I run like a girl.

I had a good run today. I am finally getting in a groove. And not hating every minute of it. I drug my roommate along, (drug her along, haha) and was actually able to not only keep up but also hold a conversation at a consistent pace. This is progress.
I hate to admit it to all of you (go ahead and say I told you so) but having actual running shoes really does make a difference. I have had them for only 3 days, but my past 3 runs have been significantly less painful than the first however many months of running. It makes it a little easier to get my bootie out the door when i know there is not going to be pain on the other end, so there you go, lesson learned: equipment does matter.
Speaking of equipment I am anxious to add one more piece to my running arsenal. I desperately desire the nike+ running system to outfit my ipod nano. (I know, whatever, i am at peace with the fact that I am an ipod whore now.) Seriously, the more I read about it, the cooler I think it is, and especially after Rebecca's positive review today, I very much want one. The only thing standing in the way of myself that that nike+ ipod amazingness is my unfortunate financial situation. I am trying to be responsible and not just buy something I can't afford just because I want it, and it would be fairly easy to justify as it is a moderately reasonable price of $29-ish. But, at least this week, the checkbook says no, so I am anxiously awaiting the day that it will say yes-- or, you know, Christmas when santa brings it. Whichever comes first.
My adorable boyfriend slash self-appointed running coach Zachary purchased this book for me to motivate and inform me about this ambitious goal I have set. I flipped through (oooh... lots of glossy pictures, lists, and charts! YES!), and read a portion of it while lazing around in bed on Saturday morning. It's a pretty good resource. So far my favorite part is in the very first chapter. In his discussion of goals the author suggests, if you are a first time marathoner, you should have just three goals, and they are as follows:
1) Finish in an upright position,
2) with a smile on your face,
3) wanting to do it again.
...I think that's pretty sound, so I'm sticking with that for now. Though it does somewhat ruin the plan Ashley and I had to swoon near the finish line and be carried across by a beefy and strikingly handsome paramedic... oh well, we'll save the dramatic flair for the second race. This one, I just want to make it across the line without puking-- because puke is not so cute on the new pink running shoes.