Two's better than one

Lesson #1 learned today: run with a friend. Mario and I went together, and despite being sore from yesterday (stretching was not fun), it still felt easier than before. We stopped for a brief break in the middle, but even so, the whole uphill thing didn't affect my lungs the way it did yesterday. I thought I might have had exercise-induced asthma. Guess I was wrong... If I keep improving every time I run, there is an end in sight.

Oh how I can't wait for the posts that will inevitably come where I swear Ill never run again.

Of course more goes with this whole marathon thing than just running. The training schedule I'm starting in October specifically includes some cross-training...which means I need to do something I've never wanted to do: join a gym.

Gyms freak the hell out of me. I just feel so out of place watching people go around the machines and complete their usual workouts while I fumble around on machines that do things to my body I'm not sure I want them to do. I always feel in the way, I don't want to interrupt anyone who knows what they're doing.

Despite all that, Mario and I ventured into our local 24 Hour Fitness today and signed up for a week long trial membership. I'm not guaranteeing I'll go, I'm not guaranteeing I'll even like it, but again all of this is much easier with a friend. Mario just finished a trial membership at a 24 Hour in San Francisco, so he's used to the vibe. Me, I'm just hoping I can get some advice from people who know what they're doing so I seem to have some confidence while all the gay men (there are tons) go about their business around me. At $39/month for the membership, I better learn to like it.