventful. We ran through some mud and mostly just followed a trail. (Side note--I need to work at trail running. My vision feels off because I'm looking down but also ahead and I think it messes with my brain.) But then the mud got deeper and stickier. One of our friends lost his shoe and had to tug it out. A guy in the group behind us popped his ankle out of place and had to leave the course.

Then we hit a tunnel we had to crawl through in the dark. No biggie. The next obstacle freaked me out a bit. We had to walk across wooden beams that were angled up and down. I don't have an image of this, so I'll send you to another blog to check it out.

Next three obstacles were also not totally insane. We had to scale some hurdles and then slide under some others, crawl through a tube and make our way through a bunch of ropes strung like a giant spider web. The cool thing about this race was the sense of camaraderie. People were holding ropes for each other and just laughing and talking along the way.

We then made our way through waist-deep water, which was also surprisingly easy. But don't think I'm a stellar athlete yet. We then came to the great warrior wall. I couldn't do it. So I had to skip it. I didn't feel too bad because a good chunk of other people weren't making it either.

The next set of obstacles were my favorite part. We had a cargo net to scale. Some guy behind me was apparently a little too close because he was able to tell me he liked my underwear (it was pretty cute). Stupid Outer Banks shorts.

Once you drop down the other side of the net, the finish was in sight. Between me and the finish was a set of tires--I don't know what this is called, but it looks like those drills football players do where you hop through tires--and then scale a bunch of junked-up cars.

Following this was fire to jump over--super cool! Then a giant mud pit you bust through and then eventually crawl through because there is barbed wire over you. My knees are still thanking me for that one--there were a lot of stones under the mud, so my knees are cut and bruised (warrior wounds).

Then you slither out of the mud and run to the finish! I was kind of a jerk once we hit the cargo net and beyond because I just got excited and completely ditched my group and finished without them.

We then got hosed down by a firetruck and openly stripped down in a field. It was that kinda weekend.
I officially retired as the keg stand coordinator (I was not taking that beat on shirt home, and those shorts, they can't even hide my underwear, so they also stayed at the dash.)

This is after we were hosed off:

Andrew and me. A couple who gets muddy together stays together.

The rest of our race crew.

After this, we promptly got the free beers we were promised and set out to see what northern Pa. has to offer. We found the World's Largest General Store, which was indeed huge and full of odd things. Like these ducklings to pet:

And a dinosaur in the middle of the furniture section:

We capped the night off by seeing X-Men at the drive-in. I love drive-ins even though you have to worry about draining your car's battery, usually drop popcorn all over your car and end up kinda crammed into a weird position.

Not a Morning Person (or Runner)

2011-06-07T10:02:00.000-07:00

I had high hopes last night of getting to bed early so I could wake up at 6 and do a 5-miler while it wasn't hot out. Well, the alarm went off, and I instantly thought, "This is stupid," and then I slept until 7ish. Now with the weather heating up (86 degrees or so) I am dreading this run after work. I'm going to push it til about 6:45 so I can get a little heat relief. Thursday promises to be 95+ degrees, so hopefully that will be my motivation for that wake-up call.

How do you manage in the heat? Do your drag yourselves out of bed in the morning or sweat it out later in the day? My sister points out I could run inside, but more than 3 miles on the treadmill is endless to me. Plus my work gym is weird.

Am I a Warrior?

2011-06-02T09:54:00.000-07:00

I'll have the opportunity to find out if I am in just 9 days. A million years ago (or maybe January), my fiance signed us both up for Warrior Dash Pa. If you haven't heard of Warrior Dash, they do a series of runs all around the country. It's only a 3.5 mile run, but there are obstacles. Like fire to jump over, walls to scale, waist-deep water to wade through, etc.

After checking out some photos on Facebook, I wonder if I have bitten off more than I can chew.

Feeling Hot Hot Hot (and Annoyed)

2011-05-25T06:29:00.000-07:00

Man, my running route last night was less than desirable. The pros were that I had a wide sidewalk and not many stoplights to slow me down. The cons were much more plentiful. At one point there was construction on both sides of the street, so I was running down the street between moving vehicles and parked vehicles and then an older woman decided she needed to suddenly cross the street and stroll right into my path. Thanks lady, that's just what I was hoping you'd do.

I continued running and then got to 2 blocks of just trash. I need to bring my camera on a run sometime just to take pictures of all the random junk on the ground--huge empty bottles of vodka, random pedals from bicycles, some rubber cords and then your typical trash. Gross. City-living and running at its finest in Philly.

It was also really hot last night, and I am still adjusting to running in heat so I was probably angrier than usual at little things that get in my way while running, but I wanted to scream when this couple ahead of me proceeded to take up the entire sidewalk. Luckily, since they were slow, my pace slowed and good ol' Garmin chimed at me to speed up. This chime scared the crap out of these people, and while they were stunned by technology I used that opportunity to speed past them. But seriously people, I don't care if you're walking or running--share the sidewalk. You don't need the whole thing. Trust me.

Dancing Is a Form of Cross-Training

2011-05-23T12:31:00.000-07:00

Well, maybe dancing isn't quite cross-training, but let's pretend so I can feel extra athletic this week. Now actual dance classes where you sweat it out to some intense moves is indeed legit exercise, but the dance I speak of is ballroom. My fiance and I took our first wedding dance lesson last week and we have two on tap for this week. I truly have no idea how to dance with another person. I can manage on my own, but put someone else's hands in mine and I'm lost.

So in an effort to have our wedding not feel like a middle school dance (anyone else do the 7th grade sway--hands barely touching partner and rocking back and forth?), we are learning the rumba, hustle, swing and something I forget. And we have finally chosen our first dance song!

Tonight I've got to hit a dance lesson at 5:30 and then run 4 miles since my trip to Atlanta this weekend really threw off my running schedule.