It’s not a secret, if you’ve been around here for a bit, that I have a love/hate relationship with running. I had never been a runner until one random morning in June 2012 when I decided, “Hey, I should run.” Yes, just like Forrest Gump. Short version of the story: I started Couch to 5k and a few days later was talked into signing up for the Princess Half Marathon, which would be run a short 8 months after I got my ass off my couch. It was with the team from the Ronald McDonald House in Macon. I’ve been a part of the RMHC in Macon since before it…
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Running Contentment
This week I wrote down the word “Contentment.” Contentment is always a goal of mine. Sometimes I feel content with life and other times I feel like I’m flailing around like a fish out of water. I long for the times where I can just be. I’m one of those people who is silently competitive. I like to raise more money than everybody else for my TeamRMHC races (yes, see sidebar for the link to donate). I like to be part of things that are just starting out (see twitter, ello, instagram). In high school I wanted to always win all the awards I could at dance team camp. I’m pretty good…
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The Dumbest, Most Amazing Thing I’ve Ever Done #GlassSlipperChallenge
There. I said it. Running the Glass Slipper Challenge was the dumbest thing I’ve ever done. Yet it was also one of the most amazing. Twenty-ish months ago, when I decided to lace up some running shoes and give the whole running thing a shot, I had no clue I would end up running three half marathons in one calendar year. I certainly didn’t think I would be insane enough to sign up for a 10k and a half marathon in ONE WEEKEND. That much I can promise you. Yet I did. And (spoiler alert for those who live under a rock) I did it. Last month, I wrote a…
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On Goal-Setting and A New Sense of Purpose
Last week, I was chatting with a friend. Our quick chats are usually pretty random, but that’s what makes them fun. Sometimes they take a serious turn and wisdom explodes from one of our brains. He was talking about doing something that would leave him, hopefully, refreshed and renewed and with a new sense of purpose. He called it a challenge and said that to him it was going to be like his version of running a half marathon and he wanted to see if he could actually do it. It really made me think about how running a half marathon effects me. I’ve always been a list-maker instead of…
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Two Firsts: A DNF and Cop Car Selfies
I sat in the Blue Bird bus, made in my hometown, with my legs hitting the seat in front of me. I wondered how I’m THIS much bigger than I was when I rode nearly the same bus to and from school. I was on the “hump seat.” You know the one. The one that sits over the rear wheel and you have a built in footrest. I always loved that seat and tried to get it every day. The bus took us to the church for the start of the Tartan Trot 5k/10k. I was signed up for the 10k — ready to take on the 6.2 miles that…
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This is probably a bad idea.
Remember a while back when I talked about making sure I was SO VERY prepared for the Wine & Dine half marathon? Remember when I said I was going to lose 20 pounds before the race? Remember when I made ALL THOSE PLANS? Well, life happened. I could make a million excuses about why I’m not ready, but the bottom line is that I’m not ready. Physically, I’m not trained at all. Sure, I’ve run. But nothing of any length or importance. Mentally? I’m so ready I could run it tomorrow. This is probably a bad idea. In one part of my mind, I feel like it’s going to be…
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Two Halves Make a Whole, Right?
I did it. I did the thing I swore I wouldn’t do. I signed up for a second half marathon. I know. I KNOW. You all told me that I would be addicted. You told me I wouldn’t be able to run just one. You told me that I’d forget how much it hurt at mile 9 and the next day I’d be wondering when the next one was. You told me my first wouldn’t be my last. I didn’t believe you. But my bank account believes you because I just signed up for the Wine & Dine Half at Disney in November. It just *happens* to be the weekend…
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Emergency on the Race Course
It was about mile 6 when I really had to go. The thought of stopping my clock and going into a port-a-potty on the side of Highland Avenue wasn’t my idea of a good time, but you know what they say? When you gotta go, you gotta go. And really, I HAD TO GO! Easy enough, huh? I walked right in, there was no line like at miles 2 and 4. Did my thing. Used the hand sanitizer. Opened the door. Opened the door. Opened the… OH MY GOD, THE DOOR WON’T OPEN! OH MY GOD, WHAT HAPPENED? OH MY GOD, THE LATCH ON THE OUTSIDE IS LOCKED. WHOOOOOO LOCKED…