Sleek. Slim. Effortless running gait. A nine. Minute. Mile.
Just so you know--this isn't me! I'm the complete opposite.
Panting, clumping around the running path, lucky to even break a 16 minute mile and definitely not slim. Running is quite a task for me. A means to an end. So why am I becoming involved in this torture fest when I was so blissfully attached to my non athletic self? Well, there are several reasons with the why's and how's of my running adventure all of which will be shared in no particular order.
1. How did it start? One word--DISNEY. Once upon a time I happened to be looking up something on a Disney site and wandered into a RunDisney link. I clicked it. (My mistake) Who would have thought that running, running could be made into something fun? What I found was that Walt Disney World and Disneyland sponsored marathon and half marathon weekends that include 5k family fun runs, 10ks, 10 milers, and special challenges. Mouse meet running challenge. Running challenge meet Mouse.
2. The Why. With my wheeze inducing asthma, greying hair, and all my creaking bones, I was beginning to feel like the crypt keeper. I needed to do something about my health and do it soon. Which brought me back to reason #1. Why not link something I love (Disney) with something I didn't love (exercise).
3. Why again. I. Don't. Want. Bingo Wings. Ladies, you all know what I'm talking about. It's that baggy skin area beneath your arm that, if a good wind came along, would pick you up and keep you at cruising altitude for miles. I want none of that!
4. Third Why. The "If she can do it, why can't I?" syndrome. Okay, story time: A Mom from the We Run Disney blog was in her 50's when she started running with her daughter. She is now 60 and qualified for the BOSTON MARATHON!!! Incredible. Inspiring. I can totally do that! Yeah, what I didn't know until recently was that this lovely woman has been athletic all her life. Unlike me who hasn't been sports minded since--like--ever. Also, just to add to the "why can't I" mentality, there is an 81 year old woman who ran in the Disneyland race earlier this year. Needless to say, both these ladies are a huge inspiration to me.
5. My Youngest Daughter. This has become a great chance to be with my Disney loving, youngest daughter, Boo. (Yes Boo. As in the little girl from Monster's Inc. which my daughter wished to be called after seeing the movie) Writing these blogs gives me one on one time with my oldest daughter. I connect with my middle daughter through our love for Haiti. So this running thing is my Boo time. Lately I've learned that you have to do what you can to spend time with your kids. Especially your grown kids who you might not see as often.
Those are just the basics of how and why I'm participating in this torture disguised as fun. Having a goal like Disney is what keeps me going when things get hard or even a little painful (or a lot painful). My biggest goal is at some point earning the coast to coast medal from RunDisney. Translation: Coast to coast will be 13.1 miles coming in as the longest race I will ever do. Because mark my words--I will never, EVER, NEVER run a marathon.
So for now, that's a wrap and in the meantime...
Fasten you seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy ride!
What got you into running and what are your goals?
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