Happy National Running Day!!

Exercise - 
Ran 3.1 miles

Today is National Running Day and I've been thinking a lot about what running means to me. I started running in January 2012. I had tried (and failed) the couch to 5k program a few times before this, usually making it no further than week 3. The last time I had tried it was probably in October of 2011. I had made a new years resolution that I really wanted to complete the program... I was trying to lose a bunch of weight and figured that this was going to be what would finally make me lose all of the weight. I started on January 3rd and could BARELY make it the 45 seconds without feeling like I was going to pass out/throw up/die (more like all of the above). I remember the day that I ran my first mile.. I'm not sure exactly what day it was because it wasn't the plan to run a mile that day. I believe that I was supposed to run 8 minutes or something like that - so it was probably week 3. I got to the 8 minute mark and I was like "I can do this, I think I can run a mile" and I kept going. I remember being so proud of myself that I called my mom to tell her that I ran my first mile. Now I know that this is not a big accomplishment, but to me it was. I had never run a mile before - not even in high school gym class. When others were running the mile, I always elected to walk around the track or the gym, because "I couldn't run - I'm too overweight and out of shape to run". HA! I was more overweight in January 2012 when I ran my first mile than when I was in high school doubting myself. 

I kept progressing in the training. When I got to the point where I could run 2 miles, then 3 miles, it was like it was the best thing ever - I've never been more proud. I had signed up for my first 5k with my friend Sarah. By the time I made it to 3 miles, I decided that it was probably time to start running outside. I naively thought that it could not be more difficult than what I was doing on the treadmill. WRONG! Had I known what I knew now, when I was training on the treadmill, I would have adjusted the incline to a 1 or a 2 in order to make the transition easier - but I hadn't known that, so basically the treadmill was doing most of the work for me. The first time that I ran outside, I found it hard to regulate my pace, I ran the fastest mile I had run up to that point, but then couldn't go any further. I eventually learned how to regulate my pace. My husband, boyfriend at the time, used to run cross country and he suggested that I stop running with music. He said that it could help me focus on my breathing. At this point, this was the most absurd thing I think that I had ever heard. But I decided to give it a try. It was definitely an adjustment for a few weeks (like it was running outside), but I have never looked back since. 

Sarah & I at the start of our first 5k!

 After that first 5k, I became very inconsistent with running - I think that I need to have a specific running goal in order to not lose momentum. I decided to sign up for the Ribfest 5 miler. Sarah signed up for it with me. 

At the start of the 5 miler

Sarah and I finishing the 5 miler!!

If I can do a 5 miler, then I can do a 10k, right?! A few short weeks after the Ribfest 5 miler, I ran my very first (and to date only) 10k. It was on the 4th of July and benefited Big Brothers Big Sisters. This race was tough for me because I am a very slow runner (more of like a jogger). Most of the time this is not an issue because there are typically ALWAYS walkers at the races; however, the walkers all did the 5k. But I was determined to not walk (as I hadn't in my two previous races) and not be last. I believe that there were only 2 MAYBE 3 people behind me - but I was NOT last and I did not walk - so I was happy. This was also the first race that I had done by myself. They had already started the awards ceremony by the time that I finished. 

I finished the 10k!

 This is the last race that I did this summer. I was supposed to do another one either in July or early August. However, I woke up that morning sick and I ended up canceling on Sarah. Sarah still ended up doing it and said it was super hot, hilly and NO water stations, so I'm glad that I stayed home that day. I had decided that I wanted to do a half marathon in the fall. There were a lot of people that called me crazy - but I really wanted to do one, and thought that I could. I mean, it's only double what I had just done in July and I still had a few months to train. I decided to join the Runner's Alley half marathon training group. Best.Decision.EVER! It kept me accountable because I paid money to join the group, and I had people that I needed to meet up with every week. It was also nice because it was structured to the point that we weren't increasing our distance much each week, but enough to the point where I knew that I'd be right on track. Up until the point of mine and Sean's wedding, I was right on track. Running exactly what I needed to run, not needed to stop for waking breaks. Unfortunately, I ended up missing close to 3 weeks of training with the wedding, the honeymoon, then I got an AWFUL sinus infection right when I got back. This was the point where I started struggling. 

