Tomorrow I will be running half-marathon number seven. Now if I compared myself to my marathon maniac and half-fanatic friends this would seem like a small number looking at what they all have on their running resumes. I, however, continue to marvel at the fact that I have even been able to complete one without permanent injury. I was, after all, over 200 pounds when I started this whole running journey. Running five minutes straight without feeling like my heart was going to beat out of my chest seemed unattainable, let alone running 13.1 miles.
A little over a year ago I ran my first half at the Disneyland Theme Parks—still my favorite run of all. My goal for that race was just to complete the race without being swept off the course for going over their 3½-hour maximum. I came in at a commendable 2:59 and got my first piece of racing bling, my Mickey Mouse medal. Despite hardly being able to move for two-weeks after that, I decided to try another, and another, and ANOTHER until here I am at number seven.
Now those who have been following me for a while know that I have not been sitting on my laurels between races. I have run 10Ks, mud runs, started biking and swimming, all to stay in shape for my half-marathons. Running is an addiction—thank God a very healthy one. I can’t explain why I find so much enjoyment from pounding my joints on the pavement for hours on end. Maybe it is because I have conquered something I never thought I could do. Maybe it’s because with every strike my foot makes on the ground I am one step closer to the more flabulous me. Or maybe it is just that I enjoy being outside in the fresh air and watching the beautiful landscape as I race past it. Whatever it is, I am hooked!
Tomorrow I will be completing The Beach Cities Challenge with the 3rd race in the series, The Long Beach Half. Having completed Surf City and The OC earlier this year, I will be finishing my first running challenge and will be rewarded with an additional medal. Not that the bling is what it is all about, but it sure feels good around my neck after a long, grueling 13.1 mile run. Notice my half-marathon bling collection at the beginning of this blog—okay, I’m proud!
So as I carbo-load to make sure I have enough energy for tomorrow, and drink enough water so I am fully hydrated, I am as excited about race #7 as I was about the very first one. Maybe that is what I love about racing—each race is a new adventure just waiting for me to tackle it and come out at the end a successful and more seasoned runner...Long Beach Half-Marathon here I come!
A little over a year ago I ran my first half at the Disneyland Theme Parks—still my favorite run of all. My goal for that race was just to complete the race without being swept off the course for going over their 3½-hour maximum. I came in at a commendable 2:59 and got my first piece of racing bling, my Mickey Mouse medal. Despite hardly being able to move for two-weeks after that, I decided to try another, and another, and ANOTHER until here I am at number seven.
Now those who have been following me for a while know that I have not been sitting on my laurels between races. I have run 10Ks, mud runs, started biking and swimming, all to stay in shape for my half-marathons. Running is an addiction—thank God a very healthy one. I can’t explain why I find so much enjoyment from pounding my joints on the pavement for hours on end. Maybe it is because I have conquered something I never thought I could do. Maybe it’s because with every strike my foot makes on the ground I am one step closer to the more flabulous me. Or maybe it is just that I enjoy being outside in the fresh air and watching the beautiful landscape as I race past it. Whatever it is, I am hooked!
Tomorrow I will be completing The Beach Cities Challenge with the 3rd race in the series, The Long Beach Half. Having completed Surf City and The OC earlier this year, I will be finishing my first running challenge and will be rewarded with an additional medal. Not that the bling is what it is all about, but it sure feels good around my neck after a long, grueling 13.1 mile run. Notice my half-marathon bling collection at the beginning of this blog—okay, I’m proud!
So as I carbo-load to make sure I have enough energy for tomorrow, and drink enough water so I am fully hydrated, I am as excited about race #7 as I was about the very first one. Maybe that is what I love about racing—each race is a new adventure just waiting for me to tackle it and come out at the end a successful and more seasoned runner...Long Beach Half-Marathon here I come!
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