Sixteen months, two 5Ks and 40 lbs ago, I was certain that 1) I would never run so much as a mile and 2) I would be perpetually fat.
My first blog entry was titled "I Like the Idea of Being a Runner". When I wrote it, I knew I had a lot of work ahead of me. This picture of me at Devil's Lake, looking up at the the journey ahead, is a perfect was to show how I felt. The thing I didn't understand back then was that it's impossible to reach "the top" in running. There's never a point where you just quit feeling uncomfortable or feel like you've achieved everything you can achieve. You can always get faster and run farther, and you always need to train. It's not a matter of "becoming" a runner or being a runner, because there is no defined point to reach that makes you "a runner". It's a process, and it's a never-ending one.
I haven't kept up with this blog as much as I planned to, but that's because running is kind of a boring thing to write about. My experience at the gym is always the same. How many times can I complain about the lukewarm water at the SERF and how uncomfortable I am when I run? And how many times do you want to read about that? Really, the only thing that changes is the distance I'm running each time. Just sixteen months ago, running a half mile was an achievement to be proud of. Last week, I ran 4 miles (at a place of about 11min, but still).
I'll be running my third 5K on March 13th with my parents (& my 10-year-old sister will be walking) and I'm really excited. During my first two 5Ks, I had to stop and walk for a little bit. I think my time was about 38min for both. Judging by my 4miles in 44min (although there was no incline), I should be able to run the entire time and finish in about 33 min. Accounting for hills, maybe a little longer. We'll see.
I'm also thinking of signing up for Crazylegs (8K on April 30th). Since I've never run 5mi, I'm still not sure about that one, but like I said, the journey is never over when it comes to running. After finishing this 5K, I still won't be satisfied. I'll need to run an 8K, then a 10K, then a half-marathon and so on. I guess being a runner doesn't mean that you've reached a certain point, or "the top", it just means that you've learned to love the never-ending process of getting there.
