Running and Races

I really enjoy doing races, they are addictive, although they sort of scare the shit out of me. But that's typical, I like to do things that scare me. I have 3 coming up on consecutive Saturdays. THREE. Yes, my dumb ass signed up for a 5K this Saturday Oct 1st (and I hear it's hilly - eek!) for JMU's Homecoming, Real Girl's Run 6K in Charlottesville Saturday Oct 8th and Bridgewater College's Homecoming 5K on Saturday Oct 15th. I will finish easily, but it's possible I will be one of the last few and have to walk a good bit. I am mostly okay with that. Okay, well I really don't want to be last or even that near to last, but I have to be okay with where ever I finish. My training has been interrupted several times by other life events and I'm not where I'd like to be. And while I'm being really honest here, I'm slow. I am not a natural born athlete and I could stand to lose weight. However, it is the mental challenge that keeps me coming back as well as the way my body feels afterward. I have started and stopped running quite a few times over the last 4 years. And I keep coming back, this year with a vengeance. I do a lot of reading and I've discovered many running blogs that I can't get enough of. I've mentioned some here before: Beth at SUAR, Cely at Running Off The Reese's; some other favorites are Skinny Runner, Eat:Watch:Run and Liz at One Twenty Five. (Speaking of Liz, she just uprooted her whole life in Canada, did the Berlin marathon, going to climb Mt. Everest and then traveling around the world for a few months before settling in London.) So yeah, check these ladies out. They are badass. And they've taught me a lot. Running is more mental than physical. And that is why I keep coming back to it, because I crave that mental challenge, the competition with myself. There are times when running that I get that high, but it's few and far between. Mostly I just feel badass and really proud after I'm done. It doesn't hurt that my body feels tighter, stronger, better. I've met wonderful people and had acquaintances become closer friends through running. They are a supportive bunch! It's tough, sometimes I don't want to. I want to snuggle in my warm bed early in the morning and do it another day or go have drinks after work or lay on my lazy ass and watch trash tv. But that's not going to get me anywhere near my goals. So. I train the best I can. I run. And I race.

Come race and/or support me! JMU Dukes 5K , Real Girl's Run 6K , Bridgewater Homecoming 5K , Yuengling Townebank 8K


EDIT: I forgot to include one of my all time favorite blogs Ben Does Life. How could I forget Ben?! He has an awesome story, be sure to check out this short video of how he went from a fatty couch potato with depression to a marathoner, an Ironman!!! And is doing incredible things with his Do Life Tour. Which, I might add, is coming to Virginia April 5 - 8, 2012 and I plan to meet up and run with them. I am so freaking excited!!! Seriously, put it on your calendar and come with. Amazing stuff.