so, maybe i am a runner

i have a confession: unless you live near us, or are related to michael or me, you might not realize that i'm running marathon on sunday. a real-live 26.2-mile marathon.

yes, i realize i'm insane.

two years ago, i started running again, after retiring from my running career at the end of seventh grade. i've never really been a runner but i wanted to be intentional to work-out and running is something michael and i can do together. by together, i mean that we run at the same time, not next to each other. apparently, i run too slow for michael to run with me.

but don't worry, i'm not bitter. anymore.

so, two years ago, we bought each other running shoes for an early christmas present and began running. we set the goal to run a half-marathon in late spring and began training. i learned that i really like running if i'm not concerned about my speed (see above comment about being "slow").

and then, i went and got pregnant. according to our ob, it wasn't a problem for me to run the half-marathon. just don't get your heart-rate too high, she said. as long as i felt well, i could complete the half.

but then, i went and got morning sickness. which apparently can sometimes act like all-day sickness. and so, with six weeks left to train, my half-marathon goal went out the window. it's hard to get motivated to run when you feel like leaving your stomach on the sidewalk.

but, i wanted to run a half-marathon before we move from dallas. i wanted to get back into my new-ish sport. there is a popular marathon here in december which includes a half. so, i decided that's what i'd run.

i hadn't yet started my training when in may, my company took us on a staff retreat. part of the retreat was focused on helping us to grow as individuals in several areas of our lives, including our physical health. ceo stan challenged us to run the marathon i already was thinking about. i figured it'd be fun to run the half with my co-workers.

but, several weeks later, stan stopped me. the half doesn't sound like a katherine thing to do, he said. you need to do the full thing. i still think he's crazy.

here i am, though, less than a week from the starting line, having trained for about five months. throughout all this time, i've wanted to write here about it. training for something this difficult and time-consuming has really given me a lot to think about and process. thoughts i've wanted to share with you.

but, when it comes down to it, training for this marathon has also been intensely personal, in a way i didn't expect. my real-life friends know i'm running and often ask about my long runs (how much did you run this week?), but aside from that, it's been tough to talk about this feat with anyone but my running partner, kiley (who, thanks to this challenge, is running her second marathon this year). it feels like bragging to just announce, i spent my morning training for something that only 1% of americans ever accomplish. what did you do today?

and so, i've been mostly quiet about this big deal. but there you have it. with only five days before the gun goes off, i've broken the silence.

wish me luck.