two years ago today i ran my first mile of my first marathon training program. i decided to sign up with a fundraising team on a whim to train for a marathon, never having been a runner at all before. i pretty much hated running actually. i never ever would have thought i would be where i am now.
two years ago today i had no idea what a garmin was, what lactate threshold meant, that there was a difference between running and racing, that running was not a cheap hobby, what the letters BQ stood for, or that i would actually look forward to waking up earlier on the weekends than the weekdays.
in the past 2 years i have…
- ran 25 races including 6 full marathons and 11 half marathons
- my first race – a 5k – became my marathon pace this year
- ran a total of 3704.4 miles since day one
running has changed my life for the better. it has given me something to always strive for and to look forward to. it has taught me that i can do anything i set my mind to, and that i am tougher than i thought i was. it has introduced me to some of my very best friends. it keeps me sane, focused, dedicated and happy. it has made me stronger, both physically and emotionally. it has taught me that hard work pays off, but the things worth working for don’t come easily.
it has flown by and seems like so long ago i was that newbie runner, but at the same time it seems like yesterday i was out there in my too small cross trainer shoes and cotton shorts running that first mile. who knew it would lead to so many more?
how long have you been running?
do you remember your “runniversary”?
how has it changed your life?
63 comments:
I've actually been running/jogging off and on for about 32 years now but competitively, as in doing races and actually training, for only 8 of those years. I most definitely remember the anniversary of my first-ever race: Kona Half Marathon (1:43:59). I was shocked to discover I was no longer the slowest girl in PE and began my journey into endurance sports.
Happy runniversary to you!
happy runniversary!!! mine was august 2007 and i remember my first race in november of 2007 sooo well because i tripped someone accidentally in the first half mile. i kept thinking "oh no! did i just curse my racing career? is this the wrong thing for me??" nope! it got even better and better and really defines me now. :)
happy runniversary!!! mine was august 2007 and i remember my first race in november of 2007 sooo well because i tripped someone accidentally in the first half mile. i kept thinking "oh no! did i just curse my racing career? is this the wrong thing for me??" nope! it got even better and better and really defines me now. :)
Happy Runniversary! What an amazing amount you have accomplished in the past two years. Crazy to think that your first 5K pace is now your marathon pace! That's awesome!
I have been running since August of 2007. I consider my runniversary to be 9/29/07 the day of my first race and the first time I ever ran 3 miles straight! It has changed me in more ways than I could ever imagine. It has made me into the person I have always wanted to be.
Happy Runnerversary!! I started running in April 2009 (I don't know the exact day) and my first race was May 30, a 5K. I'm doing that race again this year to celebrate my runnerversary. Running has completely enriched my life and really improved my health as well.
You're awesome and I hope by my 2 year runnerversary I can be even half as awesome as you, you rock!
I just celebrated my 6 month running anniversary! Congratulations on all the you have done :-)
Happy Runniversary Aron!!
What you've accomplished in two years is simply amazing and truly inspiring. I'm into a year and just finished my second 10k injury free and am training for my first half. Sadly I've been very injury prone so taking things slow.
Happy Runniversary, Aron! You have accomplished SO MUCH in these two years.
I'll have to check an old blog post for the exact date, but my first run (10 minutes, so likely about a mile) was on the treadmill just after Christmas 2006. Never expected to see myself here either.
Running has opened so many doors. I can't even imagine my life without it.
Aron, you are such an inspiration! I can't believe what you have done with your running in 2 years, absolutely AWESOME! AND, to have your first 5k pace, your NOW marathon pace, is so great! Kudos to you! I have loved running since high school, ran my first half marathon on a whim in 2001 (2 years after high school) but then got married, had 2 kids, and didn't run a race again until April 2009. I will be doing that same 5k again this year to celebrate my runniversary! I really aspire to do what you have done with your running by next year...hopefully I will be doing a Full marathon by next year. I have 4 halfs scheduled for this year :)
HAPPY 2 year RUNNIVERSARY Aron! Kepp up the good work, you are a rock star! :)
Happy runniversary!
Wow, Aron, you've accomplished so much in such a short time. Congratulations on your runniversary, and I hope you have many, many more ahead of you.
woohoo happy runniversary!!!! Hope you have many more years ahead!
I started running in the summer of 2008 and it's continually changed my life for the better and helped me to lose almost 40 pounds. I'm definitely still a newbie but I love pushing myself harder every day andlearning new things!
Happy runniversary!
You have accomplished so much in only 2 years and quite a natural athlete by the looks of your times. Congrats!!!!! I would love to know what schedule you follow, especially inbetween each marathon. I am going to attempt to do 4 this year, which is a big jump as I only did 2 last year.
Great post! Happy Runniversary!!!
I've always dabbled in running but I count the 4th of July Watermelon 5k in 2008 my runniversary... that's what started it all and now here I am! :)
Keep on running and inspiring girl!
