Where I'm At

I started running in April, only because my husband decided to run a 5K, something that I have always wanted to do. Also, the mid-thirties-and-I've-had-two-kids body was starting to settle down with me and make itself at home. I never expected to enjoy it at all, more like expected it to be like cleaning the house, you do it because you have to, because you feel guily if you don't. But running over the past six months has become my escape plan, my way to get out somewhere where no one needs me, or even if they do, they can't find me. It is so freeing to just....run! I love the feeling when I first set out, I always feel like I can go forever. I love the feeling of accomplishment when I'm done. But most of all, I love that I can DO this! I worked my way up mile by mile, until I was able to run a half marathon two weeks ago. In the meantime, I have had and gotten rid of shin splints, had two of my toenails fall off, been given a heart attack three times by random dogs, and run 5 miles with a bloody foot and not noticed. I have lost 18 pounds to date and now can run up two flights of stairs without getting out of breath (at all!!!). My goal is to keep going, and run a whole marathon by this time next year. I know that to keep going, I need to have a way to be accountable to myself, so this is it! I should add that I know very little about how to run correctly, what kind of gear to wear (I ran for the past six months in running shoes a size too small, hence my freakish lack of toenails and bloody foot.), so this should be interesting. I have a lot to learn, but that's the best - learning something new! And fun.