Going the Distance: becoming a runner

People have been telling me a lot recently how they wish they loved to run like I do. And it would be so easy for them if they just loved it.

Hmm...

Well, the truth is this:

I haven't always been a runner. When I was 10, my 8-year-old sister could beat me anytime, anywhere, in any race easily. So embarrassing. In my 6 years playing soccer I avoided running as much as possible and was always last in drills. In middle school and high school I finally landed on swimming and karate as my sports of choice primarily because no running was involved (plus I could hit people on purpose in Karate and get points for it).

It wasn't like I woke up one morning, and just ran 10 miles screaming "I love running" the entire time. Not even close.

When I first started running in college, I ran one mile maximum at a time, very very slowly. I pretty much hated it. But being a college girl who didn't like to go to the gym and was terrified of having love handles, I needed a way to get exercise during my swimming off season.

Gradually I started to like running, pushing myself to better my times, further my distances. Very very gradually. And finally, after 5 years and an ankle surgery, I ran my first half marathon.

Even when I take a break from running for a few months and then come back to it,  it takes a few agonizing weeks to get back to where I was before. But I'll let you in on a little secret...that thing that has led me to love running:::

I suck it up.

That's right folks. When I'm off on a run and within 1/4 of a mile want to walk all the way home and eat a candy bar instead, I keep going.

I push myself when I hate it, I don't give up. And that is how I get to the good part of running. The part where you feel like you're leaving all of your problems behind, and feel awesome about yourself, and get in shape.

So if you're sitting there thinking you could never be a runner, that is not true. You may never love to run, not everyone does. But if you can push past the starting point and get to the good stuff, it's really very rewarding.