The Starting Line

It’s been about a month.

I type that, and I have trouble believing it. It’s been about a month since I last ran.

The last time I ran, I ran 26.2 miles. I wasn’t in the best spirit. I wasn’t in as good shape and I would have hoped. It was cold. It was threatening to rain or maybe even snow. There were moments in my second marathon when I felt like quitting. There were miles where I swore I would never run a marathon again, and maybe even never run again. In the end I set a PR by just under 3 minutes. It was a PR but it didn’t change my mood.

So I took time off.

I decided a month would be a great time to continue with my other fitness passion – barre (more on that later). I decided I was going to reassess what disappointed me about my second marathon. I took notes. I wrote down impressions and observations on everything from my training regimen, to what I ate, to what I wore to how I felt. I realized I love running, and I just need to find a way to make it fun again. I need a new challenge that will provide me with the results I know I can acheive. So, I came up with a plan.

My major race in 2013 will be a half marathon and perhaps a few 10 milers. I’d like to work on speed, and really push myself mentally and physically. This is the year to get fast. This is the year to eat well. This is the year to become a lean, mean running machine.

It all begins today…about a month after I last ran. It’s Election Day when people flock to the polls to have their voices heard. I voted early this morning. I waited in a line for well over an hour. This evening I will ease up to another line – the starting line. Tonight I begin training to become the runner I know I can be. I know it won’t be easy, but I know it will be worth it.

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Hello!

It’s my inaugural blog post … who was in charge of bringing the gatorade and post-race snacks?

To be serious for a moment I’m hoping to use this blog to document my fitness journey. A few years ago (okay, two) on a whim I decided I was going to see how far I could run. Now before you click away off to your other blogs let me tell you something I, like so many people, HATED RUNNING. I don’t know what inside me said I should put on running shoes, but I did. At first, I could only run a mile or so. But after I ran that mile – I celebrated. And I I asked myself a simple question – what if I could run just a little bit  farther?

Fast forward to last year – I finished my first 10 miler. I finished my first half-marathon. I finished my first marathon.

Have I loved every minute of it? No. Have there been times where I want to quit running and eat bowls of ice cream and cake? Of course. But something always brings me back to lacing up those shoes.

My point in blogging isn’t that I am some amazing runner. I’m not. By marathon timing standards, I’m a little better than average. But I have learned a lot about myself through working out. I think everyone deserves to indulge themselves in a little challenge.

I’m also hoping that by blogging my friends and family will keep me on track! Now that I’ve run races I want to get faster! I want to eat better! I want to try new workouts! I want to find out ways to encourage those around me to be fit for their finish lines! So grab your virtual shoes and join me for a run. I promise I’ll let you catch your breath.