I am a runner

I realized just very recently that I am a runner. I'm not someone who goes for runs, I'm a runner. I have been running on and off since way back - high school or maybe even earlier - but always just as a way to get fit for whatever sport I was focusing on at the time. My first road race back in 2007 changed all that (thanks Debbie MacG). First it was a 10k, then a half marathon, then another few halfs, and here I am now attempting the mother of all distances, the marathon. A lot of people run one marathon to knock it off their "bucket list" then hang up their shoes. I wasn't sure if I would be one of those people or not. I think now that I'm not.

I first realized this about a month ago when I was sidelined for a whole week due to injury. It was the first time in many, many months that I hadn't been for a run in such a long time. It was driving me batty that I couldn't run, not only because I knew I needed them to prepare me for my upcoming race but also because I realized I am not the same person without them. I have less energy, I am more concerned about what I put in my mouth, and just overall not as happy. I guess I have become addicted to the endorphins - I can think of worse things to be addicted to!

Now that it is taper time, I am finding myself with those feelings again. I have to force myself to cut the mileage down or else my body will not have recovered enough to have an optimum race on the 31st. I am doing that, but I am going a little crazy. So what am I doing to pass the time when I would normally be running? I'm thinking about my next marathon. I said that I would run Athens as my first since it is such a great place to run and they say every true marathoner should run that course at least once in their lives and also just in case I only did one, what a one to do. But I doubt it'll be my last.

Yep, I'm officially a runner. As long as my body will hold up enough to allow me to be anyway!