Bloody nipples, farmer blows, and other things I learned while training.

Training is over.

My half marathon goal was hatched among two groups of friends with a gin ‘n tonic in hand, and not much thought.  My commitment to most things is unwavering, so once the deed was done, I needed to come up with a plan.  The plan included ceasing to drink alcohol, joining Jenny Craig (again), and signing up for an Active.com half marathon plan.

Three and half months later, I’m a different person.  I’ve lost more than fifty pounds, can run more than ten miles, and still wonder why I decided to stop drinking alcohol.  Looking back on what I’ve accomplished, I’m not surprised, but I’m definitely proud of my achievement.  I don’t begin what I can’t finish, and I never think I can’t do something.  That character flaw is what keeps me going when running in the blistering cold along the lake, trying to bend more than the male body is built, and attempting something my genes go against.

During one of my many runs, my chest started to have piercing pain in two central areas.  I’ve never been into masochism, but I imagined it would feel similar in nature.  I disrobed in the locker room to find that my nipples had developed scabs.  I was like a proud breast feeding mother looking down at my bloody nipples, and realized I had reached another running milestone.  I needed nipple coverage.

Farmer Blows (aka Bum Blows for the urban minded) are the secret that no runner with any salt will discuss in public.  So you’re running along the lake, it’s pitch black, and your sinuses have decided to stage a fire drill.  What do you do?  Blow your nose right?  Hold up, you don’t have tissue, and you can’t stop for a simple nose clearing.  Yep, you guessed it, you hold one sinus, close your mouth, and let it rip.  You hope no one sees you, you miss your clothing and shoes, and you don’t lose much time in this endeavor.  I won’t say I’ve done this, but like many a runner before me, I can see when it might be necessary.

It’s the food stupid.  I spent the better part of last year running my ass off.  I would run one or two 5Ks every month starting in May, and some days I would run and then ride (Chinatown 5K + Late Ride).  I think I lost twenty pounds the whole year, which returned with a vengeance during the holiday parties and late night clubbing.  The food and drink I was putting in my pie hole was sabotaging my secret goal of looking good.  I needed a change, and Jenny Craig provided a framework for me to accomplish my athletic goals.  Planning meals, packing food, carrying my lunch and sometimes dinner every day has really depressed me at some points.  If not for the results I was seeing every week, I think I would have given up.  Unfortunately, the results are in, and I know it was the right decision to modify my dangerous eating and drinking habits.

The training is over, but the goal still looms.  I haven’t run the half marathon yet, and I’m four days away from running my first ten mile race competitively.  The difference is I know I can do it.  Sure, I knew that before, but when pressed to actually do it, I know I can.  I’ve learned more about myself than running these past few months, and I know when race day comes, I’ll really see who I am.  I look forward to that day, and will be raising my number one finger when I cross the finish line.