Running Traditions

 
I officially became a runner in 2009 when I decided I wanted to run a marathon. I had been in a spin class with some runners, and they made it sound so fun. At the time, Rob and I were avid cyclists riding approximately 150 miles a week. So making time for running was not going to be easy. I remember talking with one of the runners in spin class and mentioning that I wanted to run a marathon. I had even chosen one to run two months away. The Austin Marathon would be held in February and promised to be a hilly event. When I told the runner in spin class what I had decided, she said: "I don't think you'll be ready to run a marathon, but possibly a half marathon." I respected her answer, but immediately went home and registered for the Half Marathon in Austin. I trained between cycling days, and quickly found out that a true commitment was needed to run 6-, 8-, 10-mile training runs. One of the things I really liked about the training on that first training schedule, was the solitude. I enjoyed running alone. Rob joined me on one of the training runs, but after about a half a mile, decided that he was finished. I questioned him, but he affirmed that his running days were over after a half a mile. Running would not be his sport.

In February, I finished the Austin Half Marathon in about 2:17. Not bad for a first effort, but I had already decided that I needed to do a second run and that I needed it to be faster. I decided on the San Francisco Half Marathon in the following July. The only problem with that plan is that you put in the long runs in May and early June, the hottest months in Texas. I persevered and ran the hilly terrain in San Fran. That particular race offers two halfs -- the first half of the race and the second half of the race. I chose to start with the second half. What a great race! However, once I did the second half, I had to come back the following year to do the first half and found out about the "Half It All" medal, which required running the full marathon the third year. It was because of that medal and a friend who convinced me (he says it was the other way around - HA) that I needed the medal that I became a more serious runner. Running soon became my primary sport. 

It was only a matter of time before I signed up for the the Aramco Houston Half Marathon. Wow! What a wonderful, organized run! That was 12 years ago. Not only have I run seven half marathons, but I also have run five full marathons. My husband, Rob, decided to join the fun by my second or third Houston run. He walks them, and because he hasn't switched between the half marathon and the full, he became a legacy runner before me. It requires runners/walkers to complete at least 10 runs in the same category. So, because I have switched between the half and full, I am at least three Houston runs from becoming legacy. I have already signed up for next year, and I'm looking forward to it. I didn't finish this year's run with the time I had wished. I was hoping for under 2 hours, but finished in 2:07, which absolutely means I MUST run it again. After several years of sub 2 finishes, the last three have been 2:06, 2:08 and now 2:07. Rob is trying to finish in a faster time as well. His fastest has been 3:15 or 3:16. This year was about 3:30. Next year, he's shooting for 3:20. To quote the Terminator, "We'll be back!"

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