First post ...

So, I'm a self proclamined none runner.  I've always been involved in sports and at times I would get into these kicks for months at a time where I would decide to run ... but only one mile at a time.  None of this 4 miles, 5 miles, half marathon junk!  I was in gymnastics and cheerleading growing up and whenever they made us run I would say "if I wanted to run, I would've joined the track team."  I HATED it.  Actually, I think I still might hate it ... a little.  ;)

                                                            HS Cheer Pic - I can't find any gymnastics pics :)

In 2009 I was cheering for my college team and we were practicing our Nationals routine.  We were told that dreaded 'one more time' and we were EXHAUSTED.  Everyone was half assing it and I decided to go full out for my tumbling pass.  Stupid.  I think my body was just spent, and honestly, I wish I had this recorded, but I landed my tumbling pass wrong and that was the end of it.  I obliterated my ACL, Meniscus, tore some cartilage, it was a mess ... and the end of my cheer career.  (Thankfully it was my last year anyway).  That was February 16, 2009.  I had my first surgery (ACL reconstruction and meniscus repair) March 6, 2009.  Yup ... first surgery ... meaning there were more.  I don't want to go into details, but make sure you have a good physical therapist.  You think they all know what they're doing ... they don't.  I found a good therapist who was shocked at my lack of progress and when I went to see my surgeon he was disappointed as well.  He scheduled me for my second surgery May 21, 2009.  He later told us I had so much scar tissue in my knee it was like a block of wood.  Long story short (yeah right), the damage was too much and I ended up having a third surgery in December 2009 to clean out the rest of the scar tissue.

                                           Before ACL injury at my lowest weight since HS

ANYWAY ... after a year of crutches ... and 2 years of physical therapy I had made some progress, but nothing to write home about.  Considering they told me they never thought I'd really walk normal again after the damage that was done from the surgeries and lack of proper PT, I was doing really well.  I ended up joining a crossfit class that met 3 days a week and I fully contribute my status today to that.  It really targeted the muscles I couldn't get with PT alone.

Anyway, fast forward to 2012 ... I am 40 + lbs heavier than I was when I tore my ACL and 20+ lbs heavier than I've ever been.  (The heaviest I was prior to this, was after a heel surgery in 2006).  After talking to one of my friends I decided to try and get back into running.  Hahah ... 'back into it'.  I was never in it, but when I did run I always lost weight.  I had toyed with the idea in early 2011, but I could only run a mile and that was rough on my knee and I gave up.  This time I decided to set goals.  I ran a 5k in March, a 10k in April, another 10k in May and a 5k in June.  I'm signed up for another 5k this month, a 10 mile in August and a half marathon in October.  Yup, a HALF MARATHON in OCTOBER.  I feel like I may have had an aneurysm when I signed up for that ... but it's done and it was expensive so this week I started training for it.

                                                               After my May 10k ... this is embarassing :(

So far so good.  I'm actually enjoying it/looking forward to my runs which has never happened before...

I'm following the Hal Higdon Novice 1 Program.  It starts out slow which is EXACTLY what I need.  My husband is super supportive so it's helping me stay on track.  I decided to start this blog to hopefully stay accountable to my training schedule, get some support, and make some new friends!

So that's me and my story in a nutshell.  I know ... it's not too exciting ... yet, but hang around and hopefully I'll make you proud. 

Cheers!

Oh boy ... after adding the pics I'm super embarassed/motivated.  Here goes nothing!