It is official folks. I've gone off the deep end. I've stepped outside my comfort bubble and done something that I never really thought I'd do. Yesterday, I ran a half marathon. Yes, me. Now if you don't know me well, you might not be surprised by this. I can run. As long as it isn't more than about a quarter mile, I'm actually pretty good at it. In fact, I stick by my theory that if God wanted us to run more than 400 meters he would have made the track bigger. And yes, I CAN run further. I just don't love it.
Which leads me to yesterday. I ran 13.1 miles!!! What?!? Why? Good question. The truth is that I acted before I thought. A few months back, my great friend Anna read about the new me and my plan to get in shape and suggested that we run a few races together. And then she threw out the idea of the half marathon and while I was still thinking about it, it started to sell out. So before I could change my mind I signed up. And then I went for a 4 mile run. You gotta start somewhere right? That was in January. And then the realities of my life kicked in and despite my best intentions, I never got around to running anymore. Our schedule is hectic, and finding time when Robbie was home to be with the kids just wasn't happening. Plus, it rains a lot in January and February. Luckily, I do have an elliptical type thing (a Gazelle actually. Stop laughing at me. My dad got it for me for $15 at a yard sale. Can't beat that!) that I "trained" on. So much more my style. Remember when I said that I don't love running? It's because (unless I have a friend to run with) I get sooooooooo bored. Not so with my Gazelle. I can run while I watch the Bachelor. And talk on the phone. And check Facebook. And it's dry. In addition to my one 4 miler I also put in about 20 or so miles (over the course of a couple months) on the Gazelle. Sounds like adequate training, right? Right??
So yesterday morning, I drug myself out of bed at the crack of dawn and thought, "what have I gotten myself into?" I briefly considered climbing back into bed and hiding under the covers but then I remembered that I had paid $50 for this and you know how I don't like to waste money. So against my better judgement, I forged ahead. And guess what? It wasn't too bad! Anna and I took it nice and slow and since we don't get to see each other much we just talked the whole way and before you know it we were at mile 11. After that, I got a little more anxious to get done (and there might have been a few tears) but I did it! And I didn't walk. And I wasn't last. And I didn't die. To me, that was success.
Sure, I could have trained harder. But let's be honest. That just isn't my thing. And I probably could have run faster, but I probably would have started crying long before mile 13. And I most definitely should NOT have run the stairs at my house 91 times last weekend. My calves still haven't fully recovered from that. I've always said that if I did anything like this, I would just do it. And I did! Thanks, Anna, for pushing me out of my box. And for running with me and talking with me the whole way. I'm really not sure I would have made it without you. Even though I am having a hard time walking today (I have an AWESOME waddle going on) and I spent all of yesterday afternoon in bed wondering what in the world I had done, I'm glad I did it. This may have been my last experience of this kind, but never say never I guess.
Was running 13.1 miles for the first time with very minimal training insane? Maybe. Am I glad I did it? Totally.
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