Sunday, February 24, 2008

When did this happen!?!

I was doing my "long" run yesterday as part of my team's training for the Country Music 1/2 Marathon in April and it hit me.

Holy Crap - I've become a runner!

When did this happen? It literally snuck up on me.

I mean, I know I've been "in training" for several weeks now, but I don't think the realization that I may actually become a runner ever hit me til now.

See, I'm 5'2". I weigh one hundred-mumble-mumble. I would consider myself "athletic" as I've worked out fairly consistently over the years, but I don't have that lean, mean body most runners have. I really shouldn't be a runner. NOTHING about the way I look says "Runner", but - you know what...none of that matters.

I've realized I don't have to have the "look" of a runner to be one. I've realized the fact that I consider myself a runner on the inside is what does matter as that is what keeps me going.

I'm literally AMAZED each week at my long runs that my body can do what I ask it to.

I ran 5 miles yesterday! I know for many of you that is not a long distance at all, but - for me - that is probably the longest I've ever run at one time. And it felt great! I finally realized that I can actually finish the 1/2 marathon. Now - I don't have any high aspirations of winning it, but at least I feel confident enough to cross the starting line and that is half the battle.

5 comments:

Crumbs said...

Yeehaw! Good for you!
I swear, the only thing that seems to say "Runner" about me is the bumper sticker on the back of my car, but I still think of myself as one.
Congrats on signing up for the Full 13.1 miles! Perhaps we'll meet in the back of the corral, I'm flying up for it.

Anonymous said...

I echo crumbs! Rock on!

SeeMommyRunandBoxandCraft said...

Wanna know a secret?
Shhhhhhhhhhhhh....

We all think this way for a very long time. Heck, most of us never really feel like a true runner.
And even more of us never feel like we LOOK like a true runner.

So it is a darn good thing that we have each other to shake around and say, "YOU ARE STRONG AND BEAUTIFUL....AND YOU ARE A RUNNER, GIRLFRIEND!"

I would love to be there cheering for you and crumbs.

A bunch of us will be running a race in Alexandria, VA the very next day GW Parkway Classic 10-Miler(like 30-40 seeMOMMYrun members from all over the region -- all shapes, sizes, ages, and paces).

We'll virtually be cheering for you!! And you'll inspire us to ROCK on Sunday!

channelmarker said...

Hey! I could've written that blog Shelley! Thanks for helping me see that it "isn't just me"!!!
I'll be at that 10 miler with Andrea then the Zooma 1/2 marathon in June. I was starting to wonder what the heck I was thinking signing up for that thing, but knowing there are others out there like me helps sooo much. I am out there for ya, your "running twin"!!!

Trice said...

Hi,

I could have written that blog too. We all have felt that way. You are so inspiring, so honest, and real. Way to go!!