In episode 5 of The Ali Damron Show, I talked about my running journey from start until today.
In my earlier years, I was definitely not considered a runner. In fact, I was probably the furthest thing. I didn’t think I had the body for running or the endurance and I thought, “runners” were created in-utero and if you weren’t one then you couldn’t become one. I didn’t think I could train to become one either.
I watched several of my friends in high school run cross-country and became intrigued and wishful that I wanted to be able to do that. I thought that would be the best thing for my fitness and body at the time.
In college, this intrigue grew stronger especially after volunteering an an Ironman event at an aid station for runners. I’ve never seen anything more inspiring still to this day. My husband and I both love watching Ironman events because they challenge the competitors physically, mentally and emotionally like nothing I’ve seen before.
I joined a running group called 1st Marathon in Phoenix, AZ and began my quest to become a marathon runner. It took a about 18 months from that first fateful day of a 3 mile “long” run to the completion of my first marathon and I was hooked. Other than the birth of my two children and having them placed on my chest, I’ve never had an more accomplishing moment than those of finishing a marathon. It’s months of training and a 26.2 mile victory lap that ends at a finish line and generally I am filled with tears, overwhelm and soreness! It’s addicting.
Since I’ve had my two children, I haven’t completed a marathon again. The allure of the entire thing was to push myself to see how far and hard I could go. Honestly, when you have children, I feel like that is most days! I have done some shorter distances and have enjoyed running since they’ve been born, but just not at that distance yet.
I know I will get out there again someday!
Do you run? How has it evolved in your life?
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