5k Fun Run
My own healthy habit of running… by Andrea King
I’ve been a runner for more than 12 years now. When I think about that, whew, that’s a heck of a lot of miles I’ve put down. And, I don’t even want to start adding up how many.
I started running in college, and yes, you guessed it, so I could avoid gaining the “freshmen 15.” But, I didn’t look at running the same way as I do now. My older sister was into running and I just thought it was a way to get some exercise in so that I wouldn’t be fat after all the horrific dorm food I was eating. Needless to say, I wasn’t into it at all. Not that I was lazy, I just looked at it in a different light. Something I wasn’t quite sure would be a fun exercise, per say, or something that would be a challenge I dreaded everyday.
I began slowly using the treadmill (or the roads) to run about a mile at a time and then I would add some walking in afterwards. If I wasn’t at the gym using the treadmill, I’d run around campus with my sister, which made it a little more enjoyable at least thinking of it as a somewhat social event. We also always made sure to throw in some walking afterwards. I created my own running paths around town where I knew where to go and how many miles that would be. Eventually the miles started to add up and I was able to run two miles at a time, and then 3 miles; my stamina was also increasing.
Looking back at my college days I didn’t consider myself a “runner.” I simply looked at it as exercise. But, I kept plugging away at it over the years. I ran at least four days a week, kept adding the miles, and even threw races into the mix.
My first race was the Martian Marathon in Dearborn, MI. That’s right 13 point one miles baby. I didn’t want to start off with no small little 5K. I wanted to go for the big dog: the marathon. Okay, so maybe it was a half-marathon, but still, a marathon none the less. I trained with my other experienced runner/race friends and worked my way up yet again to those 13.1 miles. And, the results don’t lie. I finished that race, that first race I ever did in less than two hours. That’s right eight minutes, 57 second miles to be exact (or at least I think it’s been a couple years now). I was so proud of myself as I came through that finish line. Granted, I couldn’t believe my legs could even move that fast, but it was an incredible high (you know the term runner’s high) experiencing that adrenaline rush, and knowing what kind of goal I just accomplished. After that I was hooked.
Since then I have done many races: 5k’s, 10k’s, half-marathons, marathons; you name it. I love it. I don’t know what it is I like about running. Maybe it’s the freedom you feel when you hit the pavement, or maybe it’s the fact that I found out I’m pretty good at running, too. I mean, I don’t mean to brag, but when it comes to racing I’m pretty fast. I typically place within my age group and have taken home awards for first and second place. Yay me! (Sorry, but if you don’t brag about yourself then who will–ha!)
Now it’s on to train for another race: the Detroit Marathon. I’ve done this one before, but this time, I’m running the race with some “newbie’s.” They’ve never done a half-marathon before so it will be a challenge, fun, maybe a slight scare, but I know my friends can do it. I have full confidence in them finishing the race by my side. If not anything, it will be an experience, more miles added to my Nike’s, and interesting to say the least.
About the Author
Andrea King is a Metro Detroit-based journalist, writer, and photographer. She is the product manager and lead writer of Patient Stories, and a contributing writer for many community newspapers and websites, including the Detroit Free Press and Ambassador magazine. King is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University with a degree in Business and Journalism, and holds an M.B.A. with a concentration in Marketing. For more information please visit: http://www.patientstories.com/texis/stories
2010 MLB & SU2C 5K Fun Run
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January 16, 2012 8:48 pm 
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