Hooked!

So here is the deal, all through Jr. High and High School I ran track. Thats just what the Hurds do. Well that's just what the rest of the Hurds did when it wasn't cross country season. It was really helpful for staying in shape for cross country season. Except for me, I never ran cross country and I was so fine with that. I ran the 400, the mile relay sometimes, the 200 sometimes, and I high jumped. Going the distance was not for me!

Fast forward a few years, 4 kids, and let's face it, more than just several pounds later. I had now realized what a great tool running was for weight loss, but it was just that. A tool and really something to be endured for better faster results. After a while, and being a bit competitive, I started playing little games with myself. "Lets see if I can go further than 2 miles" turned into "lets see how fast I can run those four miles", which turned into "how many can I run in an hour". Next thing you know I'm running between 6 and 8 miles at least 4 days a week and I can't get enough.

I had finally experienced the runners high I had heard about. I had a new found passion. Then you all met President Pouter and had to listen to me whine about a leg injury that had me out of running from October until January. I finally had healed and slowly jumped back into things. I decided if I was going to run so many miles I might as well train for something. So I signed up to run the Chesebro Half Marathon on March 28th, in Agoura Hills. It has been voted the best running event in L.A. for the last several years and it looks beautiful!

My sister Tara who really is a distance runner and has a natural gift for it, is going to run with me. A hamstring injury and a few weeks less training time than me have her stuck running at my pace, but I'll enjoy it this once cause next time she'll blow past me! My friends Shelley, Charrisse, Talli and Jamie are all going to run as well. I am really looking forward to it!

Last weekend my friend Kim from High School sent me a facebook message telling me about a 10k (thats 6.1 miles for all you non runners out there) that was happening just 25 minutes from my house. I tried to recruit anyone I could to run this with me, but had no luck! So I headed out and went all by myself.

I had never run in a road race and wasn't sure what to expect, but I thought it would be good to see how I handled running with a bunch of other people before jumping into a half marathon right off the bat. I ended up running faster than I thought I could. I finished in 51:23. I loved it! I loved pushing myself and the competition element involved. I am looking forward to running another road race, and I'm already chipping away at my time.

So what I am trying to say here, is that I am converted. Sold. Addicted. Hooked, and this is just the beginning. I have created a monster, and I love it! I just wonder what else I can do that I never thought I could...Look out world cause here I come!