Runner. I'm a Runner.

I started running back in college, my sophomore year when I lived in the dorms.  I ran with a friend, and what I remember most is singing while running (either Oasis's Wonderwall or Mariah Carey's Always Be My Baby)

Since then, I've become more disciplined.  I know about pace and footstrikes and what kind of music makes me run faster and how gratifying and addicting it can be to build and track a training plan.

I've run numerous 5Ks and a 10K and three half-marathons.

Yet, when I talk about my runs and my running, I always, always qualify my words: I'm not at all fast, I just do it for fun, I've never done a full marathon.

As I typed out last week's post about my latest half-marathon, I thought about these little asides and wondered why I always feel the need to add them.

Is it because I look more like an uncoordinated labrador puppy than a gazelle when I run?

Is it because I build rounded, sturdy muscles instead of the lean sinews I envy in some of the runners around me?

Is it because my brother is "the athletic one"?

Is it because I have to use all of my innate stubbornness and maximum physical effort to build up to times that "better" runners would consider failed races?

I need to leave these negative thoughts behind if I want to be a role model for Abbey.

What matters is that four or five times a week, I lace up my shoes, turn up my running music, put one foot in front of the other.

Left. Right. Left. Right. Repeat.

Four or five times a week, I run.

I am a runner.

Abbey reading with Aunt Carolyn in Nashville

Aunt Carolyn is my running inspiration

I remember her running back when it was cool to wear matching short shorts and tank tops

she's still running, despite injuries and changes in running fashions!

this is an old post, but I'm linking it in honor of Elaine's big decision to train for her first half!