I AM a runner

Just a few short weeks ago, I was still not convinced that I was a "runner". I ran, but I couldn't be classified as a true runner. I ran my 11 mile training run along side marathoners running the Cox marathon and I saw the ones in the lead. They ran with no water bottles, no music and they all bounced like gazelles down the bike bath. I am not graceful, I need my hydration and I definitely need motivation in the form of "I'm sexy and I know it" blaring through my headphones, but damn it, I am a runner....and so is Liz.

We ran the Blackstone Valley half marathon on the 20th! We trained for 12 weeks and we got through that 13.1 miles. Does that make us runners? Heck yes it does. Well, that and the fact that we are crazy enough to sign up for another half marathon in September!

Inspired by a fellow blogger Elaine, I asked people to pick a mile. I wanted to have even more inspiration to get through that run. I wrote down every one's name and I carried the paper in my race pack. I took it out every 4 miles to remind myself who i was running for next. It really helped come mile 11 when I thought I was too tired to keep up my pace!

We were tired, Liz had hurt her knee, but we had medals around our necks!

You can't see our shirts but they say,

We came. We ran. We conquered. 13.1

We ARE runners!