Wait for me!
I just finished reading The Nonrunner’s Marthon Guide for Women by Dawn Dais. I read a description of it a few years ago in Women’s Health Magazine and thought, “That sounds like a good book, but I’ll never run a marathon! Ha!”
Yeah – I never thought I would run more than a 5K.
Anyway, when we decided to run a half marathon, I remembered the book and ordered a copy, anxiously awaiting its arrival…
Unfortunately, the book wasn’t all I had made it up to be in my mind*. The book was set up well – organized into chapters on training, accessories, the mentality of running, etc. It just didn’t have the full technical background I was hoping for. Dais was very clever and witty with her writing – the book is filled with jokes that made me laugh. And I loved the journal entries from the author’s marathon training – I could actually read a whole book of her journal entries!
But in the end, it was just a light read that gave me a few helpful pointers, but didn’t cover everything I was hoping it would. And that’s okay. I shouldn’t have expected it to!
Any recommendations for other books?
Training Update: I will complete my first FULL WEEK of half marathon training today. That means my schedule has been so off-wack since since the beginning of December that I only now can do a full week of training. And I am behind.
I am about to complete Week 4 of training. Steven is about to complete Week 6 or 7! He chose to stay up late and run during December and the beginning of January, while I chose to sleep, or eat too much food then not feel like running.
I am not only behind in weeks though, I am behind on speed. I had to slow down my speed big time, to accommodate the weeks of not training so much, and uh, the few extra pounds I put on during the holidays. Right now, all of these 4-miles runs are killing me. And I get a 5-miler on Thursday. Yay…
I know the extra weight will come off and I will get back to my normal speed soon. I am just worried that Steven will be so far ahead of me that we won’t be able to stick together during the half marathon. I don’t think he is going to want to slow down for me. And I don’t want him to have to… but I don’t want to run the whole damn thing by myself!
*I have to remember to approach things (books, movies, games, etc. – NOT PEOPLE) with lowered expectations. If you approach something with too high of expectations, it never lives up to your standards. I’ve become much better about doing this with movies, but apparently not with books.
Themocracy
I often feel the same way about books, movies, etc. I would much rather not have any input on how good a movie is or read any reviews before I see the movie. I feel like I get too high (or too low) expectations and it makes it hard to come up with my own opinion! Miss you sister! 🙂 Let me know when you’re done buying the house next door for Kyle and me and we’ll start moving in! 😉
Ummmm… let’s see. I found John Bingham’s book to be both funny and full of information. Jeff Galloway’s series is also pretty good.
Honestly, I love Runners World Magazine. Great ideas for races. Lots of running advice and stuff…
Christina – I hate it when a movie comes out that I want to see and it is already being bashed by tons of people. Everyone has different opinions! It is hard to go see it though, after hearing all that… Often, when a movie is so hyped up, we just wait and rent it. But then it totally loses the movie theater magic. Like Juno. I know you liked it, but we just couldn’t get into it. Oh well! That’s okay 🙂 I will ask Steven to get back to you on the house 😉
Nat – I ANXIOUSLY AWAIT my Runner’s World each month and am NEVER disappointed! Of course, they talk a lot about marathons, which I am not doing, but I know it still applies to me! I will have to check out Bingham and Galloway. Thanks!
I have no advice for books for you, but kudos to you for running and keeping up with it! I was raised in a house where exercise was just playing outside. Now that it’s winter and the inside blues have me hostage, I bought a trampoline and have been doing 5min exercises on it a few times a day. Surprisingly, I’ve actually been keeping up with it…for now! You do such a good job 🙂
totally random- i love the new pic at the top!!!! you always post such good pics!!!
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i’m trying to do the same thing with books and movies- approach with lower expectations… that kinda makes me sad that it has to be like that though… lately i’ve re-discovered the library and have been checking books out like mad… i used to buy books all the time but it’s really hard for me to re-read a book over and over so unless it’s one i really love i just borrow them… and i don’t know what my problem is with movies lately… if it’s over about an hour and a half i am antsy and bored… A.D.D. maybe?!?!
i have no doubt that you’ll be fine with your marathon training!!!! you’ll get where you need to be- no problem!!! i know you can do it!!!
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Bethany – I spent a lot of time outdoors and played a few outdoors sports when I was a kid as well. It’s hard during the winters. Besides not being able to go outside, the cold weather makes you feel tired and lazy! Good for you for finding something fun to do inside! And thanks for the encouragment 🙂
CourtneyInControl – Thanks about the header. I was getting a bit tired of the bananas! I have been TRYING to use our library, but the selection is so small! And whenever I do an interlibrary loan, it never comes. BUT – I am doing the same thing as you – checking out books instead of buying them (except this one of course, because I thought it would be good!). And I can NEVER sit down for a movie at home anymore! I always have my laptop out. It probably drives Steven crazy because I constantly ask him what is going on 😉
Sorry that the book wasn’t as good as you had hoped. I wish I had recommendations for you but I think maybe you need something a little more serious because that one was kind of light. I think you are serious about running and doing your personal best so maybe it would be good to try having the mindset you think a runner would have. You ARE a runner, after all, not a Non-runner. 😉
Hm, I like what Teeni has to say!
If you ever ran track, I think that automatically makes you a runner. Now as for me… 😉
dude, 4 miles still sounds crazy insane to me. you’re most definitely a runner 🙂
teeni – I was thinking that – “er, well… I guess since I’m a runner the book may not be for me?” 😉 Duh, Kim. Duh.
diane – Ha. I only ran track in junior high. Does that count? 😛
Alice – Thanks. After I wrote this, I thought, 4 miles must be pretty good… right? 🙂