How it all began

I was never a runner.  As a matter of fact, I pretty much hated it for much of my life.  I hated gym class (and almost flunked it one year because I always "forgot my gym suit") and was never into sports.  What did I do?  Oh, I rode my bike, and there was a stretch of time where we went roller-skating like every weekend!  But, running?  Oh, NO WAY!

As an adult, I'd gone through a few stretches where I tried exercising, and/or losing weight.  The first time, I think I used BeachBody videos - Yoga Booty Ballet!  Still like it and am thinking of incorporating it into my "training" plan.  But, then that sort of dropped off.  

Later on, the library I was working at did a "Biggest Loser" competition among the staff.  At this point I was getting a little older, and was starting to feel the effects of the extra weight I'd put on over the years.  I decided I would join the friendly, workplace competition.   For this go-round, I used some Biggest Loser DVDs - loved Bob Harper, not so much a Jillian Michaels fan - which made me realize the type of "coaching" I preferred - the supportive kind, not the drill-sergeant kind.  I also really took a look at what and HOW MUCH I was eating.  

I won the competition, but continued on and ended up losing 50 pounds over about a 9-10 month period (maybe a year, I don't remember exactly).  All I know is it was a slow process but it worked!

Flash-forward a few years to December 2014.  I wasn't doing anything in particular for fitness but was still watching what I ate...but when I started a new job and had to walk up 3 flights of stairs, I started realizing I was losing the benefits I'd gained after the weight-loss.  I decided I needed to find something to help make those stairs not so punishing.

At the time, my sister was running a bit, and one of my new co-workers was VERY much into it.  I was at least going to start walking but needed some good shoes.  The co-worker suggested I go to Fleet Feet Schererville and get fitted.  Well, I took her advice and went in, but got total STICKER SHOCK at the prices.  So, I did what I'm sure many do at the beginning - I went in, tried some shoes on, found out that a "neutral" shoe was good for me, and I promptly left, went to Kohl's and bought some other (reasonably-priced) brand.

Unfortunately, I learned very quickly that shoes do make a difference.  I didn't like the ones I purchased, returned them, and went back to get the Brooks Ghost shoes I had tried on at Fleet Feet.

While at the store, the friendly people (but a little intimidating to me, since they were RUNNERS) started telling me about their No Boundaries program - a running program that would train you for a 5k.  I was VERY hesitant.  Me?  Run?  But, they said, you can do the beginner plan which starts off with walk/run intervals.  I still wasn't sure.  

But, I signed up.  For my first No Boundaries program.  My first 5k.  The training program started in, get this, FEBRUARY (2015).  FEBRUARY?  Was I insane?  I hated winter probably more than I hated running.  I remember the first day - we couldn't even run on the trail - had to go through the parking lot, across a major road, and down one of the side streets.  Oddly, I don't remember the distance or time we started with, but I do remember it was a walk/run interval (for us newbies), and I kept thinking, there is NO WAY I'M GOING TO BE ABLE TO RUN A MINUTE!!  

It's pretty obvious I survived.  That program was so awesome.  I learned about running form, road and trail rules/etiquette, hydration, nutrition, belly-breathing, and so much more.  The coach and mentors were so supportive and helpful, as were the other runners.  

The goal race was in April 2015.  I convinced my sister to come run it with me.  It was the Spring Fling Ramp Run, which included running up 3 levels of a parking garage on campus!  But, we'd trained for it well, and I finished.  I remember taking a walking break right before you came around the corner and up along the last stretch.  I thought, I'm going to walk now so I can RUN across the finish line!

After the race! 

My sister and I at my very first-ever 5k race!

At that moment, I NEVER thought I'd be where I am now - about to run my first marathon.

After that first program, I continued signing up for the 5k distance programs and tried to improve my time.  I did a ton of races.  I met more wonderful people - many who have continued on the path to longer distances, others who have taken different forks in the fitness road.  I think I did 3 more 5k programs before FINALLY giving in and moving up to the 10k at the end of 2015, again doing the Breaking Boundaries program with Fleet Feet. 

My medal rack - as of December 2015 - our coach gave us a medal after completing that first program, and again for the last 5k program I did - they are on the ends - that first medal is still the most meaningful one I've received!

Oddly, it didn't take me quite as long to jump up to the half marathon distance...my first half marathon was Indy Mini in May of 2016.  One of the reasons I wanted to do this race was because for part of the course, you run around the Indianapolis Speedway - the Indy 500 had special meaning to me having gone there for qualifying, and the Indy 500 - with my dad when I was young.  I liked the idea of running along the same track as those fast cars and it made me think of those trips with my Dad.

About to run into the Speedway at my first Indy Mini!

At the finish with the cool medal!

I did more races in 2016 - one in Milwaukee and one in Madison to earn the M2 medal.  I did the iconic Rock n Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon late that year where I broke my Indy Mini time and PR'd with a time of 3:03:56. 

My medal rack as of July 2016

At the start of the Las Vegas Half Marathon in November, 2016.

The half marathon course took you all the way down to Fremont Street!

My medal rack as of November 2016

Then...in January 2017 I hit a wall and didn't run for a solid month.  I don't know why.  (Well, maybe I do...I'll talk about that some other time.) But, having done a very cliche runner-thing, I'd signed up for Indy Mini 2017 immediately following Indy Mini 2016...so...of course I had to start training again.  

I began that training program with trepidation and, really, a pretty negative attitude.  Then something happened.  Something that probably changed the trajectory of my running in the most positive way possible....

I started doing run/walk intervals with some of the women in the group.  This completely changed my perspective.  I don't know if I just had a mental block about having to RUN the ENTIRE time or what, but being introduced to intervals, in a welcoming, supportive way, and knowing that they had successfully completed other races with this method - I was all-in.  At that time, I still ran the shorter mileage, but on the weekend long runs I enjoyed settling into the 1/1 run/walk interval.

It probably had to do with the fact that in all my half marathons, I had walked some anyways - this way, I was doing it in a structured way, and KNEW, if I stuck to the intervals, I would RUN AT LEAST HALF of it!

I owe so much to those women who let me join them (one of them happened to be the coach of my first 5k program).  I truly don't know if I'd be about to run my first marathon if I hadn't joined their pace group.

I PR'd at INDY MINI 2017 with a time of 2:50:48!

After PR-ing at Indy Mini 2017!

I've since broken that time, with a race I did in May 2018, but I'll save that story for another day.

Bad picture, but my medal rack as of August 2017 - yes, I have a problem with wanting the bling!