Today, I ran in the 2nd Annual EQT 10-miler. I did the inaugural race last year and felt so incredibly accomplished and amazed at what I did. Me, who couldn't run the mile in high school can now (some days better than others) run some distance.
For those of you unaware of my running journey (or bored and just feel like taking the proverbial trip down memory lane), a few years ago, I told my husband I "just want to run a 5K to say I did it." There was a Koemen 5K coming up and he said (essentially) just sign up and do it. So, I signed up and on Mother's Day 2013, I ran my first 5K. I did better than I expected given I "sort of" trained and had about three outdoor runs in the books. It was an amazing feeling and *gasp* I LOVED it. Running was fun and amazing and I wanted more.
I looked online trying to find another race and seeing if I could find any groups to run with that would welcome me. I sign-up for the Great Race 10K--b/c it's only two 5Ks, right? and then stumbled upon the Fleet Feet Flyers group. I signed up to do a 5-mile map--longest distance for me EVER (at the time). It seemed as though everyone was on a bit of a high from marathon weekend. I was introduced to so many people and found it to be such a fulfilling experience. I ran that race and had an even better time than the 5K four months earlier.
In between, I signed up for the 2013 EQT 10-miler...having never run more than 5-6 miles. I pushed myself through every long run to train. Uphill, downhill, over bridges, through tunnels. Every week, amazed to see the distance go up....7-8-9-10-11!! I ran 11 miles?!?!?! Through it all, amazing friends, great inspiration, lots of lessons learned and a little time alone. Once more, an even BETTER time than the previous two races....and some lost weight while enjoying myself.
A friend kept trying to convince me to do a half marathon. I finally gave in and registered to do the Pro Football Hall of Fame Half Marathon...yet another inaugural race. Black Friday 2013, I signed up for half marathon training. Having been part of some amazing group runs and a long-run training schedule for EQT, I knew it would be good. Result: Awesomeness (I reflected upon this in my "Idiot" post) with a couple "training" races in between.
So...back to today's second running (heehee) of EQT. I had some time to reflect...especially since things started to fall apart. I hadn't trained for EQT much and I knew it would be tough since I was doing nothing to really turn it around. I considered transferring my bib numerous times. But...I couldn't. My friend ran the HOF with me even though she hardly had time to train. It seemed it would be wrong of me to not race when the only reason I wasn't trained was my own laziness and lack of discipline. (Not something legit like...oh...a new job and moving and stuff.)
The other reason I couldn't transfer was I registered for a training program...with a shirt. I could NOT wear that shirt and not run the event it was for. I just couldn't. It would not be right. Sure, I cursed the Coach Karen-worthy hills. But...it wasn't the Karen I cursed or even the hills; it was my own lack of effort on the training hills the weeks before the race.
So really, what this whole rambling bit amounts to is this: Running is what I put into it. It's my race. I crossed that finish line. I got out there; I did it. And why do I not just hang up my Brooks and call it a day? Because I am not going to let the high school non-runner self get the best of me. Because my 5-yr-old wants to be a racer like Mama and she plans to teach me to be fast. (We made a deal that I'd teach her how to run further.) Because my husband--who can't figure out why anybody would want to run let alone run withouth being chased--says "I'm proud of you." Because Karen--whom I admire immensely--said "You are a great runner!" Because....I AM A RUNNER and runners run!
So really, what this whole rambling bit amounts to is this: Running is what I put into it. It's my race. I crossed that finish line. I got out there; I did it. And why do I not just hang up my Brooks and call it a day? Because I am not going to let the high school non-runner self get the best of me. Because my 5-yr-old wants to be a racer like Mama and she plans to teach me to be fast. (We made a deal that I'd teach her how to run further.) Because my husband--who can't figure out why anybody would want to run let alone run withouth being chased--says "I'm proud of you." Because Karen--whom I admire immensely--said "You are a great runner!" Because....I AM A RUNNER and runners run!
