On the cusp of achievement

I have never been one who has been good with follow through. I love to talk big about something I can do/will do, but when it comes right down to putting "my money where my mouth is" I have, in the past had a tendency to fail to really do it. A few years ago, I set about changing this.

Last January, I sat down, and with pen and paper, made resolutions like I always do. Promising myself I would tighten up finances, loose weight, eat healthier, these are staples that always end up on that list of resolutions. About the only thing that differs is the year affixed to the top of the page. The difference, is last year I DID follow through. I got healthier, began working out, and actually did fix up some of my finances.

So with a new year and a new environment, I promised myself yet a new goal for this year...complete a 1/2 marathon. 13.1 miles. An accomplishment that I thought was crazy 2 years ago. Something I was shooting for in all my crazy runs in the snow last year, but knew I was not at all ready for.

I sit, one day away from completing this goal. Tomorrow, while most of you reading this (if there really ARE any people reading this) are still sleeping, I will be in a car, on the way down to Long Beach California. My first (and hopefully, if all goes well, not last) half marathon in my sites. The International City Bank Long Beach Half Marathon. 

Getting to this point feels like quite the accomplishment in itself. When I first moved here to California, I wasn't sure of how I was going to accomplish this goal. Most of my running last year was done in the gym, and my road running came only when I did a race. Not much on training the legs to run consistently on asphalt, concrete and trails. I had heard that there were co-workers who ran as part of a group, at this place called the Rose bowl (which only sounded familiar cause I had maybe watched the Rose bowl game on TV), but didn't know how seriously they actually took running, let alone training for something that involved running almost 3 hours. Would they be up for trying one too?

Running is a unique sport. It can be both very individual, and a team sport. Granted, when you are out there, sweating, gasping for air, sometimes it feels like you are the only lonely soul going through that type of "pain". And as someone who did my runs last year alone, it does suck to have that feeling and know there isn't someone in front of you, or at your shoulder who you know pushing you along.

The cool thing is this, this accomplishment, something I really wanted to do for myself, couldn't have been achieved without my "team." A great set of co-workers who I definitely now consider friends, who have helped push me along the way. They made me realize my slight desire to run was actually more of a passion and hobby than I first realized. That with their help, humor and companionship these last few months during runs after work, early mornings at the park by work, and pushing myself on the weekends to get in miles, culminate with 13 miles tomorrow. 

One more goal to check off my list of things I FOLLOWED through on! :) Stay tuned for the play by play of the race in the next blog!