Life for me is about living it LARGE.

Life for me is about living it LARGE.    

I need to get the most out of the precious time I have and have a good time whilst doing it.  I’m one of those people who are always planning the next adventure before the last one has ended. 

Running is an adventure for me.  Not one I love being on but one that I know gets me moving.  It can take me places I wouldn’t normally go, or see things that I wouldn’t have seen from my armchair.

 

In 2010, I decided to get my butt of the couch and go for a run.  My husband was training for a marathon and I could barely run 100 meters.  I thought I was fit BUT the thought of moving my legs at a fast pace to what many may call a run was incomprehensible to me.  That was until I saw the treadmill classified a jog as 6k’s per hour.  I was walking at 5.7 so I could do 6... I would do 6! 

I remember my first kilometer on the treadmill... willing the meters to pass as I would held onto the side rails. I kept rationalizing it in my head that if my husband could run 42 I can run one. Within three months I was running 6ks at the Ben Donohoe Fun Run in Canberra.  It was bloody hard work getting there and when I did I wouldn't say it was the most graceful sight. 

Now I know I can do 4ks no problem.  6ks is fine.  I’ve done eight and even ten on my own free will.  I’ve run around the TAN (Botanic Gardens), along the parade, through the zoo, along Flinders street and to the base of the Bolte bridge. 

As a runner I feel like I’m trapped in a Zebras body. I’m not even sure what that means! 

I have short, stumpy legs and not overly graceful when I run. When I run in a group I feel like I’m the one that is standing out for looking awkward (like everyone else is in black shirts and mine is a stripe).  If the jungle has running race we all know the zebra wouldn’t win the race but would give it a good try and probably not finish last.  He’d be the one to stopped at the waterhole or smelling the roses to catch a sneaky breath!

I am LARGE 

Of the LARGER variety

Big boned

Been blessed with my fathers genetics.

 

Perhaps this is why I always feel ‘odd’ running as I do not have a runners build.  You wont see me prancing around in short shorts and a crop top or skins. I doubt I will ever float through the air, gracefully glide or even finish anywhere near the front of the pack in a race.  That wont stop me getting out there and giving it a go.

This blog is essentially what motivates me.

Some of the sites I see are pretty amazing but I need to see them to push myself to keep going.  I am far from a motivated runner.   I pick unusual paths or run on days when I know it is going to be different.  I’ll purposely go and run in the rain because it is a good distraction or constantly update my ‘play list’ to keep me guessing.  I’ll get my husband to come and pick me up because the thought of a return trip is not my idea of fun.

 

It is about running life being large.