The Birth of my Blog!

Greetings! I'm very excited to introduce you to my blog. I have created it as a way to log my journey through the training experience for my first marathon! I will be beginning my training soon and want to hear from you with comments, suggestions, and most of all encouragement!! I plan to focus on things like nutrition, cross-training, stretching, hydration, sleep, and finding out what I DON'T already know about running. This is a learning experience! I admire all types of runners, fast or slow...it's about getting the job done and crossing the finish line!! Here's a little background about me...the summer of 2008 my husband came home and declared we should sign up for a gym membership at our local YMCA. I told him he was crazy...gym memberships are a waste of money, and besides, who has the time (or desire) to exercise!?!? Well, he disagreed. We agreed to disagree, and proceeded with taking advantage of the recent "discount" on initiation fees at our local gym. The sign up fee was waived and the family was signed up! To my surprise, the gym's appeal came early on. I began to explore the group class schedule and found that I was both interested and able to attend a few different classes such as yoga, spinning, and pilates. Before I continue, let me describe myself to you so that you understand my previous exercise experience. Let's see, how can I say this....it was ZERO, nada, nothing, non-existent!!!! I had never done much of anything that involved cardio, except rushing a sales rack at the local TJ Max. This may come across comical, but my baseline was pathetic. However, I tend to be overly confident and up for a challenge...so I began my first pilates class with a sense of optimism. Wow. I was in for a workout...it kicked my butt!! Over time, I kept going and found each class getting slightly easier than the last and I was ENJOYING it. During the class, I found myself thinking about how much longer I could "hold the pose", instead of my daily drama or what I should cook for dinner. The gym became my outlet for time for ME. It became my hobby....and I was seeing progress in my stamina and improved mood. I even started running on the treadmill! Fast forward to the following year, when I decided to register for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 60 mile, 3 day walk. I registered for a local half marathon in an effort to see how I would withstand such mileage, and about 5 minutes into the race I decided to run. I ran and ran and ran. To my surprise, I ran nearly the entire race stopping only for short breaks around mile 10. I crossed the finish line and was draped with a medal?!?! I had no idea I was entitled to a medal! "How cool is that!", I proclaimed. Not only did I already get a free shirt, but now a medal! From that moment on, I was hooked. I completed a 15k and another half marathon that year...along with the beginning of a collection of medals. In an effort not to injure myself, I had to stop running in order to prepare for the 3 day walk. But not only myself, my husband and my mom joined a team of wonderful men and women all walking for the cure. My previous year of exercise experience helped to prepare me for the walk. The rigorous training we endured pushed us along a hot summer of long,long walks. We all crossed the finish line together after almost 600 miles of training over 24 weeks. In November of 2009 I laced up my running shoes again. It felt great to hit the pavement. As much as I despised watching the sunrise during our training walks, I found myself refreshed and ready for a new challenge. As I was approaching my 30th birthday, I knew I had to set a new decade of challenges for myself. One of which was to complete a full marathon. So far, 2010 has included 2 half marathons and an upcoming 15k. There have been aches and pains and a recently healed foot injury resulting in tarsal tunnel syndrome. I take each day as it comes. I have learned to listen to my body and treat it with respect. I am so eager for what this year has in store for me. And I am eager for your thoughts and ideas on how this experience can be more enjoyable for me as my first really big run!