My Running Life....Currently

Ok can I just say something here?

I am a non-runner. Some of you might be thinking, "That's not true, you run a lot!" Well, that's semi-true because it's all relative, but I an NOT a runner you guys.

I like running....sometimes. I would much rather sit on the couch and eat goldfish while watching the latest episode of any one of my favorite TV shows (See this post here...lol) than go for a run. I don't ever crave a run. Like ever. I mostly crave donuts and carbs, which is partly why I get myself out there to run in the first place.

I caught myself on Wednesday thinking about running while I was at work. I even said, "Man, after this meeting I am definitely going to need that run I had planned for tonight!" or some variation of that crazy statement out loud! It was semi-weird and definitely gave me some food for thought on the long drive home.

I'm in this weird place with running you guys. Like I'm straddling the line between being a "runner" and a "non-runner" and it's a super unknown territory. You wouldn't think that, since I've been running 5ks for about four years now, but I have not ever really had those thoughts and cravings for a run that actual runny runners have.

When I think about my journey, I remember back to 2006 when I couldn't picture myself running a 5k. I ran my first official one that year in college and it was totally hard! Immediately after running it, I thought, "Nope, never again. That was just awful" and for the most part, I didn't run real races. I used a treadmill and it was incredibly boring....until I discovered that they are basically a handsfree stand for magazines that you walk on and then I was hooked.

It wasn't again until 2010 that I really started to run more often outside. I found that I basically hate being hot, so I didn't run too much in the summer. Fall and winter running were just the best and that's when I found myself running outside. Most of it was run/walking, which I was fine with because my pace or finish time never really meant much to me. (It still doesn't. Just more evidence that I'm not a runner)

I ran the Hot Chocolate 5k in November 2010 because chocolate. Then I ran the Long Grove Turkey Trot, mostly because a friend of mine wanted to run that race and I think she is part of the reason that I was slowly becoming enamored with running 5ks, though I didn't know it at the time. I also ran the Jingle Bell Run in Chicago. (One photo is a proof- Don't sue me bro)

In 2011, I signed up for three more races- the Northshore Love Run (Go speedy Sweethearts) and won a mug! Woot!, the Race to Wrigley 5k, and the Hot Chocolate 5k again.

In 2012, I got a little crazypants and decided to run my first half marathon. Now, at this point, I didn't actually think I could do it. There was a tiny voice in my head that kept saying, "This is crazy. You can't run a half marathon. You run 5ks and barely make it out alive" which is part of the reason why I wanted to do it: to prove to myself that I could. So after running a few 5ks, I knew that I wanted to run in Chicago, because it was fun, and I knew I wanted it to be in the summer so I could train and recover. A friend told me about the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon that was in July and I signed up to run it with her, even though she was waaaaaay super fast and I knew we wouldn't be running it together. When I started jumping from 3 mile training runs, to anything more than that, I felt like super woman. I had never run those distances and it was hard and great all at the same time. Then I remember hitting 7 miles and realizing that I could totally do it! That's probably the closest I've ever come to feeling like a real runner, except for now of course. Then race day came......basically, I could have walked it faster you guys. lol. #TRUTH See the full story here.

Oh yea, and I ran the Hot Chocolate 5k again, even though I signed up for the 15k and backed out at the last second....

So my running journey has spanned across about four years, but hasn't really gotten serious and consistent until the last year and a half or so. This past year, actually in November 2013, I decided to start a goal for myself that I would run a race every month for a whole year. It technically ends this month, but I am ending it for myself with the Hot Chocolate 15k, which will be my 5th year running it! It seemed like the perfect way to end things. More about this goal later, but I feel like it has really helped me get to this point in my relationship with running.

I am starting to think about running as part of something I might kinda want to do a little bit. I am starting to think about my pace and trying to be more consistent with it (Thanks to my Garmin). I am starting to get excited (yes, excited) about the soloness of pushing through a tough run and exploring the mental strength it takes to run without music, or run in general sometimes. (I mean, it's kind of torture you guys, but I think it's making me a better runner to be able to really feel a run and listen to my body instead of my music sometimes) I am starting to change some of the things I am eating and drinking (and also increasing my water intake) because I know I have a run that evening or the next day that I want to be nutritionally ready for.

Which brings me back to the real reason that I sat down to write this post for myself: to actually document the fact that I might be turning into a semi-real runner. I just wanted to get that out there in internetland because I really hope it happens. The outer me does not currently match the inner runner person in my mind, but I'm learning that maybe that's ok.
Onward and upwards "non-runner-but-maybe-becoming-a-runner-kinda" outer me!