Another Running Post-It's Official

Happy New Year's Eve people!

Last night, I decided I better get myself in gear and book our hotel for the half marathon in February. It's New Orleans, it's Mardi Gras month, hotels are few and far between.  I may have forgotten to register for the half, too. I didn't really forget, I just put it off and put it off, to avoid spending the $119.00 registration fee. Wah wah, I'm cheap.

So last night, I officially made my payment and I officially can't chicken out and run in the opposite direction of the start line, straight back to the hotel to cover myself up to my eye balls till the race is over.

This girl is crawling across the finish line whether it takes me 3 hours or 4. I say that because that's the maximum allowed time to complete it, and I literally may be crawling across (must remember to pack knee pads.)

I am still a slow runner. But I am running longer distances than ever before, so I'll take it.

6 months ago, I couldn't run 10 minutes on a treadmill. I couldn't even run 2. My goal would always be to run a minute, walk 5. I didn't push myself, because I would never ever become a runner. I was too slow, too big, couldn't catch my breathe. I was over 200 pounds and miserable, even at rest. Then I reconnected with my fabulous friend, Leigh Ann, who had lost a ton of weight the healthy way, and she inspired me to become a runner. She told me about how her gym was starting a Running Clinic to train to run a 5k. Here was my chance. I started couch to 5k months before on a treadmill but never finished.

The day she realized the clinic was set up to run a 10k, she was scared to tell me. I had talked her head off so much about how scared I was for a measly 5k, that she didn't even want to tell me it was double that! I slowly ran my first 10k and could not have felt prouder of myself. I was on Cloud Nine for days. I can only imagine the high after crossing the finish line at my first half marathon. I say first because I plan to run several. And I will get faster and I will get better.

I must confess I have missed runs in my training plan. Sickness and the holidays got the best of me, but I'm back at it, full force.

I will run more. I will push myself. I will make me and my running a top priority. 2013 will be a good, healthy year and I cannot wait.

 

 

I am not one to make New Year's Resolutions. I will promise myself something though.

I will no longer cheat myself by quitting before my 3.5 mile run is up, by walking before I need to, by putting off my run till it's too late and it's time for bed. I will give it all I have and feel proud and strong through out this journey. I will have bad runs (Like Saturday's) and good runs, but I won't let individual performances affect my progress. I will get out what I put in and I plan to put in a hell of alot.

 

February 24th will change my life. I will participate in the New Orleans Rock n Roll Half Marathon. I won't be standing on the sidelines, I'll be crossing the finish line. Are any of my readers running this one? Let me know! I'd love to meet you, and who doesn't want to spend a weekend in New Orleans?! We will be there from Friday afternoon (the 22nd) until the afternoon of Sunday, the 24th. Who's down?