The reason i will run…

Here we go… I am announcing my running goals for 2010.

Yes, on top of writing of three books, daily monkey wrangling, church, homeschooling and the other bits of things (including but not limited to bathing, cooking, snuggling, and sleeping) I am also going to run this year… I tried last year and my knees began to bother me so I stopped.

Well I refuse to stop this year. I have thermal knee supports so really I have no reason why I can not complete my running goals… and they are meager goals.

Before I can really share my goals, I should share my story.

You see, 4 years ago, I was in no shape to even put on running shoes. Without telling THAT whole story, I had surgery to eradicate pre-cancerous cells in my esophagus in June 2006 (commonly known as Barrette’s Esophagus). These cells grew there due to untreated GERD (which is an acid reflux disease) and in just a few short years, if gone untreated, could have ruined my life, my children’s lives and my husband’s (not that I am all that and a bag of chips, but you know what I mean).

Since that surgery, my life changed forever. I am healthy and give God all the glory I am even here today to blog about this or try to run. If these cells had not been found when they were, I could be in the later stages of cancer right now. I have had tests done since my surgery and the cells are gone… They still have to check each year (which is coming up soon! Ugh!) to make sure they haven’t come back, but I am happy to report that my esophagus is pre-cancerous cell free.

Now, what does this have to do with running? Well, everything.

I heard about the Couch to 5K program and thought, “Right, like people actually do that.”

See I was an active person before my surgery, but extremely overweight. I played ball, went bike riding with the kids, went on walks but never in a million years would I believe that I could ever run. Running around the bases for my home run was enough for me (oh and yes, that was often… LOL, and no, I am not kidding).

Reading the testimonials of Couch to 5K was phenomenal, I cried. Yah yah, call me a sap, I cried. The stories were awesome. Three minutes on Google will be all the evidence you need to see it is possible and people are succeeding at this. Since I had just lost weight, I could do this right? Hummm, maybe I could try it.

That was all it took. I found a podcast with some good techo music (I *heart* technology) and off I went (I used Robert Ullrey’s Podcasts, start at the bottom).

I exclaimed my goals to the world, and my dad heard and said, “By golly, if Eisley can do it, so can I.” So, unknown to me, he started running in a different state and trying to get to the 5K goal about the same time I would. He planned to surprise me and show up for my first 5K race to RUN with me.

Well then my knees, and I copped out… and well he didn’t. He made it to the 5K and actually posted a youtube video for me of him running his race. OMGoodness did I cry. I was so proud. SO.VERY.PROUD.

*insert Eisley beaming here* That’s my daddy!

Little did I know, the man was crazy. I should have gotten the clue, after all I am his daughter (duhh). But he continued running… and running… and running. I am proud to say, he completed his first marathon in December!

*insert Eisley’s jaw dropping to the floor*

Yes, his first MARATHON! That is 26.2 miles… twenty freaking six point two miles!! I was floored.

I stewed for a while, thinking about how I let him down (well not really but, you know) and how on earth I could get the gumption to run again. To get out there and complete a 5K…

Guess what? Today, I completed day one of the Couch to 5K program. Euphoric feelings all the while I ran… (more of a jog really, but still!) I am going to do this.

There are a few races in my area I can participate in and I plan at least one of them. Nothing is going to stop me from meeting my goals. Even if I have to run LAME, I will do it. I am going to do it. I refuse to let my dad down, or myself again.

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