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This Runner's Story

I was one of those girls who found an excuse to go to the nurse's office on the days we did any running in P.E. I didn't play any sports in high school (other than a serious game of powder puff football my senior year), and I didn't really exercise until I gained the freshman 15 (plus some) in college. I started doing step aerobics my final year of college, and my resulting weight loss and toned legs motivated me to certify as a group fitness and yoga instructor. I taught classes for a few years, while also sometimes getting in a workout on the ellipical or bike at the gym. I pretty much avoided the treadmill. Running was about the last thing in the world I wanted to do. Although I was in pretty good shape, running made me feel like I was going to die right there in front of my fellow gym-goers.

While I was no longer teaching fitness classses when pregnant with my first child, I continued working out regularly. Again, mostly on the elliptical machine. When my baby was three months old, I participated in a 5K that is held in my city every June. While it took about 45 minutes to complete, I enjoyed pushing my little girl in the stroller and chatting with my cousin as we counted down the miles. As I crossed the finish line, I realized seeing all those runners pass me had planted a little seed. For some reason, I wanted to actually run that same race the following year. Run?? Me???

I started slow. I walked more than I ran at first. Slowly my walking versus running started to even out; one day I could finally run three miles without walking. And I did run the same race the next June (2007).

Fast forward a few years and another pregnancy/baby later...

Last weekend I completed my first 10K. My longest run to date is 7 miles, and my runs no longer include any walking. I will tackle my first 1/2 marathon in August and am holding my breath to find out the New York lottery results, which could mean my first marathon this November.

This blog is my running story. Here you will see my successes, as well as my failures. Follow me on my journey, and feel free to share your comments!!

Comments

  1. Hi Candace, glad you found me! I am very excited to follow your running journey! Funny how the running bug can bite even those who HATED running (I was one of those who had said, "Run?! Yea right! I will only run if someone's chasing me!" Looks like life's been chasin' me b/c I *love* running! (But here are my words of caution -- please don't over do it! I got tendinitis in my right knee RIGHT before my 1st marathon was scheduled and I wasn't able to run it! it was a total bummer! I want you to run yours!!!)

    Annabel
    www.FeedMeImCranky.com

    ReplyDelete

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