Running and racing is an empowering combination. When a couch potato becomes a jogger, a jogger becomes a runner, and a runner becomes a racer, there’s a moment when the world opens up, and they’ve realized that they’re a part of the ever growing club of dedicated, enlightened runners around the world.

Guest Blogger, Haley Cloyd, talks about getting into running after many years as a swimmer. She recently trained for and completed her first half marathon, the Sauvie Island Flat Half Marathon. (And something tells me that she’s not stopping there…)

---

Haley’s gear the morning of her July 4th Half Marathon

I used to hate running. HATE running. Okay. Maybe hate is a strong word. But it certainly wasn’t my first choice when it came to exercise. I grew up swimming so running with all its pounding and sweating seemed so uncomfortable, so I avoided it. Don’t get me wrong, I went on a few runs here and there, always had a pair of shoes I COULD run in, if the mood hit me [which it did about twice a year].

Then, all of a sudden, I signed up for a half marathon.

It all started when I signed up for this fitness challenge, the goal being to exercise 26 of 30 days in April. About two weeks in, having run four times in those two weeks, I decided I wanted another, bigger challenge…so why not a half marathon. Forget that I’d never run more than six miles in my life. Forget that I still wasn’t entirely sure about this whole running thing.

Promptly after signing up for the Sauvie Island Flat Half Marathon I emailed Kath and, full of adrenaline, told her what I’d done and asked if please, please, please she would help me train. Within five minutes I had a training plan up on my Google calendar and was set to go. All I had to do was follow it.

And I did.

More than just following it, more than just running the required miles, more than the intervals, more than all of that…I FELL IN LOVE WITH IT.

I fell in love with the shortness of breath.

I fell in love with the sweat.

I fell in love with the sound of my feet on the pavement.

I fell in love with the warmth of exertion as it made its way through my legs.

When my alarm went off on the morning of July 4 I was ready and terrified and ready. My running buddy picked me up and we headed to Sauvie Island. I remember standing in line for the port-a-potty. I remember my mom and dad showing me their handmade signs. I remember getting a little choked up as all the runners counted down the last few seconds before the gun.

And then I remember running. I remember worrying if not wearing a watch was a good idea. I remember the sunlight spilling over the fields and the surprise of seeing the back of my uncle’s old property as I rounded a corner just before the five mile marker. I remember miles seven to ten being really hard.

I passed the ten mile marker and realized all I had left were three little miles. Three miles, that was all. And the difficulty of the last three miles disappeared. Around mile 11 one of the race photographers grabbed a picture. Mile 12 was marked by a bit of encouragement for a racer who’d passed me earlier and seemed to be slowing, “only one more mile, you got this girl!”

My legs were warm from the sun and warm from the effort. I could feel the end of the race before I could see it. The finish came into view and somewhere, somehow a voice said, “finish strong, let’s do this!” And I did.

My first thought after crossing the finish: I’d do that again.

My second: 26.2 doesn’t seem that long….

---

For more from Haley, visit her blog: HKC