When I was in school I HATED running. In fact, I joined sports teams so I wouldn't have to run in regular PE classes! My swim coach in high school used to make us run sometimes and I would complain "I became a swimmer so I didn't have to run!"
But it's many years later now, and when I needed a way to get back in shape running seemed like an 'easy' option--no gym membership required. And although it was tough in the beginning, I was surprised how much I enjoyed it and how quickly it improved my overall fitness. I started running with some colleagues at work, and they pushed me to try harder and even sign up for races.
My first year or two was about finishing races. Then--just when I started to train harder so I could get faster--I got my first major injury. It took about 6 months for me to fully recover and I spent 2011 trying to find my running feet again. It turned out to be a year where I really surprised myself by what I could achieve. Still not that fast but I'm proud that I ran 1000 miles last year!
And YES, I am small (about 5'1'' on a tall day) but I've learned that I can't use that as my excuse to be slow! My friend who is a good three inches shorter whups my ass with her super-fast times (think marathon PB of around 3:30!) so she has served as motivation, inspiration and aggravation! My current obsession is to run a sub-2:00 half marathon.
I've also signed up for my first marathon (Edinburgh) and triathlon (London) this year. Excited and scared at the same time, especially since I haven't ridden a bike since I was 12! At least I'm guaranteed to have some adventures this year.
I split my time between London and Brighton so you'll often hear me lamenting about dodging crowds, pigeons and the occasional seagull.
I hope you'll join me on my journey by sharing your advice and experiences with me...because I LOVE running now and the best part is knowing there are so many other runners out there.
Thank you for reading!
The Diminutive Runner
January 2012
