Ever since I can remember, I have been extremely non-athletic. It didn't help that there were no sports in my world (performing arts school and whatnot), unless you count dance. Which I DO, by the way. Think dancers aren't athletes? Try spending an hour spinning and jumping on the tips of your blistered, bleeding toes and then get back to me with your feelings on the subject. But I digress. What I mean to say is I was never exposed to the world of "traditional sports", like baseball, football, basketball, etc. My parents are both musicians, and thus had similar "creative" aspirations for their children. I took my fair share of piano lessons, have sung in more choirs than I can count, spent hours doodling in sketch books, and of course, participated in the aforementioned torture of ballet/pointe. But that was about the extent of my physical activity. I have always been more content to curl up on the couch with a good book.
So as you can imagine, the annual Physical Fitness Test in my middle and high school days was always a total nightmare. Except of course for the "Sit and Reach" (dancer flexibility! Score 1 for Emily!). I could do maybe 2 push-ups and a handful of sit-ups, but my pull-ups consisted of hanging on the bar grunting and groaning until the test administrator realized that I wasn't physically capable of doing a pull-up and they would finally let me get down. But the WORST was the mile run.
Don't get me wrong, I actually did try to run the mile - for a few seconds, anyway. Then I realized that I was NOT a fan of the burning sensation in my lungs and legs, the excessive pounding in my joints, and the beads of sweat that were beginning to form on my forehead as a result of being out in the hot sun... so I stopped and walked the rest of the way. It was a pitiful effort; I think I logged something like a 28 minute mile. But I didn't die or pass out, so I guess they considered me "physically fit" enough to squeak by until the following year.
Fast forward 15+ years to May 2012, when I heard of the Chargers Bolt to the Q 5k. As someone who had just started watching football a few years earlier (and as someone who was born and raised in San Diego and thus had subsequently become slightly obsessed with all things Chargers), I thought the idea of participating in a Chargers-themed event out at Qualcomm Stadium sounded fun. There was only one problem - did I mention how much I hate running?? I have also always thought it was stupid that people would shell out money just to go somewhere and run (newsflash - you can do that for free!). But I REALLY wanted that Chargers t-shirt and the "chance to meet and greet a San Diego Chargers player" (as advertised on the website)... Also, I think deep down, I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it; I didn't want to be the same kid from the Physical Fitness Test all those years ago, huffing and puffing my way through the 5k with a seriously mortifying 28 minute mile average pace. I wanted to show that kid that she had the potential to be so much better than that... So I downloaded the Couch to 5k running app on my phone and told myself, "Ok, I'll just do this one race..." .
Days 1-5 of the C25K running app sounded like a piece of cake - how hard could it be to alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes? Turns out, not that hard. I started feeling confident, thinking, "I got this!" But then came Day 6. Jog for 3 minutes? Like, all in a row??? As embarrassing as it is to admit, I struggled with that. Big time. And I was a MESS when a couple days later, the program called for jogging for 5 minutes! What was this madness I had gotten myself into?!?! Well I stuck with it, and 8 weeks later, I was able to jog for 3 miles without stopping! I was ready to take this Chargers Bolt to the Q 5k and kick its butt!
And I did - I finished the race in 34:17, quite a change from my earlier 28 minute mile days! I was so proud.
After the race was over, I was in a ridiculously good mood the rest of the day. I successfully conquered a challenge I had set for myself, I had gotten to meet cornerback Quentin Jammer, and I felt positively euphoric thanks to those fabled endorphins known as a "runner's high". In short, I was hooked. Yeah, the actual act of running still didn't appeal to me, but it seemed to be *almost* worth it because of the way it made me feel afterwards.
Fast forward again a couple months. My friend Arthi and I were in Seattle to attend a mutual friend's wedding, and decided at the last minute to sign up for the Over the Narrows bridge 5k in Tacoma. It was cold and windy (perfect running conditions in my book), and the scenery was beautiful. And to top it all off, we got a nice surprise at the end - medals!! Who would've thought that this simple piece of plastic with a sticker on it, attached to a green and white ribbon would give birth to my new obsession:
RUNNING BLING.
