Who am I and what have I done with me?

In a good way, though it still sounds faintly schizoid.

We’re still living at the House  (yes, it deserves capitalization because it’s named and is on the National Register of Historic Places) and it’s still a lot of fun and I still haven’t posted pictures for you, but I promisepromisepromise I’ll do it soon. I put a lamp on the corner of my desk in the office so it’s not so dark in there. So I’ll show you soon, but that’s not why I’m here today.

I think I’m a runner. For you, that might not be major news, but it totally is for me. I’d always prided myself on my stance of “I only run if someone’s chasing me,” but that’s changed in a major way. Now that we live right on a perfect 5k loop of a lake– literally, the sidewalk is pretty much a parade of runners and walkers and otherwise every single day– I’d officially run out of excuses to not run. Combined with the fact that for years I’d always said “this summer, I’m going to run the Lake,” it was time to make good on a goal.

So I started small. Couch to 5k (look for the Robert Ullrey podcasts in iTunes… they’re free and really great). Using the MapMyRun app on my iPhone and checking in on the computer to track my progress. I ran with friends for a change– Dan mostly, but also a friend from high school who’s recently become addicted to running. They’ve both done marathons and could probably have run circles around me, but they stuck with me and chatted so I could take my mind off the effort I was expending.

A few weeks ago, I did it! I ran the whole thing! And I didn’t feel like dying afterwards! Once I hit that goal, I felt fantastic. I’ve never been much of an athlete and dreaded the Mile Run in middle school, so for me to complete 3.1 miles in one go was a huge feat.

Now I’m signed up for a 5k with Dan on 9/11 (he’s running in his bunker pants and full air tank setup, whereas I’ll don my standard shorts and t-shirt) and I just signed up for a 10k on 10/16, which Kristin’s running with me. Add to that the fact that I got Dan (and me) the Insanity workout series for his birthday on Monday, and I might actually be on track to become physically fit. Like I said, who am I and what have I done with me?

My motivation for doing all this isn’t 100% clear, even to me. I guess the biggest part is that I’ve heard that the better shape you’re in when you’re pregnant and just before, the easier labor can be and the faster you can bounce back. This is obviously a few years off for us, but still a consideration. We want our family to be active and outdoorsy, and the more we work that into our daily lives, the better. I also feel that running (and hiking, but I’m still working on that) is something Dan loves to do, and I’d like to share that with him. Plus, I feel better about myself, think I look better, and think my overall health is improving as a direct result.

Have you taken a fitness 180*? Have you done something you never imagined you’d do? I’d love to know!

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