Once upon a time I was a runner . . .

So about 4 years ago I decided I wanted to be a runner and so I set out to become one. I started slow by running as far a I could which ended up being maybe .25 miles before I thought I was going to die! I never gave up though. I would run my .25 and then walk for the rest of the time and eventually I could .50 mile and then .75 mile and eventually I could make it through a whole mile without having to stop and catch my breath.

When I got to that point I started signing up for a few 5k runs thought the track shack which is a local organization her in Orlando that organizes different runs and some of the sign up fees benefit different organization around the Central Florida. I don’t actually remember my first 5k but there have been plenty of them in my running past.

That bigger came in the form of first doing the Tower Terror 15k at Disney in October of 2009. It was actually quite a fun run as the Disney runs usually are. A bonus to this run was that is was at night also, it started at 10pm and after wards you got to hang out in the park for a few hours and ride the rides and have some fun.

After completing that my next goal was a half marathon. I signed up for the Disney Princess Half Marathon for March 2010. I mean what could be a better first half marathon then one where you get to be a Princess!! I trained with my running buddy, my good friend Heather for months. We did 10 mile runs on the trails on Sundays and ran 5ish miles at least 4 other times a week. We were ready to go when the time came, we headed down to Disney the day before to go to the expo and get our race packets and numbers. We woke up the next morning at 3:30 AM to catch the bus to the starting line by 4:30 AM and waited in the freezing cold for the starting time at 6:30 AM. Some one was nice enough to give us one of those runners blankets that look like a huge sheet of aluminum foil to help keep us warm.

We finally headed to our respective corrals and waited to start. I had made a personal goal for myself to finish in 2:30 or less. Seemed reasonable to me for 13.1 miles. I mean it usually only took about 2 hours to finish our Sunday 10 mile runs (at one point I had even run a 10k, 6.2 miles, in 1:05) so it seemed entirely with in reach! When the race began I took off and ran the first 7 miles straight!! Yes no stopping!! That is something I’d never done before and have never done since either. All the way to pretty much the half way point at Cinderella’s castle!! After that I alternated running and walking all the way through the ridiculous overpass they put at mile 11 (seriously!) and to the finish line, I had done it!! I finished my first half marathon and I did it in . . . . 2:34!!! So so close to my goal and I wasn’t too disappointed with that time, for me it was still a great time!

That moment was probably my peak as a runner. When I finished I wasn’t exhausted, I didn’t feel like falling to the ground, my legs were good. I actually felt like I could turn around and do it all again. I thought this wasn’t bad at all I could totally do a full marathon next . . . I didn’t. After that day I decided to take a break from running. That break besides a few 5k’s and one 10k was pretty much indefinite.

I don’t know why I stopped running because aside from the case full of medals and wall of bib numbers I was in the best shape I’d been in in a long time! You would think that would motivate someone right there . . . but sadly it didn’t and I ended up gaining probably 40 lbs back- not so good! (but I’ll get to that later)

About 6 months after that run my cousin asked if I wanted to do that Disney Half Marathon the following January. I hadn’t exactly been running or even working out really much in the last 6 months but I said “of course I’ll do it!” In my head I thought I’ve done one already I’m sure it’ll be fine, piece of cake!” Ummmm not exactly. The point usually is to improve on your time, I instead did horribly worse then I had done the year before and finished at 3:49!! That’s over an hour longer them my first half marathon time!!

After that I just about gave up on all things running or exercise. I had just gotten engaged and as it always goes I wanted to spend my time with my fiance and not at the gym. That was last March 2011 and it only got worse. While I thoroughly enjoyed my year being engaged all they way up to our wedding this past February, I barely worked out, even though we joined a new gym by our house and got a personal trainer to get “ready” for the wedding. Turns out it doesn’t do much good when you only work out on the days you have training and that only added up to 6 days a month!

About a month after our wedding I decided that I needed to be runner again! I needed to get back in shape and work out again. I felt so much better when I ran all the time and ate better. (Side not I had also previously made a list of 30 things to do before 30 and the only thing left on the list was “run a full marathon” and I was turning 30 in June) I decided I needed to suck it up and sign myself up for a run and that way I would HAVE to start running. I could have started small but I use to be a runner I can do this, right? So I went ahead and signed myself up for the West Palm Beach Full Marathon, yes FULL, that’s 26.2 miles!! It’s on December 2nd. When I signed up back in February I figured I had plenty of time to get myself in gear.

I started running a little bit here and there because “I have plenty of time!” That “plenty of time” ran out when July 1st came around and it was for real training time. I downloaded one of those marathon coach apps and I’ve been following it faithfully ever since. I’m quite proud of myself and one day at a time it’s getting easier.

I now have 3 months left to get it together for this marathon . . . . Wish me LUCK and maybe a little inspiration in the comments if you’d like!!