A little background…
I don’t make New Years Resolutions, but I am trying to set
goals for myself. I first did the Couch
to 5K program while I was in law school a few years ago, but then I kind of let
life get in the way of the whole running thing.
Then at the end of 2012, after graduation and taking the bar and
starting to work, I realized that I needed to start doing something again. While I did want to drop a couple of pounds,
I mostly wanted something to keep me active and healthy. Gym memberships and classes are expensive and
tough to fit in a crazy work schedule.
But running is free and can be done anytime and almost anywhere. A couple of coworkers at my old job were
running, and we started going together a few days after work. Going immediately after work was great
because I didn’t get home and get lazy.
Plus, having friends there made it fun and held me accountable. After a few months, I realized that I was
getting a whole lot better at this stuff.
And so it began…
One of my co-workers (he is now one of my law partners and
good friends) ran his first half-marathon in April 2013. That’s exactly what I needed to step up my
game. I wanted to do that! I worked hard, ran often, and by the end of
2013 (November 9, 2013 to be exact), I ran my first half-marathon! So as 2013 came to an end, I decided that I
was going to really take on 2014. It is
going to be the last full year of my 20s after all… That’s right. I turn 29 in June. So what does a girl do when she’s staring
down the barrel of 30? Turn it up a
notch!
That brings us back to New Years. I have another half marathon scheduled for
the end of February. And after seeing
all of the posts about the Runners World holiday streakers, I was
inspired. Maybe I should streak! So I set out to streak from New Years Day
until my half on February 23. I was on
it… until January 4. I started feeling
bad, and by January 5 I was shut down with a respiratory infection (I’m thinking
pneumonia but I didn’t go to the doctor).
Of course this would also cripple me the week before a scheduled 15K
trail run. So I put the streak on hold,
pumped myself full of antibiotics, and rested up. That Saturday, January 11, I got out and ran
15K up Monte Sano Mountain. It may
have been was harder than my half. I
struggled. My partner, who had been on a
ski trip all week while I was sick, described my various coughing fits as those
of a COPD patient who smoked for 30 years.
But I FINISHED! And the streak
was back on!
Fast-forward to today – I have been streaking now for 13
days. (I haven’t run yet today.) It’s a
lot harder than I thought. Especially
since we’ve been dealing with the “polar vortex” here in the South. Luckily, my apartment complex has treadmills,
which is helping me stay in the game.
So that’s the long and short of it. I guess I’m hoping to use this blog as sort
of a journal of my running adventures.
And since I am a self-proclaimed “junk food junkie,” there will
certainly be a bit of posting about food and probably travels as well. Oh, and did I mention that I am thinking of
training to run a full marathon before my 30th birthday?...
Triumphant after completing my first half!
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