The Scenic Route Society

(and now Hilary Duff lyrics are stuck in my head)

Prior to 2016, I had never done any type of running event, not even a local 5k. I actually took up running as something to do after I moved to Florida. As a Wisconsin native, it was too cold most of the year to run up there. And after I graduated high school I bounced around between Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota; and either wasn’t in a solo-female runner friendly neighborhood (Heyyy Cicero) or just couldn’t be bothered, although it probably would have significantly helped my endurance with my job.

In July 2016, my childhood babysitter of all people was chatting with me about visiting Disney. She mentioned she was signed up for a half marathon at Disney and convinced me to tag along. The race wasn’t until February so I had plenty of time to train. I believe I used a combination of Couch to 5k and the Jeff Galloway training plans available on the website. I did NOT train well enough. Lesson number 1: Train. Pick a plan, stick to the plan, put in the work. Pixie dust is not a training plan.

Come race weekend, I took morning-of fake-running posed pictures because I didn’t know what a flat lay was or about course photographers. I didn’t know about fueling or checking course maps. I didn’t know about parking at Epcot in a tutu and that Carissa and John would be talking to me on a stage at the butt crack of dawn. I didn’t know about the 15 minute warm up walk to the corrals back then (the new set up is nice!). I didn’t know about running through the castle. I didn’t know how much it would hurt. I didn’t know how much it would change my life.

My first half marathon took me about 3 hours. I wish I could say I’ve gotten faster in the last ten years but that’s not the case. However, I have not gotten slower and I think there’s something to be said for that. I CAN push myself and could probably PR but I think I’m ok with consistency more than radical improvements. I want to be doing this for another 10+ years.

I went into the 2017 Princess Half Marathon to cross something crazy off my bucket list. So naturally, my one and done race, has turned into countless 5 and 10ks, dozens of half marathons, and 5 full marathons (including 1 Dopey) and I have no plans on stopping!

I’m curious, what got you started? And, if you haven’t done one yet, what are you waiting for?