This fabulous piece of unexpected hardware, coupled with those pesky running endorphins, caused me to blurt out - "Wouldn't it be cool to run a race in every single state?" And thus, an epic goal was created.
Since that September day in 2012, I have run races in:
ILLINOIS
Egg Shell Shuffle 5k - Elk Grove Village, IL - March 30, 2013
Yes, we ran wearing bunny ears.
WISCONSIN
Fiesta Cancun Burrito Biathlon 5k - Oconomowoc, WI - September 14, 2013
We had to run 2 miles, eat a burrito, then sprint to the finish... amazing.
NEVADA
Touchdown Run 5k - Las Vegas, NV - October 13, 2013
Representing the Chargers, of course!
FLORIDA
Wine & Dine Half Marathon - Disney World - Orlando, FL - November 9, 2013
Dressed as Winnie the Pooh and Piglet.
ALABAMA
Southeast Alabama Community Foundation 5k - Dothan, AL - February 1, 2014
Didn't realize til later on that we should've stayed for the medal ceremony - we placed in our age group!
LOUISIANA
Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon Relay - New Orleans, LA - February 2, 2014
I ran the first leg (7.8 miles), Arthi ran the second leg (5.3 miles).
INDIANA
Shamrock 5k - Yorktown, IN - March 15, 2014
We somehow tied for 3rd in our age group!
OHIO
St. Patrick's Day 4-Miler - Powell, OH - March 15, 2014
Our second race/state in one day!
MICHIGAN
Kona St. Patrick's Day Run 10k - Plymouth, MI - March 16, 2014
My first time ever being in extremely cold weather - 12 degrees!
And since I've lived here my entire life, multiple races in:
CALIFORNIA
Run for Your Lives Zombie 5k - Temecula, CA - October 20, 2012
5k mud run/obstacle course with zombies chasing you!!
Tinker Bell Half Marathon - Disneyland - Anaheim, CA - January 20, 2013
My first ever half marathon - and I did it wearing wings!!
Ridiculous Obstacle Challenge 5k - Del Mar, CA - May 11, 2013
Think of a 5k race combined with obstacles from the TV show "Wipeout"...
Chargers Bolt to the Q 5k - San Diego, CA - July 21, 2013
It was so much fun the year before that I just had to do it again.
Disneyland 10k - Anaheim, CA - August 31, 2013
My first ever 10k, dressed as Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum!
Spooktacular 5k - San Diego, CA - October 27, 2013
Dressed as a bumblebee... cuz why not?!
Awesome '80s 5k - San Diego, CA - November 2, 2013
Totally tubular.
Tinker Bell 10k - Disneyland - Anaheim, CA - January 18, 2014
Dressed as Snow White.
Tinker Bell Half Marathon - Disneyland - Anaheim, CA - January 19, 2014
Dressed as Am, one of the Siamese cats from "Lady & the Tramp" (my friend was Si).
Girls on the Go 5k - San Diego, CA - May 10, 2014
I walked this race with my mom, sister, and her 1 month old baby boy!
So why is someone who hates running planning on running a race in every state? While I still can't pretend that I actually enjoy running, look at all the good times it has brought me!! I've gotten the opportunity to visit all kinds of places I never thought I would go, and that's only 11 states in so far - there are still PLENTY more to come! I've been able to accomplish things I never thought possible; I never could've imagined back when I was barely able to run for 3 minutes that 8 months later, I would be able to go 13.1 miles! I've been able to spend quality time with friends and family, making wonderful memories that I'll cherish forever. I've gotten to make/wear some pretty awesome running costumes. I get to eat ALL THE FOOD (I love to eat more than almost anything). And best of all, I have a TON of bling to show for it:
