This isn't to say I wasn't active. I spent 10 years dancing, baton twirling and performing on my high school's auxiliary team. I loved swimming and was on the varsity swim team my last three years of high school. Once I hit college I joined a master's swim team and hit the gym several times a week.
In college I ran a few local 5ks for fun. The Thanksgiving 5k race was a big community tradition in my college town so I participated even though I never really trained for it. In fact, the treadmill wasn't even a part of gym routine.
In September 2006 my best friend in law school suggested joining a a training group through Fleet Feet to run a 1/2 marathon. Always up to try something new I said sure. The training group didn't start until January so we decided to train on our own for an upcoming 5k. I remember the first day I went to the track. I was going to run 2 miles. I made it around the track once and thought I was going to die.
I kept with it though and slowly was able to run 1 mile, 2 miles, etc. On November 18, 2006 I ran a 5k in 33:04. Once our training group started I remember being so nervous every week having to run one mile farther than the week prior but I did it.
My first half marathon was the inaugural Avenue of the Vines 1/2 Marathon in Lodi on May 20, 2007. I had no time goals for the race - my goal was to cross the finish line. It was tough, it was hot and I lost a toe nail. When I saw my husband at mile 10 I yelled "never again" to him. However, when I crossed the finish line and got my first medal the feeling was indescribable. I was hooked. I just ran 13.1 miles! I was the girl who hated running! Sure, it was slow but I did it.
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| About to cross the finish line at Ave of the Vines |
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| Crossing the finish line at my first marathon |
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| Cycling |
Since that fateful day in September 2006 I have gone on to complete over 34 races. Running races ranging in distance from 5k to marathon and as a member of a 12 person relay team running 199 miles over 30 hours, a handful of half metric centuries, a full metric century and a triathlon and I have no plans to stop there. Currently, I am training to beat my 1/2 marathon PR on October 2, 2010 at the Rock 'N Roll San Jose 1/2 marathon, for my first full century ride (100 miles) on October 16, 2010 and to beat my marathon PR at the CIM marathon in December.
I may not be the fastest runner or the best cyclist but with each race I go farther and faster than I ever thought I could. I have done things I never imagined, pushed limits I never knew I had and reached goals I have never thought possible. I have taken lessons I have learned and applied them to other aspects of my life. I have learned perseverance, how to overcome obstacles and that I am stronger than I think I am. There is nothing better than feeling that of accomplishment and knowing the success of was nothing but my own hard work and determination.
Initially when I started reading blogs I focused mostly on blogs about how to train to run races, etc, but more recently I have also been focusing on blogs dedicated to healthy living. Despite the fact I have been a "normal" weight for many years now I have not always had a healthy relationship with food and since 6th grade I have spent a lot of my time focused on weight, food, counting calories, and living on restrictive diets. Through running, cycling and blogging I have really been able to focus on food as fuel and fun again.
I am just your average 28 year old future attorney, girly girl in love with running, cycling, animals, swimming, yoga, shopping, traveling, reading, wine and coffee. I just moved to the bay area in California with my husband and we have two rescued furchildren, Griffey, our 3 year old hyper, worrywart dachshund/chihuahua mix and Tory, our 5 year old dachshund transplant from Mexico.
