# My Very Cool Thing **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 30, 2002, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-very-cool-thing/121570 "2002-07-30T18:21:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Girl\_Next\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@Girl\_Next\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_Next_Door)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2002, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-very-cool-thing/121570/1 "2002-07-30T18:21:46Z")
I’m training to run the Seattle Half-Marathon! It’s a fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. They have a group called “Team-In-Training” and they teach folks how to train for endurance athletic events while raising money for research! Now this is a doubly amazing thing becuase I am not a runner. I’m barely a walker. I run like a cinderblock: slow, heavy, and with no momentum. But I’m already making a bit of progress so it’s cool. Anyway, wish me luck, and if you want you can check out my website about it. It’s in my sig. -Leslie ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_Next\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@Girl\_Next\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_Next_Door)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2002, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-very-cool-thing/121570/2 "2002-07-30T18:30:59Z")
:smack: Forgot to re-click the “show signature” box after previewing! Here’s the link: [www.theleslieshow.com/TNT.htm](http://www.theleslieshow.com/TNT.htm) and here’s my sig… ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2002, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-very-cool-thing/121570/3 "2002-07-30T18:34:58Z")
I’m properly impressed! I’m not a runner either, tho I used to have to run when I was in the Navy. Once or twice I briefly considered doing a 5K or 10K, then I sat down, had a snack, and got over it… 😃 Still, I wish you the best of luck - it’ll be good for you and good for those who benefit from the funds raised. Yay, you! ---
**Author:** ![CRorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CRorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CRorex)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2002, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-very-cool-thing/121570/4 "2002-07-30T20:11:02Z")
Good luck 🙂 I know a few people who’ll be in that with you ! ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2002, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-very-cool-thing/121570/5 "2002-07-30T20:45:04Z")
I won’t be one of them! I’ve done the seattle marathon and the half is the hard part - all of the hills, none of the nice, flat, even running. Good luck with the training. I’m sure that by December, you’ll be zipping along. ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_Next\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@Girl\_Next\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_Next_Door)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-very-cool-thing/121570/6 "2002-07-31T04:33:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by amarinth \* > \*\*I’ve done the seattle marathon and the half is the hard part - all of the hills, none of the nice, flat, even running. > \*\* ☹ ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-very-cool-thing/121570/7 "2002-07-31T07:54:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Girl Next Door \* > \*\* > > ☹ \*\* Just practice on hills every so often. You’ll be great. Enjoy the training runs. Relax when you can, and look around you (this is a gorgeous area in summer/fall, take in the scenery.) And on the day of the race, you won’t even notice - you’ll just dash to the end. (Oh, if you haven’t already, check your shoes - I used to feel like I ran like a cinderblock, then I found “my shoes”, and I still ran like I’d taped cinderblocks to my feet, but I _felt_ light and airy, makes a huge amount of difference.) ---
**Author:** ![Gazelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Gazelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gazelle)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-very-cool-thing/121570/8 "2002-07-31T12:30:00Z")
What **amarinth** said. If you are dedicated to the training, it won’t be tough. I did my first half-marathon in June and I can tell you that crossing the finish line is such a great feeling! You go, **Girl Next Door**! ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_Next\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@Girl\_Next\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_Next_Door)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-very-cool-thing/121570/9 "2002-07-31T19:56:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Canthearya \* > \*\* > > You go, **Girl Next Door**! \*\* Thanks, **Canthearya**! And everyone else, too. Hey! I already got an online donation from a Doper whom I’ve never “met”! That rocks! Have I told you all lately how attractive I find you? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-very-cool-thing/121570/10 "2002-07-31T22:26:53Z")
my very cool thing is I have taught myself to weld. I am now constructing “FrankenJeep 2010”. The project is rapidly getting out of control… ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-very-cool-thing/121570/11 "2002-07-31T22:27:55Z")
Good for you Girl, and good luck in the run! ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2002, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-very-cool-thing/121570/12 "2002-08-01T08:28:11Z")
Good for you! I’ve signed up to compete in a charity golf tournament on Monday, even though I’ve played golf exactly three times since I graduated high school in 1989. I fully expect to be humiliated, but heck, it’s for charity, right? ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2002, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-very-cool-thing/121570/13 "2002-08-01T08:29:43Z")
(I should add that of course playing a lazy 18 holes while tugging around a cooler of beer is not even remotely in the league of running a half-marathon. I’m impressed as hell; I used to run regularly, but never approached anything over a 10K. Good luck!) ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_Next\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@Girl\_Next\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_Next_Door)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2002, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-very-cool-thing/121570/14 "2002-08-04T18:03:03Z")
Oh my god! I averaged a 13.2 mile yesterday! That’s barely running, but you gotta understand: 7 days earlier I was thrilled to be approaching a 15 minute mile. Wow. This training thing actually works. What a concept. ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_Next\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@Girl\_Next\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_Next_Door)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2002, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-very-cool-thing/121570/15 "2002-08-04T18:04:10Z")
That’s a 13.2 _minute_ mile. I knew the post looked weird but couldn’t figure out why 'til after I hit “send”. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![d12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/71c47a/32.png) [@d12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/d12)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2002, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-very-cool-thing/121570/16 "2002-08-04T19:01:33Z")
I wish I could run a mile :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_Next\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@Girl\_Next\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_Next_Door)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2002, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-very-cool-thing/121570/17 "2002-08-04T19:31:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by d12 \* > \*\*I wish I could run a mile :rolleyes: \*\* Me too. I walked most of it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2002, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-very-cool-thing/121570/18 "2002-08-04T22:54:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Girl Next Door \* > \*\*Oh my god! I averaged a 13.2 mile yesterday! > > That’s barely running, but you gotta understand: 7 days earlier I was thrilled to be approaching a 15 minute mile. > > Wow. This training thing actually works. What a concept. \*\* Good for you Girl! You keep going. And let us know how it turns out in the end. ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_Next\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@Girl\_Next\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_Next_Door)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-very-cool-thing/121570/19 "2002-12-12T22:20:59Z")
Hey, I forgot to tell you how it went! The race was on Sunday, Dec. 1st. I did it in 3 hours and 15 mins. (Not fast but not LAST, that was my plan!) Here’s my diaryland entry talking about the day: [http://lievans.diaryland.com/marathon.html](http://lievans.diaryland.com/marathon.html) Thanks for the good wishes, everyone. I felt them. **amarinth** , the hills were definitely there, but not too bad. The training sure helped. Special thanks to the Dopers who made donations. That was a pleasant surprise, and much appreciated. I’m probably going to do Anchorage in June. It’s kind of addicting! ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-very-cool-thing/121570/20 "2002-12-12T23:17:41Z")
When you say you’re doing Anchorage - the half? Or have you been sucked into the insanity of the full marathon now? Just askin’, 'cause I’ve done 3 marathons, even after having said that I thought marathoners were crazy. So call me crazy, I guess! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-very-cool-thing/121570.md?page=2)