Running With Purpose

This week is the most exciting week I've had since renewing my love for running. The Oklahoma City 1/2 Marathon is next Sunday and I am starting to get extremely excited. I have to admit, the little nagging voice inside my head keeps reminding me that the furthest I've run (since high school) is 10.6 miles. I am torn between simply finishing the race and pushing myself to create a personal record. I guess that any finish time is a personal record considering I have never run a 1/2 marathon! I am doing my homework; what should I eat/drink the week prior to the race? How much exercise should I do to stay limber without over doing it? What should I wear Race Day? I did not realize that I would be this anxious. However, I have to be real with myself, this is the most important thing that I have done for “ME” in a very long time.

As a mother, wife, friend, sister, daughter and employee, the time I spent training was time that I invested in myself. This is a new concept for me.
I realize that running has been my own personal achievement, something that is not a result of my childhood, my height, weight or education. Rather, this is something that I did by pushing myself physically; mind over body. I am proud of myself and excited about Race Day.

I am looking forward running the distance. This time I am not running away; I am running to...running to meet a goal that I set for myself 5 months ago. I believe that crossing the finish line is going to be a very emotional and rewarding moment. I am ready....