Guest Post: Running... or Something Like It

Hi guys. I'm still on vacation, but I asked my good friend and fellow SOSer to write a blog post about her herculean effort to run her first half-marathon. Rachel is raising money to support Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research, a cause that has special meaning for her. I'm so proud of her and the progress she's been making. You can find out more about it on Rachel's race page. Without further ado, here's Rachel:

Hello everyone! Calli invited me to write a guest post about running. That thought still seems completely hilarious to me. When I say that if I can run a half-marathon, anyone can; I sincerely mean it.

I was what you would call a non-runner. Sure, I did a little yoga, but I only did cardio occasionally and hadn’t run in around 10 years. It all started after a conversation from this gal, Karen.

Beware:  She can convince you to do
anything!

She should be a life coach. If there is anything you feel like you can’t do, she can make it seem possible. We were sipping coffee after yoga, and she mentioned she would be running in the Bupa Great North Run. It is a half-marathon in Newcastle. This would be here third half-marathon. I said that sounded fabulous, and she said with training, I could do it, too. In fact, we could try to get a small together. I could get on board with that idea. I had this vision of all of SOS running together. In this vision, we were all light on our feet and didn’t really even sweat. Oh, that sweet dream couldn’t be any farther from the truth.

Karen, Katie, and I committed to doing the run. Alisha and Nick decided to train with us, and Calli is our biggest cheerleader. It was time to put the words into action. I tried my first run at the gym with my husband. I ran a 5k without training and I was sore for about four days. I decided to ditch the training program and train at a slower pace that I could stick with. Then I did my first outdoor run with Alisha. I don’t know if I made it 100 yards before I was cussing and needing to walk. It was not a promising start to say the least. With the support of my spectacular friends, the training continued.

Like any race, there are hurdles. The first hurdle happened when I needed to sign up for the race.  All of the pay and run spots were taken. The only spots left required the entrant to raise between three and four hundred pounds for a charity in addition to the entry fee for the race. I was in a predicament. I didn’t think I would be able to do the fundraising. If Karen is good at getting someone to think they can do anything, Calli is good at getting someone to stick with it. The trick is that she won’t let you fall on insecurities and lies that you tell yourself. She made me realize that I was actually afraid of not being able to complete the run. She encouraged me to to stick with it and check out the charities. So I did. I found Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research, which is a cause that is very close to my heart since my dad is a lymphoma survivor. The crazy thing is that people actually donated. This made me feel like my efforts were worth it. Also, knowing that I would be running for a charity made me feel like I was running for something bigger than myself. I doubled my efforts.

Me, running at the gym.  You can tell it is a staged photo because I am smiling.

The final hurdle happened as a result of me “doubling my efforts.” I got my first running related injuries. I got plantar fasciitis and a strained achilles tendon. Both injuries can easily happen to elite runners and could be caused by excessive training. The more likely cause was my previous sedentary lifestyle. My doctor gave me some stretches and strengthening exercises. She also told me that it was probably best to cross train and lay off the running while I recovered. I felt frustrated, and I am surprised to say it was difficult to be patient with my body and not run for a while. It was precious time lost, but I also learned an important lesson about listening to my body.

After clearing that final hurdle, I am happy to say that I am back on track so to speak. I feel like it is a massive achievement to have come as far as I have. I ran the better part of five miles just last week and am fully confident that I will be able to complete the half marathon. If it hadn’t been for my support group and my belief in my charity, I would have quit ages ago. So... here is my advice to you if you would like to start running.

1. You can do it. Commit to a race to give yourself a concrete goal and start training.
2. It takes a while to build endurance, so give yourself a few months before you decide if you hate running. It does get better. Find a training guide and try to stick with it. Here is a link to to guide I tried to use.
3. Tell other people about your goals to make yourself accountable.  Running with other people makes the time pass more quickly. They also provide encouragement when there is something you feel you cannot do.
4. Consider running for a charity. This made me feel like I was running for more than just my own personal health. When I have been out running in the rain and asking myself why I am doing it, knowing that I am running for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research keeps me moving. Here is a link to my fundraising page. Even if you aren't interested in donating, feel free to check it out. It is where I post information about my training progress.
5. Listen to your body and be patient. It is not fair to compare yourself to people who have been running for decades. We all run our own race. No matter how discouraging that first workout feels, remember it. There is nothing better than seeing progress and discovering you can do more than you could last week.

Thanks Rachel for a great, inspiring post! We all wish you luck with your first half-marathon. Go get 'em!