The first time...

Last summer, July 2009, I joined a beginner's 5K training program, No Boundaries, hosted by our local running shoe store, Fleet Feet. The program is designed for the couch potato. It is wonderfully designed and well run and comes with amazing coaches and enthusiatic volunteer cheerleaders. I attended the twice weekly training programs, but did not adhere to the on-your-own-time training schedule. Because of that fact, I struggled horribly to get through the 5K that officially ended that training program.

I disappointed myself.

22 years ago, I entered Navy boot camp. I was a smoker and partier and had not ever run a mile. My first day in, I was the last one to come in from the 1 mile PT. I was screamed at, humiliated and made to run sprints so fast that I threw up bacon, eggs and orange juice in front of all the other recruits. But a funny thing happened that day, I was determined to get through boot camp as the invisible girl. I would never come in last again. My secret ally was my company commander, an amazon woman who ran on my butt, breathing hot breath down my neck, making sure I ran two steps in front of her. One morning, fed up, I flew. I ran passed all the younger girls, I ran until I was away from the pack. I ran ahead of all of them. I was in the lead, the only place I felt I could get enough air. I stayed in front of the company, running ahead of everyone until the day we graduated.

Is that the runner's high? I know this, 22 years later after marriage, children, work, I still remember that feeling, that incredible thrill.

So, now that I am 47 and divorced and my boys are older and my work is not as stressful, I am trying to reclaim that athlete, that powerful woman I discovered, running, flying ahead of the pack.