I want to run a half marathon.

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I can’t believe I just wrote that. Who am I?

I have been thinking about writing this post for about a week now.
Like Greg said, it actually makes it real.

I already have my eye set on the Key West Half Marathon in January 2013.
Yes, I know that seems like forever away…because it is.

My theory is go big or go home.
We’ve never been to Key West, so what a great excuse to get down there.
Plus, two of my runner friends ran it this past January and gave rave reviews about it, so why not?
If I’m going to run that far, might as well do it over looking the blue ocean.

So why all of a sudden did I decide I want to do this?
For starters, one of my new year’s goals was to get my pre-pregnancy body back.
I’ve been doing something active for the past two weeks (about time, right?) and it feels great!
We’ve been taking long walks, usually 4+ miles and I’ve been getting runs in here and there.
My longest postpartum run has been 2.5 miles.
It scares me just writing that… I have a long way to go.
It’s been hard getting back into the swing of things and getting it in my mind that I’m basically starting over,
but I’ve got to start somewhere, and am pleased where I am now.
I am trying not to be too concerned with the number on the scale,
because even though I’m below my pre-pregnancy weight (thank you breastfeeding),
I still don’t feel like myself. I’m still very out of shape and still feel pretty flabby.
I also feel like I am hungry all.the.time! I think it’s way worse than when I was pregnant.
At first, I would frequently miss meals, due to having to care for a newborn,
but now that I’m working out again and we are getting back in the swing of things, I am constantly starving.
I know it won’t stay like this forever, which brings us full circle,
Ideally, I will be done or close to done breastfeeding by the September/October time frame,
which will be a perfect time to start training for a January half marathon.
I’ll be able to continue to work out and build up longer runs, but won’t have to train over the blistering hot summer,
and it’ll be a great way to help keep off any post-breastfeeding weight that may creep back on.

Also, I find myself becoming jealous of those how have ran a half marathon.
i.e. my friend Alicia. As soon as they got done running the Key West half this year,
I thought, I have to do it.
Why?
I have no idea. It honestly doesn’t sound like fun.
But, it would definitely be a challenge for me, since I am not really a runner, so here I am.

That is all for now.
Just needed to get that out there.
So, thanks for listening.