Today was my first day of training!

I had to be up at 6:20 a.m. to make our 8:00 a.m. start time, which meant no going out last night.  (  Luckily my friend and I arrived to the west end of Golden Gate Park early enough to stand around for a bit scoping the guys who would be running with us. Relatively slim pickings.  We put ourselves in a pace groups based on how long we thought it would take us to run a mile (I chose 12 minutes) and we were released in 30-second increments.

We ran three miles. I’m not sure that I’ve ever ran three miles, but if I have it’s been years. It wasn’t bad at all. I met a nice girl from Iowa in my group, and I ran with her so that I could judge whether I was going slow enough to utter a six-word sentence (I was, though I didn’t walk at all). My time was 30 minutes and 10 seconds. I noticed that I was able to pass some people at the end who were walking, and this sustainability made me confident I was running at an appropriate pace. This time means I’m in the seventh slowest pace group (out of 18). I’m happy with this placement. Unfortunately, this was a mere 10 seconds too long to get into my friend’s pace group, but it will good to meet other people.

I was cold at the beginning of the run because I only wore a short-sleeved shirt and shorts, but my ugly new running shoes didn’t bother me at all and I was only wheezing a little at the end (you probably know that I have asthma – I was worried it would be an issue in running a marathon).

A cute guy passed me going the opposite way on the run (the course today required turning around), meaning he was ahead of me, but he’s actually in my pace group! How awesome is that! This means I’m going to have to buy a new shirt (at least) for next week.

I know some of you will appreciate this story. After we finished they told us our pace groups and we walked over to sign in. Our coach was Kathy Switzer, but she never showed up! It’s just my luck that I have the slacker coach, I thought. Someone else wondered aloud where she was, and I was like, “Pshaw, I guess she’s too important to come to the first day of training.” Eventually someone came over to explain that the groups are named after famous runners who will not be attending our trainings. Riiiigggghhhht. Moll’s Coffee House, anyone?

Apparently Kathy Switzer was the first woman to run the Boston Marathon in 1967 after registering as K.V. Switzer (they tried to kick her out when they learned her gender). What a cool woman to name a training group after, and I’m proud to be in it!

My first day of training was a positive experience, and I’m proud that I not only showed up but made it through the run.  I ate breakfast with my friend in the part after the run, and then spent a beautiful day in Dolores Park.  In other words, I did little else today.  However, I’m exhausted right now.  I can’t believe it.  I feel so physically tired – and it was only three miles that I ran!  I had to say no to going to a movie, and I’m not going to text another friend about going out tonight.  I think the biggest sacrifice is going to be how the training affects my social life.  I have to remind myself that it will be worth it in the end!

Food eaten: A bowl of cereal, a banana, pancakes with fresh fruit, chicken apple sausage, orange juice, a carnitas burrito and chips, and a small pizza. Wow.