I started running to reduce my “need to buy bigger clothes” expense and to prove my boss wrong! Back at the end of 2007 one of my co-workers put out a challenge to all workers. The challenge was to run a full marathon!
I have a “healthy” competitive side to me but I was hesitant to take on the challenge because I haven’t seriously trained for a race before. I usually just “wing it” but I knew there is no way I could do that for a 26.2 mile run. The thing that ultimately pushed me to take on the challenge was that my boss said “there’s no way you can finish a full marathon”. That was it! Game on! We started the Hal Higdon Novice 1 Marathon 18 week training plan.
Long story short, I did prove my boss wrong! On March 2, 2008, I successfully finished the Napa Valley Marathon! After that I’ve been hooked on running. Additionally I’ve gotten into triathlons (swim, bike, run). I completed my first full Ironman triathlon on 7/31/2010!
Here is my race report from that first full Ironman race:
http://beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=221131
As you can guess from all the training and racing miles, I have learned alot about what to do and what not to do. A few of my long term goals are to:
1. Pass on the knowledge I have learned over the years to others that are just getting into endurance sports.
2. Get at least 1 new person every year to get “hooked” into running or cycling, like my co-worker did for me.
3. “20 by 40”, run 20 full marathons by the time I’m 40 years old!
Here is a list of my race results:
http://athlinks.com/racer/results/82104215
“There’s always a way!”
