2012 Running Recap: The Year I Learned to Run

Alex Meyer Race Recap, running 14 Comments

Today, I wanted to write a reflection post that I’ve been meaning to write for awhile. One year ago, I never would have imagined running a 5k, a 10 mile, or a half-marathon. And yet, one year later, here I am! I often have friends, some interested in starting to run, and some not, who ask me how I began running. So while this post is a little self-serving, I also thought you all might enjoy reading it as well.

Starting 2012, I was a gym rat, generally doing about 3 days a week of cardio (elliptical or a 30 minute run) and two days of strength (weight machines). I also hit up the occasional kickboxing class. Sometime in May (I wish I could remember for sure when) I heard about the Color Run coming to Des Moines. I had learned a lot about the Color Run through various social media channels, and I really wanted to run it. I decided to sign up, and that was the motivation I needed to finally start running outside. 

Since I had been running 30 minutes or so on the treadmill three times a week, working up to a 5k pace wasn’t as hard as I had thought it would be. Yes, it was definitely more challenging running outside, but I pushed through and pretty soon was able to run that 3.2 miles without stopping. I wasn’t a speed demon by any means, but I was there.

After working up to that distance so quickly, I thought about trying a race sooner than the Color Run (which wasn’t until October). Midnight Madness was coming to Ames in July. The location & price seemed perfect, and although I was terrified, I signed up. You can read my full race recap here, but in summary, I loved it.

Some sweaty ladies…that’s hot! (Literally)

After completing this race, I just couldn’t stop at only five kilometers. I had accomplished it – and I was ready for bigger, and badder, things. There was a 10 mile race coming up in September, and I set my sights for it. I loosely followed thistraining schedule (but only up to 10 miles).

Throughout all of this, my friend Danielle had started mentioning that she and some other friends were planning on running a half-marathon in October. I couldn’t bring myself to sign up for it. Forever the procrastinator, I trained for my 10 mile and stayed on my merry way.

Before the 10 mile race, I did one more 5k, which went equally as well as the first. I probably tortured my friend Christa a bit through this one. I think she enjoyed herself. Right?

And soon, the 10 mile was upon me. I was SO nervous for this distance. You know what? My training served me well, and although I again wasn’t a speedster, I knocked it out. You can read my recap of the Capital Pursuit here.

I’ll admit it. I think I actually signed up for the Half Marathon the night before the 10 mile race. But at that point, I was feeling good. And more than that, I was not ready to pay a late-registration fee. Money’s a great motivator, don’t you think?

Come October, it was time for the Color Run. The joke was on me – I didn’t end up running this one at all! Well, neither did a lot of people. And one of my good friends wanted to do it, so I happily agreed to walk (and sprint) with her. Turns out, the race I started running for, wasn’t the race I finished running for. Funny how that works out! You can read my full recap of the Color Run here.

And then…the half.

Although it was only another three miles beyond what I had raced before, I was still nervous as hell for the IMT Half Marathon. Ultimately, I didn’t feel as strong as I did on the 10-mile race. But, I finished. I DID it. And it has only left me coming back for more. You can read my full race recap here.

2012 taught me that I could do whatever I set my mind to – all I have to do is make that decision, and stick to it with my heart. I’m ready to really push myself this year and cream a couple more halves. Who knows what else I can do?

Have you ever done something you thought you weren’t capable of?