Announcement

I have exciting news to share.

At least, it is exciting to me.

I have been waiting to tell you all for a couple of months now, but wanted confirmation first before I just blurted it across the interwebs.  Of course, most of you know what I am about to say anyway, because I have been far too excited/proud to keep it to myself for the last few months.

No, I am not fucking pregnant, you mother fuckers.  (Calm down, mom.  It will happen someday.)

Today I signed up for the Boston Half Marathon.  In October I will be running 13.1 miles through the city of Boston.

Remember back in February I decided to run 5K?  Well, after I participated in that event, I decided, "If I an run 3 miles, hell, I can eventually run 13!"  And so I started training.  Adding more and more mileage each most week.  Reading running blogs.  Buying proper running shoes and a fuel belt.  Somewhat enjoying running.

I realize for some people, this does not constitute big and exciting news.  Some people wake up and decide "I am going to run 13 miles today" and they do not need to train at all.  They are natural born runners and they make it look easy.  But for me, someone who just back in late February could barely barely run 2 miles and could not fathom running 3, this is a huge accomplishment.  I cannot wait for race day, to be surrounded by other runners, with positive attitudes, doing something that even 4 months ago I could not comprehend.

But that is not to say that it is always fun and easy now.  It is not.  And I am often discouraged.  I beat myself up.  How come in 4 and a half months, I haven't made more progress?  While I am proud that I can comfortably run 7 miles, why can I not yet run 10?  And why am I so slow?  How do I get faster than a 9:30 mile? And how come some days I can only run 4 miles?  And why are other runners out there skinnier and prettier and less sweaty and less red than me?  And why am I not awesome enough to be running a full 26.2 mile marathon?  And while I am at it, why don't I climb Everest without oxygen and create world peace?

Really, I should not be beating myself up.  I know I can do this.  But it will be hard.  I can work through this, negative thoughts in my head be damned.  After all, the majority of this country cannot run 5 miles, let alone 13.  I am proud of where I am and what I am doing, and I will be even more proud when come October 9th, I can add the most earned title after my name: half marathoner.

Kicking ass and taking names,
Granny