Day 1 -- Let's get to know each other

I can't believe I've entered the blog world. It's one of those things I swore I'd never do until today. I just came back from staffing at a summer camp a few days ago and was reminded of the different methods we use to capture memories these days. There's always the trusty camera (disposable, digital, doesn't really matter), video, journaling, sending notes (e-mailing), and maybe, just maybe, writing a letter that requires a stamp. Well, when I committed to running a half-marathon I knew I wanted to capture the experience somehow. I want to remember the day I break 9 miles, which is the longest I've ever run at one given time. I want to remember the blazing hot summer and cool autumn days I run in. I want to remember the excitement of just being outside (or inside depending on the weather) and running while listening to my iPod without a care. And strangely enough, I do want to remember those days where the cramps get unbearable, my shins start to burn like Hades and I feel I'd rather choose a lane on the highway to lay flat in than finish a run. I want to have something I can look back on when I'm 85 to laugh at, but for now I just want someplace to record my thoughts so I can look back, remember the journey and have proof I did it.

Well, now that I've handled that, "Why did you join the blog world?" question and somewhat gave a purpose for the blog, I suppose next should come my purpose for the run. I wish I could say I was running to contribute to some worthy cause and I'd be raising money for the next 3 months. But I'm not. (Please don't stop reading just yet!) Call me selfish if you choose, but this is something for me. After having conversations with some of the most honorable women in my life at this point, I've discovered I'm going through my quarter-life crisis. Yes, I said it. Yes, it does exist and no, I can't stop it. I'm 24 years old and I'm franticly trying to figure out who I am, what I want for the next umpteen (no comments) years and scrambling to find some way to leave the teens and lower 20's with a bang. I developed a love for running in college as it was a way to relieve stress and a reliable period of time where I could find my focus amidst the chaos that was college life. Oh, to have known what I know now in the real world, but that's another post for another day. I felt good when I ran no matter how far the distance, how long the time or how I looked while it was happening. I have never thought to this day, "Gosh, I'm so good at running!" I love running because I feel like it's just something I can DO, not something I have to be GOOD AT. Whether I run for 5 minutes or 2 hours...that's just it. I ran. You can't argue it. Sure, we all have goals when we do something like running or anything we set out to achieve. There is something to be achieved in running, but I can have different goals and I can get to them any way I see fit and appropriate for me. Running is personal for me.

With that said, I'll kind of explain how this blog is going to be laid out. I love to laugh and make others laugh. You will inevitably hear some funny stories that may include, but are not limited to the following: sweat, dog poop, snot, foreign pains, tan lines, blood, creepy male on-lookers, etc. etc. Depending on how free I'm feeling there may even be a chaffing story or two. One thing you can be sure of is it will all be honest, raw and to the point.

I'm feeling this is enough for my first blog post, but what do I know...this is my first one. It feels like an adequate and sufficient intro. More to come in a day or two. I'm camping out at Chick-Fil-A in hopes of winning 52 free meal coupons. That's another reason why I run, but we'll cover that later, too. So all I ask is you sit back, laugh at me, cry with me, and celebrate for me. October 3rd, folks. Ready or not, I'm Running for the Booty.