Running - My Story

I'm writing this story of my running -- - because I may now be in the Club called "people who are runners". First, the picture is NOT me.....but in my mind's eye, it's how I look while running, standing tall, confident...skinny....

The reason I may now be in the Club is this -- I was running my three loops through the neighborhood yesterday morning and I passed two of my neighbors...walking...they were like, "hey...oh, running, way to go!"....I keep running......I pass them AGAIN, on my second loop.....they are obviously impressed....asking me how far I'm going to go....I say, "oh, about 3 miles"...all casual...like I do it every day and I'm not dying, huffing, puffing....and again, they are impressed! Huh...I'm one of THOSE girls!! *secret sly smile*

Here is the back story. I realize last Fall that I'm not really thin (shocker!) and that I am not really that fit (double shocker).....so, I start going to this class at my gym called "Athletic Training". This is taught by "Walt" also known at the gym as "Dr. Evil". Well, long story kinda short, this class is a killer, it kicks my ass....cardio, weights, plank, push=ups, abs...you name it, one whole hour of hell.....BUT, here is where it gets good......after about 3 or 4 months of this weekly class, it starts getting a little easier, I feel myself getting stronger, more fit. So...I think, my legs are stronger, maybe I should run.

More back story - I am not a runner. In fact, I HATE running. I hate my legs hurting, I hate my lungs being on fire - I hate it! But, other people close to me love it -- Lynn, Mark, Tamra and most of all Bill (who lost 30 pounds running!). So...I start to run....little bits at a time, with walking. I hear about a 5K that my friend Channin is running (she also is fairly new to running) and I train for the 5K. I run the 5K, in under 40 minutes too! I like it (NO, I don't LoVe it!)...but it's OK.

Now....I've been running at least 1 or 2 times a week. In the neighborhood, on the canal, or at the track with Bill. I'm running the Pat Tillman run on Saturday -- -it's 4.2 miles....more than I've ever run at one time. I'm nervous - - can I do it?? I think I can....because I'm a RUNNER now.