Oh! The running!

My first half marathon September 2013. I cried at mile 10 because I hated it so much. Afterward, I couldn't wait to do another.

I miss running. I am trying to get back to it, but it's frustrating that I have to start back as a walker after knowing what I used to be able to do. I was never fast. Most true runners would probably have scoffed at my pace. I overheard one of the guys from the Frankfort (KY) running group say that if someone's pace is 12 min/mi, they shouldn't even bother. I was standing behind the group at the starting line of the Midsummer Night's Run in downtown Lexington, KY in 2013. That has always stuck with me. I'm happiest when I'm running in the 12s. Honestly. But back to my point: I loved running. I loved the half marathon distance. I loved competing against myself. From 2006 to 2016, running was a major part of my life (with the exceptions of my 2 pregnancies...I had trouble running while pregnant). I really should sit down and try to make a list of all the races I have done. So many. 

Run for the Gold 2010 with Joseph & Shelby. I hated running with a stroller, but sometimes I had no one to watch Joseph.

I moved back to Tennessee in summer of 2015. I thought running would continue to be a large part of my life. But for many reasons that I really don't want to share publicly, running took a back burner. A fairly large reason is that I don't always feel safe running the back roads around my house. I've had more than a couple of run-ins with dogs. Cars don't always slow down or "share the effing road." Frankfort had amazing places to run. Now if I want to go run somewhere that is more than a 1/3 mile loop where I also feel safe, I'm driving to another town. I'm limited on time as it is. 

Great Smoky Mountain Half 2017. One of the last distance races I did, and I walked more than half of it. Still a great time.

I had a decent attempt at running this year when I signed up for the Iron Mom half marathon. I got up to 8 mile long runs but was dealing with some terrible foot pain. It turned out to be the dreaded plantar faciitis. It sucked. That was the first race I've ever signed up for and not run. Terrible feeling. I went through physical therapy for it and got some orthotics. 

I took the dive 2 weeks ago and signed up for Joggo (the Instagram ads finally got me). This is NOT an ad for Joggo. I'm honestly not a fan yet. It's expensive. I paid for 4 months. The app SUCKS. The training plan is TBD. I'm only 2 weeks in, so I will try not to judge too harshly...except for the app....I've used so many running apps and this one is the worst (and most expensive...did I mention that?)

Here's to the next chapter of my running "career." At least I hope it's long enough to be considered a chapter. The other attempts were more like paragraphs. I've got 60 lbs that I want to get off. Scratch that....I NEED to get off. I've gained 50 lbs since my distance running days....30 of those during COVID times. Time to shake it off. 

Thanks for making it to the end of my first rambling. I won't always ramble about running/weight loss.