Only Half Crazy

As I've continued running and training for my half marathon I've seen three bumper stickers: 26.2 = Crazy; 13.1 = I'm only half crazy; and 0.0 = Because I'm not crazy at all. I fall in the middle as I just completed my first half marathon!! Granted, I was trotting slow enough to take a couple of pictures of an Eastern Box Turtle crossing (that's literal, not metaphorical), but I never stopped. To be honest, I was just so happy that I finished injury-free.

The pic is after my half marathon. Saturday was the 5k and Sunday the half.

It's been a really good journey to this point  and I learned how I want to keep going. When I first started running, it was to lose weight. And as I ran, I liked it so I signed up for this half-marathon to see if I could do at 43 what I could not do at 23. Then I signed up for a 5k in between to keep my training on track.

As the months progressed, I ran not for losing weight but for health. I wanted to lose weight to make my runs easier. I also realize that I'm more into running a 10k than a half-marathon because running is not my only hobby. When you're running 10 or more miles, that's your WHOLE day. You dedicate a few hours to running and then when you get home it's bath time, nap, and lounge. 

So what did it take to get me into running? 

1. Listening to the audiobook Runs Like a Girl- This is a brilliant book that shows this woman's journey from couch to marathon. It's funny, light, and inspiring. 
2. Skirt Sports- These clothes were MADE for women runners of all shapes and sizes. They have the right compression, pockets galore, and the best running bras in existence.
3. No-tie shoelaces- Okay, this sounds ridiculous but being able to slip your running shoes on and off and not worrying if they're tied too tight or too loose is a game-changer for me.
4. Beats Wireless headphones- These earphones last HOURS. I didn't think I'd like them but not having to worry about your headphones in the way of your arms or extending long enough is a great benefit.
5. Tiger Balm- This is Bengay on another level; it will knock the tension out of muscles and keep them loose.
6. Yin Yoga- I do the Ultimate Yogi's 90 minute yin yoga practice, which is holding poses 3-5 minutes each. This has kept me injury-free from my running.

A Year of Health

It's been a rough few years. Health-wise my body just fell apart. I can pinpoint the stress where it started but I had no idea that my health would just compile issue after issue to where it no longer worked properly.

I realized it fully when I went on a certain birth control. NIGHTMARE. Nearly 3 months of a solid heavy period, anemia, fibroids, and gaining 20 lbs spiraled me into despair. It took over a year to get that out of my system but the effects linger.

Then I took to yoga every day. Still no impact on the weight but it got me into a practice again. The most beneficial lesson was to stop seeing health as a means to an end (for example being a certain size or weight), but to see health as the end goal. Enter running.

Running is something that I've always felt self-conscious about. Do I run weird? Should I do this at my age? What if other people see me winded after a short period? But to be honest, the most important question always prevailed: Who cares? So I set goals: run once a week, sign up for a 5k, sign up for a... half marathon.

And I've done it! I completed my first 5k in over ten years back in October, I run nearly every week, I signed up for a half marathon this April, and I'm up to a 9-mile run. I'm doing at 43 what I could NEVER do at 23. I didn't have the discipline, the confidence, the faith then that I have now. This has led me on to healthier decisions and to just run for the mere enjoyment of running.