I'm Running a Half Marathon

or, A Brief History of Jones Family Running

It started with the Monmouth/Independence annual 4th of July parade. Awesome, in all its podunkitude. Every 4th of July, for my entire life, I and thousands of others have flocked to this gem of small town America to celebrate my brother's birthday. Just kidding, that's just what we tell him. Really we're celebrating cheesy floats, kamakazi street crossings, horses, and free candy. It's quite spectacular. Some of the flocking thousands include a majority of my mom's side of the family. The 4th of July and Christmas are our big holidays, and I love that we get to see most of the family twice a year- it's understood that anyone that can make there, does.

Now before this annual parade, there is also an annual "mini marathon", about 2.5 miles along the parade route. A ridiculous number of people participate, ranging from very serious runners to very not serious runners. Our family knew that my aunt was a serious runner for a while (not that she ever runs this particular race seriously- just the marathons and halfs and stuff), and she would run the mini and gradually convince others in the family it was a good idea to go as well. Then, in just the last couple of years, more and more family members got involved. And then it was a "thing". Suddenly there's no fewer than a dozen of us lining up to run this silly 4th of July race, and even I got involved for last year's run. So did both of my parents. And all of my siblings (minus one, who would have if he hadn't been ill). Most of them started "training" a little before so as not to look silly. I started training three days before and did indeed end up looking silly. We all ran, cousins, aunts, siblings, and parents, and I came in dead last. By a LOT. But it stuck.

In the months since, my dad is running an unbelievable number of miles per week and my oldest brother is training for a marathon. The whole family has gotten very into it, and honestly it's been a wonderful thing to happen us. I have personally tried to be runner since January but confess I have been inconsistent. Then, just a few days ago during my weekly call to my mother, I was invited to run a half marathon in June. My parents were both running in it, my brother running the coinciding marathon, and several others from church were going too. A half marathon? Half. Marathon. The only consistent running I had ever done was in high school gym class and I despised it, and the only marathons I had been involved in were tv related. My longest run to date was 5.5 (would have been less but I got lost). But I said "Sure! I'll do it! Sign me up!" before I could overthink my way out of it. The truth is, I've needed something like this to work toward, a real reason to push myself. If I'm not ready for it, I can't go calling the other 24,999 participants and ask them to hold off another month. I have to be ready.

I've completed two training days- the training schedule I'm using is ambitious but necessary- and I'm feeling alright. I'm nervous. About running. Which seems a little silly on principle for me. But I remember my brother once saying something like "Nervous is a sign you know what's going on". So better nervous than oblivious. It'll be a journey, for sure. Right now, I'm just looking to finish, and running decently would be great. I'd rather not be last, but mostly I want to finish.

And how awesome is this training to smash that darn 4th of July race that's been haunting me.

More to come.