My second article was published over the weekend on CultureMap. Please check it out. It’s called “The Aha Moment.” I will be contributing articles every other week, so keep checking back for more!

Labor Day at the Beach!

I spent my holiday weekend in Destin, Florida. I was here already once this summer, and now I’m back again with different people.

Beautiful beaches, hot weather, great restaurants, relaxing!

Running: Trail vs. Marci

There is a great running trail that goes on for miles and miles. On Friday, I tried out my borrowed Garmin aiming for a 4 mile out and back starting at 7:15 a.m.

Let me tell you why this was one of the worst runs I’ve ever attempted:

-It was already hot, no breeze

-I forgot my iPod in Houston and borrowed one, not my music, but anything was better than nothing.

-I taped my right shin like I usually do, and it started coming off by .5 miles, so I had to stop, take off my shoe and sock and throw it away. I was already too sweaty when I put the tape on.

-There was sweat in my eyes, I had no hat or sunglasses to stop it.

-I slept 4 hours the night before.

-I was new to the Garmin and lost the signal once.

I ended up completing 4.2 miles, but I walked the last 1. I had never been so sweaty and hot and it was a miserable run. I had a piece of toast with peanut butter and jelly and a peach after I came back. Pardon the iphone photo, I was too hungry to find my camera! And I ate part of the peach before I took the picture.

Here were my thoughts as I was running:

-Why am  so slow? My legs feel ok! Ouch! Salt in the eyes, I need to start wearing a hat. I need a new hobby. How will I ever run 13.1 if 4 is too hard today? Why am I so slow? My legs feel ok!

The trail clearly beat me down at this run.

Now let me tell you about two days later!

I went out at about the same time, with no distance in mind and I hadn’t even decided if I would walk or run. I wore a hat, had my Garmin again, didn’t even try taping my leg, used better earphones on the borrowed ipod, and had a light breeze on my side.

I took off running very slow, far slower than the treadmill. I did the same 4 miles out and back, and then I kept going! I ended up completing 5 miles in a very long amount of time but I ran errr jogged the whole thing.

Thoughts while I ran:

–This is kind of enjoyable. Beach on one side, lots of people outside exercising, this is nice. Why am I so slow? My legs feel ok! If I can run in heat, I can run when the weather is nicer, right?

I clearly beat the trail this time! I came home from this run and had a bowl of Oikos Vanilla with a banana, Fiber One, and Uncle Sam’s cereal. And munched on a half bagel before I left plus coffee.

I am really happy with how my legs are behaving outdoors. I know I can run further than 5 miles, but I have been inside for so long, that I am starting with low mileage outside. And I am hoping for cooler mornings soon since it’s almost Fall. Also, the hat saved my run. It was night/day from the other, and very necessary.

Here are some more pictures from the weekend: Cartwheels on the beach, breakfasts, lunch wrap, dinner salad, and pretty scenery.