The Adventures of the Driggers4Ship: October 2008

Well, most of you know I am crazy, there are some who don't... so here is the story. When you move to a new place (which I do every 2 to 3 years) it takes you a while to find your niche. Some times you fall into a group of gals who like to go to lunch... some shopping... some scrapbook and/or quilt. Well, in Leavenworth, I fell into a group of gals who like to run. WHAT??? But I don't run! Well Lauren and I were both in the same boat. We did the occasional aerobics class and we liked to go to the gym... but that was the extent of it. This became my social outlet, which I must say is better on the waist line than going out to lunch all the time!

Then came the "why don't you come running with us?"

After my initial shock at the very idea of running, I managed to get out... "because I don't run."

That being said, Lauren had the same answer, but we decided to go on a 'walk' with them one day. What the heck, let's try to run. The first time I ran 2 miles (VERY SLOWLY I MIGHT ADD) I cried and cried. But I decided it was just a passing fancy, "run" a few miles a few times a week just to be social. And by "run" I was always embarrassed at the fact that all my friends were running 10-11 minute miles, me? 14 minute miles. But they were very encouraging and never let me give up. Slowly over the months my pace increased. Not by much mind you, but I could start to see little improvements over time. Then came the invite:

"We are going to do the Army Ten Miler in Washington DC... come with us"

Sure, I will go just for the girl trip! What fun! I can't run ten miles anyway... the farthest I had ever gone was 3. Then there was a 10 K I did with Russ... but I can't do 10. So I started attempting. I would run 2 miles twice during the week, then on Saturdays Russ and I would get a sitter and go for a 'long' run. (Russ by the way was my coach and my cheerleader. He didn't let me give up and he was so supportive and encouraging). Our first long run was 3 1/2 miles. Worked up to 4, then 5, then 6 then 7 then 8... THEN... foot injury. I couldn't walk or move. UGH! So the verdict was... no more running because it would do more damage. The race was in two weeks... well, I road a bike or did an elliptical machine 3 times a week until the race and this past weekend, I accomplished something I never thought in a MILLION years that I would do. I ran the Army Ten Miler in Washington DC. My foot was not healed, so it wasn't pretty and it took me 2 hours and 10 minutes... but I did it. I cried my way through mile 9 and limped across the finish line... but just doing it was one of the (outside of my family) best accomplishments of my entire life. 26,000 people were in the race... many of them were soldiers who had lost limbs in combat... what an inspiration. The race began and ended at the Pentagon and the route took us by so much history it was inspiring and just surreal.

They would not allow cameras, so I will have to wait to download the 'professional ones' taken at the race, but here are the before and afters!!!!