the long and winding road...

It feels funny to talk about this now.  It makes me think that if my parents read this they will think they should’ve done something differently.  They were in tennis leagues and active.  They certainly supported and encouraged us in any pursuits we wanted.  I grew up playing sports.  I started tennis when I was 5, swimming around the same time.  There was t-ball & softball, synchronized swimming (water ballet back then), volleyball, a little bit of ballet here and there, ice skating & lots of bike riding all before high school.  So it isn’t like I never did sporty, athlete things, but I never was a runner.  

In college I had a few half-hearted attempts at a run through campus, but there were far too many distractions to really focus.  Just a brief flash between classes, parties, falling in love and finding my way. It has always been pretty easy to not be a runner.    And once I graduated, got married and starting working it never really entered my mind.

The happiest place on earth...

I’ve had romantic daydreams of being a runner.  I’d just slip on some great shoes, whip my hair into a bouncy ponytail and chirp “I’m heading out for a run!” while jogging off into the sunshine and gentle breezes.  It’s all very Dove soap commercial-like.  With a splash of Nike “Just Do It” from the 90‘s.  But today it is serious.  Very Serious.  My husband who has been a runner on and off has been back on running for the past few years.    And, after toying with the idea of a Disney half-marathon for the past two years he has thrown down the gauntlet and is going to do it.  This November.  At the Food & Wine Festival.  

As soon as he said it, I asked if he was going solo or if we were going as a family.  And he said “either” and I decided I’m going with him... and we’ll leave the kids at home.  They won’t appreciate the food & wine anyway.  And what if I were a runner too?  This is my chance.  If they came I’d have to stay with them while he raced--this is his dream after all.  But, what if I were a runner too.  And I got a medal and crossed the finish line and accomplished something BIG.  And scary.

I have until March to decide if I can do it with a relay partner.  Half of a half.  I think I might be crazy... or maybe I'm a runner.