Running

Since hanging up my goggles in 2008, I’ve traded them in for a pair of sneakers.

As a varsity swimmer from middle school through college (10 years!), I felt a little twinge to start physical activity again after giving my body about a year to relax. So, what better way to beat it up than run?!

I’ve secretly always wanted to be a runner. Don’t ask why – I have no idea. It might stem from the fact that my Dad used to run about 10 miles every day when he was in his 20’s until health issues got in the way. I grew up thinking running that much was cool, and maybe through my Dad’s stories, he passed his love of running on to me.

At any rate, after college I started trying to run more frequently than just to keep myself in swimming shape during the off-season. A 5k was always a goal of mine, but I never trained consistently enough to complete one. But without school and swimming taking up the majority of my time, I was able to actually train. I ran my first race in July of 2009, and instead of your typical 5k, it was actually a 4 mile race, on the 4th of July. It was tough; I was experiencing knee pain that would prevent me from picking up my leg, and even walking at times (which I later learned was thanks to tight hips). I fought through it, and fell in love with the sport.

Running reminds me a lot of swimming – it’s very much an individual sport; it is physically exhaustive and grueling, but at the same time has such camaraderie and a general sense of community that I love. So I think that’s why I gravitated towards it initially, and eventually became obsessed with all things running. So after that very first race in July of 2009, I upped the ante quickly, running my first half marathon in the Spring of 2010. Of course, being competitive and  always looking to push envelopes, I signed up for, semi-trained, and ran my first marathon during the Fall of 2011.

I’m always looking for the next race to add to my calendar, and love the group of people I’ve been able to connect with and meet all through a shared love for running. I’ve struggled the last few years in a bit of an injury cycle, but I hope to continue participating in the sport and loving it along the way for as long as I possibly can.

You can check out my best times, completed races, and upcoming races on the other tab!