My Adventures in Running
Hello travel loving readers- Today’s post is an intro into my adventures in running. I first have to say I am not a great runner, I am not even a good runner, I am slow… like very slow, but still I run. I started running in high school as part of the track team. I never ran in an event, I didn’t even run much in practice. Let’s be real 16 year old me was there to be social and be apart of the team. I did throw shot put in track meets, not very far but I tried. I like to say I played track becuase… well like I said I was there to be social. The coach I had in high school was pretty amazing though, and he knew this. He set up goals for individual person and always made you feel apart of the team, no matter how slow you where.
Fast forward a few years and many pounds later I needed to get back into shape. College 15 turned into… more pounds than I want to admit. I needed to get back into shape. I didn’t know much about working out other than running. So I strapped on my running shoes and hit the ground running. I didn’t go far or fast (still don’t go fast). But I still I ran. The struggle bus was real, running was not as easy as it was in high school I couldn’t believe how out of shape I was.
Fast forward a few more years I was now a mother and maybe a few pounds less than post college. I had learned about these RunDisney races and the New Balance shoes and all the cool merchandise I wanted in. It helped motivate me, knowing full well when I could afford to go and participate in in a RunDisney race I wanted to be able to run the entire thing. I was ready to put real effort into the running thing again, with RunDisney on the back of my brain. I knew the only way to commit to it was to sign up for a race. I signed up for my first 5k; Portsmouth’s Turkey Trot.
I had an amazing friend who signed up with me. I was excited I was going to actually run a 5k & with a friend, which of course is the best part. I started training using the Couch to 5k method. It was a struggle, I struggled to get running, I struggled with confidence, I was on the struggle bus. Running is hard!! But still I ran, or tried to.
It was a beautiful day for my first race, cool but not super cold. If you have ever run the Turkey Trot you know it is a pretty popular road race and this year was no exception. Like my training, I struggled. I could not run the entire race, not even close. We started off strong and I was out of breath maybe a half mile in, maybe less than a half mile, I don’t know it was not very far into the race though. We walked/ ran the rest of the race. I finished and felt proud I had finished my first ever 5k. I loved participating in the 5k, being apart of the community and with a friend it was a great feeling. But after I was a little sad I didn’t run the entire way I was determined to run more and do more races, remember RunDisney was still on the brain.
The following year I signed up for the Seacoast Series It was the start to my new life in running adventures! The Seacoast Series is 7 local races held from April to November around the seacoast of New Hampshire. You have to complete 5, 2 of which have to be longer than a 5k, and then you will receive a jacket.
I was not sure what I signed up for, but there was not turning back now! I have since run 5 half marathons countless 5 & 10ks and even participated in a couple RunDisney events, yes they were as amazing as I had dreamed!
Stay tuned as I share more about the races I have done and the ones I am training for. I am currently signed up for the Wallis Sands Half this fall. Wish me luck!
