Now I'm running triathlons, just in case you're curious

I crack myself up sometimes.

I started a new job a few weeks ago, and I met a super cool girl/woman/lady (at our age (mid to late thirties and possibly forties), what are we supposed to call other females?) there who happens to do triathlons. Now, granted, she's single and doesn't have kids so I suppose triathlons are right up her alley, but hearing that still made me feel like a slovenly pig. Oh, and I watched The Biggest Loser for the first time in my life, the premier episode for this season where Jillian yelled at a bunch of people, a girl went to the hospital and a bunch of folks who weigh 400 lbs. ran two miles. So I vowed while I was in training to learn to run.

Yes, that's right. I feel like running just isn't in my DNA. I get winded super easily. I feel chest pains. I feel like my Lord is drawing near and this is usually just running to catch a cab (when I'm in a metropolitan city) or my plane or a donut.

My brother (shared genetics, people) was an officer in the Marines, so he made it through Basic Training and OCS and ran a lot. Still, for me? Not a runner.

I talked to Christine about it while we were in training, and she gave me some tips. She said to start slowly, and she literally meant slowly. Like, don't run fast at all. And she said if I'm used to walking two miles, to go that same course but run one block, walk three, run one, etc.

So this weekend (a full two weeks after she told me all this, by the way) I finally tried it. I put Griffin into the jogging stroller, plugged my iTouch's earbuds into my head, and set out on a fast walk. I had the requisite expensive Nike shoes on, and some new exercise pants I bought at Walmart. So I was all set for success.

Two and a half miles later, we yogged (that's what we like to call jogging around here) into our driveway. As it turned out, I was able to jog the downhills and most straightaways, and I walked the uphills. Webster is a very hilly place when you're on your feet, pushing a 30-lb. child in a 20-lb. stroller. Probably second only to Colorado or something.

Then, can you believe this?, later on that same day we hitched the trailer to my husband's bike and we rode our bikes up to our local ice cream shop! I mean, if I add the time in I spent splashing around in the shower, I think it qualifies as my first triathlon.

I've been trying to keep up this newly found exercise regimen. I got horrible shin splints the day after my first run - oh, yeah, I should add that I didn't stretch before or after running, so that was genius - so that day I only took Griffin for a walk, but then today we rode our bikes to downtown Webster again for dinner. Two miles there and back!

All uphill, too.

In a blinding snowstorm.

Barefoot.

Well, it's a start.

- H