Hooray for Me!

Now you must all pat me on the back and tell me how marvelous I am, because I actually managed to jog nearly the whole way around the Rose Bowl this morning! And that was without dying, which I feared might happen. I am so pleased.

I am also proud of the fact that this was the third time I made it out there this week, to walk/jog the three-mile circuit, so that means I have done nine miles in three days. Not bad for someone whose version of "exercise" as often as not consists of lying in the sun and working hard on her tan. (Hey, if exercise is defined by sweat, sunbathing is exercise, ok?)

My renewed motivation to get back in shape came on as a result of the fact that I signed up for a half-marathon in October. I mentioned this before, and then I promptly forgot all about it. On purpose, I suspect. I think I had a vague idea that I would handle the half-marathon the same way I handled every single one of my college term papers...fritter away the time with trivial pursuits until the night before the paper was due, then stay up all night writing, drinking bad coffee, and swearing that NEXT TIME would be different and I would have my paper done before it was even ASSIGNED.

But the body is a little different than the mind, not quite as elastic or forgiving, especially when you get to be nearly ancient, like me. So last-minute attempts to run/walk 13 miles probably won't work too well, especially in San Francisco, which is where the race will be held. Therefore, it looks like I'll actually have to do some advance training, maybe even (gasp!) change some eating habits. Just don't ask me to give up chocolate, please. There are only so many sacrifices I can make.