Operation C25K. And a giveaway!
The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start.
~ John Bingham
Isn't it funny how certain things continue to touch your life ... over and over again? And the more those things appear, the more inspired you become?
Running.
I hate it.
I have always hated it.
I have never understood why people would want to run.
But I continued to be inspired by those very people. People around me who run for pure enjoyment. People around me who are completing marathons. People around me who are a part of the camaraderie that comes with those who run.
You might remember Liz. I have sort of been able to vicariously live her journey through my good friend, McKenna. And if something like this does not smack you in the head, then I'm not sure what does.
McKenna runs. Shortly after Liz was diagnosed with bone cancer, McKenna ran a half marathon. She called me to tell me the camaraderie that she experienced during the race ... and I cried. And I told another friend ... and she cried.
McKenna's story from her blog ...
So ... I ran a half-marathon last Sunday. And ... this post is soooooo not about accomplishing this goal. I did it and am happy I did it ... but to be honest ... with everything going on with Liz, it really was the last thing I wanted to be doing on Sunday ... and the last thing I want a pat on the back about right now.
Knowing that I was very unmotivated to be there, I decided to make my run all about Liz and ironed the words "Pray for Liz" on the back of my shirt. I seriously cannot count the number of people who asked me, "Who's Liz?", or told me, "I'm praying for Liz!", while we were running the 13.1 miles.
I was motivated to run faster because I knew the faster I ran ... the more people would be behind me to see my shirt and pray for Liz. A man at mile 13 told me that I was pacing him between miles 11 and 13 and he had been praying nonstop for two miles for Liz (and I'm not fast, so that's a good 25 minutes of prayer! LOL!). It was awesome to know that hundreds of people were praying for sweet Liz during that looooong run.
Knowing that I was very unmotivated to be there, I decided to make my run all about Liz and ironed the words "Pray for Liz" on the back of my shirt. I seriously cannot count the number of people who asked me, "Who's Liz?", or told me, "I'm praying for Liz!", while we were running the 13.1 miles.
I was motivated to run faster because I knew the faster I ran ... the more people would be behind me to see my shirt and pray for Liz. A man at mile 13 told me that I was pacing him between miles 11 and 13 and he had been praying nonstop for two miles for Liz (and I'm not fast, so that's a good 25 minutes of prayer! LOL!). It was awesome to know that hundreds of people were praying for sweet Liz during that looooong run.
Right before the start of the race, a woman came up to me and asked me about my shirt. I told her Liz's story and she prayed with me right there, while we waited to start the race.
{Ok, here's the WOW part.......} I just got a facebook message from this person asking me if I was the person she prayed with before the start of the race! We never exchanged names and I am guessing she found me by my bib number? However she found me, she had to do some digging ... what a blessing!
{Ok, here's the WOW part.......} I just got a facebook message from this person asking me if I was the person she prayed with before the start of the race! We never exchanged names and I am guessing she found me by my bib number? However she found me, she had to do some digging ... what a blessing!
Seriously. How awesome is that? If McKenna's story is any indication of what goes on at these races, then I am so in.
I am going to learn to love to run.
Starting ... um, tomorrow.
A few days ago, I visited my local running store to be fitted with running shoes. They are awful looking, but man are they ever comfortable! And that is all I need to accomplish my goal.
Right?
I would like to challenge you to join me.
We shall call it ... Operation C25K (Couch to 5K).
We will train for nine weeks and then run 5K races all around the nation ... each in our own area. I've been looking at doing a Shamrock run ... let's aim for right around St. Patrick's Day.
Am I biting off more than I can chew? Nah. I don't think so.
We are going to support each other and blog about our progress. Link up below and grab the button for your blog.
Let's get this!
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Need a little boost?
How about the chance to win a $100 gift certificate to your local running store so you can snag some shoes? And a 2GB iPod Shuffle to get you in your groove? Use it to upload C25K Training Podcasts, of course.Yup. I'm giving away this prize package right here, right now.
1) Leave a comment on this blog post telling me why you want to win.
2) Blog, tweet, follow me and/or post this contest on facebook for additional chances at winning -- be sure to leave a comment here for each additional chance at winning, telling me how you earned your additional chance.
That is a total of five chances per person!
3) Contest ends Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at midnight EST. Training for a St. Patrick's Day run must start next week!
Good luck!
