Let's Begin

I'm starting this blog to record my running adventures.  During the holidays I didn't do much running, just a couple of short runs to reverse the near-vegetative state my legs were in.  My husband bought me a subscription to Runner's World magazine for Christmas.  While reading the article which rated the top marathons around the world, I reflected on my own races from 2009.  I put in more mileage than ever last year, running three half-marathons, one marathon (St. George), and a local turkey trot.  Most importantly, beside the usual aches and pains that come from training long distances, I never got injured and was able to stay in shape the entire year.  I knew I needed some goals for 2010 so I began brainstorming.  My brother had mentioned that he might set a goal to run a certain distance by the end of 2010.  I liked this idea, so I stole it. 

I have decided to run 1000 miles this year.  I may or may not run races, and that doesn't matter, as long as I reach this distance. 

Let me give you a little of my running background.  I started running in fourth grade.  My parents are runners and decided to have the whole family run the Bolder Boulder that year.  I got my first pair of running shoes and wore them every day to elementary school to brake them in.  This was NOT a popular thing to do but I didn't care.  I felt empowered already, knowing I'd soon be running my first real race. 

We ran the Boulder Bolder for a few years as a family.  We volunteered before the race by putting together the finishers' post-race lunches.  We got into the race free this way.

I played soccer for 10 years, finally quitting during my junior year of high school and chose to run on the high school track team instead.  I ran the 100 and 300 hurdles.  I loved it!

Before I left for college, I started running some longer distances.  I knew I wanted to complete a marathon at some point, following after my parents footsteps.  My goal was to run my first marathon by the time I turned 20.  I trained hard, probably too hard.  I got injured and ended up with a cortizone shot in my knee and a doctor telling me "Some people just can't run marathons.  Some people's bodies just can't handle it."  This infuriated me and as soon as my three months of prescribed rest was over, I started running again.

I ran in small races to keep things interesting.  Mostly 5 and 10k local races.  It wasn't until 2005, in my first year of marital bliss, that I finally ran my first marathon.  That put me slightly over my 20 year-old goal.  I was 22.  My first marathon was the Top of Utah Marathon in Logan, Utah.  I ran a 4:09.

Training for my next marathon was a way to lose my baby weight from my first baby.  I trained as hard as I could while pushing a jogger and was able to run the St. George Marathon when my son was 6 months old.  I ran a 3:58.

I decided that running was a perfect way to get back into shape after having a baby and since I'd had so much success after my firstborn, I did it again after I had my daughter in 2008.  When my 6 week recovery was up I put my shoes back on and hit the road.  I ran 2 half-marathons when she was 4 months old and a 3rd when she was 9 months old.  I finished my 3rd marathon last October (2009) at St. George and PR'd again with a 3:42.

So that's where we stand.  I'm ready to get back into it after the holidays and I'm ready to start chipping away at this 1000 miles.