Running-From Punishment to Pleasure
Running-From Punishment to Pleasure

“Get on the line!”

Already tired from the day’s practice and frustrated with whoever screwed up a drill for the umpteenth time, those are 4 words every high school football player dreads hearing as they head for the sidelines and prepare to sprint until they want to puke.

Fast forward 7 years to the moment of euphoria when I crossed the finish line of the Chicago Marathon in 3:04:11 and joined roughly .05% of the population who’ve qualified for Boston. As I was presented with my medal—along with the best part of running any race, the beer at the end!—one question crossed my mind. How did I end up here?

At different points in my life, I’d run for many reasons: for sports, to meet people, for a girl, to get in shape, to build confidence, to network, to push myself, and for the beer (or bourbon!).  Somehow, over time what I’d once thought of as punishment turned into something I would actually pay to do.

My first ever race was a 5k in a small college town. The course itself was less than inspiring and nothing but a painful reminder of all those sprints I had run for sports.  After that race I didn’t really continue running much, except to stay in some semblance of shape for Rugby.

About a year later, after college and having joined the ranks of corporate America, I found myself running the Cincinnati Flying Pig Relay to help a friend’s team who had an injured runner. I was the third leg which was 7 miles, my longest run. Ever. Intimidated by the myriad of runners surrounding me in my corral as I waited for my teammate to pass the baton, I felt out of place. I was not a runner and I felt like I didn’t belong there among all those other people with huge smiles eagerly awaiting their turn to run. I was nervous I might let our team down. All that changed when I slapped the bracelet on my wrist and hit the road. Distracted by the crowds lining the street, cheering for and encouraging me to keep going, to keep pushing. It could have been 1000 miles—I was enthralled. Each sign or cheer gave me a smile, momentarily distracting me from the pain of running. I was hooked!

After that race I decided to run a full Marathon the following year. It was then I joined a running group. I never would have guessed how quickly they would become such a big part of my life—more than just a social circle or training partners, they truly became family. The support and encouragement we give each other as we push ourselves to be better, not only in our training, but in all aspects of our lives is unparalleled.  From venting on a run after work and feeling better about the day, to coming together to support a fellow runner whose mother was battling cancer, to the encouragement from complete strangers simply because you are a runner; there is no better community.  And that is what keeps me coming back and pushing forward.

So, whether your next run is with a group, by yourself, a race, on a treadmill or even your first run – know that with running you are part of something bigger and that there are family, friends and even strangers who support you like few other communities can.

 
 
Seen a lot of slim chicks posting their

workouts on here so I thought I'd join 

the fun
Warning : I will bully every one of you

into daily stretches, plyo drills, crazy 

intervals, lifting heavy weights and 

epic long runs
104 °F.....  As my Grandma says, 

"Marathon training ain't for p*ssies."



Crazy old lady is right.

New Featured eBibs

If the refrigerator and television weren't so far apart, some of us  wouldn't get any walking  training at all!
As long as we have running and wine  the holidays will be fine!
You could sleep in on Sunday. Or, you could drag your ass over 13.1 miles  just for a cheap medal, t-shirt, and a  glass of wine. Welcome to the insanity!
I hate it when I think I'm buying  ORGANIC vegetables, but when I get home they're just REGULAR donuts.
I keep telling myself this is all for the bling! I'm only half crazy...13.1
You know you're a runner when...  You've tried to convince a friend to run a 5k with you because,  "it's ONLY 3.1 miles."
There should be a REFUND on  CALORIES for things that didn't taste as good as you expected!
You know you're a runner when you want to yell, "ON YOUR LEFT!!!" just to get around people walking on the sidewalk...
You know you're a runner when... you spend hours in the mall, find  nothing to wear. Spend 10 minutes in the running store, find hundreds of dollars worth of stuff you want to buy.
Pain is temporary, Internet results last forever.
I'm not sure if people driving by are staring at me because I'm running, or because I'm talking to myself.
I ran 3 miles this morning... so If I did my math correctly, I'm entitle  to eat 3 pounds of pie and a bottle of wine!
"You do not have to pee."  Lies I tell myself while running.
It's OK to start now  on 2016 goals.   Consider it a  Head Start!
Turkey Trot: a race before a Thanksgiving meal that burns the equivalent of 6 oz of turkey. Wait, what? Only 6 oz of Turkey! That's it?             #RUNRFA
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