You Want Me to Run How Far?

In June of 2010 when I decided to run the Columbus Half Marathon I knew it would be a lot of hard work. I started training on my own and I am not gonna lie, it sucked. It was hot out last summer, really hot. Training in 90+ degree heat isn’t ideal. I was way overweight, completely out of shape and I had just paid money to go run 13.1 miles. I would go to the Y, try to run just a simple 3 miles and I would be out of breath and would have to walk. I hated it. After my first couple attempts at runs, I really knew how hard it was going to be for me to complete the 13.1 mile trek that awaited me.

Us after the race with our finisher's medal. The fishisher's medal
might secretly be the  only reasons I run races, the hardwear!
I wore my medal all day, which is something I do after every race!

But, I still did it. I worked hard, I made it a priority and I set my mind to accomplishing this task. Thankfully, the Lord blessed me with Ashley Stalling, who I have no doubt is the only reason I completed my half marathon without walking. A running buddy made all the difference. I was so proud of myself last October when I crossed the finish line. It was something I had worked hard for and I had finished my task better than I thought I would have been able too. I’m not a fast runner, it still took me 2 hours and 28 minutes to finish it, but I finished it. During that race I remember a girl wearing a T-shirt that said, “Dead last is better than did not finish which trumps did not start”. What a great way to look at it! After the race Ashley and I, along with another member of the Marathon for the Cure Team were interviewed about the race. We were interviewed by an Olympian, but no one bothered to tell us that! Have no fear, you will all be getting an email challenge to join the Marathon for the Cure Team later in the year :)

Since I started talking about “The Year of Awesome” I have had a lot of people say that would like to run a race…. Any thing from a 5K to a full marathon. Well, this is what I am challenging you all to do! May 7^th the Cap City Half Marathon will be happening in Columbus. There is also going to be a ¼ marathon as well as a 5K (3.1 miles) and you should do it! Decide today what distance you are going to do. If you have to walk, who cares, no one is judging! It’s the middle of January and that gives you plenty of time to accomplish this goal. I would love to see as many of my friends at the Cap City Half (or whatever distance you decide to do) as possible.

My dad gave me an article to read the other day about these two guys who are in their 90’s who run marathons. One of them walks with a walker, and he is still doing marathons. A read another article recently about a man who has cerebral palsy who pushes himself with one leg going backwards in a wheelchair and had completed over 16 marathons. Most of us have 2 good legs and are just too lazy to do it. My dad asked me the other day something along the lines of “Do you think you can do that?”, as we were talking about my desire to want to complete a 70.3 (Half Iron Man) and I said, “Well, I think there are lots of things I can do if I just train myself to do it”. His sneaky reply was basically, “Well, I can’t put a computer together,” I just replied, “If I tried hard enough and learned how to do it I could”. He just smiled that smile of encouragement I have been blessed with my entire life. I am honestly starting to believe when it comes to things like this, most people can do most things, as long as they work hard enough to do them.

So, will you join me? I will be glad to have people join me on runs or answer any questions people have. I’m not an expert, but I bet we could figure something out. There is a local running club at the Y that meets on Saturday mornings. Its free, you don’t even have to be a Y member. It has people who are all out trying to accomplish the same goals that you are! Decide today what you are going to do, then do it.  

http://www.capitalcityhalfmarathon.com/ - Check it out and get signed up! This is a reasonable race that is going to be flat. There are all sorts of distances you can run.You are way more likely to actually do it, if you are signed up and training for it. If you don't have a date picked out, it will never happen.

"The hardest part about running is putting on your running shoes and walking out your front door." - Mike Coder