Run Forrest, Run!

I am training for this race:

I had always been one of those people who moans and shakes her head at the mere mention of running.  "I hate running," I would say.  "How do people do that?  Why would  you put yourself through that kind of agony when there are other, less torturous ways to exercise?"

I am no longer that person.  How did this conversion come about, you ask?  Okay, I never said I love running, but I no longer hate it.  There are even rare moments when I enjoy it.

What happened?  Baby fat and a bandwagon.  After Brandt was born I just couldn't banish those last ten or...twelve pounds, darn it!  Exercising, trying to eat right weren't cutting it.  I needed a consistent cardio regimen and I knew it.  Then the bandwagon.  My niece invited me to run a 5k with her and some other family members.  I agreed.  There was something about signing up for an organized event, committing, that made me kick it into gear.  I got outside and ran.  I started getting up at 6:00 am and running 3 days a week to train and yes, in the beginning it was agonizing.  But I was building up my stamina and pushing myself  and soon I could go farther and farther.  I set a goal to run the 5k in under 30 minutes and I exceeded my goal by over a minute.  After that race I continued running for exercise and a friend of mine invited me to sign up for the Ragnar.

Training for this race has pushed me farther that I thought I could possibly go.  I have more than doubled my distance and look forward to pushing my record run to 8 miles on Saturday.  That doesn't mean that I look forward to my runs with glee, but running does provide a clarity of mind and a physical release that I've always felt from exercise.  And the best part?  I didn't think I could do it and now I know I can.  It feels so good to exceed my own expectations.  I'm half-way to my weight-loss goal, I feel healthier, and I look forward to some crazy fun come race day.  If I can just find time to squeeze in my training...