In September, a couple of weeks when I was back from our honeymoon, I ran a 5k with  my friend Brittany - her first! This was a "road race" sponsored by our work. I use the quotation marks when referring to it as a road race because literally maybe .2 miles of it was on the road. The rest was on a trail and probably the last .75-1 mile was all up hill on a trail that was not packed down. At one point, I came pretty close to tripping over a root! I was definitely NOT prepared for this race. It was called a road race, and while I knew that it was on a trail, I hadn't realized it wouldn't be a packed down trail the whole way. I will definitely prepare more for next year! 

Coworkers after the race!

Brittany and I after the race

This race was the last one until my half marathon. After I had taken 3 weeks off from running (wedding, honeymoon, getting sick etc), it was definitely hard to keep progressing with my training. Everybody else in the group was moving forward, and I had regressed. I stuck with it and ended up walking/running the half. 

Before the Race

I finished!!

My Mom & Dad

My loving husband - who has only missed a couple races

My sister in law came out too!

And also my mother in law and brother in law!

in laws!

After the half marathon, I wasn't able to run for close to 4 months because I was healing from a stress fracture. During this four months, not only did I gain back a ton of weight - but I was really frustrated that I couldn't run. When I was able to finally start running again, it was a tough experience. I could barely run just over half a mile. I had signed up for a race in February - the snowflake shuffle - and I ended up having to walk a lot of it. I ended up running into my friend Jess, as well as a few people that did the half marathon training group.

Jess & I get some hot chocolate after the race!

Sarah and I had signed up for the 5k where it all started one year before. I was super bummed because last year we had said we wanted to do the half marathon this year, but I had to accept that it just wasn't possible. I couldn't believe that I forgot about all of the hills!! Especially the one RIGHT before you go into the finish. I also had to take a few walking breaks for this one. 

 At the end of April, I did a 5.6 mile charity run with Savannah. Obviously since I was walking through 5ks, I was not ready to run almost 6 miles. However, it was the charity that was set up for Officer Maloney who was a police chief that was shot, and killed, acting in the line of duty. The run was from Portsmouth NH police department to Greenland NH police department. I was happy to do a race with Savannah, because we kept saying that we "needed to do it" and then never did. I'm positive that she could have ran much faster than I am and done the whole thing with no walking breaks, but she stayed by my side the entire time and we finished together. She pushed her daughter Paige in the stroller. We actually got interviewed by the Union Leader and appeared in an article on the race - Savannah was quoted!

The following weekend, I ran my first ever Cinco De Mayo race. And so many people that I know were running it! The course was extremely hilly, so I had to walk. But they gave you a free margarita after - and beer, but I didn't drink that. I definitely had to walk on this one! The hills were insane. 

Kelly & I before the race

Mike (Brother in law) and I before the race - his FIRST 5k

Vicki, Suzanne & I before the race

Mom's Run This Town - Greater Manchester running group

Finishing

At the end of May, I did my first ever back to back race weekend. I did the Color Vibe with my friend Kelly. I was supposed to meet up with a few other people there, but they were so busy I didn't end up seeing like anybody that I knew. On Sunday the 26th, I ran a 5k for Runner's Alley (the store that does the half marathon training group). It was a charity run. I ran that with my friends Sarah and Christina, as well as Christina's friend. 

 

Last week I did a 6k with my sister Heather (race recap to come, so I won't say too much about it!) But it was great having her to do it with me - and of course - some pictures! 

 Running has been so great to me. Over the past 18 months, I have grown so much as a person. Running has caused me to really put myself out there and meet some new (hopefully lifelong) friends and running partners. I was definitely nervous joining the HM training group on my own, and then joining the Mom's running group (especially since I'm an imposter - sort of!). I have had the opportunity to share my love of running with so many people that I care about. I have been reminded again just how blessed I am. I have a husband who puts up with my very expensive purchases for this running habit - even if he thinks that I don't necessarily NEED the running gear - and who has missed maybe two of my races since I started (for good reason). I have a family, including in-laws, and friends who have come out to support me at some of my races. And on top of all of this, I CAN RUN. I may not be the fastest (or even moderately paced), and I may be inconsistent and need to walk sometimes, but I am so blessed that I have the ability to run. Running has literally changed my life.

Happy National Running Day!! Looking forward to many more runs! 

Question - what is YOUR running story? And what does running mean to you?