One Mile, Two Mile, Three Mile, Four

In 16 days, I'll be running the Rock Creek Trail Series heavy-half marathon. A half marathon is 13.1 miles, but due to the way the trails wind around and the fact that the people putting this event together are crazy, the actual course will be about 15 miles long. Thus the "heavy" part of the heavy-half marathon.

I've been doing my best to prepare for this. I've logged several 6 mile runs and one 8 miler, I have a 10 mile run planned for the weekend, and I've done more 3 and 4 mile runs that I can count. I'm very slow, and I don't actually run the entire distance - I run until I hit a big hill or my legs just won't go any further and then I walk for a couple of minutes before starting up again. But I've steadily been able to run further, and I've been amazed at how my lung capacity has increased, decreasing the amount of wheezing other runners hear when passing me :)

Because of the technical nature of the trails I'll be running (i.e. rocks, tree roots, and steep hills), I fully expect this 15 mile jog through the state park to take 4 1/2 hours. I'd love it if I could manage it in a bit less, and I'm praying it's not too much more, but you take what the trails give you and do your best. I'll be one of the slowest, if not the slowest, runner out there, but my mantra is simple:

Slow and steady may not win the race, but it will finish it.

When I started running in January, it was a struggle to run for 60 seconds. Now, a 60 minute run doesn't seem unreasonable. Even more satisfying is the change in my attitude. I make my running a priority. It doesn't happen every day, but if I go more than two days without lacing up my shoes, I get antsy. Even on the days when I dread heading out the door, I know that once I'm out there I'll be so glad I made the effort. It feels good to do something for me.

This trail series, put on by my fabulous local running store, has been a big motivator. It started with a 5k in early Spring, built to 2 10ks during the summer months, and now peaks with this fall event. It's hard to skip a training run when you know a race is on the horizon. Also high on my list of things that keep me going are the people I know. I have a coworker who has been running the series, neighbors who run with me, and staff at the running store who have become friends. But I could never have kept with it if the husband hadn't stepped in. He's cooked countless suppers while I've squeezed in a run after work. He's put the girls to bed so I could get in three miles on the treadmill. And he's run them to all sorts of activities so that I could get some time in on the trails.

I'm both excited and nervous. Mostly, I'm proud of myself and the effort I've made. And I know that in two weeks, when I come up the trail toward the finish line, the cowbells will be ringing, the other runners will be cheering me on, and there will be margaritas waiting.

That, my friends, is a reason to run.