Just Do It!

Good ol' Nike coming up with that little number. It's a great slogan don't you think? Well in the spirit of those commercials that make you cry, I have decided to "just do it".

So what is "it"?


a. Finally learn how to swim

b. Go bungee jumping

c. Run a half marathon

d. Apply for the Amazing Race

Think about it for a minute. Lock in your vote. And the answer is........

Here's a hint.

C. As much as I want to apply for the Amazing Race, I realize it is not the season of my life to do it so instead I will run a half marathon.

This is a huge thing for me. I am not a runner. I never was. In my former life I enjoyed some softball, soccer, tennis, cheerleading, rollerblading, volleyball and ballet. But NEVER running.

I ran a little in college to try and keep those freshman 15 from turning into freshman 20. But my running was pretty hit and miss, and I never ran more that two miles.

Well a year after I had Eden, I had five pounds that just wouldn't go away. That's when I started running again. My friend Dawn convinced me that I could do it. I resisted at first but she is relentless so I finally caved. It took running and ballet to finally get rid of the extra five pounds. But still I'd only run a couple of miles and I kept it up mainly so I could eat cookies and chips without feeling guilty.

As the years have gone by I have pushed myself to become a 3-4 mile runner. I have been comfortable with that for the past couple of years. Then last summer my friend Amy decided she was going to run Hood to Coast, being the good friend that I am I decided I would train with her even though I wasn't running it. She pushed me to go five miles. I thought I was going to die. Seriously...it was hot and we ran up some vicious hills. I was so happy when she finished her race so that I could go back to my comfort zone.

So a couple of weeks ago my friend Meghann suggested that I run in a half marathon with her. I didn't even know how far that was! (it's 13.1 miles....in case you were wondering) Amy was doing it too and between the two of them they peer pressured me into registering for the May 16th race. Meghann trained last summer for one so she kindly gave me her training schedule...I have been at it for almost three weeks now.

Last week Amy and I ran six miles! That is the first time I have ever done that. I actually felt good about our time and my legs didn't fall off like I thought they would. But still six miles isn't even HALF the distance I will be running! Even though I felt good about the run I was still freaked out about this huge (um....$70 registration fee)commitment I have made.

And then as if it were a sign from heaven, The Biggest Loser episode last week had the contestants run a half marathon! It was so inspiring...I totally cried when they finished it. I'm pretty sure I will be crying when I finish my race. Probably a mixture of pain and accomplishment I'm sure.

So while the others that I will be racing with will be running their hearts out to beat their personal best, I will be running to just finish the darn thing. That will be my personal best.

Wish me luck my friends! I have seven weeks to either psych myself out, or accomplish a goal that I never thought I would do in this lifetime.

We'll see how this all turns out on May 16th. Hopefully Amy and Meghann won't have to drag me across the finish line on a stretcher.