I haven't really thought about this too much. I've been running since high school, about 40 years.
The first race I ran was the Bay to Breakers in '77, in basketball shoes. Running has kept me focused and centered. All those endless miles have helped me see the bigger picture...
so cool that you remember those first miles!! and you've come so far!! congrats on all your accomplishments!!
happy runniversary! what a great accomplishment! much congratulations and thank you for being a role model for me!
I don't remember the exact day of my first run, but I started my journey in December 2007. And I totally relate with how much different my life is...especially because I never saw myself as a person who got up early!
Congrats - you're accomplished so much in just 2 short years! And may I add that you sure were a SPEEDY newbie??!! :)
It's only been about a year for me...but yes, it really does change your life! Many life lessons learned through running...and friends made, memories shared, strengths gained...
Congrats again on 2 successful years of running...and many more! :)
Happy Runniversary!
It must mean I have been running a very long time since I can not remember NOT running.
Happy Runniversary...I hope to accomplish even half of what you have on my 2 yr - versary. I passed 1 yr in Nov 2009 as my official running date.
Congrats!
Yayyy and just think-- if you hadn't started running and blogging we wouldn't be friends! And I'm grateful for that!
I have been running for almost 4 years! However, not nearly as many races or as far, either!
Very cool! I started running in September of 2006 with a 5K training program and went into half marathon training from there. So I guess that's 3 years and five months! It definitely has changed my life for the better, too.
I started running in middle school and landed a track scholarship for the mile in college...I'm 46 now and though the journey has taken me from a speedster to an endurance junkie, my passion and love for running has never wannned. I've been blessed with strong legs and a great determination, a gift I do not take for granted. I am home sick for the past two days from work - and running - and having a blast reading blogs of those who found running later in life than I did and much it has changed their lives. Thanks for continuing to inspire me (but I still would like to be out running today ;) ).
i would consider myself a runner for the past 5 or so years. i ran a bit before then but nothing serious (more like training for another sport). i don't remember my runniversary but i do remember my "Racerversary" and i think that its changed my life! i am so serious about my training and it has definitely become a huge part of my life
I tried running a little bit last year and even ran a 10K and Muddy Buddy, but I will say that 13 weeks ago is more when I really started. Because that is when I ran my first mile on a training plan and began my journey to my first half marathon.
I love hearing about how you started because that feels like me now. I hope I can look back in two years and have lots to say too.
Great post. I totally agree. I don't remember my 'runaversary' but I do remeber my first 'breakthrough' run and so I will count that. It was amazing and the first time I felt like a real runner.
Hmmm, I adored running cross country in high school but consider myself to be a born again runner beginning in the late summer of 2007- so that's about 2 1/2 years ago. Running has changed my life by getting me outside, more comfortable with my body, and learning how to relax & take things day by day or step by step :>
I can't believe you've *only* been running for two years but have achieved SO much! That's amazing!!
I started running in January 2008, so just over a year now. I agree with everything you said about it. It gives me something to strive for and nothing feels better then a runners high! I also just LOVE training. I like having a training plan on my fridge and crossing off runs as I do them!
aww happy runniversary! :) Mine is about to be coming up in April :)
Lauren
http://www.teamgiles.com
Yay, happy runniversary. I would never have guessed that you've only been running for two years. Wow, you've accomplished a lot!
I don't know my exact runniversary, but I've been running for about two years as well. I think it was Feb '08 when I decided to train for a 5k, my first ever race.
Running has completely taken over my life, mainly in terms of how I plan my schedule around training and races. (BTW, I'd liked how in your previous post you mentioned running races for fun. That's what I do 95% of the time.) At least it's a healthy obsession!
Happy runniversary! What an amazing two years you've had. I consider a local 5K race in June my runniversary - even though I had been running before that, I ran the race on a whim as my first ever race and it completely changed running for me.
wow, that's crazy aron. 6 full and 11 half mary's in 2 years is nuts. most hard core runners don't keep up with that kind of schedule. very cool.
I always knew i loved running, from my days on the track team in high school. for me the important anniversary is december 28th, when i stopped smoking 2 years ago so i could start running again.
Hey, just found your blog through google. Happy anniversary, running is awesome.
I have recently signed up for a half marathon in September, however I hate actual running and can barely run a minute. How did you get started with running?
You're nothing if not inspiring aron!! Happy runniversary!!!!
Your intensity never fails to impress! Keep it up rockstar!
Happy running anniversary! You have accomplished so much in the past two years. Such an inspiration! Keep running and thanks for all your GREAT entries!!
So amazing! Happy Runniversary! Over 3700 miles in TWO YEARS?? You are hardcore, Aron! Congrats...and here's to many more -versaries to come. :)
Great post! You've really come a long way. I hope I'll be able to do the same. This past weekend was the runniversary of my first race ever -- can't believe how far I've come since then. I hope I continue to improve and get faster and stronger. Maybe one day -- maybe! -- there will be a BQ in my future. A girl can wish, right?
