I've committed, or SHOULD I be committed?

So for those of you who had to listen to me last year complain about the incessant amount of muscle pains and aches, and my knees falling apart, it was for good reason. At the end of last year, I tallied up all my races and amazingly enough I hit a higher number than I thought, 23. Yes..that's right. From April 8 (my first race in the sleet snow), to my last one (a colder run where there was still snow on the ground..but a nice finish), I did 23 races last year. Two one mile runs, two 10Ks (6 miles) and all the rest 5Ks (3 miles). To this day I am still shocked by how many I got through. And as a somewhat badge of honor, I have all my race bibs hanging at work.

So this year, one of the things I told Doug I really wanted to keep up was my running. I made it an important priority to get us signed up for the gym first thing in the first few weeks after we moved here.

So it goes without saying that while I didn't think I would outdo myself on races (I have enough tshirts as proof), I did want to keep running. When I was still in Colorado, one of the California guys (now one of my co-workers) told me about a group of them that ran the Rosebowl after work. PERFECT I though, I can keep up my running where it is not just doing a race and being a weekend warrior type runner.

I must admit, my running group has definitely made the transition out here a bit easier for me. It has allowed me to become friends with my co-workers cause we share a common "hobby" in running. Running the Rosebowl sometimes Tues and Thurs (when all our schedules mesh up) helps to provide me with a bit of consistency my last year's crazy running racing schedule did not. While I have less bib #s to show the races I did (only 3 so far), I feel much better about getting in my running more often.

So, this year, rather than trying to outdo myself with race, after race, after race...I picked a far greater goal. A race that actually will require me to train. A race that at the end, I will get a medal PROVING I did it. A race that I will be one of so many..but be able to consider it an accomplishment nonetheless, a 1/2 marathon.

I know, I also happened to pick a race with that dreaded word in it, marathon. It does scare me. As I was running my races last year, I had a couple of people ask me why I didn't commit to training and running one of those. But last year, the idea of running that many miles 1/2 or a full was WAY out of my league. Try and excel at a small distance I thought. Work on getting back in shape and keep your weight off.

So this year, marks a true test, and a push towards a goal for me. I (along with my fellow running fools from work) have committed to doing a 1/2 marathon in October in Long Beach. 13.1 miles. Seems like a lot, and not a lot all rolled into one. I am hoping that while I have committed, I am not someone who SHOULD be committed (to the loony bin) for agreeing to try running that far. I am confident I can do it, but scared of the times leading up to it. But if last year proved anything to me, it is that if I put  my mind to something and commit, I CAN do it.

And after all, 13 IS my lucky number!