Have you ever done something that is just completely out of your comfort zone? Totally NOT your thing? Like spoken in front of a group? Or made a big elaborate meal when normally your cooking skills are limited to Ramen noodles and grilled cheese? I've taken that step....and it's a big one!!
I started running 3 years ago. Not as a need to get healthy or lose weight. I did it because I wanted to go back to Disney World. LOL yes I know, a great reason to begin running. I wanted to go down to Disney in October 2011 for Food and Wine Festival and my husband wasn't on board with the idea. (He tolerates my obsession with Disney but would prefer once in a while to go someplace else. I have considered professional help for this disturbing way of thinking for him) So when a friend mentioned they were going down and planning on running the Wine and Dine Half Marathon, I jumped at the chance to go along! Signed up for the race, booked the trip, then told my husband what I was doing. That was my very first step out of my comfort zone. I have NEVER been an athlete. NEVER. Sports aren't my thing, I have a very over-active sense of self preservation that prevents me from doing anything that could result in an injury to myself. And I am the biggest girly girl there ever was........I don't like to do anything that will get me sweaty or dirty. Seriously.....ladies don't sweat, they glisten. And running makes you sweat. A lot. This didn't sound like something that I would enjoy doing.
But I do enjoy Disney and I really wanted to go to Food and Wine, so this was my only option. I knew that I was going to have to work really hard at this and figure out how to overcome my "issues" and succeed at my running. Injury was my first concern. I work full time, teach Cake Decorating 2 nights a week, run my daughters very busy girl scout troop, and shuttle my 2 small children around to Baseball, Softball, Track, Swimming, Cross Country, Girl Scouts, school and Dr appointments. A debilitating leg injury that prevented me from walking and keeping up with this crazy busy life was simply not an option. How to go from Zero to Half Marathon in 6 months with little to no risk of injury? Enter the Galloway Training Program by Olympian and RunDisney Trainer Jeff Galloway. His method of walk/run/walk is proven to get you running safely and minimize the chance of injury. Just what I needed.....plus I could walk!! Walking I like. Running, not so much.
Fast forward 3 years and I have now completed 5 half marathons, 1 ten miler, 4 10Ks and countless 5K's. I am only 1 half marathon away from qualifying for Half Fanatics (I'll run this last half next weekend!!!) I have 4 more half marathons scheduled in the next 3 months. I've definitely caught the "running bug" and am a willing convert! My collection of running clothes now takes up it's own dresser in my room and the number of running decals on my car is just as big as the number of Disney decals! I can nor proudly say "Yes I am a Runner.....and Proud of my accomplishments!"
But I never wanted to go any further than 13.1 miles. My times range from 2:30 - 2:45 for my races (Disney races don't count as I tend to stop for lots of pictures). A Full Marathon of 26.2 miles would take me 5-1/2 hours!! I don't want to do anything for 5-1/2 hours other than sleep and visit Disney parks!! 5-1/2 hours of running?!?!?! I can barely find the time to fit in a 2 hour run every other weekend! How am I going to find the time needed to train for a full marathon?? The time and distance greatly increase my chance of injury (yeah, haven't completely gotten over that fear. Plus I did end up with a leg injury last fall that took me out of running for 6 weeks. I'm not impervious to injury.) My kids are getting older and even more busy than when I started this. And i'm OLDER! I started running before I was 35......now I am older....than that age. Do I really want to start this? YES I DO!!! Last fall I read a recap on a blog of a runners first full marathon. She ran the Marine Corp Marathon and wrote in great detail of the emotions and sense of accomplishment she felt after crossing the finish line. I had read recaps and reports of Marathons before, especially the Disney Marathon. After reading them, I'd think "sure that looks like fun" for all of about 30 seconds before I remembered "I'm not a REAL runner". Well last fall after reading Christine's recap......I didn't have that 2nd thought about not being a runner. I said to myself " I can do this!!" And I will. I will train hard........I have set this goal for myself that is so far out of my comfort zone, it will take me about 5-1/2 hours to reach it :) but I WILL do it!
I won't be alone on this journey. The Marine Corp Marathon pulls a lot of first timers! Already their facebook page is full of support and encouragement from other runners. And I'll have a great support system from my new charity partner, Fisher House. As a member of Team Fisher House, I've pledged to raise $600 to support Military Families during medical crisis. Fisher House is a lot like Ronald McDonald House, my previous charity partner, in that is provides housing to families while a loved one is in the hospital. Fisher House provides housing to families of our service men and women hospitalization for an illness, disease or injury. Our Military give so much of themselves and their family to serve our country........raising money for them is the least I can do to show my gratitude and support for them.
http://www.teamfisherhouse.org/goto/jenniferbutler
