I thought it best to jump in before I go too far and tell you a little bit about myself.
I am a 42 year old wife and mother of 3 beautiful, smart and talented girls. My husband, Mark, is my best friend and partner in Marathon Makeover. He supports us with his "real" job as a licensed marriage and family therapist.
Mark and I met in college about 25 years ago. 3 years later we were married and have just celebrated our 22nd wedding anniversary this past June.
We were blessed with twin girls after 5 years of marriage - they have truly been a joy! A little over 7 years later, our third daughter arrived and added even more happiness and excitement to our lives.
I have been a stay at home mom and have faced the challenges of working from home in the area of sales while juggling three kids and one husband.
When Mark came up with the idea of training for and completing a marathon, I did not even consider my participation in it being any more than that of a cheerleader. Little did I know, with a little encouragement from a friend, I would begin this journey with him and many others.
At the time that I began to train, I had no prior athletic experience whatsoever. I was a cheerleader in high school, not a track star! As an adult, I enjoyed spurts of activity such as periodic gym memberships, occasional aerobics and walks around the block. In other words, I was not and did not ever intend to be - a runner.
My journey towards my first finish line began with one single step out of my front door as part of my first mile of training. Yes, I began my marathon training by WALKING ONE MILE. That is where we start all of our Marathon Makeover participants.
36 weeks after I took that first step, I finished the 2004 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. I learned a lot along the way and 5 years later, I am still learning as I go. I may not know much when all is said and done, but I do know this - I am a marathoner!
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
To begin....
Many times, I find that the hardest part of any project is the beginning. I think about it, over analyze it, gather all that I need for it and begin. There always seems to be some sort of time delay between the first three steps and the last. Is it fear? Is it laziness? I'm not sure which and yet, maybe it is a little of both.
I am no longer on the third step and have begun the last. I think I will be here for a while. You see, I am addressing the confessions of a reluctant marathoner - me. I want to tell who I am, why I ran my first, second and third marathon and why I continue to run. I believe sharing my experience may help someone out there, whether they are a runner or not. It will also help me put into perspective just what I have been through and continue to experience on this marathon journey.
I became a runner at the age of 37 years old. Yep! That is not a typo. I was 37 years old when my husband, Mark, came home and told me he was going to train for a marathon and asked if I wanted to join him. Yea, right. My response was a quick "no, but I will be your best cheerleader!"
Now you may be wondering why my husband was training for a marathon. He was not a runner either. At the age of 38 he was busy working and indulging in the past time of being a couch potato. He was challenged by a runner friend to train for and run a marathon. He accepted this challenge. The friend offered to train him if he could gather at least 5 friends and give him 6 months. Mark set to work, asking anyone and everyone we knew if they wanted to train for a marathon. When he asked a friend of ours if she would train, the friend's response was, "I will if Robin will." Oh no! Why did she have to say that? I thought for a few seconds and said (with a stomp, if I remember correctly), "Ok, I'll do it."
That is how Mark and I began, as a team, to train for and run marathons. The best part of the story is that since that day over 5 years ago, we have gone from couch potatoes to marathoners and have brought along over 1000 others that have achieved marathon success!
This blog is to be a collection of lessons and experiences that have happened along the way. I hope you enjoy - gotta run!
I am no longer on the third step and have begun the last. I think I will be here for a while. You see, I am addressing the confessions of a reluctant marathoner - me. I want to tell who I am, why I ran my first, second and third marathon and why I continue to run. I believe sharing my experience may help someone out there, whether they are a runner or not. It will also help me put into perspective just what I have been through and continue to experience on this marathon journey.
I became a runner at the age of 37 years old. Yep! That is not a typo. I was 37 years old when my husband, Mark, came home and told me he was going to train for a marathon and asked if I wanted to join him. Yea, right. My response was a quick "no, but I will be your best cheerleader!"
Now you may be wondering why my husband was training for a marathon. He was not a runner either. At the age of 38 he was busy working and indulging in the past time of being a couch potato. He was challenged by a runner friend to train for and run a marathon. He accepted this challenge. The friend offered to train him if he could gather at least 5 friends and give him 6 months. Mark set to work, asking anyone and everyone we knew if they wanted to train for a marathon. When he asked a friend of ours if she would train, the friend's response was, "I will if Robin will." Oh no! Why did she have to say that? I thought for a few seconds and said (with a stomp, if I remember correctly), "Ok, I'll do it."
That is how Mark and I began, as a team, to train for and run marathons. The best part of the story is that since that day over 5 years ago, we have gone from couch potatoes to marathoners and have brought along over 1000 others that have achieved marathon success!
This blog is to be a collection of lessons and experiences that have happened along the way. I hope you enjoy - gotta run!
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