6/24/12
This one is about me. I know- right? It is a little lengthy, but bear with me. I have always loved sports and physical activity. I started dancing at age 3. I danced for ten years then entered middle school and started organized sports. I tried out for softball but didn't make it. Realizing I could be fast, I began running in 7th grade on our middle school track team. Except for a a season I lost due to bronchitis I continued running all through my senior year of college. I love to run. I "was" a sprinter. Only doing mileage for cross training. After graduating college, I started running 5Ks. That was pretty fun. I could still incorporate some speed into that. I loved running through Central Park when we lived in NYC. I loved running in the Chicago suburbs. After moving back to Buffalo, I continued running - through the streets and in the parks. I ran the Corporate Challenges, the Susan B. Komen 5Ks, Mississippi Muds 5 K (BEST after race food EVER!), Subaru 4 miler (ooo....4 miles!) and my first ever Turkey Trot. There were others stuck in there, but those were my favorites. In running, I found my happy place. Relaxation after a day of work or just a day....Josh and I ran together until we realized the jogger stroller was NOT Keelin's favorite place to be. So we began running separately.
Fast forward a few years....I began training for a half marathon....gulp....a far cry from my favorite race, the 400m. Luckily, I had 2 great training partners, Carrie & Jo. Carrie and I trained through the week and met up with Jo on the weekends for our long runs. I NEVER thought I could run a half. The girl who had never run more than 6 miles. (I did the Peachtree Roadrace ONCE-holy hot) Carrie and Jo assured me, once I hit 7...once I hit 8....once I hit 9....and pushed past I could do it. Each mile mark after 6 miles was a personal victory for me. I did complete the half and then started training for another one. The day before my 2nd half, I was diagnosed with a pretty severe case of strep throat. When I first came in the Dr suggested maybe keeping it easy on the half, by the end of the appointment, he strongly advised I not run :( All that work and I could not even race:( I definately caught a little distance bug though. Carrie and Jo were talking about doing a full. I could do that!!!! Unfortunately, the one half I ran was my last. I was diagnosed with a ruptured disc and went through 18 months of PT and cortisone injections before going through surgery. After the surgery I was told no distances greater than a 10K and no biking. Pretty depressing. I had always relied on running to create my feelings of relaxation....my zen. I had to find something else. A friend recommended yoga. My mom recommended yoga. Yoga...blech....so slow, so boring, a snooze-fest. I was afraid to run. I was afraid to do anything. But no physical activity was making me even more depressed. I continued to do some on my PT exercises but it just was not the same. This spring I decided I was not going to be scared anymore and I began running again. Just a 1-2 miles at a time. I let Josh talk me into working out again, alternating strength training with boxing or some other cardio. I visited my sister and she got my outside on her deck and we did yoga together out in the sunshine. Maybe I have "matured" (ha ha) . What a difference. It was not what I thought it would be. I truly felt like I did a workout. Something I did not expect. It was not the feeling I got after running, but it was another kind of zen....The only thing I need to do now, is create a sound proof, kid proof room in my house...hmmmmm
xo~M
6/8/03 Komen Race (I ran pregnant with Ella:)
My first HALF :)
Kiawah 1/2 Marathon Dec. 2010-the last time I will EVER walk a half!