Run Forrest, Run!

I've been running lately.

Not running for office; not running behind, as usual; not running myself ragged (although, that too.)

Just running.

Yes, this is totally me - I do my jogging exclusively through wildflower meadows. Also, I'm in amazing shape.

For those of you who know me well, you should be a little perplexed right now. I, who have professed myself for decades as a quintessential non-runner; I, who have laughed at those running moronically down the road when there's automobiles to be had; I, who have touted the artistic merits of dance & aerobic exercise over the mind-numbing monotony of simply jogging down the lane.

Yes, I of all those persuasions, have been running for several months now. Not that I was aiming to become a "runner"; per se, but I did have a very noble & vital goal in mind:

(not losing weight...)

(not getting in shape...)

(not even to enjoy the beauty of the world around me...)

It was this: Beat. Julie.    :D

Or, at least, keep up with her! History lesson time now, eyes on the blackboard:  Several months ago, my high school BFF Julie said they were coming to Utah for Labor Day & asked if I wanted to join her for the Temple 2 Temple Steeplechase that she & her hubby would be participating in. Starting at the Oquirrh Mountain Temple -

Ending at the Jordan River Temple -

 

For a grand total of 5.2 miles! Sure, why not?!

  

I'll tell you why not, Beavis. I DON'T RUN!! Julie, however does; She ran a 5K last year & actually placed! Clearly, I had my work cut out for me. 

Sisterly friendship or not, I still have my beloved pride to defend. She may have surpassed me in every aspect of homemaking and child-rearing... but I will not be bested in matters of athleticism, dagnabit! I was a base, for cryin' out loud! I was the only cheerleader on that line who could pull out the hundreds of required push-ups at our team's 60+-point games!! I AM TITAN!  

*ahem* hahaha  I jest, of course!    Mostly.

Well, I accepted! Later, after realizing the implications of my impulsive actions, I decided to buy myself a treadmill, brush the Twinkie crumbs off my belly-shelf, and get to work. The way I saw it, either one of two things could happen: I could get myself in better shape, finish a 5-mile race, and have a good time with my friend... or, if I plopped down dead at the finish, there was already that big open spread of grass at the Jordan River Temple, so they could just go ahead and bury me. :) And, I'd probably make the evening news! Both good options, I felt. Nothing to lose.

Since I didn't bring my camera along for the blessed event, I've borrowed some pics from Jules:

Pre-race, questioning our sanity

Lining up at the start, not too late to turn back...

But we did not turn back; we made it & actually didn't do too bad! At least, I think we made a fair showing.

 

At 51 minutes, it was the best time I'd done in all my training! 

(Something about having to push harder to keep up with Matt & Julie, both with legs a good 6 inches longer than mine... Whose brilliant idea was it to go running across the valley at o'dark:thirty with two Amazons?!)

 

3 words: Emma. Dressed. Herself. :)

The whole fam, wishing I hadn't dragged them outta bed early on a Saturday just to witness my extraordinary capacity for sweat production.

it is positively juvenile how happy it makes me to see this
on my keychain every day...

If I had been given a glimpse of this post 10 years ago - nay, 5 - I would've kept scrolling to the bottom until I reached the words, "APRIL FOOLS!!" And yet, here I am, not only very proud of myself, but excited to find another little race to participate in. Because, surprise of all surprises - I enjoy running! I do! Just last night, I headed out after dinner to run 3 miles - and returned in a greatly lifted mood. How does that sentence even make sense?! I can still hear the ghost of my former self scoffing at such lunacy.

But that is the old me - and, speaking as the new me, I hereby declare myself...

A RUNNER!!

Congratulations, Universe. You win.