Going the distance

I've always hated running. HATED. LOATHED. I will even admit to feeling twinges of distaste for people who actually enjoyed running.

When I was in grade school, we'd have to run the 1/2 mile monthly and then the dreaded mile run once a year as part of the fitness test. I never ran them. Either of them. On 1/2 mile days I'd just call it a leisurely walk and take my time. On the big day of the annual mile, I can vividly remember begging my mom to let me stay home. She never did. I always had to go. And again, I never ran it. But damn did it take a while for me to walk that mo fo! But really, why rush? To get to the pull-up test? No thanks. Looking back I'm sure my PE teacher found this a maddening hurdle to his scheduling. If that terd hadn't kept me from the coveted "first honors" by gifting me with a C+ every quarter, I might even feel bad.

I also never played any sports. Why? Because they all required running (well, other than softball throughout grade school, which for some reason was the only sport that didn't require runs during practice). I'm still slightly irritated by that. I mean, really, if you can run enough to play the sport, why do you need to just run for runnings sake? But anyway...

And then all my friends started running. All. My. Friends. My friends from childhood, high school, college, mommyhood. All of them. Now, I'm going to admit something that just might shock you. I'm kind of competitive. Ok, wildly competitive. And it started to slowly drive me nuts that everyone was doing this thing that I just did not believe I could even begin to be able to do. Then last November a bunch of my mama buds did the half marathon. I had just had Kell (so at least I had a really good excuse!) so I didn't even consider it, but in the back of my head, I thought, someday...

A few months ago I noticed that a bunch of my previously non-running friends were doing this thing called the C25K. What? Google to the rescue! Couch to 5K. Perfect. I can do the couch, so if we're starting there, I can totally play. Well I did it! And now I'm running a few days a week and have a great friend who joins me (nothing like a running partner to push you). Last weekend her husband was making fun of our 5mi goal distance. A challenge had been issued. I loves me a good challenge...
Next time he should say that he doesn't believe we can make it that far and still be able to WALK afterward. But we did it. And this week we're shooting for 6! And that half marathon this November? You better believe I'll be there.

Almost makes me want to call that grade school gym teacher and ask for a report card amendment. Hehe.