Last week I dropped about $100 just on sign-up for two races.

The first race, which I’m most excited about, is the Seattle Half Marathon. I have never attempted 13.1 miles running. I’ve walked that distance before, and I’m running 8 mi plus, now, for my longest runs, however – I’m a little excited and skeptical at the same time. Not to mention the fact that I’ll be running in late November, which means that the weather could be absolutely horrid for the adventure. Nevertheless, I’m excited, and this is going to be my birthday present to myself.

The second race I’ve signed up for is just less than a month away. This is the Issaquah Run at Salmon Days, a 10K, which is another race I’ve never done. I can easily run a 10K, and do for my interval run. I’m not the fastest, but right now, I’m focused on finishing.

This year, early on, I really wanted to run a 1/2 marathon, even before I was running 5K races. This year, I hope to have up to 1/2 marathon done, with a finisher medal or shirt or something commemorating.

The next step is to make sure I’m appropriately geared up, and trained up. I intend to keep my schedule mostly as is, and as far as gear, I’m having to run with a water bottle to make sure I’m hydrated. I’m considering also running with some easy-sugar, though I deign to see what that looks or tastes like. I’ve invested in some awesome earphones (Sennheiser Adidas PMX 680i) to go with my newly purchased Nike+ iPod Sport Kit. I am testing it out on my husband’s old Nano, with the thought of maybe upgrading to the brand new iPod Nano. I got a Marware Sportsuit Sensor Case to attach my Nike+ sensor to my Vibram Five Fingers Bikila.

I’m wondering if I will end up switching to the neoprene KSO’s for the 1/2 marathon. I’m also wondering about a proper belt solution, not to mention, a good solution for the iPod, as that clipping the new one on might work, but not so well in the rain.

I’ve got a lot of gear to consider. Visibility being something to be mindful of, as that light is waning in the mornings. I’ve got some reflective strips, but I wonder if that’s enough. People are completely stupid driving in the mornings. Stop signs seem to mean NOTHING to them.

I hoped for a longer entry – but this is what I got for now. I picked up the latest Runner’s World, and I’m glad to read it, though I’m also glad to not have a subscription. Also, Women’s Running (I think that’s the magazine I perused) is total, bird cage scraps crap. I choose my running gear based on performance, not on color (though it helps!) and the only reason I wear make up when I run is because I was at work earlier in the day and I didn’t take it off before I went for a run. I’ll save my beauty tips from Allure and Marie Claire. In a magazine for running, I want information on running. Period. While reading Runner’s World, I couldn’t help but get choked up (though this was after my long run, when endorphins were still high) – running is such a gift for me, I’m so glad I can do it. I’ll do it as long as I can.