RunnersWorld was asking for readers to submit stories, in 500 words or less, of how they started running.  Entries are entered into a drawing for 7 pairs of running shoes.   I figured I had nothing to lose … below is my entry.  I could really use some shoes!

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I have always been attracted to endurance sports.  I loved to see how people conquered their fears, and pushed beyond their limits.  I grew up in Brazil, and as a kid I loved playing long sets of tennis at noon in summer: the longer, the hotter, the more humid, the better. As I grew up, sports took a back seat to my life and though I was still attracted to endurance challenges … I was happy to see them on TV.  I saw coverage of triathlon races and thought it would be really cool to do something like that but I didn’t think I could because I couldn’t even run around the block without huffing and puffing. 

Finally, when I quit my pack-a-day smoking habit and had two children, I was overweight and decided to start running to lose it. Slowly (literally), I began running on the treadmill and eventually I began running outside.  I hated it!  But I was able to run a 5k and then a 10k. As I did that I realized, “hey! Maybe I can try one of those sprint triathlons.”  These races are generally a ¼ mile swim, 10 mile bike ride and 3.1 mile run.  I did my first one in June of 2010 and have been hooked since.

Today I don’t hate running … I dislike it.  For me running is labored, it is suffered.  I have never found my happy pace.  It seems like I am constantly trying to go faster and getting really tired in the process.  I compare and despair because everyone seems to fly by me as they smile and enjoy the process – I am envious.  But I do love triathlons:  I love the swim, enjoy the bike and so I must endure the run. 

As I am getting ready to set out on my weekly long run, I think back to all that running has given me.  It started as a ploy to lose weight and has brought me to where I am today: training for an IronMan I thought only other people could do.