Running

I'd like to announce my decision to run the Salt Lake City Marathon. I decided that quite awhile ago actually, but hadn't really told anybody, you know, just in case I chickened out. The Marathon isn't until April 19. I was originally going to enter the half-marathon but I was so ahead of schedule that I decided to just go for the full distance. Then I saw this movie trailer and realized it was definitely something I wanted to do. (it's 6 minutes long just to warn you).



I don't run for fitness, for health, or to be able to eat a cupcake when I want to, although I truly appreciate all of those benefits. I run because I absolutely love it. I love the motion of running. I love going outside and using just my body to get somewhere. I love seeing my breathe exhale because of how cold it is in Utah. I love being by myself. I love those first few steps before I settle into my pace. The "long" run is my favorite. Hours to enjoy the thing I love at a fun and comfortable pace. I love it!

Over four years ago I ran my first (and only) half-marathon in Provo. It was tons of fun. By the time we were in Miami I wasn't doing much of any running. I felt it was too hot. We got a really cheap rickety treadmill that I would run on at times but I'm totally not in love with running on a treadmill. Then I got pregnant, then I nursed. Which brings me to last July when my dear friend Monique convinced me to pick up running again. I was so nervous. I thought I would never be able to run well again. But at the end of July I gave it a shot. And running just one really slow mile just about did me in. But the amazing thing about running is that you can see improvements so quickly. In no time I was able to ENJOY running 3-4 miles. And today I was able to enjoy a really fun 17-mile run.

My parents were kind enough to get me a Garmin footpod for Christmas which is a little device I wear on my shoes that sends information to a watch. The watch tells me how far I've run, my pace, and things like that. I love it! I don't have to plan my running routes anymore so I just head out the door and go. It's a wonder I even make it back home considering how horrible my sense of direction is. So I headed out the door today with my footpod and my hydration belt (a belt that holds little water bottles around my waist). I usually end up seeing about 20 horses because there's something about horses and Lehi, UT. Today it was so chilly that when I went to drink from one of my water bottles at mile 10 the cap had frozen shut. I got it opened and there were lots of yummy ice chips in it. I usually end up on weird roads that seem to have been the "big" roads in the past but aren't used much anymore. I was running on the shoulder of one of those roads when all of a sudden I heard a car's tire crunching on the gravel right beside me. There were two guys in the car. The passenger was a dirty looking old man (50ish?) with yellowed teeth and a yellowed mustache and a black and red leather jacket on. His window was down. It was literally the most terrifying 3 seconds of my life. I thought I was a goner. They looked at me for a couple seconds, saw how frightened I was, laughed, and sped off. The worst part of the whole story is what I did. There was no fight or flight. I just froze. I stood there! Close enough to his open window that he could have grabbed me! I am so disappointed in myself. I thought I'd seen enough TV to know what to do if confronted by a bad man! And don't worry, I've already received 2 lectures on how I should've handled it. So, thankfully they were just old men laughing at a scared girl.

What was I talking about? Oh yeah, running. Well, in conclusion, I am so grateful to be able to run!