Happy Runniversary! You have accomplished so much in such a short amount of time. I've been running for 10+ years. I think my first race was 10 years ago. Man I feel old. I have a love/hate, on-again/off-again relationship with running, but I always go back to it. I don't think I have ever return from a run regretting that I had gone out.
wow--i had no idea you only started running two years ago! i would've thought you'd been running for many years! congrats on all you've accomplished in such a short time!!
i have been running for twelve and a half years~ i suppose my runniversary is the day I ran 2 miles in 17 minutes in one of our college rec centers. yikes that was no fun! i can't even begin to tell you how it's changed my life--but mostly it just feels like it's a part of who i am.
Happy runniversary! You've done a lot in 2 years!
You are amazing. Congrats on your two years! woot woot!! Here's to another two years of awesome races and PRs!
happy runniversary! :) what an amazing 2 years you have had!! i'm so glad i've gotten to know you! your an amazing inpsirational person! i cant wait to see what 2010 has in store for you!!! miss you!
Congrats! You've come a long way! This post made me laugh bc I had no idea what BQ was for a long time after starting bloging. I would read running blogs and have no idea what BQ meant!!
Happy runniversary and a belated Great Job on the half marathon. You sure race a lot!
This is See Jess Run. For some reason I can't use the OpenID anymore.
Happy Runniversary! You've accomplished so much, congratulations!
My Runniversary was Halloween 2002. I was at Ft. Jackson and you have to run one mile in 10 minutes to make it into basic. Not a very good time to start:) Congrats again and I hope you have many more happy miles!
Happy Runniversary!! I simply cannot believe that you've only been running for two years...you're so inspirational! I've been running for...13 years! I'm not sure it has changed my life since it has been a part of my life for over half my life (crazy!), but it certainly makes my life better on a daily basis.
Happy Runniversary!
What an amazing two years you have had! Here's to many more happy, injury free, years of blissful running :)
You've come a long way in two short years, my dear!
I started running back 1998 because I had quit smoking and gained weight. Can you believe that???
Now I run because I can't imagine life without it. Ever. ;)
Happy Runniversary, Aron!
You've done a lot of great things already as a runner and I can't wait to see where you'll go from here!
Happy runniversary running buddy! ♥ These past two years have flown by!!! I am SO thankful to have you and running in my life :) It always makes me laugh to think about training for SFM compared to now. Can't wait to run some races together soon! Love you!
Happy runniversary! I think I have multiple runniversarys...kind of like the first time we met, when we became a couple, when we first said "I love you" and when we decided to plunge into being partners for life!
yeahhh for runniversaries!!! I love remembering how it all started, it's been like 8 years now so I'm not sure of the first day, but I will always remember my first marathon...my first run where I didn't want to die...my first Garmin experience
What a great post Aron! Happy runniversary! Now you've got me thinking about mine. It will be three years sometime this summer....
Holy crap, you've come a long way in such a short period of time.
Happy 2 years!
Wow, only 2 years?? You have done so much!
I set out to train for my first half marathon in fall of 2006 with my first half being in May 2007. I had ran 3 or 4 5ks prior to that. On my first day or training I couldn't even go a mile w/o stopping. I had always hated running but really decided this was something I wanted to say I had accomplished.
I ran my first half in shoes that were too small and lost 2 toenails. I also had crappy gym clothes.
I remember thinking I would never understand all the running lingo,be able to eat a GU and I certainty never thought 13 miles would ever be a fun weekend long run.
Now, I couldn't imagine life without it. I kept me sane through law school and it always gives me new goals to shoot for. I have met some awesome people and been some cool places. Above all I think it has taught me that nothing is out of reach if you work hard enough.
Happy Runniversary! Heres to many more!
happy runniversary! it's hard to believe you've only been running for 2 years!! you have certainly run a lot :) i laughed that you actually hated running at first. and i love that your first 5k is now your mp! that's too cool.
hmm i guess i've been running for 10-11 years now, yikes! granted, i took a couple years off in the middle in college, but i started in high school xc in 98 or 99 so we'll call it 10 years.
I have a hard time decided when I really started "Running." I ran the Susan G. Komen RAce for the Cure June 2008 which I completed in 29:33... but I think I became a runner once I started my first half marathon training plan. January 2009. Since then I have lost a ton of weight, run a half marathon, won a half marathon, increased my 5K speed to 21:54 and completed a Marathon. So hard to imagine my life without running now..
awww happy runniversary!! :D That's so awesome. You've come SO FAR in 2 years. Be very proud of all your hard work Aron. :)
I started running september 13, 1999. Isn't that crazy! over ten years. :)
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