I'm afraid that title may be misleading. I'm not sure if anything in this post will quite cover "crazy" or "wacky" but rest assured, if I continue this blog, it certainly will.
My name is Erica. I've made the decision to run in the first ever Kalamazoo Marathon. Why? Was it to prove my fitness level? To reach a lifelong goal? Was it for pride or maybe honor? Unfortunately my answer to all of those things would be, no.
-a little history of my running past-
I HATED running when I was a kid. From elementary school through middle school on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at the beginning of gym class we had to run 4 laps around the playground (yes, I had a playground in middle school. It was a private school. A private school with snack and recess, and we called our teachers by their first names...yeah, that's what I thought). I. Hated. Those. Days. 4 laps around the playground equaled roughly 1/2 mile. 2 times a year—once in the fall and once in the spring—we had to do fitness testing that involved the dreaded 1 mile run. THAT'S 8 LAPS. There was nothing that caused me more anxiety than thinking about those mile run days (that may also have something to do with the private schooling. What else is there to have anxiety about when you have 13 other people in your graduating class).
Anyhoo, fast forward to the summer before high school, and the crushing realization that you're going to a public high school with 1200 other kids that have mostly all grown up together at the same elementary and middle schools. Schools you were not a part of because you were too busy eating your snack and running laps around the playground as you entered your adolescence. I knew that fall sports teams practiced through the summer to get ready for the season when school started. Once I decided this was my ticket into high school and friendship, it was time to choose my destiny: Women's Tennis, Cheerleading, Volleyball, Women's Golf, or Cross Country. I don't golf or play tennis, I'm not what you would call the "cheerleading" type, and I am 5'1, so Volleyball was out of the question. I joined the Husky Cross Country team (yep, our mascot was a medium-size, wolf-like, snow-loving dog).
I'd like to say it was all a love affair from there and I've been running ever since, but I've had long hard struggles and continue to have long hard struggles with running. I've had wicked shin splints, sprained ankles, a fatigued hip flexor, stress fractures, multiple toenails fall off, about a million blisters (90% of which occur in my ARCHES!!), and have spent hundreds to fuel this "hobby" (mainly bandages for my arch blisters, which I'm sure you're going to hear about ad nauseum).
Ok, catch up to more recently. When I graduated from Western Michigan University in December 2008 and got a job (a good job too) I realized all the free homework-less time adults have after they get home from work. So I set a goal for myself, run a half marathon. It was January 2009 and I signed up for the Chicago Half Marathon in September. I had 9 months to train. After a few weeks went by, I realized I would be ready for the Borgess Half Marathon in April. I was ready when April 25 rolled around and I ran it in 2hr 12min (give or take some seconds). I also threw up about 2 seconds after I crossed the finish line (although that's a story for another day), but that's neither here nor there.
I've been casually running since, hovering right around 3 mile runs, and it's always a struggle to run. A struggle everyday. I'd much rather enjoy this "Real Housewives of Flint" marathon or go out right after work and drink "too much" (I put this in quotations because really, is there a thing as too much?). I'd rather do just about anything than run. But it really is a love/hate relationship. I hate pushing myself to run after a long day, but I love the feeling after. If I don't do a single thing all day, but went for a run, I'll still feel accomplished.
-Back to my original question-
Why am I running the Kalamazoo Marathon? I'd say mainly bragging rights. And hey, after the actual race (26.2 miles?!!?) I'll at least earn myself a week off from running!
I'm starting this blog for 2 reasons.
1. To keep myself accountable and in check. I paid $50—that's right, I got the earlybird special, it must be the Jewish blood in my veins—and I will run all $50 worth!
2. Through my running hi-jinks I want to encourage anyone who doesn't quite consider themselves a "runner" either to keep at it. But hey, if no one reads this I can at least say I entertained myself with stories of puking, blisters, money-saving, and napping (I know that last one wasn't covered in this post, but I'm 3000% positive it will be a frequent theme).
So here's to the first Kalamazoo Marathon, and the rough months ahead.
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