Nearly one year ago my dad registered me for the P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll 1/2 Marathon in Arizona. He’s a seasoned runner who runs 1/2 marathons and other races on a regular basis. At the time, I was a former runner who hadn’t laced up a serious pair of running shoes in over a decade. Plus, when I was actively running (pre-marriage, pre-kids and in my 20s) it was for fitness…and I was a perky size 5/6. I’d never considered running long distances then…or now.
But, I committed to doing the 1/2 marathon and my dad promised to fly out to run it with me. So, in Feb 2007 I started running again. I barely made it around my block the first few weeks. Within a few months I had found a run partner…my neighbor and we started running twice a week for 2 miles a run. Then the sweltering Arizona summer began and despite my desire to stay indoors and enjoy the cool A/C, I rolled out of bed at 6 am (when it was only 98-degrees…not 107) and began adding two to three more days to my run schedule each week. That lasted the entire summer.
Then the days became cooler and shorter. It was pitch dark at 6 am so I used the excuse, “I can’t run alone in the dark,” to keep me from hitting the pavement for my training. I reduced my run schedule to just 2 days a week (when I met up w/ my run partner). I had virtually given up my run schedule by Thanksgiving, but I still ran a 10-mile race in December (I had registered months earlier)…and that nearly killed me! How would I get to 13.1 miles by January?! Thankfully, I met another run partner who kicked my butt in gear and kept me motivated.
Over the holidays we ran an average of 20 miles a week and often did “two-a-days” where we’d run early in the morning and meet up again later that day/evening for strength training. It was intense and I ended up getting shin splints and a sore arch in my foot from all the over-training. The week before the 1/2 marathon I was grounded and couldn’t run. So we swam just about every day that week to maintain my cardio fitness.
By race day, my body was well rested and I had my shins braced with a special wrap and arch supports in my shoes. I was ready! With my dad by my side the entire race, I completed the 1/2 marathon in 2:43:29 — and I ran the entire distance. It wasn’t a record-breaking pace, but I wasn’t the slowest either. Of the nearly 13,000 women who raced that day, I was 7,555th…now that’s some finish! 
So…now I’m a running junkie. Running keeps my body strong, but it also keeps my mind sane. So…today I registered for a Triathlon Training class through the local community college. And I’m already mapping out my racing schedule for 2008. Will keep you posted.
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