A year...

I am 5 days shy since the last time I posted.

I'm about to change that!

I have some exciting things to look forward to this year.

As many of you know, I was a runner in my past life (seems like another life ago at least). I'll give you the back story.

When I was in 4th grade we had our first track meet against the other 4th grade classes. I ran a few races and did a few other events and won them all. Next year we had another track meet with the 5th grade classes and the same thing, I ran a few, and won them all. Sixth grade we had a track meet against the other elementary schools in our district. I ran a few and won them all. At this point I knew running was something I was potentially going to be good at. Seventh grade started and I could NOT wait for the spring for track to start. I had such a fun time in track and won a lot of my races. In eigth grade my relay team broke one of the records and my name was put up on the record board in the cafeteria. I'm not certain on this, but last I knew that record was still there. In 9th grade I decided to add cross country to my activities as well as indoor track. I basically ran year round and loved it. I did all three for four years, lettering in all of them, winning many awards, races and eventually earning myself a scholarship to college. I ran my freshman year in college and had a great season. I was in the best shape of my life running 6 days a week, lifting 7 and just enjoying life. Of course my grades were suffering and at the rate I was going, I wouldn't be able to continue in the education program unless my grades went up. I had to make a decision. As hard as it was, I walked away from it. I transferred to a small bible college in the frozen tundra of northern Wisconsin where I ran for the cross country team. After one year I realized I need to cut running out of my life all together. It was taken over everything else and more importantly, interferring with my relationship with God. So I stopped. I walked away. I finished college after I married Randy and haven't consistently run since.

Last March I had this crazy idea to run the road race the weekend of St. Patricks day. My goal was to finish, but my time goal was to come in under 30 minutes. I thought I wasn't going to make it but I finished in 28:33. Not to shabby for only running a few times before the race and really not running in about 8 years.

So now we are in present time, today I sit here and proclaim my intentions for this year. I hope to be held accountable for my training and by putting it out in the cyber world, others will ask me how I'm doing.

March 16th.... 5k
May 11th... 10k
June 22nd... half marathon
October 20th... full marathon

Those are my races I have picked so far. I hope to put a few more 5ks in there throughout the summer as well.

Now comes to training. I thought I had a working treadmill, but turns out, its still broken. We will either be buying a new one come tax return or I will join the gym until I'm able to go outside and run. My vote is for a treadmill at home as it will be easier to get my miles on but it will also be easier to be interuppted and not finish. Randy was going to look into a free month trial membership at the local gym so I could go there in the mornings.

Either way, I'm doing it. This year. I wanted to run a marathon before I turned 30 and well, the clock is ticking and September is coming.

Thanks for reading and if you want, feel free to ask me how my training is going. I'll try to post weekly my miles and my progress.