Run, Shara...Run?!?!

Wow.  I'm doing two things I never thought I would do:

1.  I am blogging (the only way I thought I would enter this world was by starting a photography business)
2.  I'm running?!?

Yep...I'm running.  Or at least I'm going to attempt to.  :)  Basically what it boils down to is this -  My dear friend Lyndsey has convinced me to join her in training for the Seattle Rock 'n Roll Half Marathon that is being held on June 25, 2011.  That may not sound crazy to some of you, but to me, it's NUTS!  I'm not a runner!  I mean, the first thought that came to my mind after I decided what to name this blog (Run, Shara! Run!) was a response of "Why? Is somebody chasing me?"  :) Because truthfully, until about 3 days ago, that is the only reason I WOULD run.  Don't get me wrong, I know running is great exercise, and good stress relief, but I'd previously convinced myself it WAS NOT for me.  Shoot! It still may not be. :)  However, I've always admired people who run.  I see them out while I'm driving and think "Wow.  Good for them!  Do they really enjoy that?!  They must.  I wish I could do that...but there is no way I ever could.  Walking is more my speed.  Yep, walking.  That's for me."  I mean, really.  Do I even look like a runner?  I could go on and on about why I SHOULD NOT be doing this, but that isn't what this post is about.  I should get to the reason I AM doing this:  Lyndsey (well, and a few other things).

Some of you may know my friend Lyndsey.  I totally admire her.  She is a great mom and wife, and as of a couple years ago, a Tri-athlete!  How in the world did that happen?  She is an over-achiever, that's how it happened. :) (Just kidding, but that's what I told myself a few years ago and I think I even gave her a card that said something along those lines.)  Actually, she is motivated, and dedicated.  That is how she became a tri-athlete. She decided competing in a triathlon was something she really wanted to do.  She wasn't a major athlete or anything, but it was something she really wanted to do.  So, she got connected with a local organization called "Team in Training".  Team in Training is an organization put together by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society that pairs up mentors and coaches with people with big goals and big hearts.  They outline a training program for you to follow to help you achieve your goal (Triathlon, Half Marathon, Marathon etc.).  They hold team practices, encourage you and compete with your teammates together at the event.  Meanwhile, the athlete (with the big goal and big heart) raises a specified amount of money to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, in an effort to fight and hopefully STOP cancer.



Here is Lyndsey in the bike portion of the Lake Padden Triathlon (June 27, 2009)

Of course I thought Lyndsey was a little nuts when she first told me she was going to do the Triathlon, and I thought she was maybe even more nuts when she told me she was going to do it a second time...but both times she did it.  And both times I was there to see her cross the finish line and I was SUPER proud of what she accomplished!  She was just a regular person. Someone I knew. And she just competed in a triathlon! How awesome.

So how did Lyndsey's triathlons get me here today? To this blog? To this crazy goal.  Well, Lyndsey believes in Team in Training.  She believes in their programs.  She believes in stopping cancer.  She would love to see her daughters grow up in a world free of cancer.  And, like I said, she is a bit of an over-achiever. :)  So, Lyndsey decided to join up again, but this time for another event: The Seattle Rock 'n Roll Half Marathon.

 

At least at the end I'll get a medal.  Everyone needs a medal!

On Friday, January 28th, I happened to have the day off and I was VERY overdue for an oil change. So, I asked Lyndsey if her and the girls would like to meet me at Woods Coffee for a drink while I waited for my car.  Somehow, through the course of that hour or so coffee date, Lyndsey convinced me to join her on this journey.  Again, I'm not a runner.  I know nothing about becoming one.  But, I believe my friend. I've seen her accomplish big goals and she started from scratch.  So...with nothing to lose other than weight, and some points off my A1C, I decided I was in.  (I left there convinced I'd lost my mind, and wondering what the Barista put in my chai tea, but I was in.)  Shoot! I'm turning 30 this year! Why not ring in the big 3-0 with a bang!

So here I am.  5 months out from a half marathon.  Is it humanly possible? Will I cross that finish line? Will I be able to run the whole thing? Does it matter if I don't?  Will my knee hold out? What about my shins?  Can I raise $1,800?  I don't know. But I'm going to try.  And I'm going to journal my journey here on this blog.  You can watch my progress, read my training stories, laugh with me along the way (with me, not at me), maybe even cry with me, hopefully support me, and help me celebrate my successes.  Thanks for coming along for the ride.  It's gonna be a wild one. :)  Trust me. I've already started training.  More on that to follow... :)

Run, Shara! Run!

I guess in the next photo like this I will be wearing my own TNT jersey!