A Runner At Last…and often last….

Over the last year I have taken up running and I have been pretty vocal about it. I have run in all types of conditions and seen many amazing things. I have run in rain, pounding rain, sleet, pea sized hail that felt like bee stings, driving wind and feet of snow as fat flakes fell. I have run in blazing sun on hot pavement in 80% humidity. I have run, gagging, past my friends farms during manure season. I have run at sun up, sun down and in the dark of night. I have seen eagles, hawks, porcupines, bobcats and many snarling dogs. I have right straight through at least 5 pairs of sneakers. I run the steepest hills and most beautiful valleys Vermont has to offer. I run alone and with friends. I have run with girls half my age and women double it. I hear praise and stride past negativity. I have run nearly 100 pounds off my body. I run in sickness and health and cautiously through injury. But yesterday I feel like I finally became a runner. I reached an unattainable goal I set for myself. I ran straight through my first half marathon of 13.1 miles, every step of the way. Today I call myself a runner because something inside me changed for the better and I am never going back.