Childhood and How I Managed to Get to This Place

Let's start from the beginning.

As a wee child I dabbled in all sorts of things: jazz, gymnastics, taekwondo, swim team, pony's (good Lord, I was obsessed with horses - ask 7 year old me and I would've told you I actually WAS infact myself a pony. Cue horse whinny...) I digress.... Through all of my "sporty" experience, I never stuck with anything. I danced for a bit and got bored. I did a little balance beam - bored again. I think I went to 2 whole taekwondo classes. Let me tell you, the parents weren't to pleased with that one I as somehow coerced them into thinking I was really into martial arts and therefore the signing of a 2 year contract was totally legitimate. Not. I was more content with doing other things such as aggravating my baby scissor, watching Power Rangers, you know? Watching a kick ass TV show is much better than actually learning how to kick ass. I was completely content with not only being an underachiever but a quitter as well. The only thing I can really say I truly applied myself to was school. Not only was a quitter, I to was a very socially akward child. Some call it shy, I call it my "I just don't care about those other loser kids and their boring activities. Let's play ponies some more" attitude.

Fast forward a few more years: There I was in highschool. 4 years of P.E. as a graduation requirement? You've got to be effing kidding me! Rather than subject myself to a mile of track running per week and the lovely dodgeball games, I chose another route. Despite my aversion for anything social, I opted to take a few extra speech classes just to get me out of a little sweat.

Somewhere between my beginning college and where I'm at now I noticed my waistband becoming increasingly tight. For some reason unbeknownst to me I decided to download that Nike+ App we all know, and began a C25K program. Thanks to my iPhone I was for the very first time in my life able to run a mile . . . without stopping!! I ran for about 6 months, lost about 10 pounds, and gained a confidence I had never felt.

And I present to you, Me . . . and the roomie

Shortly thereafter, I hit an awesome plateau and stopped my running routine. For a year I ran here and there and continually told myself "I'm going to start running again next week". On December 31st 2011, my roommate (Babel) and I had actually committed to running the Austin 1020 that would take place in April. The next day we were to begin our training plan together. Ready for this....? That very same evening while walking to the car to go for a New Year's dinner I tripped over my own feet and sprained my ankle. HAPPY NEW YEAR, way to start it off right guys!!

Those stairs were a living hell

In all honesty, maybe the injury was the best thing to "jumpstart" my running. I worked for 3 months rehabing my ankle, and in March I bought my Garmin. What a delightful thing those gadgets are. My rational was, "If I spend my net worth on that watch, I'll definitely stay motivated". Me and that watch have a love-hate relationship. It has managed to keep me motivated, that and the fact that I signed up for the Houston Aramco Half-Marathon in January 2013. I've got a lot of work to do and many many many miles before I get there. But I'll be damned if I don't get there.

Now, I'm running at least 4 times a week, working full-time, and going to school to receive a degree in social work that will have taken me almost 10 years to get. I'm addicted to my dogs.

Phoebe (left) & Tyler (right)