And so it begins........

Back when I was in highschool I joined the cross country team. I didn't join because I had some life long love of running in the great outdoors. I grew up in the projects--we ran to get away from the dudes that tried to rob us outside the candy store. No, I joined for mcuh more simplistic reasons; to be be near a boy. He apparently had a love for running in the great outdoors, while I faked like I did too. I hated running. I mean I HATED running. Noone told me that that cross country runners ran 2 mile races. 2 MILES-in one race--without stopping. Not that it would matter if were 1 mile, or 1 block for that matter. I sucked at it. During my first meet, I got off to a hearty start and got winded about 3 minutes into the race. All I could see was dozens of runners whizzing by me as I struggled for breath. Realizing that that there was no way on earth that I could complete the race, I did what any self respecting, fake runner, trying to impress a boy girl would do--I threw my body to the ground, and pretended to faint. While a horrible runner, I proved to be quite the convincing actress. I lay there closing my eyes and holding myself together while runners jumped over my "lifeless" body. I didn't giggle when I heard a franctic runner screaming "Oh my God, she fainted!" Nor did I wince in pain when my coach slapped me across the face in an effort to revive me. No, I did everything I could not to finish running that race. It was my first, and last race as a member of the LPHS Cross Country team.

Fast forward 20 years, and you'd imagine that I'd still hate running with the same passion I hated it back then. At least in my younger days I had an athletic build, a great metabolism, and time to devote to exercise. Today, I'm still carrying baby weight from my 4 year old, I have 2 children, a husband, and an often stressful job. However, nothing has provided ne with the sweet comfort of a morning run. Don't ask me how it happened, or when I was seduced by the rhythm of my feet pounding on the pavement. I have no idea. One day when I was feeling particularly stressed, I laced up my shoes, grabbed my Ipod and hit the road. I was completely and utterly at peace for the 30 minutes I devoted to myself. Miraculously the girl couldn't run 2 miles has grown into a woman who shall attempt 26.2. This is my story........