When I grow up I want to be Harriet

I meant to post three weeks back when I completed my first 5K ever over here in my back yard on Southshore in Alameda. It was a small little event to raise funds for Alameda elementary school sports programs, the weather was gorgeous and it was time for me to take my C25K training to the task by running someplace other than on the treadmill at Mariner Square Athletic Club. Mind you, I have done 5Ks, 6 miles (Portland), Bay to Breakers, 10 milers (Big Sur), and even a marathon (Anchorage with TNT) but all as a walker with a *tiny* bit of running thrown in.

The truth is that I've never felt I had running in me until recently. I flirted with it, on a treadmill, a couple of years ago but gave it up as I started to work crazy insane hours. The other truth is that before I quit the gym to honor crazy insane hours I have to acknowledge that my time at the gym probably enabled the energy to work so much to begin with. Ah, live and learn.

My first 5K as a runner meant a lot to me and after meeting a couple of very nice women involved with the Mermaid Series Triathalons I had seriously considered the Mermaid Series Duathalon in September. Yes, I can run four miles and yes, I can definitely bike 11 miles, uphill even.

And this is where Harriet comes in. I watched her finish Kona Ironman this year and shed a tear of joy watching a 74 year old woman cross the finish line before the cut off time. (And trust me, having the patience to watch Ironman on a computer is also an endurance test ;-) Thanks to Athleta, the money pit that tends to swallow a few of my hard-earned bucks more often than not, for giving us young whipper snappers more insight into Harriet Anderson. Because now I have a counter to everyone that politely suggests I am too old to start jogging aspirations, and I now have a beautiful grey-haired babe to inspire me to keep going. I will definitely think of her as I walk up the 11% grade that is Hayes Street during Bay to Breakers on Sunday.

The conclusion of this post is that Harriet has inspired me to officially sign up for the Mermaid Series Duathalon event in Santa Cruz after all. Thank you thank you Harriet. And here's to my 72 year old mother for a speedy recovery after knee surgery... you can do it!

Joggy Coach is my co-pilot

I did what almost any normal person would do after completing a C25K program using their iPhone, especially a person such as myself with an obsession with purchasing iPhone apps—I bought a new jogging app. And then I decided that it was a good idea to enter a 5K, too.

One of the problems with working as a User Interface Designer for a living is that I'm rather picky with typography and sadly there is an overabundance of jogging-related iPhone apps with bad typography which is why Joggy Coach managed to make the cut. I'm actually able to read the text and find the video game look of this app appealing and fun. Once I was able to figure how to use it (oh, a learning curve) the app couldn't be easier. It maps my route, informs me of pace and progress, lets me listen to my playlist, and keeps track of my outings. I like it!

It's still not my beloved FeltTip C25K but I'm pleased just the same.

But even more pleasing was actually running the 5K without having to slow for a walk or feeling like I would keel over after completing the run. Today's run was almost as rewarding as walking the Anchorage Mayor's Midnight Sun Marathon with TNT in 2001, achievement-wise.

I can't wait to take Joggy Coach to Bay to Breakers on May 16. Woohoo!