Married (or at least engaged) to running

Today was my first run with my Garmin Forerunner 310XT. It was my Christmas present, but my husband gave it to me early, probably because I kept coming up with lists of reasons for why I should have it now rather than Christmas Day. After being with me for so long, my husband is almost immune to all my rhetorical strategies, but I am a firm believer in never giving up. So if my persuasive skills don't work, my perseverance will (although I have to admit that usually doesn't work either. My hubby has amazing willpower.)

My favorite attempt at persuading him (but I'm not sure this is what convinced him even though it was the last thing I said)... This Garmin is as special to me as my engagement ring. Not being able to use it is like getting engaged and not being able to tell anyone. And I'm sure he remembers me telling everyone the night he asked me to marry him. I told people walking past me on the street, our waiter, people sitting near us at a restaurant, I called and left messages with virtually all the people I knew. I might have even called people I didn't know... I couldn't stop talking about it.

So when hubby turned to me at 6:38 p.m. last night and said he wanted me to be able to use my Garmin, it was like him getting down on one knee all over again! And today, when I strapped my sweet 310XT to my wrist, I felt my heart begin to race. Too bad I didn't have the heart rate monitor on... I felt such excitement to start running.

And that's when I realized it. I have a whole new level of commitment to running now. After purchasing a 310XT, there's no turning back. This is the moment I have decided to spend my life with running (I mean when else would anyone spend this kind of money?). Running and I have been an item for 2 1/2 years. We certainly have made it through some tough times-- injuries, doubts, training setbacks. But those tough times are all made better by the truly good times-- crossing finish lines at races, setting a PR, making new friends, realizing my strengths. And through it all, we've stuck together. I know I can't live without running now; I'm a total crazed mess when I can't run.

On my first run today, I started to get completely overwhelmed. Oddly enough, just like when I got engaged to my husband, a moment of panic set in (it was a small moment with my hubby though). I was constantly looking at my pace, which was slower than I normally run. More panic (I wasn't taking the hills I was running or my little injuries that needed some time to warm up into consideration). But after a few miles (and a few deep breaths), I got into my groove and started to feel a bit more at ease.

After my first run, and the wealth of information about said run available to me know, I'm really looking forward to building a running life with my Garmin Forerunner 310XT.

I'm not totally set on her name yet (I definitely feel my 310XT is female. And besides, I think my hubby would feel less threatened with me spending my life with another woman (in addition to him, of course)). I was thinking along the lines of a pet name, something like Cupcake. Thoughts? Have you named your Garmin? If so, what's it's name and how'd you get it?