Years ago (2007), I found myself overweight and looking for something to get me back to exercising. On a whim, I started running on the treadmill at the Y, and found that I really enjoyed pushing myself to go a little farther and a little faster everyday. I ran my first 5K that Thanksgiving, and I was hooked. The running 'bug' was awake in me.
After that first 5K, I decided I needed something to push me and keep me committed over the winter, so I registered for the Indianapolis Half Marathon in May, 2008. I worked hard that winter, and I finished the race 4 minutes faster than my goal time.
At that time, I was so convinced that my desire to run would continue, that I allowed myself to take a couple of weeks off to allow my body to heal. Truth be told, I wrecked my body in training for the half marathon by adding mileage too fast. When I ran my half marathon, I ran with shin splints, plantar fascitis, and a sprained ankle that wasn't fully healed. I finished out of sheer determination, but I knew that my body needed a break after I finished.
I took some time off, and then I started running again.
I ran a couple more 5Ks, but it just wasn't the same. I didn't enjoy running as much, and I never really got back into the same shape I was when I trained for my half marathon. It was frustrating, and the more frustrated I grew, the less likely I was to actually train. So, I quit.
It's been 2.5 years since I ran my last 5K, and I really do miss it. I miss the adrenaline, I miss the competition, and I miss the feeling of invincibility I had when I was training for my half marathon.
More than that, though, I miss feeling like I could actually complete one of my greatest bucket list items.
Finish a marathon.
Yep, this overweight, lazy, stressed girl has always wanted to finish a marathon at some point in her lifetime.
I suppose that's kind of impossible to do unless I start training.
So, I decided that it's time to do it.
I found a marathon in Orlando, Florida in January of 2013. That's 8 months away, so I have plenty of time to start training.
I plan to take it slow this time around. I am going to start at a reasonable distance and s-l-o-w-l-y build from there. I won't injure myself this time around. And, I will finish my marathon.
Anyway, this is the story of how I crossed one off my bucket list.
