I'm Running, And I Can't Hide

 On November 7 I began training for the P.F.Chang's Half Marathon to be held here in Phoenix on January 16, 2011. The training was presented as walk/run and great for beginners. Since I knew the leader well and wasn't happy with the pounds I've packed on since returned to work three years ago, I felt I needed something dramatic to motivate me to begin exercising regularly again.

I may have gone too far.

On the first Sunday I showed up and was expected to run/walk 3 miles in intervals. Not only was I the oldest mom, I'm almost certain I was the only working mom (as in Monday-Friday during school hours). All of the other women were part of the leader's weekday (9:30 a.m.) boot camp classes and regular runners. I figured this out about five minutes into the run. I don't remember many details about that first run, but I can vividly recall all my feelings. I felt fatigued, flattened, flustered and, most of all, old and tired. I finished dead last, by at least ten minutes. 

The other women cheered for me when I showed up. I really wanted to hate them, but I liked the sound of the applause. I crawled back to my car, returned home and drew a hot bath.

The next week went much the same way, except this time a woman pushing a baby in a running stroller finished before me, even though she stopped once to go to the bathroom. I still liked the sound of the applause though.

Five weeks into my training, I'm noticing a few things. First of all, I'm getting stronger and faster. I'm last each and every week, but I'm still finishing. My legs feel like jelly on our long run days (Sunday) but I'm less sore after my two weekday runs on the treadmill.

It's possible I've lost about two pounds. To be honest I'm not watching what I eat, I'm focusing more on running three days a week and getting that to feel like a habit.

I don't feel as old and tired as I did that first week, but I still have a long way to go before I drop any real weight. I'm finding that I enjoy the companionship of the other women and being part of a group. There is something to be said for accountability.

One thing running does that I didn't expect is that when I'm finished, I really feel like I've accomplished something, and I have. I also love being done with it for the day. So much of a woman's life is finishing one thing and moving on to the next. I only run three days a week. Even though it's hard, I don't let it stress me out. I wish I could apply that attitude to more areas of my life. 

Who knows, maybe my half marathon training will teach me how not to run on empty.