My mom, Naiyah and I went to Arizona this past weekend. She ran the Rock n Roll half marathon, Naiyah and I were support crew. The whole trip was so much fun! (Aside from having to be at the airport at 4am, that is.) The last time she and I flew somewhere together was when Tristan was 6 months old. I'd forgotten how great it is to just get away and spend time together.
Wow, the whole marathon hubbub was certainly an eye-opening experience for me - I couldn't believe the sheer number of PEOPLE who signed up to run! Those races aren't cheap, you know. Also surprising to me is how many different levels of fitness there were. Aside from the hardcore runners (ahem, Mom), there were also people who clearly hadn't run in a great while, if ever. And of course many many people who fell somewhere in between. They all had one thing in common though - they were there, they were DOING it. I was merely watching...
Up until this point, I've really been ambivalent about doing any sort of race beyond the occasional 5k. I've known I needed goals aside from just 'getting to the gym regularly' to avoid getting jaded and bored, I just haven't been able to decide what they should be. I'll admit, the idea of training to run a longer run than my standard three miles has crossed my mind. But it has also left my mind almost as quickly.
Anyhow, standing in the middle of all those people who were doing it just because they COULD, just to be a part of something BIG, I suddenly had an epiphany. I wanted that sense of camaraderie. I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it. And I KNEW that I could do it. It definitely helped that I saw people of all shapes and sizes, and realized that I didn't have to RACE it, I can just do my best and FINISH. And I didn't see anyone at that finish line who wished they hadn't done it. Sure, I saw plenty of people who were in pain, or injured, or just plain exhausted. But they all looked happy and satisfied. Even those who swore they'd NEVER run another one again didn't seem to regret it.
Very conveniently, there was a booth at the registration expo to sign up for the different Rock n Roll half/marathons, AND you got $10 off. So I took a deep breath, and took the plunge. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I am now registered for the Seattle Rock n Roll half marathon, coming to Seattle this June! And I'm actually really excited for it! My mom is doing it with me, and she's excited that we can be a dynamic mother-daughter duo. And I have plans to buy the AWESOME kids tees for both my kids that read "My Mommy ROCKS!" to wear to the finish line! Woot woot!
Now I just have to run...!
5 years ago