courtney - the runner

joshua and owen running on the beach in january...

i have a lot of "titles" (wife, mom, friend, sister, daughter) but "runner" is not one that has ever been close to my name. some of you know, but most of you don't, that i started running this past August. my initial inspiration was to lose "those last few pounds" (which, by the way, still evades me). i could hardly run 1/2 a mile. i would start out and 3 minutes later was convinced that my lungs were going to collapse, or my calf muscles were going to snap in half but i would push myself as far as i could go...about 1/2 mile. each day i would run to the street PAST where i had stopped the day before. i had a route that was 1 mile...and i eventually was running the whole thing. after about 2 weeks of doing that, i started a new route...2 miles...then 3 miles...then i was hooked. it's seriously like a drug. what started out as a way to exercise became a necessary part of my well-being. i looked forward to getting up at 5:45 am and running in the pitch black...spending that quiet time thinking, praying, getting ready for my day. in a day filled with noise and little kids and tons of tasks, it is a welcome reprieve.

so, pat still doesn't consider me a runner. i was encouraged to sign up for a 10k (which is on March 31) and am hopeful that he will consider me a runner after that.

i always ran by myself...and didn't mind. when we moved in a month and a half ago, i was talking to a neighbor and she mentioned and invited me to join her and her friends (they also run at 5:45 am). i didn't sleep at all the night before i ran with them the first time...i was so nervous because i had never run with anyone! i've been running with these amazing women (there are 6 of us if we're all there...and sometimes one of the husbands joins us) for 3 weeks and am awed by them. they are so fast and so in shape. i love listening to them talk (i can't join in, i'm trying to breathe) about their lives and i'm so grateful they've let me join them. i'm not sure i would recognize them after 6:30 am...it's pitch black and we're covered in layers of clothes and hats (come on, spring!) i always looked forward to getting up to run, but i do so even more now!

so, courtney-the runner. i'll let you know if pat gives me the title after the 10k...