Run Often

I became interested in running when I moved to Minneapolis after I graduated college. Minnesota has the most incredible natural lake resources – they don’t call it The Land of 10,000 Lakes for nothing!

I was fortunate enough to live within walking – er, running – distance of two incredible lakes that are always packed with other runners, walkers and roller bladers. This in of itself was really motivating. Running amongst other lovers of the sport totally rallies the spirit.  It didn’t hurt that these two lakes where lined with incredible, million dollar homes to look at during my runs

After moving back to Iowa, I was really bummed to leave behind the lakes that had gotten me started in the sport. However, my spirits lifted when I realized that a running trail I had played on as a kid was only ½ mile down the road from the house my husband and I had bought. It’s on this trail that I trained for my first half marathon! I ran in the Banco Popular Chicago Half Marathon in September 2008…on the rainiest day in Chicago’s history. Seriously. My training had not prepared me for a 13.1 mile run in the rain, or so I thought. In the end, I think it’s the rain that got me through the race – it completely took my mind off the fact that I was running farther than I ever had in my life! Finishing the race gave me one of the biggest feelings of accomplishments that I’ve ever had.

I’ve come a long way since those first runs in Minneapolis, proof positive that if you stick with something – it does get easier! I absolutely love the feeling that running gives me – a feeling of accomplishment and appreciation for legs and a body that can take me anywhere. These days I aim to run 12-15 miles a week.