I hated doing laps at volleyball practice. I HATED doing suicides in the gym. I loathed running a mile for the Presidential fitness test. I joined track in Jr high to spend more time with my friends & boyfriend and ended up assigned the distance events since I wasn't a sprinter and I definitely couldn't hurdle.
I always sucked it up, got it done, and finished last. I didn't really care either.
As an adult, I have friends who run. I could never understand people who CHOOSE to run - who pay MONEY to run - and who train tirelessly to travel places like Boston or Chicago to do a marathon. Why on earth would this appeal to anyone??
A couple years ago, my mom was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. Since we lived under the same roof, I agreed to do the diet with her (it's always easier with a partner!) and we started losing weight. The dietician also told her she needed to introduce regular exercise into her regimen so we started walking. Eventually, we started biking too.
I loved the way it made me feel. I especially enjoyed the way it made me look. Mom was losing too and feeling better about herself. She was getting her blood sugar under control and I was fitting into clothes I hadn't worn in quite a while. It was great.
Months & pounds later, I met Calvin. The attraction was instant and I decided I was going to be his girlfriend.
A few dates in, he started telling me about his plans for a ski trip at the end of February. Told me they still had space for a few people and if I was interested, I could tag along. As a bit of a safety net, I got my sister involved and we planned to meet in Houston, drive to Fort Worth, and head on our way to Colorado with a group of new friends.
"By the way," he mentioned, "a bunch of us are running the Cowtown 10K the morning before we leave if you want to join us." Of course I wanted to RUN with him!
Yikes.
My sister, one of those crazy runner types, was absolutely in so if I didn't do it, I'd be the girl who didn't run. Since I wasn't about to let THAT happen, I started running.
That was late January of 2009. I started slow, checking the mileage in my truck to see what the distances in our neighborhood were before running from my house. I'd gotten an iPod that year from my sister so I bought the armband and a pair of Adidas running shoes at Academy. I would walk for a song, and then run for a song. Walk for a song, run for 2 songs. Before I knew what was happening, I could run almost 4 miles without stopping to walk, which was great for me but not for a 10K.
On the day of the race, I nearly froze but I absolutely finished. Crossing my first finish line was such an adrenalin rush! I was proud of myself for finishing the race (even though I had to stop and walk a couple times) and I was excited to share my first race experience with my sister (and new boyfriend).
A few months later, our friends from Snyder were coming to Ft Worth to do the Zoo Run. Again, Calvin asked if I wanted to do it (it was only a 5K this time!) and of course, I said yes. I'm a team player! I even got my boss, Xio involved. She lived in Dallas and I knew she was a runner...
From that moment on, it started to become a little something. Even though I didn't do many races in 2009, I decided to keep running and I even joined a gym.
In 2010, I got the job with Our Father's Children and moved to Ft Worth (hooray!). I had my membership with 24Hr Fitness and lived in a cute little neighborhood with Emily. A perfect neighborhood for running! I'd only been in town a few weeks before I ran the Dublin Dr Pepper 4K with some of my Ft Worth runner friends.
Later in the year (because let's face it - it's stinkin' hot in the summer in Texas!), Katie and I ran the Delaney Vineyard 5K together.
A month later, I ran the Park Glen Turkey Trot.
That was the day I made a commitment to myself for a better lifestyle: I was going to run. Running is free, it shapes the body in ways a gym simply can't, and it gives me a chance to leave the house, clear my head, and get some fresh air. Not to mention, Texas is the state to become a runner since you can do it year-round!
I quit my gym membership for 2011 and decided that money would be better spent on entry fees. I was going to do 12 in '11 - one race a month, varying in distance, location, and cause. My plan was to work up to a half marathon and I'm proud to say, I ran that race on Thanksgiving Day.
Keith is a good runner friend. He did the Chicago marathon and is great for high-fives when he hits the turn-around and crosses my path at 20 minutes behind him.
In 2011, I had so much support from great friends everywhere, cheering me on, commenting on photos, giving me advice, and sending me links for races, it pushed me to keep going and meet this great goal. I lost 15lbs I managed to keep off and built confidence in my abilities for other things.
In addition, I inspired some great things. Emily decided to quit her membership with 24hr AND quit seeing her trainer to start running. I gave her tips on how I got going and she was off! It didn't take her long to sign up for her first 5K (which was the same day as my first 15K) and I couldn't be more proud.
*we both placed 4th in our age group!
When I started getting serious about running, my sister sent me a RoadID. I thought it was a little silly at first but with my penchant for night running, my solidarity, and my choice to run with an iPod vs my phone, it made sense.
After moving to Ft Worth, I needed to update the info on my RoadID and when I got on the website, I saw I had the option of having a 'motivational' line printed. I chose the words "rock steady" because one thing I learned in all my running was to keep a steady pace - if I started too strong, I'd throw my pace and quickly become miserable. If I ran the race for ME instead of running against all the other participants, I knew I could find my stride, keep it strong, and finish steady (with hopes of beating my own time).
For Christmas this year, Calvin ordered a new RoadID for me, complete with my new last name and the letters "HUSB" by his name and number. While he was placing the order, he asked what I wanted the inspiration line to read. I told him to pick something he felt fitted and surprise me.
On Christmas morning, I found a new style of ID and a tag with the verse 1 Corinthians 9:24. I looked it up:
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize"
I love this verse for a number of reasons:
1. The literal translation: run to win.
2. The biblical translation: self-discipline.
3. The following verse: "...they do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever."
Running has changed me. It's changed me physically & emotionally, it's changed my outlook on self-discipline, on diet, and on life. It's molded relationships, it's strengthened friendships, and it's created a lifestyle I want not only for me, but for my family and friends.
Emily and I are doing 12 in '12. While we're not doing the same races each month, we are running. We're running to be fit. We're running to be strong. We're running for the t-shirts (and to justify the cupcakes!). And in 2012, I'll run my first marathon.
Although I doubt I'll ever be one of those "26.2" sticker people :)
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