Tomorrow I run

I run not because I love it.

I run not because it is the only exercise I want to do.

I run not because I love to feel the wind in my hair. I mean, I would have to actually run fast enough for that to happen, right?

I run because I have this friend who is crazzzz-y (Karen...remember her? She's Olivia's mom). Karen ran a 100 mile endurance marathon over the summer and inspired me to run a 5k. A 5k...around 3 miles. Remember this number.

She found me the "perfect race" to start off with. The Sacramento Cowtown Marathon benefiting the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society. Great!! So I started training. Training with a calendar that had all kinds of workout requirements for each day. Some days were even indicated as "Rest Day." I loved those days. Karen actually created the training calendar for me and my daughter because the inspiration ran deep. My daughter is running a 1/2 marathon. That's a little over 13 miles. But she's 17 and in shape. I am not 17 nor am I in shape. I am middle-aged and hurting. And I don't run. I don't like it. I never have. Even when I was 17 and in shape. I sprinted around bases and up and down volleyball courts. I did not run up and down soccer fields or around tracks.

So I made the decision and walked in to work one night announcing that I was going to give this 5k thing a try. I looked at the website for the run and got a wild hair up you-know-where. "Hey, guys! They have relay teams that run, too. Which 3 of you are willing to step up and run a relay with me?" I quickly had 3 volunteers.

And my little 5k quickly turned in to 6.5 miles. More than double.

What is wrong with me?

So I've trained. I've crossed trained at the gym. I'm as ready as I'm going to be. It is, after all, tomorrow.

Send good thoughts. Light a candle. Pray for my right knee and left hip to behave and not crap out on me. (Funny I didn't have too many problems with those body parts until I started RUNNING.)

I'll post pictures and an update tomorrow night....assuming I'm not laying in an emergency room.