it’s just the beginning …

At the beginning of 2010, I set a new goal for myself. I was going to train to run a 10k this year. 6.2 miles. Could I do this? Would I have the willpower to stick to it? This race wouldn’t be until October, so I should be able to do this. Maybe. Ya thinK? I don’t know.. maybe not.

Until… we came across a half marathon that was being held right here in Worcester in June 2010. At the same time we found this race, we also found that through the YMCA there was a training group forming for those who need guidance and the know how to actually train and complete a full 13.1miles. I thought it about it all weekend and finally on Monday morning, I had made the commitment and announced to everyone I knew what I had to decided to do. My parents, my girlfriends and anyone else who would listen. they were beyond supportive and had faith.

On a spring chilly morning in March, I showed up at the Central Branch YMCA, not knowing a soul and ran my first 2miles with my group. Some ran it without a problem, some struggled. But we all finished. We all found a person in our pace category and introduced ourselves, thinking we’d all be seeing a lot of each other. The adventure began..

After that, every single Saturday morning and some Wednesdays (for me), our team would meet and we’d set out on a new course, and a little bit more mileage each time. Each Saturday I was a nervous wreck. MORE mileage? The voices told me that there was no way I’d succeed. The voices told me to give up. The voices told me I was week. Each Saturday, I ran those miles. Each Saturday, that mileage got easier. Each Saturday, the voices got quieter and eventually quit all together. I was doing it. I was not weak. I was succeeding.

I had made the commitment. I was sticking to it. I was seeing changes. In my mind, body & soul.
March (42miles) , April (69miles), May (91freakin’ miles) … we ran in rain,snow,freezing temps and surprisingly unseasonal warm temps, wind and humidity. We had trained through everything. June was upon us. Days away from goal that my entire team, who I had got to know as not only as fellow runners, but as friends. I had seen them succeed and cheered them on, as they did me. I could not have accomplished this without seeing them twice a week. I could not have got as far as I did without my husband encouraging me and sharing his experiences and knowledge as an already accomplished marathoner. My friends… they complete me.

It was finally here. June 13, 2010. Everything I had worked for.

I can’t wait to tell you about that … next.