Goal Chasing

You know what's kinda sad/funny?

Amongst the people I've known in my life, there is a faction who, if asked to name the first thing they think of when they hear my name, would say that I'm a pathetic runner.

Seriously. It's part of my legacy.

When I was in college, during our Indoctrination period, I couldn't run from the grinder to the flagpole. This picture? Is taken on the ginder. That tall thing right in front of it? Is - you guessed it - the flagpole.

Six times, six!, over four years, we were required to run the PRT (though our regulations were much more lax back then, apparently). Every single time, I freaked out at least a month in advance, scared of failing, scared of coming in last. Usually, I did. No matter how much I told myself at every stop sign that "stop means go." I was awful.

So, all of that to say, running has never been my thing. In fact, it's been my anti-thing.

I've always wanted to be good at it though. It was just that thing that I couldn't conquer that was breathing down my neck, mocking me.

I tried to tell it about itself, but I never stuck to it.

This time, though, I'm making progress.

This past Saturday...I ran a 10K.

6.2 miles.

All by myself.

I kept going.

I finished.

I did my personal best.

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While BD drove, I took in the scenery. Hokey or no, it's hard not to be inspired when it feels like you're soaring above the clouds.


Here I am getting ready. The iPod crapped out about 7 minutes into the race, which forced me to enjoy the beauty of my surroundings. Imagine that.


The Littlest was there to cheer me on.


At the starting line. Super. Nervous.


The newbie pats down her bib. "Won't it fall off?" she wonders.


Mile 2 coming.


Mile 2 going.


All done!


Maybe I would have gone faster if I had known there would be popsicles at the end.


FNPT is one patient woman. She's been encouraging me for many months.


Check out my blue ribbon.[/cheesy smile]