I’d like to thank Meghann for inspiring this post, I realized I have never shared my running story. I am currently taking a writing course for work, and included most of this story in my latest assignment.

Running has changed my life twice; the first time in 2002 (10^th  grade ) and again in 2011. Most of you don’t know, but I have an 11 year history of running. Of course it has been off and on, but running has been in my life for a LONG time. When I started high school, I decided to do cross country because I wanted to do a sport and it was one of the only sports that didn’t involve a ball (I don’t have good hand eye coordination). I ended up getting really into it and even went to running camp during the summer of 2003 and 2004. Running changed me during this time by giving me the opportunity to meet new friends outside of my normal circles, to get involved with the school, and it taught me how to set goals for myself especially with getting faster. I was never a star athlete, but I kept it up and improved dramatically. Unfortunately when I went to college the motivation wasn’t there anymore. I was no longer part of that team dynamic, and ended up not running anymore. I was a typical college kid that was “too busy” to work out. But running always stayed in the back of my mind.

In 2011 two of my friends thought it would be fun to start running after work as a form of exercise, and given my running history, I agreed. I started slow and eventually built myself back into running shape. On April 15, 2011 I ran my first 5K in 6 years. After running a 5K Liz brought up the crazy idea of training for a half marathon, although she was running in New York, Shannon and I decided to do the Wilson Bridge Half Marathon here in Virginia. Our training went well and we completed the race, it was hard, but we finished! Now almost two years later, I have completed two half marathons and a handful of other races, I’m about to run another half marathon, and I have many more races on my schedule. This time around I’ve learned even more about running by reading books and blogs (especially lately), and I feel like I am now in the best running shape of my life. Running changed my life for the second time by helping me get exercising again, and relearn my passion for running. It has also brought me closer to my two running partners, whom I still run with almost every day, Liz and Shannon (2 years going strong!). Chris has even joined in running with us. I’m now in it for the long haul, no more 6 year breaks, running is now part of me forever.

What is your running story?