Running Down a Dream
I have a goal, hope, and dream that I'll be able to run/trot a half marathon in January.
The summer Andrew turned 3 (2008) I started running. It was a total fluke. I had been walking a lot and then tried to do a little run and then kept adding distance until I was able to run a mile. I was 32 years old the first time I was ever able to run a mile. There are not words to describe the feeling I had when I realized I did it. I ran a mile! What a feeling of accomplishment. I was so proud of myself. I decided to try for a 5k. The night before my first 5k I hardly slept. I had bizarre dreams of being chased or losing miserably. It was awful. The first one wasn't so bad. I wasn't able to run the whole thing- but I was ok with that because I tried and I was going to keep trying. I got professionally fitted for a very expensive pair of running shoes. They were horrific! I had shin splints the entire time. Bad shin splints. The cross country coach, showed Doug a way to help get rid of them. It was very painful. I kept running. A few weeks later I did another 5k (on the way I rode with ice packs on my legs so I would hopefully be able to run without the pain of the shin splints). I am not exagerrating when I say- an elementary school aged child beat me. I didn't care (well- maybe a little). A month later- I did another one. I ran the whole thing. I was so proud of myself! I called my parents. That fall I ran 3-4 times a week religiously. I brought my stuff to work with me. I iced my legs constantly. Finally I bought new shoes. My shins were cured within days. So much for professional fittings. I talked friends into running with me. We ran a 5K together. I ran throughout the winter. In April I ran a 10K- the entire Cooper River Bridge Run. That was a high that stayed with me for days. I wore my shirt to school and told anyone who asked- yep I ran it. I never brag about myself- it's just not what's done. I ran inconsistenly the following summer, but started back towards the end. I ran while I adjusted to my new self contained class. I discovered that running is actually a great mood enhancer! And then I got pregnant and couldn't imagine anything worse than . . . well anything. I felt horrible! Running, sitting, standing, sleeping. It didn't matter. I stopped running. By the time I felt better- I was too big to run comfortably. So I walked because I was going to get back into it after the baby was born. About 6 weeks after Alexa was born, I went out and ran a mile. No sweat. (well I sweat because I am a sweaty person) but I did it. I planned to get back in shape while Andrew was at school and Alexa and I were home. I didn't anticipate a collicky baby. Let me just say- nothing can ruin a good run like a squawling baby! And then I went back to work and there was no way I had time. I am trying like crazy to get back into it now. I went this morning and it was lovely. I left the ipod at home and listened to the birds and crickets and it was so serene. Despite my huffing, gasping, and heaving- it was still serene. I loved it.
I really hope I can do this and my family, time, lack of motivation that can creep up on you- don't prevent it. I really want that 13.1 sticker on my car.
The summer Andrew turned 3 (2008) I started running. It was a total fluke. I had been walking a lot and then tried to do a little run and then kept adding distance until I was able to run a mile. I was 32 years old the first time I was ever able to run a mile. There are not words to describe the feeling I had when I realized I did it. I ran a mile! What a feeling of accomplishment. I was so proud of myself. I decided to try for a 5k. The night before my first 5k I hardly slept. I had bizarre dreams of being chased or losing miserably. It was awful. The first one wasn't so bad. I wasn't able to run the whole thing- but I was ok with that because I tried and I was going to keep trying. I got professionally fitted for a very expensive pair of running shoes. They were horrific! I had shin splints the entire time. Bad shin splints. The cross country coach, showed Doug a way to help get rid of them. It was very painful. I kept running. A few weeks later I did another 5k (on the way I rode with ice packs on my legs so I would hopefully be able to run without the pain of the shin splints). I am not exagerrating when I say- an elementary school aged child beat me. I didn't care (well- maybe a little). A month later- I did another one. I ran the whole thing. I was so proud of myself! I called my parents. That fall I ran 3-4 times a week religiously. I brought my stuff to work with me. I iced my legs constantly. Finally I bought new shoes. My shins were cured within days. So much for professional fittings. I talked friends into running with me. We ran a 5K together. I ran throughout the winter. In April I ran a 10K- the entire Cooper River Bridge Run. That was a high that stayed with me for days. I wore my shirt to school and told anyone who asked- yep I ran it. I never brag about myself- it's just not what's done. I ran inconsistenly the following summer, but started back towards the end. I ran while I adjusted to my new self contained class. I discovered that running is actually a great mood enhancer! And then I got pregnant and couldn't imagine anything worse than . . . well anything. I felt horrible! Running, sitting, standing, sleeping. It didn't matter. I stopped running. By the time I felt better- I was too big to run comfortably. So I walked because I was going to get back into it after the baby was born. About 6 weeks after Alexa was born, I went out and ran a mile. No sweat. (well I sweat because I am a sweaty person) but I did it. I planned to get back in shape while Andrew was at school and Alexa and I were home. I didn't anticipate a collicky baby. Let me just say- nothing can ruin a good run like a squawling baby! And then I went back to work and there was no way I had time. I am trying like crazy to get back into it now. I went this morning and it was lovely. I left the ipod at home and listened to the birds and crickets and it was so serene. Despite my huffing, gasping, and heaving- it was still serene. I loved it.
I really hope I can do this and my family, time, lack of motivation that can creep up on you- don't prevent it. I really want that 13.1 sticker on my car.
I read on a runner's site, other runners think those are lame. I like them though.
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