Am I a "Runner"?

Last weekend I went to  a GOTR coach/friend's  BBQ and was amused to see that she had the same "medal display" that I have (thank you Container Store!), but she had a unique and great way that she presented her race numbers.

My Race Medal Display

Several years ago I started to put my race numbers in a binder with a background sheet that contained the race date, distance, and my finish time. Somewhere around 2006 (4 years into racing), I lost my motivation to keep doing this, and just started stuffing my race numbers into the binder. After moving to CA, I started to stick them onto a board with a magnet ...  but then the stack got too thick, at which point I just stuffed them in a different folder.

Race Scrapbook

  

Have you ever had something on a to-do list that just keeps moving from one week to another, over and over again?

  

Well, for the past few years I've put down on my to-do list that I needed to file the last few years of my race numbers into the binder. I kept putting it off and wishing I had a better way to keep my numbers in order. And I'd think well, I can always do this next week. And then I saw Crystal's creation! Crystal had strung the DEKA "curtain wire rod hanging system" on a wall in her house with her race numbers hanging from the wire by safety pins. Genius! Instead of having to restring each new race number, you could just keep one of your four safety pins on, and attach that new number onto the wire. As soon as I saw her race bib set-up, I had to have it! The next day I went to IKEA, spent $6.50 on the system (wow, I left IKEA spending under $100???), and came home to organize my race numbers.

Most of the race bibs had information about the race on it, but for many I had to rely on Athlinks to look up the race date, distance, and my finish time. Athlinks is an awesome site! They automatically pull all race data and associate it to your identity. If you've never visited the site, you should go there and look yourself up. You'll be amazed to see your own history of race information.  The site allows you to create an account and create your own profile which I have done. You should check it out and create an account too. We can be friends! Aww..

  

As I went through my race bibs I thought WOW, I've run a lot of races. Its hard to believe that its been eight years since I started racing. I ran my first race on a whim when I was living in San Jose. I had never run further than 4 miles and figured I could make the 6.2 miles for a 10K. The race ended up having unfortunate timing - it was on St. Patty's Day! All of my friends up in San Francisco were taking part in a pub crawl, and as luck would have it it was pouring in San Jose that day.  As my friends were cruising around downtown San Francisco drinking green beer, I sucked it up and ran that race, finishing in 1:04. Not so great but not that horrible.

New Race Number Display

After that first 10K I ran another, and then when I moved to Arizona I really picked up speed. I didn't know a lot of people when I moved there and I invited an acquaintance from my class (who I knew ran a marathon before) to run a 5K with me. We ran that race together and hung out afterwards, and then ended up running a few more races in the following year, and eventually became friends. She is one of many friends I have made through running!

  

Over the past several years, running has been a constant in my life. I'm used to waking up, having breakfast, lacing up my shoes and going out the door to kick back a few miles. Some days I lag a bit, but I almost always go out for a run when I can. Running has helped me focus my energy on something with a purpose, and for everything that I have given to running, it has given me back so much more in return. Its very soothing to me to get out there and pound out a few miles, enjoying the time alone with my thoughts and my music. Sometimes I run with a group, which is different but very enjoyable in its own way. Running gives you a sense of community, even with strangers who you have absolutely nothing in common with besides the fact that you both love to run.

When I looked at my collection of race bibs, and looked at my list of races online on athlinks (almost complete, but missing 7 races), I thought wow, I'm really a "runner" now. I've often hesitated to call myself a runner. I feel that I don't truly deserve that title for some reason, but I'm not sure why.  Maybe its because I don't look like a runner. I'm not thin and don't have the look of an athlete. I have a lot of muscle, but I have some padding I could do without as well. Years ago I thought running a marathon would define me as a runner, but after running my first marathon I thought no, qualifying for Boston will make me  REAL runner. Well, after 12 failed attempts at even breaking 4 hours (closest call was 4:02:32 ARGH!), I now think that Boston isn't a realistic dream. I'm bummed that I probably won't ever make it, but I'm proud for trying so hard over the years.

"The Wall of Achievement" :o)

  

Looking over my race history I've run a lot, I've shown improvement, and that makes me feel good. I like to know that you can put hard work in and see positive results come out. Running gives me that.

  

Looking at my racing in numbers, I've run:

• 12 Full Marathons
• 9 Half Marathons
• One 30K
• One 25K
• Five 15Ks
• Two 10 milers
• Twelve 10Ks
• Two 8Ks
• Five 4 milers
• Seven 5Ks

That's a lot of races ... and those races and years have flown by. For now, I'm so glad that running has become a part of my everyday life. Thank you running. :o) For everything I've give you, you've given so much more back. And I'm grateful. And to anyone who asks, YES, I am a runner!