I am not what you call a natural athlete or a born runner.  In fact, I have often referred to myself as frustrated or wanna-be athlete.  Almost every athletic endeavor I have attempted is a struggle and yet there’s that something inside of me that pushes me to keep trying, to keep moving as best as my body can that day.  I am used to being at the back of a running pack, the last in most races, the girl who takes the longest time to learn dance moves in class, the stiffest yogi in yoga class… you can name any sport or athletic activity and I can probably tell you a funny story about how I did in my attempt(s) at that sport or activity.

So, if I am the girl who huffs and puffs after 30 seconds of running, whose steps are heavy, in my early 40’s with bad knees, a sort-of bad back, and who is at least 40 to 50 pounds overweight, why am I working so hard to be better at running?

I am working so hard to be better at running simply because I am not good at it.  I figure, go for your worst sport, go for something not natural to you…make the challenge worthwhile.  I frequently ask, why not?

So here am I today, at the eve of my half marathon — this half marathon is only a prelude for my next milestone.  One of my next milestones is to complete a full marathon (all 26.2 miles) within the required time-frame.  This event is in 3 months and 2 days.

Me, the girl who sucks at running — officially now signed up to complete a full marathon.

To paraphrase a line from a movie I saw recently, it is only impossible if you stop and think about it.

It is now the eve of my half marathon race, approximately 3 years since my first and only  other half marathon race.  I was inspired to create my first post on my blog today because it amazes me when I realize the true distance I have already covered in my current journey.

It is not a journey measured in miles or kilometers.

It is a journey marked with varying milestones — some of the milestones evident to someone on the outside looking in yet some of the milestones are so miniscule that it is only evident to me.