Running

(**WARNING: This post is long and all over the place!...a lot to talk about apparently and not enuf time to edit and get it posted!**)

In high school, the most running I did was in basketball.  I absolutely LOVED basketball…but I was not an overachiever who went out running a month before practice started and got some sprints or distance in to condition!  I would wait until that first day of practice and cuss out those crushers under my breath and walk around like an 80-year-old for the first week….what do they even call crushers now because I said it around a high school kid not too long ago and pretty sure they had no idea what I was talking about.

So, after high school and basketball was gone, I pretty much sucked.  Sure, I played co-ed volleyball but any calories I may have burned during that were easily erased by our celebrating afterward…we weren’t necessarily always celebrating winning…..but it was celebrating none-the-less.

I would get a wild hair every so often and try to go out and run a mile….and then I would remember why I that wasn't something I did often.

So, when one of my best friends, Lisa, suggested we try the Couch to 5k program MANY years later, I thought she was crazy. I wasn’t a runner. I didn’t even remotely have a desire to BECOME a runner. I did, however, have a BURNING desire to not buy bigger jeans. So….I took the plunge. It really is a GREAT program for starting out.  I remember the first time I ran 60 seconds straight. It was HARD. It was no joke. And, it was ONE FREAKING MINUTE but it felt like forever. I remember feeling VERY defeated…on many occasions. But, day after day and run after run got a little bit easier. In week 5, you have your first run without any walking intervals. You run for 20 minutes….straight. You would’ve thought someone had told me to go out and run 5 miles. I was honestly so nervous about it because I was certain I wouldn’t be able to do it and I’d quit running all together because I failed. Something happened that day though. I made it. I ran the entire 20 minutes! The rest of the program actually went pretty well after I got through that first run without intervals. Some runs were better than others but I finished.

Since my first 5k training, I’ve ran several races ~ several 5ks, a 10k, a marathon relay and a half marathon. And, after I had Brooklyn, my sister was a HUGE reason I was able to keep running and training. She IS a true runner and the more I watched her run, the more I wanted to. She would often watch Brooklyn for me while I was on her treadmill or outside. She even went on a few runs with me and listened to me complain...probably the whole time. Yes, I was a COMPLAINER for sure and it was probably like snail's pace for her but she was patient and stuck it out with me. I'm over the incessant complaining now but back then if the conditions weren't perfect or I was hurting, you heard about it! It's almost embarrassing to think about what a little baby I was out there!

I think running is the most mentally exhausting yet most exhilarating exercises there is. In the marathon relay, my leg consisted of a mile-long incline to the University of Mary. I’m not even kidding…that thing is a mile long. My headband read “It’s just a hill….get over it.” I ran slow. I ran backwards. I did whatever I could think of and guess what....I got over it and I ended up with a really good time….for me….with those 6+ miles. And, my runners high afterward was seriously amazing. It felt great to look at that thing as we drove back down it later and know I conquered it.

My marathon relay team!

I write about running this week because of the Fargo marathon coming up this weekend. I’m not going this year but ever since doing the Color Dash 5k last weekend, I’m bummed I didn’t decide to try make it work. I instead am going to cheer on some pretty amazing women from afar. My running partner from above, Lisa, is going to be running the half, as are my friends Heather & Debbie. This will be Lisa’s THIRD half marathon! Her first we did together with Courtney & Kaili. (You can read some about Kaili here.)  

 It was one of the best experiences of my life! When we were waiting to start the race and the Star Spangled Banner played, I had tears. And, running through the residential areas of Fargo where people were in their yards & driveways cheering you on with signs and high fives and music was pretty cool. There were people handing out jolly ranchers and orange slices and people who had BEER and Caesar stands! The last 2 or 3 miles of that race were excruciating. I was so close to walking…but I sucked it up and kept running. It was an awesome, amazing feeling running into the Dome to cross the finish line. I can still remember how it felt it and get butterflies to this day when I think of it. Lisa & I ran side by side all 13.1 miles....even though I still say she could’ve easily went ahead of my pace.  

BEERS for our post-race celebrating!

Lisa's second half marathon is a neat story.  She was registered to run in Bismarck but after being derailed from being able to go, she decided she wasn’t going to let all that training end unfinished. So, she mapped out a plan to run the streets of our home town instead. She had a group of followers who cheered her on that day…some even ran parts of it with her. I happened to be out of town for work so I missed it but after the initial disappointment of the original race, I think her race day ended up being pretty awesome. 

 At the FINISH line!

She’s running her third half tomorrow and hasn’t felt like she’s ready but I know she can do it.  It really is true the adrenaline of the experience and the atmosphere will push you. And, she’s always had amazing endurance. AND, I’m of the mindset when it comes to a half marathon, FINISHING is all that matters.

And, I really have to give a shout out to Heather!  She's going to try run even though she's in some pain right now.  AND, Debbie is running for an awesome cause!  Check this out! 

So proud of you ladies and can't wait to follow you on Endomondo tomorrow!

This weekend's runs will be a bittersweet day as everyone finishes another race and celebrates Kaili. I wish I could be there to see everyone running in her honor and celebrating her life. See, she ran the MARATHON there last year. I so admired her for committing to that goal and for knocking out those 26.2 miles! Seriously….just amazing to me.

 So, for those running.....especially those running in memory of Kai....

remember this if it gets tough out there ~