Hit The Streets...

Sports have never been my thing...

Our adversarial relationship started early...I played T-Ball, my dad was the coach, and I...well needless to say I was NOT the star of the team...From T-Ball, I moved on to soccer...again, NOT the star...in fact, my the only goal I scored was for the opposing team...

As I grew, I found my "sweet spots"...I thrived on the track team, on my pool's swim team...I loved being a part of a team (reference earlier posts on my NEED to be included), but I also loved that my moments of success (or failure) impacted only me...

And as a young girl, I also loved the time to think things through...as I ran, as I swam, I also pondered, I decided...Now...as a mom, as a working mom, I find myself more and more in need of that time...I need the time to think through my thoughts, I need the exercise...I need both the emotional and physical fulfillment...

To that end, I've set a goal for myself in 2012...

I want to run (and more importantly FINISH) a HALF MARATHON...

In my head, the "Lifetime Movie Version" of this goal plays over and over...it goes a little something like this...

I'm running, enjoy the feel and sound of each step, the miles are passing easily, I'm barely breaking a sweat, and as I near the finish line, I see Kate and Drew...I pick up Drew and grab Kate's hand and cross the finish line with both my "babies" in tow...not only achieving my goal of finishing, but finishing "ahead" of time...

Sounds good, right? I think so...

Certainly accomplishing this goal is going to take some work...some hard work...

A couple of weeks ago, I went out and bought new shoes, new clothes...I was ready...

Last week, I set out for my "inaugural" run with a good friend...new shoes on, IPOD full of inspiring songs, I was ready...

Or so I thought...about a 1/2 mile in, I was gasping for air...I was sweating, looking like I had run a lot farther than 1/2 mile...while my body was in a bit of "shock" from the sudden activity after years of INACTIVITY, the biggest obstacle I faced was my mind...I could hear the voice saying "Wouldn't it be nice to walk?!?" "Do you really think you're going to be able to run 13 miles if you're already this tired after 1/2 mile?!? Just give up now..." "This is looking NOTHING like the Lifetime Movie Version..."

I pushed...that's not to say that I didn't walk because I did, but then I ran again...and I FINISHED...

Will it be necessary to physically train?!? ABSOLUTELY. But more importantly to emotionally train...To BELIEVE...I am ENOUGH...I CAN do it...

Who knows? I just may surprise myself and live the Lifetime Movie Version...