I started my running journey in high school when I decided to join the High School cross country team in order to get in shape for basketball. For someone that had probably never ran more than 2-3 miles, the average 3-7 mile practice runs were an accomplishment in itself. That freshman year taught a lot about myself...that I wasn't a quitter.
When I was 17 I joined the United States Marine Corps...and started running to try to get in shape for boot camp. I knew we had to do a timed 1.5 mile run and a 3 mile run at the end but that the Marine Corps favorite run is the 3 mile run. So I prepared a few months before boot camp. Of course what I had been doing was nothing close to the boot camp I had to endure. My running base did help.
When I was in Iraq in 2005-06, I decided to start running more. I had felt the most lonely I ever had in my entire life and decided that running would hopefully help relieve some of the stress. In February 2006, I signed up for a 10K in Iraq and finished it in 56 minutes. When I got home that year I signed up for my first half marathon, the USAF Half Marathon in September 2006. In 2008 I completed the Columbus Marathon. Since then I have completed a quarter marathon, another half marathon, several 5K's and other shorter runs. I am now signed up for the Glass City Half in April 2012, Capital City Half in May 2012 and soon will be registering for the 2012 USAF Marathon.
Running has gotten me past many obstacles in life and has continued to be a stress relief and a motivational activity. I will continue to just run.
No comments:
Post a Comment