My Running Journey

I started running off and on in my 20s, around 2003 or 2004. I didn’t really take it seriously, it was just a way to get cardio in. A lot of the time I was in a gym on a treadmill. I did 3-5 miles 2-3 times a week.

I had always wanted to run the UWL Turkey Trot (my alma mater) as the ads made it look like so much fun. I never got around to it while living there. I was too anxious to attempt to run outside. I didn’t think of myself as a runner. I ran for exercise.

Then sometime in 2011, I started running outside since I didn’t want to pay for a gym membership. I started my own version of couch to 5k and decided it was time I tried a race. I signed up for the 2012 UWL Turkey Trot and my dad, who had been running as well, did too.

After that, I went crazy and ran a ton of races and started doing half marathons with the eventual goal of a marathon.

Since then I’ve been diagnosed with celiac disease and went through a depressive state (I gained about 10 pounds in about the first-month going gluten-free). I stopped running for a bit and gained more weight, which added to my depressive state.

Finally, I had enough.

I started running again in 2016 and decided to really try to train for a marathon in January 2017. I got a horrible sinus infection about 2 weeks before the marathon and was getting dizzy while running. I dropped out of the marathon. I tried running off and on for a few months and still got dizzy so I stopped.

I finally got tired of not running, again, and went to the doctors (general and allergist/asthma specialist) over the past year. I was diagnosed with vocal chord dysfunction and started on medication and haven’t had an issue since.

So I decided to try again for a marathon this fall and my training just hasn’t gone according to plan. First, my dog died, then I got a weird summer cold, then I got glutened, and finally, my dad passed away. Needless to say, I will be running a half this month instead of a marathon.

I still have the goal of running a marathon. I am working on keeping my base up. I have a goal half marathon scheduled for May, in honor of my dad, and then I will take a short break and start preparing for a marathon in late 2019 or early 2020.

I still struggle with fatigue issues. I may have to work a run/walk method instead of just running for a marathon. I may have anxiety. I need to keep working on my confidence journal and maybe re-read a couple of books (including Kara Goucher’s and Deena Kastor’s). But I will finish at least one marathon in my lifetime.

What is your best tip for running or training for a marathon? What marathon would you suggest for a first timer but not new to running? I am looking at something local to Phoenix or maybe New Orleans (but there’s that whole humidity thing…).