0 to 13.1

For most of my life I had a “not unless I’m being chased” opinion about running. Hated it and avoided it whenever possible. Last April, I dragged my running-hating self up to Central Park for what I hoped would be 1 complete lap around the reservoir. I ended up running three in what I now realize was a life-changing epiphany: I love running!

True to my “jump in with both feet, all-or-nothing” nature, within a week, I had signed up with Team in Training to run the Nike Women’s Half Marathon and raise nearly $4,000 in the process. At the time, 13.1 miles sounded like an impossible feat- one that should only be attempted by “real runners,” certainly not by recently reformed running-haters like myself.

Sure enough, little by little, my mileage went up and I became more and more enamored with the sport of running and the culture that surrounds it. I also fell in love with Team in Training, an organization that does so much good work for Leukemia and Lymphoma patients and their families and turns ordinary people into marathoners and triathletes.

I also made some incredible friends along the way. BH who logged countless slow miles with me, often insanely early in the morning, EM my running mentor turned life mentor, LH my better half and CS, MF and JB to whom I’ve told my entire life story over countless loops in Central Park.

I had the time of my life running the Nike Half and was proud to be part of the NYC Chapter of TNT who raised over $900,000 and a race that raised $18.5 million for the fight against blood cancers.

My run this weekend (see next post) convinced me that I should take the advice that BH has been giving me all along; I should start a blog to record my journey and transformation.

Here I go- running towards 26.2.