I want to run. My desire to become a runner started at least 6 years ago when we went to the Fiesta Flambeau night parade and I noticed the runners run by as they kicked off the parade. I thought to myself, "I could do that," "I want to do that," "I should be able to do that." Mind you, I had never liked running. I didn't like becoming breathless and certainly didn't like 'the girls' moving around as much as they do when you run. When I turned 40, I committed to losing some weight and in Nov 2008 I ran my first 5K the weekend of the SA Rock 'n Roll and I lost almost 25 lbs in the 2.5 months of training. By the time Fiesta came around in 2009, I was ready to run the 2.6 miles and I convinced my niece Stephanie to run it with me. It was a lot of fun and I have have learned how to keep the 'girls' in place.
The next year, I convinced one of the girls from my church, Alissa, to run with me. I even dressed as Janis Joplin (or I tried) since the theme was Rock 'n Roll Legends.
Runs & Marathons. In 2009, I trained for my first and only half-marathon thus far. I had started to experience pain in my ankles and knees about a month and a half prior to the race but I didn't want to stop training and I definately did not want to withdraw from the run. I pressed on and finished the 13.2 miles in 3:00:33. Not the time I was hoping for but I now could say that I finished it. So this year, I am training for my first full 26.2 mile marathon. Wow! My legs are feeling good and I am praising God for keeping me injury free this training season.
Best recent run. My favorite long run so far has been the 15.5 mile trek we had on 9/4/10. The weather was great, the route was familiar, and the running buddies were fun. We tried an interval run of 5:1 and absolutely loved it. The plan is to do the same for marathon. I have a goal time in mind, but I'll keep that to myself for now.
Favorite post-run food. After my long run on Saturday mornings, I was coming home and making breakfast. Egg sandwiches and coffee - a tried and true favorite. But most recently one of running buddies, Minnie, invited me to Bill Miller to have tacos. So now, my favorite post-run food is 1 bean-cheese-bacon taco and a side serving of carne guisada - yum! And of course, a steaming cup of coffee. What makes it even better is that I can take my own coffee cup with me and pay for a coffee refill for .49 and have as many cups as I want. I do love coffee.
The miles that make me smile. My 6 year old son wants to run with me. So after school we are jogging a couple of blocks around the neighborhood and he's been marking almost .7 miles each time. These are my sweetest runs. And I am 'oh so pleased' that my 18 year old daughter said she'd train for a half marathon with me for next fall.
"I am" is with me when I run. At the beginning, I admit, I don't want to do it. The first 1-2 miles make me wonder "why am I doing this?" But once the adrenaline kicks in and the endurance drive takes over, I like the challenge. The challenge makes me remember how totally dependent I am on the power and strength that is always accessible to me. I cannot run this race alone and whether it's a short or long run and whether there is a running buddy with me or not, I know that I am not alone. I carry that power and strength with me after every outing and draw from it over and over again until the next time.
