I'm a runner wannabe

Well I'm doing it again! A half marathon that is.

Back in 2006 I had this wild hair that I wanted to run a marathon. Those of you that actually know me understand the hilarity of that, in that I am not a runner. at all. But I signed up with this organization called Team In Training and began training. I spent every Saturday morning at Shelby Farms learning how to be a runner, and every morning of the week running on my own. I ran through the heat of June, July, August, and September, and I ran through the cold of October, November, and December. I was loving it - I had never been able to call myself a runner, but all of the sudden I could. I was a fat runner - but I was a runner dang it!

So in December of 2006 we signed up to run the St. Jude 1/2 marathon as a training run. My full marathon wasn't until January. Somewhere along the way in that 1/2 marathon I hurt my foot/ankle. I went to several doctors and no one could give me a straight answer of what was wrong. It basically came down to this: it hurts to run, so don't run. walk. I was pretty upset about this because I had spent so much time learning to run and building the endurance to do so.

When January came, my team and I loaded the plan and headed to Phoenix, AZ for our marathon. I walked most of it, and ran what I could. It was the coldest it had been in 26 years. I was prepared for 70 degree weather. It was 23 degrees at the start. I had 13 blisters when it was all said and done, and I was absolutely miserable. I cried as my blisters popped while I was running/walking. I cried just about the entire last 3 miles. I cried as I crossed the finish line. I'm not a baby, but I was in pain. I decided that day that 26.2 miles and I were not friends and we would probably never learn to get along. I had completed a full marathon though. I have the medal to prove it!

A few weeks later I had forgotten how horrible the whole experience was, and I began to miss it. I signed up to run the Country Music 1/2 Marathon in Nashville - but in the end I had to walk it as well. I loved it. It was during this time of training that I met Becky. We quickly became friends and walking partners.

After completing that 1/2 marathon, I went on to coach the walking team for Team in Training and I completed the St. Jude half again. I was amazed with myself. In a 12 month period I had completed 1 full and 3 halfs in a 12 month period. Not bad for a fat, lazy girl huh?

I haven't done much of anything for the past year, but last week Becky and I decided to lace up our shoes once again and get our butts in gear! We are signing up to do another 1/2 in December. We started training last night and I'm getting excited.

I would promise to keep you updated but we know how good I've been about that lately! I will promise you this: I'll do my best.

Wish my luck!