About 15 years ago, I learned of a friend who was going to do a half marathon — she signed up and trained to walk it. I remember thinking, well I know I can walk 13.1 miles, but if she is doing this maybe I can try running it!
Please note, I was not a runner up until this time. Ever. I was 45.
My friend had signed up with our local Team in Training group which trains participants and raises funds for the Leukemia & Lymphona Society. One of my dearest friends lost his wife to multiple myeloma so this was a cause near and dear to me. I went to the next gathering of the group, which was held at a local running store. I got fitted for shoes, got the training program materials and schedule, and came home and informed my husband what I was doing.
He looked at me and said, “Who are you and what have you done with my wife?” LOL
Ok, so to shorten the rest of the story: I trained, in something similar to a couch-to-5k program. I started in February and ran my first half marathon the first weekend in June. I ran the vast majority of it but always took walk breaks at certain intervals to keep my muscles from getting overly fatigued. I ran a few more in the years following that, plus some shorter events too.
I was never fast, just steady. I didn’t love the actual running, but I do love being outside, seeing the landscape, and I do love the feeling of accomplishment.
After my hysterectomy, running did not feel comfortable for a long time. I took up more frequent bicycling but have gotten very wary of riding on the roads around here, so I don’t ride as often as I used to either. Now I mostly walk and hike. It’s all good.
So my long-winded response is just to let you know that running can be very rewarding — I cried when I finished that first half marathon. It’s something I never thought I’d do, growing up as someone who was not athletic. When my coach called me an athlete the first time, I laughed, but she stopped me and told me she was serious and that’s what I was. Running can be an amazing way to discover strengths you never thought you had. Training with a goal in mind, and with accountability to a coach or a group will help keep you motivated.
These days I will sometimes run a half mile or so, a few times while I’m out walking, just to mix it up, when I get a burst of energy. I also go to a Pilates class 3x a week, and I have a walking pad at my convertible sitting/standing desk in my office so I can get in some miles while I work (I can even run on it if I want to).
