First post - a running moron primer

I used to be in great shape. Then I turned 11. Ha.

Seriously, I used to do everything to stay in shape, except run. I'd lift weights, ride bikes, swim, whatever it took to keep me from pounding the pavement.

Then one time I was out riding a bike when I hit a curb while going too fast, flew over the handlebars and fractured my shoulder. Not only did that hurt immeasurably, but it also stopped me dead in my tracks when it came to lifting weights, riding bikes and swimming.

While recovering I porked up something fierce. Something I discovered was that as long as I was always exercising I didn't have to worry about my weight much. But without the exercising I needed to worry about my weight a lot.

A while after my accident my shoulder wasn't right (and, truthfully, it's still not and probably never will be), but it was right enough for me to join a gym and ride recumbent stationary bikes and use elliptical machines.

After using those machines for a while and losing some weight I was desperate enough to try something different to stave of the monotony of my workouts. That's when I felt the siren call of the treadmills.

It started with me walking on a treadmill slowly. Then a little faster. Then for a longer period of time. Then jogging slowly. Then speeding up. Then jogging at a moderate pace for a decent amount of time. Then jogging for as long as I wanted.

Eventually, I wanted to run out on the road to see what that was like. So I did. I remember my first outdoor run was 3 miles around my neighborhood and it almost killed me. But I felt great.

So I did some research, found a local 5K race, and kept running outside in preparation for the race. The race came, and while I was and never will be a threat to win, I didn't embarrass myself and had fun.

That first 5K race was in July 2007. Over the rest of the year I ran five more 5K races and a 5 mile race. My collection of race t-shirts got pretty impressive.

My first race of 2008 was also my first half marathon. I would have preferred to finish a little faster than I did, but it was an entirely new experience and required an entirely different approach than running a 5K, and I liked that challenge.

So much so, I guess, that I have two more half marathons on the near horizon. And possibly a full marathon in the fall.

I'm feeling pretty good, looking pretty good, and no longer too worried about my weight. I don't really consider myself "a runner," and definitely don't think of myself as an athlete, but the more I think about it the more I believe I'm both. It's a weird feeling. Especially since I'm pushing 40.

Welcome to my chronicle of training, races, and other things associated with both.