Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Running a 5K

I've never been a runner. I hated it in high school. I actually never really got into it until I had my third child.
Last year I trained to run a 5K in September. I did pretty good! I felt great, I lost a lot of weight and was in pretty good shape.
Then winter came.
I stopped running. I didn't exercise for months. I gained my weight back. And honestly, I'm not happy with how I look right now.
So, I'm starting over. I'm going to start going to the gym every week and work those inches back off.
What does this have to do with writing, you ask?
Well, I had an idea. I'm slowly working on Bound, and I'm not really feeling it right now. Again. I told you I had a love/hate relationship with this book. It's giving me major problems and sometimes I just don't want to think about it anymore so I stop writing. Sometimes for weeks.
Anyway, I'm going to put it aside for a while. I have a new, shiny idea that keeps calling my name. The character won't leave me alone, and this new idea really has me excited to write again.
So, I'm going to participate in a 50K. Yep. A 50K. I'm going write 50K before August 31. My novels are usually about 60K, but that is after editing and revising.
Now some of you I'm sure that isn't too hard. But it is for me. I don't participate in NaNoWriMo for a reason.
Anyhoo, this new book is a YA paranormal. I'm not going to say anything about it, since it's sort of top secret, but I will say that I'm very excited to research and write it. ;)
So, anyone else want to join me? I probably can't do prizes or anything, but you'll have a brand new book you'll finish, so that is a prize all it's own! I know most of you probably have books you are editing, so if you don't have time, it's fine! But if you're having a hard time with your WIP or you have a new idea you want to do, let me know! We can do this together! :D

16 comments:

Stephanie McGee said...

Good luck! I need to get back into a good flow on that whole exercising thing. Sigh. The writing isn't going terribly though. I'm aiming to have mine done by the end of July.

Katie Dodge said...

I'm starting to run again too! And I've made a goal to finish my WIP by September. We really do think alike! ;)

Ruth Josse said...

You're story is my story! I started running again a couple weeks ago and although I never look forward to it, I'm always glad when I'm done.

I have a goal to finish my WIP by Sept. 1 and it should take me about 30k to do that. So I'll join in with ya, but I'm running a 30k:)

Have fun with your new project!

Shallee said...

Way to be dedicated! I've been exercises every day for the last few weeks in a similar effort-- and I'm hosting JuNoWriMo on my blog, sort of a NaNo, except for whatever writing goal you want to make. My writing goal (2,000 words a day) is going to be extending into July so I can finish my book, so I will totally join you in a writing marathon! Good luck!

Kate said...

I'm totally in! But you might have to nag me a bit to get me up to 50K. Ready...set...GO!

linda said...

Ugh, I hate running -- I have an inordinate amount of admiration for people who choose to subject themselves to that kind of torture ;)

Wish I could join you but I'm kind of the running equivalent of a couch potato right now... need to do some more training before I jump in.

Best of luck to you!

Renee Collins said...

I'm SO in on this! On both! Running more (grumble, grumble, grumble) AND on the 50K. Though I have a 24K headstart, but I think 75K is about right for this WiP. Possibly longer.

Let's DO THIS!

Unknown said...

I'm not a runner at heart, and never have been. However, it's something I picked up a couple of years ago and now I'm OK with it. (I'd still rather ride a bike to get my cardio in, but it's just not as convenient/safe as running is where I live.)

Best of luck on your goals! Work up to it, and be mentally prepared for a couple of setbacks and I bet you'll nail it!

EJW

Kaylee Baldwin said...

Count me in. My goal has also been to finish my wip (a YA contemp) by the end of August. Here's keeping fingers crossed that we can endure till it's done :)

Michelle Merrill said...

Oh, how I'd LOVE to be part of this. I want to delve into another first draft so bad but I'm determined to get my current story polished. It's kind of killing me slowly. I really need to be more of a plotter. This whole multiple revisions is ridiculous!

I'm kind of sad Bound isn't working. I like the pictures you posted the other day. I'm really curious about your new story though!!! (Yes, three exclamation points...)

Jessie Oliveros said...

Ha! I fixed it...changed my browser to Google Chrome. Anyway, here I am. End of summer. Yes.

Tamara Hart Heiner said...

you are awesome!

I'd love to join you. I'm so not a runner either. hate it! I started exercising after my second child and am totally addicted to the gym.

My book's at 15k right now and I want it done by August 31. Preferably August 1. I think it's going to be about 75-80K. so yeah! count me in.

Chantele Sedgwick said...

@Stephanie McGee Yay! I'll be cheering for you to get it done! :D
@Katie Dodge Yes! Yes we do! :D
@Ruth Josse 30k is great! Good luck!!
@Shallee I love your JuNoWriMo idea. Yay for writing marathons! Good luck with your WIP!
@Kate I can nag like no other! LOL Good luck!!
@linda Thank you! And can I just tell you, I LOVE your picture?;)
@Renee Collins Yay, Renee! We can do it! Distractions are good! :D
@E.J. Wesley Thanks so much!! You always have the nicest comments! :)
@Kaylee Baldwin Yay! Good luck to you, Kaylee! To both of us actually! :)
@Michelle Merrill I know. Bound is on hiatus until further notice. Unless I get a huge brainstorm on where to take it. We'll see. ;)
@Jessie Oliveros Yay! I'm so happy to see Blogger didn't eat your comment this time! ;) Good luck with your WIP! We'll cheer each other on!
@Tamara Hart Heiner Yay! Good luck with your WIP! I'm cheering you on! :D

Patti said...

I just started a new project, so I'm so in. I could use a little fire under me to get going with it.

Maggie said...

Good luck Chantele on both fronts.
I'm right along with you. I did the couch to 5K program a few years back and ran constantly until I was 20 weeks preggo. Then stopped and just re-started a month ago. I'm up to 2.5 miles and feeling good.
As far as writing, almost finished revising. Thank goodness.

Brooke R. Busse said...

I'm doing Camp NaNoWriMo this August and I'm hoping to add 50k to my rewrite!