B.A.A. Distance Medley

I often imagine the shiny new person I can become if I follow all the right steps.  I will eat only organic whole foods.  I will make all our food from scratch.  I will stop drinking alcohol and eating sweets and desserts.  I will run everyday and keep getting faster and faster.  My house will be completely organized and the laundry won't make my bed look like a mountain.  Many of these things will never happen or at least not all at once.  However I am taking small steps to claim my spot as a runner.  I signed up for the B.A.A. Distance Medley.  This include a 5K April 19th, a 10K June 22nd and the B.A.A. half marathon on October 12th. 

The B.A.A. half marathon last year was the first race I ran to specifically raise money in honor of my Mom.  Ian and Mom were on the street cheering for me half way through the race.  I saw mom all bundled up against the cold and smiling.  I gave her a Boston Strong bracelet and we both cried.  As I rounded the corner and started on the uphill half of the race I had trouble catching my breath because I knew she did not have much time left.  My mother passed away from cancer on October 31st 2013 about two and a half weeks after I finished that half marathon. 

I thought that I would be able to keep up with my running after Mom died, but it turns out that grief is an extremely exhausting process.  I am so tired I can't get up at 5am like I used to.  Alcohol is an enticing friend at the end of a long day.  A glass of wine can easily turn into a bottle or two for me.  I know that in my life I need to stop drinking.  Running is the way I know to do that.  I sign up for a race that means something to me and I stop drinking.  I have made the stakes higher this time.  I will not drink alcohol again until I break 2:00 in the half marathon.  This is easy for a lot of runners, but not me.  I am developing my routine and I can cover distances, but I am slow.  My training depends on no drinking.  I sleep better and I recover better.  I need this now more than ever.  I have limped along running once or twice a week.  Now that will all change.