Run Like Hell

If pushed, I would agree that I am a runner. I run on a regular basis year round, but am not super speedy nor do I run marathons. On average I run one “race” a year – Hood to Coast. At the risk of sounding too much like my father, most races have too many damn people. I just like to run.

For the past year or two I’ve tossed around the idea of doing a longer race. I’ve run an 8K which is about 5 miles, but nothing longer. This year I have a friend who is turning 30, actually the majority of my friends are turning 30, however this friend was entering 30 in panic mode. As we’re both single and childless, she wondered if I didn’t feel pressure to accomplish something significant before turning 30. I really didn’t. None the less, she put this bug into my head that we should run a half marathon. Since I was coming off Hood to Coast and already had my mileage up, I somehow found myself agreeing. I could run 13.1 miles with girl friends and live to tell the tale.

I mentioned to a friend at work that I was thinking about running a half. Ten minutes later he had a training schedule for me. Things were starting to look serious. To date I have yet to follow the training schedule perfectly, but I’m getting the bulk of miles in. Last Saturday I found myself on a 10-mile run through Forest Park. Who would have thought I’d ever be running that far?

Around the time that I made a decision and paid the entry fee, my girl friends all decided to do a different race. I am maintaining my commitment to the “Run Like Hell.” Supposedly it’s a great half for a first timer. Plus its in my backyard. The course goes through my neighborhood and through my work neighborhood. And up one of the biggest hills in Portland, but I’m blocking that out for now.

Here I am, about four weeks out from the race, and am still optimistic and positive about it. New shoes, a new iPod and a new mileage tracker to motivate me help with the optimism. Having a few long runs under my belt also certainly helps. Even the fact that my girl friends have deserted hasn’t distracted me. I am after all, my own best competitor. I’ve already gone from a goal of just finishing the race to finishing in less than 2 hours. A goal that is ambitious but do-able.

While I don’t feel like I need to “accomplish” anything before turning 30, I do believe in pushing myself out of my comfort zone whenever possible. If running for 13.1 miles isn’t uncomfortable, I don’t know what is.