the healthy cupcake: Runners High

As I mentioned in my previous post, I haven't always been the rock star runner I am now. Wink wink.

Running for me started in college, on the treadmill, as a way to burn off the late night partying calories. Doesn't sound like fun, and wasn't fun. Sure, I felt satisfaction after a good calorie blasting, but that was the purpose of running for me. Nothing more, nothing less.

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Throughout college I was an avid gym go-er, not only sweating it out on treadmill but also took full advantage of the sweet classes the Rec Center offered. And in there I threw in some outdoor running, but it was just too hard.

Fast forward to Spring 2009. I was almost at the end of my first year out of college, teaching Pre-Kindergarten. A couple of my high school friends thought it might be a fun challenge to sign up for the Belmar 5 Mile Run in July. I was up to the challenge.

So I started running everyday at a park right next to my school. By July I thought I was ready, but then again I wasn't sure since I had guesstimated my training runs. I hoped I could run 5 miles!

We had awesome tye-dye shirts and totally rocked our first race! It was a hot July day, but as I ran through Belmar I felt completely happy. People were out on their porches cheering, spraying hoses, and even blasting some Bon Jovi (sooo Jersey). As I saw the finish line I gave it all I got and finished in 50:39:01. And then I experienced it. Runner's high. And from then on

I was hooked.

Running crew + awesome cheerleaders

Giddy with excitement I began plotting my next race. Half marathon? No sweat.

After my runners high wore off I began to question my choice and my sanity. But I knew I needed to see what I was made of. Through running I discovered a competitive streak. Not competitive in the sense of playing a sport and beating an opponent; I was competing with myself and loving every minute.

The rest of the summer I spent training, and of course partying like a guidette with my bff's at the Jersey Shore ;)

I had no idea how to start training, so I did a lot of researching online. And luckily for me, Shane is a cross country runner, so he took me to a running store where I had my gait analyzed and got my first real pair of running shoes. And a watch; no more cell phone stopwatch!

Philadelphia 1/2 Marathon Day!

I did it!!! 2:05:31

After 13.1 there's only one place left to go...

In January I signed up for the San Diego Rock 'n' Roll Marathon with Team in Training. From January to June I was a busy bee.

I raised over $2,900 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. One of the events in April included a 5k.

In May I ran the Broad Street Run, a 10 miler, in Philly with some awesome-sauce runners! In May Shane and I also finalized our plans to move to San Diego...the weekend of the marathon! It's amazing how life works.