I was a chunker in high school. No, like shopping at American Eagle and buying size 14 jeans while my sister bought XS spandex pants at the Express type chunker. And then one day, my world got turned upside down when my best friend asked me to join the cross country team.

She wasn’t blind, so I was appalled that she’d even ask me, her butterball friend, to do something with her that not only required effort but speed. Turns out she asked because in high school cross country you need 7 people to run a race. Only the first 5 people to finish score for the team, but without those last 2 people you’re kind of screwed.

Perfect plan in her head—she gets her best friend to hang out with more and the school could round out its team. And it wouldn’t matter if I walked the races-as long as I finished, the team would be able to compete.

Y’all. Running in the SC heat in August/September is not ideal. Especially for someone carrying an extra 40 lbs. But “ran” I did…I can still remember my first race. I finished a 5k in 36 minutes (yes, I’m aware at a 12 minute pace you could walk that), and I was SO excited that I hadn’t walked once during the race!

My coach was less thrilled than I was. Here’s a transcript of what happened after the race:

Me: Coach Grey! Coach Grey! I did it! I finished!

Coach Grey: That’s great. How many times did you walk?

Me: I didn’t! I wanted to but I didn’t!

Coach Grey: No, seriously, how many times did you walk. No one can run a 36 minute 5k-that’s just not possible.

Me: Oh, well, umm, (mumbles under my breath) sorry about that. 

I almost almost quit that day. But my high school still needed a 7th girl so I was trapped.

And thus, dramatically, did I start my love hate relationship with running.

The good news is that it has gotten easier—over the last 10 years I’ve run 2 marathons, 2 halfs, and a handful of random distance races. The bad news is that I often celebrate a race with too much time off and I find myself very slowly and creak-ily trying to get back into shape.

To help with losing the weight, I’ll be running the Sun Trust half marathon in March. I’ve found that I need a structured work out plan to get me moving, or it just doesn’t happen. Something about a paper schedule that makes me feel so guilty if I don’t follow it.

I’ll be following Hal Higdon’s novice schedule this go round, with some modifications to allow for 3-4 Bar Method classes each week. I’m a huge advocate of his training programs, so if you’re planning on racing in 2012 I would check it out! 

Ok, off to find the ibuprofen. Someone ran 3 miles today and is now hobbling along like a grandmother. Ouch!