I love hearing how others got started
running and why they stick with it.
SO please!! if you happen to find this little
site, let me know in the comments.
When I was in high school I was a figure skater. I had
skated for about 9 years and around 15 or so I was seeing some new curves and I gained
some pounds the good old teenage way. I started staying up too late and eating too much good stuff
with my friends on the weekends. I was
not heavy by any means, but I started to notice it was harder to finish my
programs and unfortunately (to get real honest here) it was a time when body image started to
play a huge role in my life… it was hard not to notice other girls and their freaking
tiny tights on the ice.
(a more recent picture out on the ice)
I started to put pressure on myself and started running. Without
laying out my sob story, running was a great release for me and it sure started
out as a way for me to become more confident in my body image and improve my
ice time. Eventually, other teen issues happened and I lost sight of healthy
verses obsessive and unfortunately lost my way for a while.
Even in my darkest times growing up (when I probably had no
business running) it was a wonderful release and gave me so much clarity. It took
me a few years to get back on the healthy train and as I found my way back I
used the gym more and more and lost running.
Anyhow around January of this year I decided to sign up
for my first race. It was a St. Patrick’s Day 7K. I thought it would be just
something new and different and it seemed like so many people around me were
racing and raising money for causes and I just wanted to see what it was all
about.
(what?? green beer is a great way to refuel)
Honestly, I didn't train for it. I knew I could run 4+ miles
and I didn't care about my time. Well race day came and I stood at the starting
line and the feelings that started flowing are hard to describe. I saw people,
all shapes and sizes, just beaming and bouncing in anticipation for the gun
shot. I could feeeeel people’s passion for what they were about to do radiating
off of them. I was amazed at how
everyone was building each other up and cheering their peers on, all the way
till the last finisher.
Well I got home and
had to sign up for something else immediately. I was on a huge high all day and
could not wait to run out the door and start training for my next race. I knew
I could do better and race faster and so I started reading everything I could
get my hands on about running, including blogs!
Since March, I have ran in two half marathons and a 5K (I
will include all my finishing times below). In one day (YAY!) I will be running
in my first 10 mile trail run and I just signed up for two more half marathons this
fall.
Honestly, some days I have no energy and I wonder if I am
going at a rate that I will burn out too fast. I wonder why I am up so early or
like being so sore. My husband certainly questions how much money we are
spending on this daily, but 6 out of 7 days a week I feel so lucky to have
found something that makes me this happy. I love my family, and my husband, and
my dog a whole lot, but running is different. It’s something that has changed
me.
Sometimes I wonder if it means so much because of my
unhealthy past. Running has taught me more about myself in 6 short months than
I ever thought anything could. I am starting to really think like an athlete. I
am proud of my body daily. I am not
sure I could have ever said that before.
I think that reason alone is why I
can’t imagine a life without running now.
1.
Lucky Leprechaun 7K: 38:49
2.
Door County Half Marathon: 01:56:19
3.
Madison Half Marathon: 01:52:53
4.
MAADAC 5K: 25:17 (Placed third in my age group!)
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