Welcome Janet
Tim McNabb
and feel free to introduce yourself.
mea...@gmail.com
Okay, I'm very, very slow to respond, but finally, here it is. Thanks
for inviting me to the mudbugs running group. I cannot promise to be
a frequent contributor. I spend about 11 hours per day at work typing
on a computer, and to be perfectly frank, I would rather run than talk
about it. :)
But, by way of introduction, this is me.
I have been running (most recently) for about two years. Long ago, in
a galaxy far, far away, I was an avid runner with three Honolulu
Marathons to my credit. Not fast ones, mind you. My PR was just about
a 4:38. The others were much, much slower. By the time what should
have been my 4th marathon rolled around, I was a physical wreck,
having recieved a family heirloom, unexpectedly. I was diagnosed with
Rhuematoid Arthritis. For about three years, starting at the tender
age of 30, I was walking like an 80 year old woman and loathe to even
get out of bed in the morning. By the time my 35th birthday rolled
around, I was out of the Army (they take a dim view of the handicapped
on active duty) and putting on weight.
After many years of drugs, chiropractic, weight control efforts, and
heavy drinking, I finally decided that the arthritis was under control
enough that I might start running all over again. Whether this was
wise, given my condition, only the future will tell. In the meantime,
I am going to do what I can, without regrets, until I cannot do these
things anymore.
In June of 2005 I pinned a running number to my shirt for the first
time in 10 years. It was for the Highlands Summer Fest 5K in
Atlanta. I had no idea how overwhelming such a simple act would be.
Somewhere in the first mile it occured to me that this was it...this
was the first time in 10 years that I had run with a number pinned to
my singlet, and it felt fabulous! I litterally broke out in goose
bumps. Since that time, my mileage increased, as did my mania. I
dropped 25 pounds and run at least 5 days per week, most weeks.
In 2006 I decided that my middle-aged-crazy was going to involve this
sport. I chose 4 half-marathons - one per quarter - and a very
unusual 15 mile run in Louisville called the Louisville Lovin' the
Hills run, and signed up for every one of them. I was shamed into
adding a 5th half-marathon to the schedule by my oldest brother who
could not believe that I would pass up the opportunity to run in Des
Moines in October - and visit him at the same time.
At this moment I have three half-marathons and that 15miler under my
belt. It was the ING Georgia in a surprisingly hilly Atlanta that
introduced me to Tim, and ultimately, this news group. The vanity
mirror over which I have the resultant medals draped is in danger of
falling over under the weight, but I am very pleased with every one of
them. If anyone is in Des Moines in October or Tampa in December,
perhaps I will see you there.
Next year I will also be in Cincinnati, OH for the Flying Pig Half
Marathon. Back when I turned thirty and was nearly crippled, I just
knew that I would run again when pigs fly. Well, ladies and
gentlemen, the hogs are sprouting wings, and I WILL be there to
celebrate in 2008!
Be well, and run like you stole something,
Janet
Tim McNabb
only races I have planned right now is the marathon in Philly in
November and Disney in January. I've got some others in mind for next
year but haven't made any commitments yet. I know I certainly want to
run the Peachtree RC again next year. We can shut down the beer tent
again! I'll bring a bigger backpack too!
We should all think about finding a race for all the mudbugs next
year. There is always the Mardi Gras Marathon/Half Marathon next
year. Just a thought.