Couch to ATHLETE!

Well, it has been about a year since I have run a half marathon. I have made a decision to do a half marathon every year because running long distances in the heat is just not fun right now... So, this weekend I went out and took on the promised 'flat' course in Toledo. We will get to the flat situation in a few minutes, but what I will say is that this race was fantastic on so many levels! First, and most importantly, I got to spend another weekend with my closest friend prepping for another race that we would again start and finish together. Her with patience of steel as I bought and lost items within minutes of each other, and me crying for no reason minutes before the race even started... But what else made this race great? Another very close friend of mine came up to take on Toledo!!! The awesome thing about Chris doing the race is that she ran my very first half marathon, ten half marathons ago. Those are just the starters!!! This race started out with dogs on t...

The heat hit Columbus today... This is a big deal to the runner who has Multiple Sclerosis. First, I have to admit that had a video been taken during this run, that video could have been placed next to the word whiny in the dictionary to demonstrate the meaning of the word. I tried wearing cooling bands on my wrists to keep me cold, but they were warm within the first two miles. I also announced two miles into the run that I was only going to run five miles instead of the intended six... To say I was a pleasant running buddy is an understatement! Here are a couple of interesting facts about heat and multiple sclerosis: 1) In the early days, people were diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis by taking a bath. I'm not kidding either!!! The idea was, submerge a person in a hot bath and track their neurological symptoms, and if they worsen, the person probably has MS. This explains a lot!!! When I take baths, the chapters of the book I was reading often have to be re-read after the f...

While everyone celebrates Easter, I am sitting here reflecting on some of my goals. Easter has a way of getting me to think about renewal. Perhaps it is the nice weather, that is allowing me to sit on my back patio while I type this, but I feel fresh, I feel excited for what is next! I spent last week in Colorado, and boy was it a blast... from skiing with my cousins and sister-in-law, biking with my brother and company, hanging out with my brother!!! I couldn't have asked for a better vacation! The thing is, I always end up thinking about what I want for my athletic self when I spend weekends so physically active, as I was in Colorado. I had a conversation with my friend about it just yesterday morning, and the honest truth is I simply want to enjoy every athletic pursuit I embark on. I love my bike, I love running, I love swimming... I love putting my hands in the dirt, I love my cat, I love spending time with my friends, I love house projects, and I love rest. Can I have ...