I have never been a runner in my life.  I love to hike and I love to ride my bike, but never enjoyed running.  Since August I have been training for my first half marathon.  At first I could barely run a half a mile without feeling like I was going to keel over.  It may have been the 100 plus degree temperatures that added to my exhaustion, but I was just not a runner (or at least that was what I was telling myself).  

I have always heard about the “runners high” that some runners get, but never understood that.  I even once dated an avid runner and would hear about this “high” but never quite understood.

Well, I have been cross training since August with daily Bikram Yoga Classes (sometimes doing doubles), hiking the bump and grind regularly (just since Oct 1st I have hiked it 19 times).  I have been on my bike riding through town and of course I have added in the running.  The running was what was the hardest for me. 

Yesterday (that is when these pics were taken) I ran another one of my 5 mile runs.  Yes, 5 miles without stopping…those of you runners probably think this is not a big deal, but for me it is.  During my runs I contemplate, I think of my students, I think of my family and I think about what an amazing life I am leading.  I know that this running thing is teaching me about life.  I am learning that whatever you set your mind to, you can accomplish.  My half-marathon is not until January 15, so I still have plenty of training time. The picture on the left is me before the run, the picture on the right is me after the run…notice the sweat…

And guess what…now I know what all those runners are talking about…I am feeling the high!!

 PS…this Saturday Melanie and I are running the Palm Springs Tram Run (6K)…participants climb 2,000 vertical feet in just over 3.7 miles…from there we are heading to the bump and grind to work it and then finishing up our morning with the 11 am Bikram Yoga class.  We are calling Saturday our “Tramathalon” as we are doing 3 hardcore events.  I prefer to call it my “tamathalon”…it has a ring to it!!