A History of Running 2.0

So I covered my Glory Days a few weeks back, so I thought this week I would bring my running history to current times.  Shortly after high school, I stopped running all together (let's call it---discovering new found freedoms).  Though there was one day in college where I intended to wake up early on a Saturday to run, only to have my girlfriend (now wife) laugh and laugh.

We hear all of our lives that in our teens and twenties we feel invincible, and at somepoint in our thirties we start to sense our mortality.  That was certainly the case for me.  In January of 2008 I was 33 (almost 34), had two kids (2 and 4), was the heaviest I have ever been in my life 225 lbs, and began to see my mortality.  I was coming to grips with the fact that I have genes that most assuredly means that I will at somepoint in my life suffer heart disease of some sort, so I decided to act.

I still remember the first day I strapped on a pair of running shows and decided to head out on a cold February day.  I could only run about a quarter of a mile or so at a time.  I remember feeling embarrased at the time.  I read something from Hal Higdon that changed my view point, and that is "there is nothing shameful or embarrasing about having the courage to put yourself out there".  So I clung to that statement as I fought through those first difficult several weeks.  As the weeks went by I started to gain more confidence and stamina.  Over the next month I was able to get to the point where I was able to run a three mile circuit without walking.  So clearly the next logical challenge was to compete in a marathon, right?

Well at least in my diranged mind that was the next logical step.  I signed up for the Chicago marathon which was to be held in October 2008.  I had given myself 6 months to train, and I went in thinking baby steps.  Like a good scientist I set up a meticulous running schedule and kept a spreadsheet to track my runs.  Over the next six months I gained strength, lost about 40 lbs, gained confidence, and felt as though I was changing my future.  This was the summer that kick-started my healthier existence.

I will save the details of the marathon for a later post...let's just say it did not go well for now.

I got through my first marathon experience and was still excited about running and have kept it going since.  I battled injury on and off throughout most of 2009, but kept the faith and kept putting myself out there.  I got over my injury around September of last year and have been running on a consistent basis since that time.  This past spring I completed the 500 mini-marathon (meeting my goal time) and this summer I partcipated in a team run across Michigan that challenged my idea of what my body can handle.  Like all things there are days I am more excited about getting out there then others.  It's funny, I often get the most out of the days that I don't want to put myself out there but do (another one of those life lessons I'm sure). 

Scorecard:  A special thanks to my mom and dad for watching the kiddos on Saturday so I could get out and do my long run (17 miles...which went very well).  Weekly mileage hit 35 this week.  I unfortunately have come down with the flu, so am hoping for a quick recovery.