So why running?

I ask myself that all the time, why do I run? I have an extreme love/hate relationship with it. I complain and whine about it... but I still run... I ache from it... but I still run. I've always been active, playing sports - softball, baseball, soccer, snowboarding, skiing, golf, racquetball, swimming... you name it, I played it. I always tried to run a bit... a couple of miles here and there. In college working out became more of an addiction thanks for my friend Chris... who for a summer got me on a radical work out and healthy eating plan... sadly, the eating plan isn't as good as it was then. In January after that I started at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University... my friend Bruce who was already a student suggested I run the Rolex 24 5k race with him... then my first ever new friend at school, Dan, suggested I run it too... then next thing I knew I had two of my roomies signed up as well! The race was really cool, it took you around the Daytona speedway and you got a free ticket to the Rolex 24 for running it!

My first roomies at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University... Rosie & Shirley!

Walking to the race in the early am with Shirley & Dan.

So after that I kept up with the running, I realized I enjoyed it and made several "running" buddies at school. We use to all go to the track and run together... then while we were running start talking about what we were hungry for... get done running and go get that food we had been craving!!! Later that year 2007, I ran the Jacksonville Marine Corp 5k with my mom, sisters Emma & LeighAnne. It had rained for days straight before this race and the finish was in a grassy flat area of a park. Well coming around the corner into the park finish I was a few seconds ahead of my little sister... then she started sprinting for the finish as did I... well the grassy finish was a huge mud pit... we both ended up with mud splattered all over us. And sadly, she finished .5 seconds ahead of me... I vowed there, never again would she beat me.

Emma, Me, LeighAnne, & My Mamma after the Jax Marine Corp 5k.