Karen Rashleigh
Karen Rashleigh at 2009 Terry Fox Run proving that you can run with kids!
(larger version)
I'm not really a runner (or maybe I'm in denial). I love running. I have been running since 1999.
But I always limited myself to 30 minutes (usually on the treadmill, or during various phases of my life outside), for anywhere from 5-7 days of the week. I don't think I ever pushed myself much beyond the minimum standard I had set for myself. Well, at least not until this year….
That's when my friend, Tina mentioned training for the Nike Women's half-marathon in San Francisco. Being lured by the idea of chocolate every 5k, optional pedicures halfway through, and firemen at the finish line, I thought "Hey, why not?" So we entered our names, booked our flights, and planned our training. Needless to say, we found out early in the year that our names weren't selected during the random draw.
Not to worry though, as Tina already had a back-up plan – we'd run the half-marathon in Goose Bay and celebrate in the big city the weekend after. Of course this all still sounded good to me, until I started actually thinking about having to run the full half-marathon without the pedicure and firemen incentive! It was then that I got serious about the training and started to push myself beyond my limits.
I remember the first run in early May, while the snow was still on the ground. It was my first run outside in at least 3 years, as I had defaulted to treadmill running since having two children. It was only 6k but it definitely felt like more! Well, I survived that run and many since then, and it's been amazing to look back and see the transition that has occurred. Who would ever have thought that a 10k run would seem short!?! I've made it to 19k so far in training and I'm looking forward to running my first ever 21k in 2 weeks at the Trapline Marathon!
My Goal??
Nothing more than to complete!
See you there!
But I always limited myself to 30 minutes (usually on the treadmill, or during various phases of my life outside), for anywhere from 5-7 days of the week. I don't think I ever pushed myself much beyond the minimum standard I had set for myself. Well, at least not until this year….
That's when my friend, Tina mentioned training for the Nike Women's half-marathon in San Francisco. Being lured by the idea of chocolate every 5k, optional pedicures halfway through, and firemen at the finish line, I thought "Hey, why not?" So we entered our names, booked our flights, and planned our training. Needless to say, we found out early in the year that our names weren't selected during the random draw.
Not to worry though, as Tina already had a back-up plan – we'd run the half-marathon in Goose Bay and celebrate in the big city the weekend after. Of course this all still sounded good to me, until I started actually thinking about having to run the full half-marathon without the pedicure and firemen incentive! It was then that I got serious about the training and started to push myself beyond my limits.
I remember the first run in early May, while the snow was still on the ground. It was my first run outside in at least 3 years, as I had defaulted to treadmill running since having two children. It was only 6k but it definitely felt like more! Well, I survived that run and many since then, and it's been amazing to look back and see the transition that has occurred. Who would ever have thought that a 10k run would seem short!?! I've made it to 19k so far in training and I'm looking forward to running my first ever 21k in 2 weeks at the Trapline Marathon!
My Goal??
Nothing more than to complete!
See you there!