So you may ask yourself how did I get here? (darn it now Talking Heads is going thru my brain.)
This is a recurring issue with me. No matter what I am talking about songs just randomly pop in and out and most likely with the words all mixed up. You would think that after listening to the Beatles since my birth I would have all the songs memorized and imprinted in my brain. Ha you would be sooo wrong.
Ok but I digress. How did I get from sitting on a chair in a bar with a glass of wine in one hand and a cigarette in another to running marathons? Yes I did that. Pretty darn proud of that! Make no mistake it was a step at a time, filled with falls (nothing like scrapping both of your knees just 10 days out from your first marathon), pulled IT bands (iliotibial band and no I can not pronounce it) and lots of fartleks. I can pronounce Fartleks and do my best to fit it into any conversation because it makes me happy. All together now FARTLEKS. Don’t you feel better?
Do you know how many times I have heard I don’t run unless a bear or lion or serial killer or Keith is chasing me? A bazillion I assure you. So if you are in that group of comedians I understand. But stick with me here anyways. There are so many options for you to exercise, get in shape, have some fun, move around (what is that from?) Swimming, hiking, yoga or paratrooper (my neighbor is a paratrooper and it terrifies me ugh.) Even if you are in a wheelchair you can find a way to exercise. It is the best drug on the market. Helps the brain, muscles and your inside stuff operate more efficiently. So I have attached a fun workout for you to do. Well, I think it is fun but then my favorite ballet is Swan Lake. PAY ATTENTION AT 1:50 on the time line thingy I love the swan moves. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8IxSzmV7Yc Senior & Beginner Workout – Barre Exercises in a Chair to Tone & Tighten the Whole Body Senior Shape Fitness
Ok so are you finished watching that? Good! I hope you feel better. Now back to me and how this all began. In the beginning of my running career I was a hot mess. I became a single mom. Which was not part of my plan at all! I also, became horribly unemployed and had lost my house during the Great recession. I was so terrified I did not know if we were going to find a place to stay and keeping food in the house to feed my babies was taking its toll on me. Keep in mind I have a BA and an MBA and trust me they do not offer classes on what to do in a recession when you are unemployed with two children whom I love madly. I know you are thinking sounds like I was having a ball. I assure I was not at all. I had become clinically depressed, angry , sad and I didn’t think I was going to make it.
One day during this time I was sitting on my back porch filled with self-loathing and I was getting scary dark in my head. This day two things happened. One was the thought that I just want to be strong enough to run with my children one more time. Laugh and run and escape the world. The second was my friend had committed suicide. It was a day I don’t want to ever relive again and I won’t get into the details. However, it was a pivotal moment in my recovery. I did not want to put my family through what his family went through. It is a horrible horrible thing to do to your family and friends.
So I held onto the image of me running and guess what? I did start running in my old beat-up shoes. First it was just around the block, then a few more and then I got up to a mile. I remember the moment I hit a mile so clearly for the 1st time. I broke down and cried hard. And said some really naughty words directed to my ex boss because I wasn’t as worthless and he had made me feel.
Now sometime after this I met a Handsome Southern Gentleman who was very fun! This Gentleman was a great help in getting me focused on my running and encouraged me greatly. Every milestone I hit he would buy me some running gear and not the cheap stuff either. My birthday he bought me a pair of fitted tennis shoes from a real running store and then when I hit 5 miles, I got Lululemon running pants and a Lululemon running jacket and on and on. My lululemon running skirt is the bomb. I was looking pretty swanky out there. It motivated me like crazy. I still swoon at the sight of a Lululemon store. There was no way I could afford that stuff back then but having the right equipment, right clothing when you are performing in sports, theater, business, sleeping on your coach, petting your cat it can make a huge difference. And your cat may not be so condescending.
During this time, I decided to give up drinking and smoking by starting a 12 step program. It was the best decision I have ever made. Within a couple of months I found a job (actually I got three offers in one week) and then I found a cape cod house for rent that just happen to be in an amazing school district. Life had started to look up!
Eventually, I started doing 5K races and those were a blast! Who knew that a bunch of sweaty gross runners can have so much fun before, during and after a race.
At this time I was attending St Johns Episcopal church. I was very fortunate that there was a Elite/Ultra runner who attended also (She also rocks some high heels jus sayin) Poor dear had been traumatized by my sons antics in a Sunday School class but there I go digressing again. She was kind and gave me a few tips. Coincidently, her husband was the manager of The Columbus Marathon. One day in church she asks me how my training is going for the marathon and I said “Would love to but a bit out of my price range.” So casually she said oh I have already signed you up. What a debt of gratitude I owe her. It was an amazing experience to train and then run the marathon.
She was there at the end of the marathon with a medal for me. I just grabbed her while crying buckets of joy. I did it! I ran a marathon. Me Terri Black ran a marathon! The lift to my self-esteem was enormous. (So was the pain in my feet but that is beside the point.) So boys and girls that is the beginning of my love of running. The moral of the story is never ever give up. You would miss out on so much. Also, if a silly, skinny girl from W Akron can find her way to the finish line of a marathon imagine what you could do.
Condescending cat Ann Bonny.