Learning To Be

*Greasy after race photos to come soon-I'm sure you will be biting your nails on the edge of your chair waiting right?*

I have been wanting to run a 1/2 marathon for around a year now. My friend from high school (Ashley) inspired me when she was training to qualify for the Boston Marathon. Needless to say, that's about where I stopped-with the inspiration and minor desire. You see, I have never been a runner (just ask my softball coach who made me run back and forth from 3rd to home until I left the field because I just wasn't fast enough). I was bound to defy all of this though and do a 1/2 marathon. Then reality hit and I realized that I would have to train to do so...hmmm, gotta plan ahead and stick to it? Not really my thing lately, especially with photography and the house (but I digress). Anyways, I discovered that the little town of Pinedale has a 1/2 marathon and 10K....so I think to myself, self-you could do that (at least the 10K anyway). Then I find out I have a photography shoot and all hopes go out the window (really I was quite relieved). The weekend before the marathon I get a call and the shoot is rescheduled, hmmm...no excuse now to be a quitter-so I signed up that next Monday. No time to train (as I am editing photos) so I figured I would just go with it (I had just up and run 5 miles and 8 miles with some friends the month before so I could surely do it again, right?[keep in mind before this the most I have ever run in my life for the sake of running is 1 mile] ). It actually turned out pretty darn well. Race day came and I was a little nervous at the starting line (really mostly because I might trip and everyone would fall over me, or that they might have to drag me off half way) but off I went with my friend Stephanie and her sister Melissa. We kept a good pace for awhile and then I got water and Stephanie took off (she did amazing!). Luckily Melissa stayed with me and we kept a great pace. I didn't finish first, but I didn't finish last. I wasn't as sore or as tired as I thought I would be. Although I never got a runners high (maybe because I was jogging-haha) when I finished I was already thinking about signing up for a 1/2 marathon soon. I don't think I will become a runner, but I am proving to myself that I could if I wanted to-and really that's all it comes down to. You don't have to be born something to be that something-just be it anyway!

Happy Dreams To All My Friends!

Liz

BTW if you want a great race to run-join me next year for the Pinedale Half Marathon (they give post race massages/free shirt/free socks if that is any more convincing!)