Crossing the Finish Line

I’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned a few times in the past few months on the blog that I’ve gotten back into running. I’ve had an on again, off again relationship with running since high school cross country and track. Fortunately, both Brian and I have been running pretty steadily since March.

Unfortunately, that’s another reason the blog has suffered. Instead of coming home and writing blog posts, I get home and go for a run. By the time I get back and shower, make dinner, etc, there just isn’t time left. Looks like I need to focus on balancing my hobbies!

Regardless, running has been an amazing addition to my life. Once I got past the first three or so hellish weeks while my body and mind adjusted to the new demands I was putting on them, running became my release. So much so that I foolishly let Brian talk me into signing up for a half marathon, which is {scarily} later this week. 

As if training for the half wasn’t enough, my crazy husband also sent me a text while I was at work last Thursday morning asking if I wanted to sign up for a local 10K race, which just happened to be two days later. 

“Sure!” I said. “Why not?”

In all honesty, I’m really glad we decided to run this race, even if it was totally last minute. I haven’t raced in a looooong time, so this gave me a chance to get used to the feeling again. As a solo runner, it can be hard to adjust to running in a group again, not to mention all of the emotions that strike on the starting and finishing lines of a race. The 10K provided a pretty good warm up for the half next weekend.

Plus, both Brian and I did really well! My goal was to finish in one hour or under - my chip time was exactly 1:00:59! I was within my goal by one second! Brian wanted to finish in 45 minutes and he was well within his goal too!

A few friends of ours ran the race as well - it was so much fun to be able to warm up pre-race and celebrate post race with them! One of the couples will be running the half next weekend as well, so hopefully we’ll have repeat celebrations at the finish line.

Running, I think, has also brought Brian and I closer together. Not that we’ve really struggled with being close, but with everything going on in our professional lives, it can be a challenge to spend time together. Running has given us a medium to share thoughts, struggles, successes, everything. And although I’d love to be fast enough to keep up with him during a race, nothing helps me get through the last leg of a run than seeing him waiting for me at the finish line. Cue the cheesy “awes.”

Here’s to hoping the half this weekend is as successful as last weekend’s 10K! We also have a 5K next weekend and another 5K on Thanksgiving morning - we’re going to be racking up quite a few miles this fall!