Back at it

I've been thinking about blogging for quite awhile but I didn't think I had enough to write about.

Now that I'm in the midst of my running life and training for my first half marathon though, I have PLENTY of things to blog. Also, this is a way for those of you who are interested in what I'm tackling next to keep up with me. I know it probably gets old with all my Facebook and IG posts about fitness. Or my other goals. 
I decided to name this blog Kat Can Do {Blank} because I am always trying new things and setting big goals! So far in 2017, Kat can do: yoga, knitting, and long distance running. 


Once upon a time...
There was a beanpole 10 year old who found out she was pretty good at long distance running. 
It all started with the 100 mile club and the yearly Turkey Run at my elementary school. I didn't place in the Turkey Run top 3, which meant I would have won popcorn, a 3 Liter of Coke or a turkey. I did however get these sweet participation ribbons. 



At the 5th grade track meet that wrapped up our last year of elementary school, I ran the 400m dash and won! I realized that sprinting wasn't my jam though and once middle school track started, my love for running meant I was the only middle schooler crazy enough to run the mile and a half race. I also decided to try out the 800 m hurdles because it was long distance AND the challenge of hurdles. 

I wasn't the fastest but I did place a few times at my track meets in 6th and 7th grade. Running became an escape, a challenge and a joy. Running conditions changed on a dime and track season during the spring in the panhandle was tough. We started running in the bitter cold and sometimes snow and continued on in the ridiculous wind. 



But the love affair with running continued into high school track and cross country. I continued to push myself and even though I was pretty fast (6:13 mile pace!), I still wasn't the fastest girl in the panhandle. Not even close. That didn't matter though because I. loved. to. run. 

I didn't finish cross country out in my senior year though (#regret) because they switched practice to the morning. We ALL know how I feel about mornings and especially working out in the morning. I remember trying to get my runs in at the start of the school year and I hated it. I was exhausted, stressed, and nauseous. So I turned in my shoes to the coach and didn't run that fall. I kept running on my own though and kept up my 6-7 min/mile pace. 

I remember running without music and without GPS. I remember driving my car and watching the non-digital odometer to track my running routes around the neighborhood. No fancy technical shorts, shirts, headbands...nothing but my shoes and my heart.

Sometimes I wonder if I should get back to that--the simpler time of running. Maybe then I wouldn't be so worried about my splits, my finishing time, my weight... Especially as I am running regularly again and training for my first half. 

More to come about my running roots and other fun. Thanks for coming with me down my running memory lane. 

*Kat