January 2008 I ran the ING Miami Half Marathon, which I am really proud of since I was never a runner. In fact, when I was in grade school gym class and we had to run, I would often pretend my sneakers had come untied so I could stop, rest and slowly re-tie them. I am proud to report I did not do that during the Half-Marathon! In fact, I remember in high school we had to run a mile and I timed in at 15 minutes. I think some people can walk a mile faster than that. But I actually finished the Half-Marathon in 2 hours 20 minutes, which isn't fast but is a better average than high school. So its comforting to realize that you can become a runner at any age, really. I just read about the twins Barbara Alvarez and Angelika Castaneda, winners of several marathons and triathalons, who didn't start their athletic training until they were in their 40's.
Now that is inspiring!
Miami was fun to travel to for the ING Marathon too, since my dad is near there. Miami seems like a very fun city to go out in, although I didn't go out the weekend of my half-marathon. Actually, as I was arriving at the start line there were groups of inebriated people just leaving the clubs. I thought it was a funny juxtaposition for 6am and it was the first time I was on the arriving-to-the-start-line side not the leaving-the-club side of things.
So after the ING Miami Half, I took some time off from running. I wasn't sure it was for me, actually. But I kind of miss it, the way it makes me feel physically and the clarity of thinking it brings. But I still run a couple miles several times a week and just this practice has changed my routine and made me feel stronger.
