How I Started Running Again

               I started running on sidewalks around the city I had just moved into back in September as a way to lose weight. I was doing anything between 3-6 miles at a time. It started to become routine, but not exactly something I enjoyed. I always ran by myself because I didn’t know anyone in my new city and because I had this fear of running with people. However, right before Christmas I went on my first run with another runner that I met through work. We went on a 6 mile run on newly built sidewalks. I was kind of nervous at first because I was worried I couldn’t keep up with my partner. However, it turned into a really good run. I learned more about running through my partner who has been running for years. I learned what 100 mile race was like, a little more about nutrition and got to know my friend some more. That run showed me I could run with someone and have some breathy conversations while doing it. That was new for me, the solo runner who has a huge fear of running with people.

                As New Year’s Day came, I decided to get up and run a 5K fun run around downtown. It was cold, with temperatures in the single digits, but the sun was out. As part of my New Year’s resolution I decided to become more adventurous! This 5K became my first adventure of the year. Up until that point I felt like a slow runner, but as soon as we took off I felt faster. The adrenaline kicked in and I was able to keep up with most of the faster runners in the group. After the halfway point I pushed myself to go faster. I saw a woman in front of me and it became my goal to catch her. Three blocks in I was able to pass her and finish the last half mile ahead of her. I was one of the first 15 people to come in. I was so proud of myself.

               The rest of the day I considered a new adventure, a half marathon. I started looking online for races and found the Pi Day River Rotation. It was 10 weeks away and looked fun. BECAUSE WHO DOESN’T LIKE PIE?

Photo courtesy of Pi Day River Rotation Facebook page.

It was also a trail race, which I didn’t realize at the time. I wanted to do it, but at the same time I wasn’t sure if it was possible. So I asked my running friend. He said it would be easy for me to double my mileage in that amount of time and told me to do it. So I sign-up for my first half marathon that night!