Expanding my Capalaries (Kelsey)

Well, since we last spoke, I have run two miles twice. I ran on Wednesday with my friend. It actually totaled closer to 1.8 miles, and we walked a fair amount of it. Tonight (Friday) I ran a full 2 miles, and walked probably about 0.15 of it (It was only supposed to be 0.1, but a certain cat call elongated it).

Wednesday's run wasn't too bad, especially cuz we took it pretty easy, but I had this problem that I have from time to time where my legs, especially my thighs and leg-pits (knee-pits? I dunno, we'll go with leg-pits for lack of a better term) get really itchy. I couldn't really figure out why they itched. As far as I knew, I wasn't allergic to the world or air-intolerant or anything, but they itched really bad. I looked it up online later, and it is a condition that is known as "runner's rash," (though there's a bunch of different runner's rashes). It turns out that this particular rash results from me sitting on my couch too much recently and my capillaries closing up a bit. So when I ran and blood was rushing back through them, it apparently sends itchy signals through my nerves and results in a rash. You learn something every day. I guess it is high time for me to loosen up those capillaries!

Today's run wasn't too bad. I didn't listen to music because I haven't figured out a good way to attach my iPod to myself, so I got a little bored. I don't have many interesting things to report, except that I'm fairly certain a red winged blackbird tried to attack me on the ponds. It sure flew pretty close to my head, and it was flapping a lot in a way that I perceived to be quite angry. Little known fact... I hate birds. This did not help to ease my hatred. The only physical issue I had was that I started to get shin splints. I have this problem a lot. Some people get shin splints from working too hard or something. I get them because I inherited my dad's super flat feet. I have virtually no arch which results in little give or protection for my dear shin muscles. I have some inserts in my basketball shoes, but my basketball shoes are in an unknown location, like many of my other possessions, thanks to moving out of college and moving back home. Hopefully they will show themselves soon, because shin splints are no joke. 

In other news, the cat-call tally totals 2 now. (Doesn't that sound like it should have come out of a Dr.Seuss book? Yay alliteration!) I wasn't planning on keeping this tally, but I'm two for two so far, so why not? Though it may be embarrassing if the grand total at the end is still 2. Nevertheless, my friend and I got "holla'd" at on Wednesday cuz we were running in the hood, and my friend is drop dead gorgeous. But I must admit, I was not anticipating this trend to continue in Suburbia. Yet it did. We shall see if it continues

Before my run, I went to a secondhand store to scour for some legitimate running shorts. You know, the ones that are kinda short that track people wear but I never did because you looked like a doofus or a skank if you showed up at basketball or soccer practice with them on? Well I want some now, especially for those extra hot days. I did not find any track shorts, but I did find 5 novels, a skirt, a cute tank top, and a documentary on Ella Fitzgerald. Good finds, but unfortunately not helpful for my training endeavor. I will continue my search tomorrow.

I took my official "before" measurements today, and some "before" pictures as well. But unfortunately for all of you, I will not be posting any of this just yet. I will, however, let you know of the progress as hopefully some inches disappear, some pounds dissolve, and some good after pictures are feasible. And maybe at the end, I will post all these measurements when they don't reflect the present. I suppose I may not lose weight but may actually gain a little, since muscle weighs more than fat and all, but mostly what I am looking for is an increase in tone and some loss in inches. What a grand adventure this will be.

Well, I suppose that is all I have to share today :) happy running.