“Why in the world would anyone want to run five miles?”

“A Fun Run?  People actually run for fun?”

And this one I haven’t actually said but I’ve heard many times… “I don’t run unless someone is chasing me!”

As I begin training for the Pensacola Half Marathon, I look back to what led me to start my fitness journey.  It seems like a long time ago that those very words came out of my mouth, but I remember like it was yesterday when my fitness journey first began.  I never understood why running was so  many peoples’ choice of fitness activity.  Then one day, my husband who’s an avid runner asked me to join him for a short jog around our neighborhood.  While I wasn’t particularly fit, I didn’t consider myself out of shape either so I was baffled that I couldn’t even get to the end of the street without huffing, puffing and stopping to catch my breath.  That day, I decided to set a goal of running at least 1.5 miles in one month.

I took it one step at a time, literally.  At first, I could only get to about my mailbox that was 40 yards away before I had to stop. Then I was able to run for a minute or two then walk, and start again.  I was overjoyed with myself when I eventually got to a full five minutes straight without stopping.  I was able to achieve the goal I set for myself in a month’s time.  A mile and a half became two miles, which became three miles, then 5K, then 10K.  After about a year, I signed up for my first half marathon. That was over four years ago and I’ve since run numerous 5K’s, 10K’s, mud runs and half marathons.  I’ve diversified my workout routine over the past couple of years because running led me to love other activities too.  I love group fitness classes like Body Pump, Body Step, PiYo, and Boot Camp, but running will always be my first love.  Nothing beats going for a run, a short run or a long run.  It’s free, no monthly fees, all you need is running shoes!  There’s no better way to explore your surroundings, the streets are your treadmill, the world is your gym!  And lastly, two words…RUNNER’S HIGH!  There’s really nothing in the world like it, except maybe the feeling you get when you cross the finish line of your first race.  I’m proud to call myself a runner.

Here are a few of my favorite quotes on running…