Running.......

This blog post is going to be different from all of the other posts.  I am going to do this post on running, and give a quick view into what I have been up to in my training.  When I used to think of "running" I would roll my eyes back into my head and let out a big yawn.  I knew how difficult running is and how it does not favor my body type.  I am 5'2 and muscular build, and I am better at doing bursts of sprints.  I have always been a realistic person knowing what my body can and cannot do.  I have always been active and played every sport I could think of.  I played Tennis, Softball, Basketball, Volleyball, Cheerleading, etc.  Tennis of course was my #1 sport and I chose to focus on that and keep building on that.  After having two children I took a look at myself one day in the mirror and realized I didn't like the way I looked.  My body has NEVER been perfect and I am not obsessed with perfection, but it was different.  I could see all of the loose skin from carrying two babies and I still looked pregnant.  If I am no longer pregnant, I sure as heck do not want to continue "looking pregnant."  The last thing I want is for someone to come up to me in a store and ask "When are you due?"

The problem I now faced was that my mental side thought I was still an athlete.  My mental side remembered all of the training I used to do, and was telling me that I can just jump back into it like old times.  Any Woman who has had a child can understand that their body will NEVER be the same again!!  You have to learn how to work with what you got, and ease back into it slow.  I did lot's of cardio, sprints, and jumping rope.  I would run on the treadmill here and there but never thought much of it.  I decided that I needed to have a "goal" so I signed up for my first 5k a few months in advance.  At this point I could not run 1 mile without stopping.  I had two goals for my first 5k: 1) To Finish in 35 minutes and 2) To not stop at all!!!  I was happy to say that I finished in 30 minutes and I did not stop once!!  I was so proud of myself and my Husband was proud of what I had accomplished.  After I finished the race I broke down into tears because I remember being that woman staring in the mirror and feeling ugly, and out of shape, and ashamed of how I looked and felt.

 I see now that it came around full circle and I was able to accomplish my goal!!!  I took a month off of training because I needed a break.  I realized though that I lost my motivation and I didn't know what I could do next to really amp it up.  I could of signed up for a 10k or done another 5k but for some reason I kept fixating on "Half-Marathon."  When I thought of me doing a "Half-Marathon" the word "IMPOSSIBLE" came to mind.

 Here I can barely run 3 miles and now I am thinking of signing up for 13.1 miles!!!  I knew that it would be the hardest thing I would train for because I dislike running so much.  Here I would have to train for long runs and run several miles a week!!  I knew this was going to challenge me physically and mentally.  The thought of me running 13.1 miles rocked my imagination to where I decided...... I HAVE TO DO IT!!!  I looked ahead and found a race coming to my area in November 2014.  I paid the money and reserved my spot!!  I remember the anxiety I had after I clicked the "confirmation number" because I now knew that there was no turning back.  I researched training plans online and picked one that was for me.  The plan I picked was for people who do not like to run and have never ran a big race before. (This plan had my name all over it :)   It was a 4 month training plan and it slowly builds up each week with training.  I got severely injured a few weeks into training to where I had to take a week off here and there.  I am proud to say though that I have stuck with it!!

 My 4 month plan was obviously extended because of the time I had to take off, so I will now finish my training in November a week before my actual Half-Marathon.  I am 10 weeks into my training and I am now running over 20 miles  a week!!!  I have good runs and bad runs, but I keep going!!  There are times when I walk by my training sheet and just stop and stare at what I have accomplished so far.  I remember the bold word (IMPOSSIBLE) and I see that I am actually in progress and doing something about it!!

 I already know that I am going to be overwhelmed with such emotion when I cross that finish line in November.  I will probably be crying for weeks afterwards.  For me this will be one of my greatest accomplishments because I did something that I truly thought was impossible for me.  To be able to press through something each day and not like it, but still fight through it, is one of the hardest things to do.  My husband has asked me if I will plan to do a Marathon and I can answer proudly and shout: NO!!!!!  I am 100% proud of myself for doing my first Half-Marathon and that is my goal!!!  By becoming a runner now I have developed so much respect for other runners.  I used to see people running when I was driving and wouldn't look twice at them.  Now when I see someone running, I cannot take my eyes off of them.  I am looking at the person running and asking myself "Wow, I wonder how far they are running today?"  "I wonder if they are training for a race?"  I have all kinds of questions going through my mind.  Whenever I see people running, I see the definition of Passion.  I can see the hard work and I see the runner pressing towards their goal.  I have a new vision now on running, and that is only because I have now become a runner.  Do I have a goal finish time for my race?  No!!!!  My goal is to finish the race and not get injured!!!  I already know I will probably be crying at certain points in the race because I will remember how far I have come and all of the months of training leading up for this very moment!!!  I tear up just thinking about it right now.  This blog post is for all of the runners!!!  I have such respect for what you do, and the passion that you have!!! Keep up the amazing work and be proud of what you have accomplished!!! I feel like I am finally a part of a "secret runners club."  I now can talk the lingo and have the Garmin running watch and give a head nod to every runner I see. :)  Happy Training!!!!