That #Running Girl: Thoughts to run a marathon

I always swore I would never run. Never….. EVER. Although I was the Assistant Coach for our high school track team, it wasn’t because of the run. Nope, not at all. It was because there was a room full of boys. I was the girl who smoked and hid on the side of the building while everyone finished their 1 mile. As the last runner was trotting in, I walked the rest of the way. I didn’t understand at that time the importance of my health or the benefits that running gives.

To celebrate the New Year, I (with hopefully other fellow people) made a long list of resolutions. This year has been a turning point. Not only in myself but our society, nation and world as a whole. Not to mention the turning point of 2013 but I strongly believe great changes are coming about to everyone. This year, I decided I’m actually going to follow through with my resolutions. (Hey, check that out!) I usually write a nice list and call it a day but this year is different.

One of the items on my list was to run a 5k. I remember being a tiny child and staring at a picture on my grandmother’s table. A beautiful picture of my grandfather and grandmother crossing the finish line at their own 5k. Little did I realize was how inspiring this picture was to me. They looked proud, accomplished and happy. Arms in the air as if to shout, WE DID IT!

I put this on my list because I want my kids to say, “Look at my mom. Look what she has accomplished.” I want them proud of me too. I want them to know that no matter how old you get, you can still win medals and do amazing things in your life. It doesn’t end with high school baseball or cheerleader. That’s just the beginning.

I first decided to run a race on one of my favorite holidays, St. Patrick’s Day. So I ran the Kelly St. Patrick’s Day Shamrock race. I goofed around a lot and two weeks prior, I decided to “study up” on my running. Guess what…I made it.

Now, please don’t get all huffy puffy on what my time was. I will share but it’s nothing fabulous. It was 39:54. You see, this was a bucket list fulfillment. I just wanted to do it so I could say I did it. So, that’s what I did.

I didn’t really care about this “timing” thing. Just to mark it off my list. As I got home, I gave myself a high five and pat-on-the-back and really didn’t think about it again.

I did have a lot of friends say to me, “I know you’re hooked! You want to run again, don’t ya?” Well no, I really didn’t however, I will admit that I enjoyed and loved my run very much.

As I was running down our first hill at Rash Field in Baltimore, I got to see an amazing, beautiful line of runners all in green and that was most inspiring. As I was coming up the “hill of death” I wasn’t feeling the love so much until something great happened. There was a little wall that divided the runners coming down to the runners coming up. I started cheering and giving high fives to the people going down the hill. I would yell, “You got this!” and somehow this inspired me to move up the hill a little bit faster. I took in every breath I could at that race. It was one of those perfect days. The weather wasn’t too hot nor too cold. The sun was out in my face and I could feel the positive vibrations jumping back and forth between all the runners. It was great. After some time, I saw the finish line and happily crossed. My husband was at the end, waiting with a big smile and cheering me on.

You would think this would have turned me on to running indefinitely but it didn’t. I just felt relieved that I accomplished an item from my resolutions. That was all.

After a few weeks, something even crazier happened. I signed up for my second 5k. Why are you asking? Yup, I asked myself then same thing.

Again, as the clock ticked down and with two weeks to spare, I decided to run, once. I know..right? I will shake my head for you, there’s no need for us both to do it! To make matters worst, I ran 2 miles the night before my race just to see if I could still run! (PS Rookie mistake!) Running  the night before caused me slightly sore legs to start out with. I woke up at 3 am and gave myself the excuse that I was sick and yet I didn’t even cough! At 5:30, when I had to get up, I tried coughing but it didn’t work. I was having a mental break down.

This race was much harder than my first. I was working myself up because I had nobody to cheer me on and I didn’t prepare. I didn’t even want to go knowing there was nobody at the end of the finish line. I was bummed. I was running the Baltimore Women’s Classic with girls I knew but they were going with their families. I just wanted mine. Under the circumstances, it didn’t work out.

I decided to push myself past that and still go. I was going for me. This is something that I choose to do for myself so why feel bad about it? I geared up and met my wonderful and inspiring lady friends.

Guess what I did…I ran! And then I walked … and then ran again….and then walked…and then grabbed a drink! lol. I had a blast! The community came out of their city homes and cheered us on LOUD and PROUD. I felt great. I saw the end and still wanted more. This was probably my favorite race of the two.

The feeling I get after a race is liberating, accomplished, successful, proud! The time didn’t matter to me, the only thing that did matter was that I finished it. I finished it! I finished it! I finished it! AND it was FOR ME.

I will admit, when my mom called to tell me she was waiting for me at the finish line, that totally put a smile on my face as well. Yup, someone actually could make it to see me finish! My mom and I are really close so it was amazing to share in the experience with her. Who knows, maybe she’ll run with me one day too?

So after my second race, you think I’m hooked? Oh yes, I’m hooked. I want more. I’m not going to rest until I run a marathon. I know, I gulped myself! I just want it badly now. I want to finish what I started to do and I will. I never thought of myself being that running girl but I’m happy to be her now. Besides my family being proud of me (just like I am proud of my grandparents), I want to be proud of myself. Yes, this means I will actually work for it!

There is a program online that I’m starting to get me there. I want to share my experiences with you but I definitely need some cheerleaders. I hope you join me in this new amazing chapter in my life.

– Mama