TIaRT, over at the Runner’s Lounge, has taken on a new spin. Today, Marlene is asking:
When did you know you had become a runner? Was there a defining moment, or was it a gradual progression over time?
*******
For me, it was a gradual progression. I played soccer for 12 years; running was always a part of that equation, just not one that I enjoyed. During high school, I thought Road-run days were death and I despised nothing more than that 2-mile Timed run on the first day of tryouts. Then we were told that in any given game, we probably ran an average of 5 miles over those 90 minutes. This baffled me!
After my senior-year season, when I realized I was still running because I chose to. It wasn’t based around training for the upcoming games, or tryouts, or even camp. Nope. I was just….going….to go? Hm.
*******
I certainly walked around campus enough during to college for it to count as “exercise” (in my Freshman mind….). But picked running back up when I got bored with everything else. Here, I thought 30 minutes was a GREAT run (still do…) and was oh-so-impressed with my legs when I pushed it any longer than that.
Enter: Senior Year
My roommate ran a marathon, after only ~8 months of “running” and only ~3 months of training. WHOA. I was impressed, and inspired. 26.2 still seemed impossible to me, but hey! Why not go for a Half?? She agreed. I had a training buddy, and a goal, and it was time to STEP IT UP.
I trained for about 5 weeks, and followed this “plan”:
(1) Long run per week – based on time – starting with 60 minutes, and adding 15 every week.
(3) Easy Runs – ranging anywhere from 3-5 miles.
Yup. That was it.
*******
This is us before the race……
Believe or not – I have no picture of after. This was clearly before I had any “racing” traditions (also pre-Garmin days!).
So. When did I finally feel like a RUNNER?
The very first time I crossed a finish mile after 13.1 miles. That sense of accomplishment has yet to be matched.
*******
TIaRT, over at the Runner’s Lounge, has taken on a new spin. Today, Marlene is asking:
When did you know you had become a runner? Was there a defining moment, or was it a gradual progression over time?
*******
For me, it was a gradual progression. I played soccer for 12 years; running was always a part of that equation, just not one that I enjoyed. During high school, I thought Road-run days were death and I despised nothing more than that 2-mile Timed run on the first day of tryouts. Then we were told that in any given game, we probably ran an average of 5 miles over those 90 minutes. This baffled me!
After my senior-year season, when I realized I was still running because I chose to. It wasn’t based around training for the upcoming games, or tryouts, or even camp. Nope. I was just….going….to go? Hm.
*******
I certainly walked around campus enough during to college for it to count as “exercise” (in my Freshman mind….). But picked running back up when I got bored with everything else. Here, I thought 30 minutes was a GREAT run (still do…) and was oh-so-impressed with my legs when I pushed it any longer than that.
Enter: Senior Year
My roommate ran a marathon, after only ~8 months of “running” and only ~3 months of training. WHOA. I was impressed, and inspired. 26.2 still seemed impossible to me, but hey! Why not go for a Half?? She agreed. I had a training buddy, and a goal, and it was time to STEP IT UP.
I trained for about 5 weeks, and followed this “plan”:
(1) Long run per week – based on time – starting with 60 minutes, and adding 15 every week.
(3) Easy Runs – ranging anywhere from 3-5 miles.
Yup. That was it.
*******
This is us before the race……
Believe or not – I have no picture of after. This was clearly before I had any “racing” traditions (also pre-Garmin days!).
So. When did I finally feel like a RUNNER?
The very first time I crossed a finish mile after 13.1 miles. That sense of accomplishment has yet to be matched.
*******
TIaRT, over at the Runner’s Lounge, has taken on a new spin. Today, Marlene is asking:
When did you know you had become a runner? Was there a defining moment, or was it a gradual progression over time?
*******
For me, it was a gradual progression. I played soccer for 12 years; running was always a part of that equation, just not one that I enjoyed. During high school, I thought Road-run days were death and I despised nothing more than that 2-mile Timed run on the first day of tryouts. Then we were told that in any given game, we probably ran an average of 5 miles over those 90 minutes. This baffled me!
After my senior-year season, when I realized I was still running because I chose to. It wasn’t based around training for the upcoming games, or tryouts, or even camp. Nope. I was just….going….to go? Hm.
*******
I certainly walked around campus enough during to college for it to count as “exercise” (in my Freshman mind….). But picked running back up when I got bored with everything else. Here, I thought 30 minutes was a GREAT run (still do…) and was oh-so-impressed with my legs when I pushed it any longer than that.
Enter: Senior Year
My roommate ran a marathon, after only ~8 months of “running” and only ~3 months of training. WHOA. I was impressed, and inspired. 26.2 still seemed impossible to me, but hey! Why not go for a Half?? She agreed. I had a training buddy, and a goal, and it was time to STEP IT UP.
I trained for about 5 weeks, and followed this “plan”:
(1) Long run per week – based on time – starting with 60 minutes, and adding 15 every week.
(3) Easy Runs – ranging anywhere from 3-5 miles.
Yup. That was it.
*******
This is us before the race……
Believe or not – I have no picture of after. This was clearly before I had any “racing” traditions (also pre-Garmin days!).
So. When did I finally feel like a RUNNER?
The very first time I crossed a finish mile after 13.1 miles. That sense of accomplishment has yet to be matched.
*******