Run 13.1

It’s November, 2013, and I write this a few days before running my second half marathon.  I remember laughing at my husband when he tried to get me to start running before our kids were born.  I gave it a moderate effort, but was too frustrated when I got out of breath after running only a few blocks.  Like many people new to running, I assumed that meant that I was not cut out to be a runner, rather than trusting that with repeated efforts, I would improve.

Sure enough, by using  the Couch to 5k walk/run program that helped me slowly make progress, I went from never having run a mile to running my first 5k in September of 2012.  A year later, I was running my first half marathon.

This blog chronicled much of my journey from running my first 10k to training for and running my first half marathon.  If you’re interested in running a half marathon, especially if it’s for the first time, reading about another runner’s journey through motivational highs and lows, and lessons learned along the way, might be helpful!

Here are some blog posts specifically helpful to anyone getting into distance running 🙂

Getting Started

The Real Reason I’m Training for a Half Marathon

My Half Marathon Training Plan(s)

Long Run Survival Guide – Don’t Make These Mistakes!

Learning to Run Slower for my Long Runs

The Dos and Do Nots of Long Runs – Oatmeal Style

How To Add Emergency Contact Info to Your Phone’s Lock Screen

My Journey

Training for My First Half Marathon: When Did This Become Normal?

It’s Not All Good All the Time (I almost quit!)

My 5 a.m. 9 Mile Run

Second 9 Mile Run for My 1/2 Marathon Training

10 Mile Run in Maine!

Second 10 Mile Run for 1/2 Marathon Training Done!

First 12 Mile Run Completed!

Race Day Preparation

Race Day Strategy for My First Half Marathon

Half Marathon Packing List – Air Travel

Race Smart: Run the Tangents

Choosing Your Position at the Start Line

Success!

13.1 Bad Jokes For While You Run a Half Marathon

Run Like a Diva Half Marathon – Race Recap

Run Like a Diva D.C.’s Wine Country – Race Photos

Tomorrow I turn 30. Today, I am 13.1

Chilly Half Marathon Race Recap

After 13.1

Why I put a 13.1 bumper sticker on my car

My Half Marathon Post-Race Jitters (HUH?!?)

My First Post Half Marathon Long Run – 10 Miles Easy

Staying Motivated for Half Marathon 2

Half Marathon Recovery

Good luck to anyone considering adding distance to their running!  It’s been an amazing(ly long) journey for me, and I love remembering that I’ve run a half marathon when I’m having a tough day and need a reminder of my own strength and resilience.

There were plenty of times when I wanted to give up, stop running, or not go for my next long run.  Sometimes I rescheduled, but always I got those miles in, one way or another, until come September I was confidently poised at the starting line with no question in my mind of whether or not I would finish.  I knew I was ready.  I was excited to find out how long it’d take me.

Running  a half marathon has made me more patient, determined, and resilient in my every day life.  This struck me once at a funny moment when I was peeling peaches for cobbler, realizing that any sane person would have given up and made half the amount of cobbler, but not a distance runner.  We finish what we start, and we know that slowly, one step at a time, we will get there… no matter how far away “there” is.  Couldn’t we all use a little of that strength and perspective in our lives?

It’s a great reason to go for it if you’re flirting with the idea of attempting a half marathon.  Start slow, add only 10% to your mileage a week, and not every week, and give yourself the time you need to get there.  But I promise you, it’s a worthwhile destination.

Best wishes 🙂