Rocky starts

2012 has gotten off to a bit of a rocky start.  Well, perhaps I should say it is a carryover from a rocky end of 2011.  I was sick at Thanksgiving and I don’t think I ever really recovered.  Last week after a month of feeling like road kill and at the request of my children and nagging from several runner girlfriends I went to the doctor.  Diagnosis:  doorsteps of pneumonia.  Although I think if he had made me go on and get a chest x-ray it would have been a full diagnosis of P.  Thankfully, he didn’t because then the house arrest time would have been longer!  DR put me out of work and off running (OH MY!) for a week and it was pure torture.  But I behaved and even acquiesced and filled and have been taking the prescription of my known enemy, prednisone.

Last night was my first run and it was hard, chest burning, booty whipping and glorious all at the same time.  I don’t know what to say here other than I am apparently a crazy.  I had to quit just shy (only .4) of 3 miles because I had sucked my inhaler dry and was nervous about an episode before I could get home.  I want to give a huge shout-out of thanks to P and our friends, A and M.  P, A and I all ran while M followed up on his bike.  When you are running at night, it is a huge comfort to know there is someone back behind you that literally has your back. 

Now that I am on the mend, somewhat, what is next?  Slowly but surely I’m getting better.  I just have to be cautious and not over do.  Saturday marks the official beginning of my training for the Country Music Half at the end of April.  Nervous and excited, just like last time!  I also signed up to run the Oak Barrel Half at the first of April.  Right now I am telling myself the OBH will be a “fun” run and I can use it as a training event, not to worry about time, etc.  We’ll see if I can keep that in mind. Ha ha!  Registration opens for the Nashville Women’s Half this week so I’ll be sure to sign up for that one too.  I have plans on rockin’ that one and it has some fabulous BLING!  You know it is all about the bling, baby.

Look at the neat BLING for the Oak Barrel Half!

Once I get myself straightened out this may turn out to be the year of the 13.1!  I just have to laugh at myself.  There was a time, not so very long ago, I couldn’t fathom a reason any person, sane or crazy, would want to run 13.1 and now look at me.

Love my 13.1 sign made by my sweet friend, T.

I may never be first in the race but I’m first in the long run because ultimately I’m doing this all for the betterment of myself.

Run happy and strong!

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize?  Run in such a way that you may obtain it.  ~ 1 Corinthians 9:24