...My Running Buddies

Day 42
It's hard to believe right now since I am basically a coach potato due to my knee but at one time I was a runner. I wasn't a hard core runner at all but I enjoyed doing it and I really enjoyed doing half marathons. I wouldn't have gotten into running as much as I did if it weren't for my running buddies. My first real running buddy was a college friend of mine named Trisha. The two of us decided we would raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and train/run with Team in Training. We picked the Walt Disney World Marathon as our race. We raised the money, flew to Florida and survived our first marathon! Trisha finished and I made it to mile 22 before I had to stop because I couldn't breathe. What people don't realize is that these races are more mental than physical and mentally I was done. But I wasn't done forever. I got bit by the running bug.

My next big race I actually did on a spur of the moment with my friend Taffy. She called me at work one day and asked if I wanted to do the Mercedes Half Marathon that weekend. After a lot of coaxing, I said sure why not! We made it without training! I would never suggest doing that though.

 

After that, my friend Marti and I did several 5Ks before deciding to sign up for the Walt Disney World Half Marathon. Her friend Kay joined us on that trip and the three of us went on to also do the Country Music Half Marathon and the Savannah Half Marathon. Marti's friend Theresa also started joining us on our 5K and 10K races.

Marti and I have also done the Virginia Beach Half Marathon and Taffy and I have done the Las Vegas Half Marathon.

Last but certainly not least is my buddy Edie. She did the 3-Day, 60-Mile Walk for Susan G. Komen with me last year. So she signed up to not only walk 60 miles with me but also camp out and spend a full 3 days with me.

My husband has done races with me too but these girls are my rock when I run and I couldn't have done any of these things without them.