Thursday, October 7, 2010

ready to run

This weekend, along with 15,000 other fierce and determined runners, I will be pushing my way through the GoodLife Fitness Victoria Half Marathon with a goal of getting to the end. It will be my second time running a half marathon and while my speed may not be my strength, I will certainly be giving it my all as I lace up my shoes and hit the pavement for 21 kilometers of jogging joy. And I may not have followed my training program to the letter (it's hard to get out running when the couch is calling your name!) but I am ready to see how fast my legs will carry me throughout the streets of downtown Victoria.
I wouldn’t call myself a runner by any means but I can now say, after several years, that I truly enjoy running. That’s something I never thought I’d say, especially growing up with a mother who is most definitely a runner, having completed 23 marathons and countless other races, but my attitude towards the activity has certainly changed. We always joked that my mom was crazy, running for hours only to end up where she started…taking the car seemed much more efficient. But now that I’m one of those crazies, I find myself at peace when I hit the trails or the treadmill and the fact that I’m running in circles (or nowhere at all!) doesn’t seem so silly. It clears my head, activates my endorphins and continues to keep me healthy. And while my motivation to get going isn’t always there, once I’m out and about and jogging through the streets, I’m happy. My face may not show it as it goes bright red and I huff and puff and look as though I might blow my house down but there is something so satisfying about setting out to run a certain distance and completing that goal. And while this Sunday’s goal of completing 13 miles is one of my more ambitious objectives, I hope to get through it knowing that that sense of satisfaction will be waiting for me at the finish line.

Do you exercise? Or run? What do you do to stay in shape?
{via}

19 comments:

Allison said...

You're doing a half marathon and you don't consider yourself a runner? I did my first 5k a few weeks ago (Terry Fox) and I doubt very much I could do a half, let alone a full marathon.

I run a few times a week - never more than 5k.

That's amazing - keep it up!

Gina said...

i have only run a few times but when i did, i LOVED it!!

i ran a 5k (which was a really huge deal for me) in June and i was SO proud of myself :)

good luck with your run, im inspired by you. I don't know if i could ever run for hours

Jude said...

That's amazing and good luck!! I used to run those distances, but that was another lifetime ago when I was also a crazie :) (Got knee injury so mostly paddle lazily along rivers and bike/swim now :))

P.S. Thanks so much for your sweet note!

Poppies and Sunshine said...

Wow, amazing! Good for you! I haven't exercised in quite some time. When I used to run I would always get a cramp no matter what, so I prefer walking. I wish I could run though!

k said...

I am totally relating, i LOVE running. I've done a half marathon, but I don't think I could ever run a marathon...too much discipline for training needed, haha!! I run about 5-7 miles every other day and I swear that it keeps me sane.

good luck on your race!!!!

Meghan said...

Good luck on the half! And I cannot believe your mom has run 23 marathons! That's insane!

I, too, am a "runner", but I don't think I'd put myself in your mom's category!

Brittany said...

I wish I could be a runner!

:))

I dream about it.. actually..

I want to get running for dummies or something like that!

Glenys said...

I always wanted to join a marathon. I did exercise, I played table tennis in school. But now it has been put to a halt as we had to focus on our exams. Sad isn't it?

paula said...

I am rather impressed. I love to spin and run only a couple of miles. Pilates also is one of my faves.

OneCraftyFox said...

Best of luck to you!!

It is so funny, just yesterday my cousin and I were having a conversation about runners. We can not understand how people can run. We decided the only time we would run purposefully would be if someone was chasing us. And even then, we would probably stop to fight first. LOL!

I do yoga and pilattes to stay in shape, and I recently just got my hands on the P90X workout videos. Although those look quite strenous and I have not yet tried one :)

Laura said...

I hope the half marathon went well!! I am so impressed you are doing that. I swim to stay in shape, but I actually wish I was a runner.

Diana Mieczan said...

How was it,sweetie? I am not great with running. My Balazs runs every other day and I swim daily:)
I cant wait to hear all about it
Hugs

Chiara said...

21k is INTENSE!!!!!
I am getting ready for the Nike 10K marathon that is in November and but 21 is ridiculous!!! GOOD FO YOU!
xoxo
www.joiedevivre-chiara.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

GOOD FOR YOU! I absolutely hate running, but I wish I had the motivation you do to compete in something like this!

Blair McLeod said...

i had so much running my first half last spring... i wish i was still in race shape... perhaps i'll make that a new goal for fall...

You Are My Fave said...

Good luck!

Holly Knitlightly said...

Wow, this is amazing! I wish I could do something like this. Good for you! Hope you had a great time!

Elisa said...

What an accomplishment by your Mother. WOW that is so neat. I bet your run was so picturesque. We visited Victoria a few years ago and hubby and I walked everywhere, it was so beautiful, that's where my interest for castles and mansions begin (the Dunsmuir family at the Craigdarroch castle) it was so interesting I purchased the book about the family.

Christina said...

Congrats on this feat! I started running a year ago but it is very difficult for me. I take it slow and steady but haven't quite fallen in love with it yet.