5th Raciversary!

Tomorrow is my 5th Raciversary!  AMAZING!

I feel like I'm shocked when we get to this point of the year, the day of the Get in Gear race.  But come on, isn't it still incredible that I even started running in the first place???  Running when you don't have to do it is plain torture and why would anyone stick with it for FIVE YEARS when they're not even very good at it?  It's practically insane.


Well the truth is, I race because I like the freebies.  That shouldn't be shocking to anyone who knows me.  I love getting free stuff.  And let's be honest, there's a lot of free stuff to be had at the end of a race.  First off, you get a t-shirt just for showing up.  If you're lucky, you might get something else awesome, like a hat or a water bottle.  And then, if you're really lucky, the post-race refreshments might be especially nice.  A carton of chocolate milk, a bunch of salted nut rolls, fresh oranges, yogurt, ice cold water...  I mean, come on, it's worth it to run 3, 6, or 10 miles if you get that stuff at the end, right?

Ok, I also run and race because I like the idea of being a runner.  Knowing that I'm doing something that so many people can't/won't do gives me a bit of satisfaction.  Sure, I don't do it very well.  But at least I'm trying.  (I will never, ever be able to wear those cute little running shorts, but I don't let that part get me down.  Because really, there's a lot of pressure to shave your legs often if you're wearing those things.  But I digress...)

I run because I feel like it's a good example for my kids.  Not only am I out there getting some physical activity, but they also know that even though it's not easy for me, I still get out there and do it.  So I'm hoping that is a lesson that they have stuck in their heads at some point.  Sometimes things are hard, but we do them anyway.

So anyway, tomorrow is the 35th Annual Get in Gear race (and wow, I'm 35 years old!) and I will be there to participate.  I will never forget my first Get in Gear five years ago, my first race, and I had never actually run a full 5K without walking.  I made the statement to Gary and said, "No way will I ever run anything more than a 5K... this is my marathon!"  Oh how things have changed.  Amazing!