Slow and steady does not, actually, win the race. But it does keeps you in the race, and that counts for a lot.

I've been a bad blogger, and haven't been updating. Truth to tell, I've had little to say; there hasn't been a lot going on here at I Run Seattle. I've started a new job - at the same company - which I think is going to be very challenging. Last weekend we took a wonderful road trip along the Cascade Loop. I'd done this drive before - it's magnificent - but never in the autumn. The whole landscape was golden, the light was ethereal, the apple trees were dripping with fruit, and the wine tasting was casual and delicious. Go when you can.

I'm just back from my first official post-fracture "run". I've been working out at the gym a little bit, walking for an hour on an incline, but today was my first technical day out. It's sobering to realize that pre-fracture, I could run ten miles and now, about eight or nine weeks later, I can't do two miles without stopping to walk.

But. But!

Here's where keeping a training journal or blog really pays off. Looking back to when I first started training, back in April, I couldn't run much further than I can now. It's encouraging to browse through the entries and realize how a little effort really does pay off, and gradual increases in mileage really add up. Almost before you know it, really.

So here is my rough plan.

I'm going to follow Bob Glover's beginner schedule for the next six months, gradually building up mileage to 30 miles a week. Only then will I start thinking about marathons.

I'm going to lift weights three times a week. This is for two reasons. Firstly, I have to fit into the wedding dress I bought on my trip to Ireland. I have determined weight-loss goals to get me down to my fighting weight. A measurement of my determination is that I am allowing myself wine or other drinks only 1-2 nights a week. Nice dresses do, after all, require superhuman sacrifices. Secondly, Jon's recent entry made me think a lot about my running form. It's awful, and reading tells me a lot of that can come from weak muscle structure.

Now I am going to shower and get ready to go out. I have a waxing appointment at a salon today, and that means that today is not only a wine day, but a Quick Glass of Wine and a Couple of Extra Strength Tylenol, knocked back at a rate unsuited to a lady, day.