Mom, Dad...I've decided to start running....

All of my life, and I mean pretty much 28 of my 32 years, I have been teased for how I run. I like to think that I'm graceful...but that doesn't exactly work because I happen to be the type of person who breaks their arm while falling up stairs (true story...made diaper changing my 4 month old quite the adventure). When running I have always thought of myself as looking good; my family will tell you that this isn't the case. Apparently my vision of my self doesn't quite fit reality. My mom has always said that I look like a gazelle fleeing from prey and not succeeding. My dad has never really commented, but he does purse his lips together and giggle when other people make comments...so I guess he's part of the "if you don't have anything nice to say" group. My husband simply says, "Kelly, are you SURE you don't have some kind of physical impairment?" when he sees me run.
I've always been an actress, since I was a little girl...and on stage I really am quite graceful...this MUST be because I'm playing a character. SO, naturally I tend to have *flare* when doing just about anything. I do lots of Jazz Hands and Pizzazz could really be my middle name. Both of my younger sisters are runners and skinny. I'm not skinny. I was born ready to wear a size 12 and a DD bra....which makes junior high LOTS of fun.
Now that I'm 32 I seem to not be able to bounce back from having babies, like I did in my 20's and have somehow managed to be 20 pounds heavier than I like. Despite eating healthy, trying different diets, not eating, runing around like a chicken with my head cut off...I can't seem to loose any weight. And I figured out why. It's because I don't get any excercise. My excuse has always been that it's because I don't have time.
Well, that is partly true. I have 4 kids, I'm a full-time student, I have a house to take care of, a dog, and a husband who is...well, let's just say he's high maitenance. If I want to get excercise I have to schedule it in, and then make myself do it. I actually did a work out video for a month, everyday straight. IT was boring, but I was seeing results...so I was sticking with it. Until one day my husband told me he needed me to not work out because he wanted some help with something. I told him, "If I don't work out, then tomorrow I will think it's ok not to work out" and he just said, "You're crazy". I said, "I know that. BUT I also know myself and I will tell myself that it's ok to miss once in awhile." And pretty soon...guess what? No working out. AND I gained weight! ACK!
The Illinois marathon just ran yesterday in Champaign (which is about 25 minutes away from me) and while reading about it in the paper this morning while eating a caramel tart (wonder why I can't loose weight?) and drinking my coffee it struck me. Why don't I train to run a marathon? Maybe this would be the thing to help me loose those 20 pounds! Why not set a big goal for myself and then just do it. My sister Lydia called me not long after this epiphany and she thought it was a great idea. She actually didn't laugh at me as most people do when they hear about me running. She even said, "You should blog about it".
So, here I am. And I'm realizing there is a lot of preparation into training for a marathon. First off I need to figure out how to train for a marathon, secondly I need to buy myself some running shoes...because all I currently have are slip ons and flip flops and I'm sure those would just intensify how silly I will look, and thirdly I need to set a route for myself...oh and by an IPOD...all runners have those? Right?
This could pose to be expensive. I'm all set to start tomorrow though. I'm forcing myself up at 6a.m; hella early. Everyone else is still asleep at this time and I can run/walk by myself. PLUS not as many people in town will notice me that early...hopefully they will all be sleeping.
Although Violet isn't sleeping through the night yet (that's my giant 9 month old who can't go like 2 hours without food) and I will be tired....I'm going to do it.
I just told the kids that I am going to start running and here are the responses I got: Maisy (8): Can I come with you? Wyatt (7): Yuck! James Henry (3): I ride my bike! and Chris (crochety old husband): Really? Hm. Well, that should be interesting.
He's RIGHT. It should be interesting....Here Goes Nothin!