And So I Ran

In middle school I really hated gym class. It wasn’t SO much the actual exercising as it was the too-tight uniform shorts I had to wear.

I was NOT fond of track and field though, and remember feeling relieved that I was out sick on the day that we had to do hurdles. I was a heavy-set kid and I just didn’t even think I would make it over and didn’t want the embarrassment if I did a face plant right there in front of all of my friends (and some girls who were decidedly NOT my friends… ifyouknowwhatImean).

I ran a lot in at that age, as a full back on my soccer team. If you know that position in soccer you know that it is a lot of back and forth on the field because you’re kind of in the middle/side of the field, trying to the keep the ball out of your own goalie’s area, while also trying to get it to the forwards’ on your own team so they can get a goal.

And so I Ran.

And for the most part, I hated it.

My favorite thing in gym class in middle school? Archery. So cool.

My favorite thing about soccer? Not much.

I played because it did have it’s fun moments, I enjoyed socializing with my teammates, my Dad coached and the pizza parties were good.

But those damn shorts never did fit me. NEVER. (too many pizza parties??)

I say all this because I want to share with all of you that read here that I never, EVER would have thought that I would run RUN (redundancy intended). Certainly not for pleasure and/or exercise.

I’m not sure what came over me back in the Fall of 2008 but my friend Kami is a runner and she inspired me to do the Couch to 10K program and so I did. Mostly.

I ran my first 5K (and only one actually…) at the beginning of January 2009. And then, on the 31st of that month, I found out I was pregnant. And since I did not really consider myself a “runner” I pretty much stopped running and well, exercising in general for the pregnancy a while.

Thinking back, I’m pretty sure I originally made the decision to try running just to see if I could do it. I mean, it doesn’t hurt to try, right?

And so back in the Spring when I started to go on this journey of weight loss, I started running off and on again. But it was REALLY hard at first. And then the weight started coming off mostly because of my new diet. And it’s amazing how much easier it is to run when you are 20+ lbs. lighter. 🙂 It’s easier for me now but not EASY for me. Does that make sense?

And I knew the more weight would come off with running.

And so I Ran.

Then, five weeks ago a friend brought up a 10K race here in town and I thought “Maybe I could do it”. And when she sent me a message on FB and asked if I was really up for it, I figured I was and responded, “Let’s do it!”

And so I Ran.

I completed my first 10K on Saturday morning and I have to say it was NOT “a walk in the park” for me. It was HARD. I won’t lie. Especially that last mile, since I had run only 5 miles twice, prior to the race. And, at the beginning of mile four I got a side stitch and so I had to walk for longer than I had hoped.

But, I finished in 1:13:54 and that was only about 4 minutes longer than I’d hoped, so it’s all good.

I still don’t consider myself a “runner”.

I used to say I’d never run more than a 5K. But I did.

So, what’s next?

I don’t know for sure.

My Achilles on my right foot still bugs me off and on and was pretty sore yesterday after the race.

But at this point, I’m just really proud of myself for doing what I did yesterday.

And we’ll just have to see where I can go from here…

p.s. thanks to all of you who left comments on my FB post. You made my weekend. 🙂