My Running History

I am a runner. I am not a jogger. The difference between a runner and a jogger is that a runner enters and finishes races. I have been told what I do is not running. Of course, it is usually by a non-runner. Do I run fast? Not very. I have finished races. I have not necessarily "won" any races, but to me, by finishing, I have won. Let me tell you a little about my journey to becoming a runner. After my third (and last) child, I was pushing 200 bills. Not good. I woke up one day and said I cannot go on this way. I cannot be this heavy. I cannot be this unhappy with myself. With the support of my AWESOME husband I ended up losing 65 pounds. 15 pounds have managed to find their way back to me, but that's another story. Anyway, after I lost my weight, I said to my husband one day, I want to start running. After he picked himself up off the floor due to his fit of laughter, he went with me to the high school track. I ran one lap (1/4 mile) and collapsed on the ground. My legs were burning. My lungs were burning. My head was throbbing. I had no idea how hard it was! I went back the next day, the next day, and every day after that. Eventually (again, with the support of my AWESOME husband and my BFF Tara) I was able to run 1 mile around the track! Then I started running to the track from my house, running 1 miles, then running home. I kept it up and after 6 weeks I finished my first 5k. I have been running and finishing races since. I so far have finished several 5ks, one 10k, 2 half marathons and 1 XC (extreme challenge). I will be training for my 3rd 1/2 marathon (held in January in St. George.), then my next big training will be for (hopefully) the St. George marathon in October of 2009. I hope the one thing you will get out of reading my blog is this: if I can go from 1/2 mile to running a 1/2 marathon, anyone can! Happy Blogging. Run on my friends, run on.