Oh, did I mention I'm a runner (again)?

Today is the first official day of my training for Vermont City Marathon 2011. I'm getting started a few weeks late because I was in South America getting caught up in civil unrest* and then I got a cold** but now I'm ready to go!

A quick recap of a few memorable runs I've done lately:

• New Year's Eve, Waitsfield: Siri, Jamie and I headed out the door of Renee's house and logged 3+ beautiful, peaceful miles on the Common Road and Joslin Hill Road. We tumbled back into the house and Kim and Renee served up the best breakfast ever. Topped off with hours of sledding at Chez Hosford, a great way to end the year!

• New Year's Day, First Run 5K in Burlington: were we a luge team, or bobsledders? No matter, we won the group costume competition and had a blast. Thank you Erika, Heidi and Beth!

• Grey Glacier, Chile: technically a fast-paced hike and not a run, but ... 8+ miles with some rain and serious wind (I wish I had the pictures!) and amazing views of a blue, blue glacier. Inspired exercise.

• Torres del Paine, Chile: four miles along the shore of a turquoise blue glacial lake in Patagonia, with two stops to commune with a family of wild guanacos (kind of like llamas, with big giraffe eyes and fluttery eyelashes)

Granted, not every run ahead in this training cycle will be as memorable or fun, but I'm determined to make the most of this winter of running.

* Long story short: mass protests in the Magellan region of Chile shut down all roads and ports, and we got stuck for three days in the tiny town of Puerto Natales. Three times we got snared at barricades that protesters set up to stop people from moving around the region, until the Red Cross bussed us out of town to an airstrip and the Chilean Air Force flew us to the regional capital of Punta Arenas. No running was accomplished during this time, but I did get to walk with my luggage for a 1/2 mile or so from one of the barricades towards the town...

** I'm not 100% yet, but soooo much better than last week. Though I did get some grossed-out looks as I was coughing on the treadmill, at least I didn't need a spittoon.

Dry Heaves 5K

It's a shame no one has sponsored a race by this name. Here are the entry qualifications:

• violent food poisoning the night before the race
• sleep must only be intermittent and/or on the bathroom floor
• fits of nausea while driving to the race the next morning
• delusional stubbornness about dropping out of races

Essex Junction Recreation and Parks held a Father's Day 5K yesterday, and I had long ago planned to run it with Liz and her cousin Steve, visiting from out of town. The night before, we had dinner with Maria, and I couldn't decide between a burger or fish. Sadly, I chose the fish. I woke up disoriented and severely uncomfortable in the middle of the night, and many hours of GI distress ensued.

I couldn't bring myself to eat anything Sunday morning, having 'given back' everything I'd eaten for dinner. I was feeling steadier by the time I needed to leave my house, so I figured I'd drive into Essex and see how it went. At the start line I was wobbly, but I was also thinking, "It's a 5K! A 1/2 hour out of your life, a mere 3 miles. Take it easy and you'll be fine."

Heading up the first, fairly respectable hill, every burp tasted like vomit and I stopped several times thinking I might blow chunks, but I couldn't actually manage to throw up anything. This continued for 3.1 miles, about 36 minutes. By the end of the race, it was just me and a really nice couple who were vying for last place, so at least there wasn't much of an audience for my misery.

At one point, doubled over in discomfort, a very supportive older man said, "Just one foot after the other, don't give up!" I wanted to be gracious -- his comment is the kind of supportive spirit you want runners to give each other, especially in a little community 5K. But what I wanted to holler was, "Dude, you have NO idea...!"

I tried walking a bit to settle my stomach. That didn't work so I tried running really, really hard, as if to say, "Hey stomach! Put up or shut up!" But that just led to more dry heaves. I sulked to the finish line, wanting only to preserve my pride by beating the nice couple I mentioned earlier.

I spent the rest of the day half-asleep on the couch, fan whirring, blinds drawn and watching The Real Housewives of New York City, if only to remind myself that there are people out there more miserable than I felt.

Capital City Stampede 10 K

Always enter races that are distances you haven't tried so you can claim a PR!

The Capital City Stampede in Montpelier was the first 10K I've participated in, and it's an awesome distance. Not so short that it's meaningless, not so long that it fills me with dread.

About 100 people came out in the rainy rain to race from Onion River Sports, out to the high school and down the bike path and back roads. I particularly liked the beginning when the runners were still bunched together and we ran across the front porch of the Statehouse. It definitely evoked a 'stampede' sensibility.

This photo was taken just before the finish line, where the pack had definitely... thinned out. Thank you Bob Sayers for sending me this shot! If you look close you'll see both of my feet are off the ground, which is somehow really gratifying to see. And if you squint hard, you'll see Chad and Thao up at the street corner cheering on every last runner in the race. They deserve a sportsmanship award for the positive energy they bring to races.

Final time, 1:05 -- not fast, but speedier than my normal 11- to 12-minute plod. Thank you Central Vermont Runners for a fun morning!