How did my running journey begin? Well, it's sort of a long story...that I will try to shorten a bit here.
I grew up in the country of Pennsylvania, on a farm. Growing up on a farm always involves a lot of work, and not a lot of spare time. During my high school years, I told my parents that I thought I wanted to do track. They thought this was great, but I had to make a choice. You see, I was also very involved with 4-H, showing steers, with my brothers. Taking care of these animals required a lot of time and energy. My parents felt that I wouldn't have time for both, so I had to choose between the two -- 4-H or track. Well, I chose 4-H -- because I could make money!
Fast forward quite a few years, and now I'm married. In the early years of our marriage, my husband encouraged me at one point that I needed to find a hobby. Well, running became my hobby.
In the summer of 1999, after my husband and I were married for 7 years, my husband literally went crazy. Over a few months of that summer, he was diagnosed as schitzo-affective -- having bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Wow...I had no idea what to do with any of this! Over the course of the next 7 years, we went through many years of sadness, challenges, brokenness and grief. It was hard. Running became even more important to me during that time - it was my sanity. Hence, "run the crazy off" was born.
Thankfully, although our journey was hard, we are now almost 25 years into our marriage and happier than ever. Life didn't go the way either of us expected it, but I have found joy in many things, including running.
I started to do races in 2005. My first race was a 5K on April 30, 2005. I completed it in 43:46. My next race was a 5-mile trail race in May of 2005 -- the Mrs. Smith Challenge. This was a trail run, including two water crossings. It was so much fun, and very challenging! I don't know what my finish time was for that, but I know I was just happy to complete it! A few weeks later, on June 4, I did the 5-mile Red Rose Run -- in 44:31 (an 8:54 min pace!?).
My first half marathon was on October 1, 2005. It was the Hands-on-House half marathon in Lancaster county. I completed my first race in 2:12:57. Jared came to cheer me on that day. My cousin, Brenda, and my friend, Kelly and her daughter, Meg, saw me at the finish line. What an awesome first experience!
A few weeks after my first half marathon, I joined my friend Kathy to do HER first half marathon in Baltimore. She wanted to do a run/walk for the half. I stayed with her for the race. What a fun experience to help a friend reach her goal!
Number of races completed in 2005: 5
Although I'm only starting this blog now in 2017, I'm going to journal as much of my race experiences that I remember over the last 12 years. My entries may be random, so they may not make sense to all readers. That's okay -- this is more for me than it is for you. :-)
NOTE - these first few photos I'm loading are not great quality. I had a paper scrapbook that I had started so many years ago. Now I'm going digital...
I grew up in the country of Pennsylvania, on a farm. Growing up on a farm always involves a lot of work, and not a lot of spare time. During my high school years, I told my parents that I thought I wanted to do track. They thought this was great, but I had to make a choice. You see, I was also very involved with 4-H, showing steers, with my brothers. Taking care of these animals required a lot of time and energy. My parents felt that I wouldn't have time for both, so I had to choose between the two -- 4-H or track. Well, I chose 4-H -- because I could make money!
Fast forward quite a few years, and now I'm married. In the early years of our marriage, my husband encouraged me at one point that I needed to find a hobby. Well, running became my hobby.
In the summer of 1999, after my husband and I were married for 7 years, my husband literally went crazy. Over a few months of that summer, he was diagnosed as schitzo-affective -- having bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Wow...I had no idea what to do with any of this! Over the course of the next 7 years, we went through many years of sadness, challenges, brokenness and grief. It was hard. Running became even more important to me during that time - it was my sanity. Hence, "run the crazy off" was born.
Thankfully, although our journey was hard, we are now almost 25 years into our marriage and happier than ever. Life didn't go the way either of us expected it, but I have found joy in many things, including running.
I started to do races in 2005. My first race was a 5K on April 30, 2005. I completed it in 43:46. My next race was a 5-mile trail race in May of 2005 -- the Mrs. Smith Challenge. This was a trail run, including two water crossings. It was so much fun, and very challenging! I don't know what my finish time was for that, but I know I was just happy to complete it! A few weeks later, on June 4, I did the 5-mile Red Rose Run -- in 44:31 (an 8:54 min pace!?).
My first half marathon was on October 1, 2005. It was the Hands-on-House half marathon in Lancaster county. I completed my first race in 2:12:57. Jared came to cheer me on that day. My cousin, Brenda, and my friend, Kelly and her daughter, Meg, saw me at the finish line. What an awesome first experience!
A few weeks after my first half marathon, I joined my friend Kathy to do HER first half marathon in Baltimore. She wanted to do a run/walk for the half. I stayed with her for the race. What a fun experience to help a friend reach her goal!
Number of races completed in 2005: 5
Although I'm only starting this blog now in 2017, I'm going to journal as much of my race experiences that I remember over the last 12 years. My entries may be random, so they may not make sense to all readers. That's okay -- this is more for me than it is for you. :-)
NOTE - these first few photos I'm loading are not great quality. I had a paper scrapbook that I had started so many years ago. Now I'm going digital...
Water crossing in Mrs. Smith Challenge
I look like I was in pain...I probably was!
My first half marathon!
My awesome cheerleaders at my first half
Run/walk with Kathy for her first half marathon
