Roughly 17 months.....

17 months ago, I was diagnosed with high blood pressure. I was surprised because it had always been good - I even remember my doctor asking me if I was a runner one time because it was good. Alas, at that time, I was not.

So what could I do to change it and keep it in control? I decided to join a marathon training group here in Columbus thru Fleet Feet which is a running/walking store. I have to throw in walking there because that is what I decided to do. I started out thinking a 12 minute mile was pretty reasonable and I could do that. Little did I know how fast that really is! That summer, I was distracted a lot from training because my dad had a stroke from his undetected high blood pressure but I still kept with it and walked my first half marathon - the 30th Annual Nationwide Better Health Marathon & Half Marathon. I met 2 wonderful ladies I am still friends with today and we all agreed to walk the race together - walk together, restroom pitstop together, and finish together. It was awesome. We finished that inaugural race in 3 hours & 16 minutes and 58 seconds. Okay, okay, 3 hours 17 minutes.....but we were at about a 15:03 pace. It was an awesome experience and I was bitten by a bug! I set goals for 2010 and one of them was to complete 2 half marathons during the year......little did I know that I'd complete 3 but I am getting to that!

Following that, we all joined for winter training. Our next race was to be in May but I couldn't do the same one as the group because I was going to be in Costa Rica that day. I know, I know, a rough life. I signed up for the Cleveland Half Marathon. Pamela, one of the women I walked the first half with agreed to join me in Cleveland and we had a great time! My goal for the race was to trim some of the time off of my Columbus time and I did! I finished in 3 hours, 10 minutes & 59 seconds! This was a 14:34 minute pace! I was riding pretty high and had no idea I could get better. Pamela & I decided to sign up for the Virginia Beach Rock & Roll Half Marathon which is Labor Day weekend every year.

More training ensued throughout the summer with us spending a lot of time at MIT's mid-week speed workouts. They were awesome........some times difficult, but awesome just the same. VA Beach came up and it was an awesome race. Hot, but awesome!! I had an issue with water during mile 11-13 but I still finished with a new personal best: 2 hours, 59 minutes & 19 seconds!! Which works out to a 13:41 minute per mile pace. I was elated and had no idea I could do so well. Pamela, Jim & I all had great races and enjoyed our time in VA Beach. Next up was the Columbus Half, about 6 weeks after VA Beach.

I had realized that when I finished the Columbus Half, it would be 4 half marathons in a year's period. I was proud of that accomplishment and realized that I'd have to race it to challenge myself to see if I can better my 2009 time. I did! The same course and I finished in 2 hours 54 minutes and 13 seconds - which equated to a 13:18 second mile!!!! It was a great race and I was proud to finish faster than I had before.

What have I learned this year? I can do anything I put my mind to. I am stronger than I thought I was and I love the thrill of racing. I also thought about my father who passed away on April 13th and how proud he would have been. I remember telling him about the training before he had his stroke and he was excited for me - encouraging me to walk because it was good for you. I am sad because he never really got a chance to share in my successes with me but I know he saw it all.

Time to plan my 2011 training goals now........not sure what they will include but I am thinking more half marathons of course!! Maybe another one or 2 out of town at least? I've made some great friends through training and I am looking forward to working with all of them in 2011 to hit all of our goals.