Savoring the PI Spirit

Early morning 4 mile run on Parris Island, brunch with 6 Marines at Traditions swapping Drill Instructor/recruit stories, an awesome tour of the base by one Marine sister, and another Marine sister hooking me up at the PX...the cost of coming in early for the celebration, priceless!

The Molly Marine 5K

The last time I ran regularly was when I was in the Marine Corps 30+ years ago. Yup that was me, doing the running portion of the physical fitness test (PFT) during boot camp back in the day.

I hated running back then, mainly because I had to. When I got out, I hung up my running shoes...I was done. Through the years, I tried to get moving again but never succeeded.

This year after training for three months, I was excited to back to the place where it all began, Parris Island, South Carolina.

I planned to attend the Women Marines anniversary celebration on Monday, 13 February 2012 but went a few days early to run in the Molly Marine 5K Run/Walk hosted by the SC-1 Phyllis Alexander chapter of the Women Marines Association. At 5K, we would be running twice as far as we ran the PFT in the late 1970s (now all Marines run 3 miles).

When I drove through the Parris Island front gate that morning, I was pretty emotional. I couldn't quite believe I was back and wasn't sure what to expect. 

PI is flat but with a 17 mile an hour headwind, the run definitely wasn't easy. But I finished with a personal best and the top woman in my age group...well okay, I was the only woman in my age group!

Gonna Take A Sentimental Journey

Getting ready to take a trip down memory lane.

This is my original military ID pic from when I was in boot camp...totally looks like a mugshot, doesn't it?!

Half Way To The Half

I'm half way through my training program to run the Flying Pig Half Marathon on May 6th. Over the past 13 weeks, I've run nearly 150 miles with the longest distance being 9 miles. At this point, I know I can complete it...even if I have to walk the last 4 miles.

As I reflect on what I've accomplished so far, I'm amazed. I hadn't run a mile in nearly 30 years and I could barely run to the end of the block. I could not have come this far without the support of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training and my awesome coach Steve Teichow. That said, besides being connected on Facebook and an occasional email, I only see my coach and team mates on the long Saturday runs. My training runs the other four days of the week are up to me and so far I've been on autopilot.

I've had surgery on both my big toes and I suffered from shin splits when I ran in the Marine Corps back in the day. With an implant in one toe and a screw in the other, I thought my feet or shins were going to be my biggest challenge. Turns out neither one is my nemesis.

The biggest challenge, I've discovered, is my mind...keeping it occupied and thinking positively. Music helps A LOT, but sometimes old, tired thinking creeps in questioning my ability, whether I can really do this, etc. This is especially true every time we increase our mileage and I'm breaking a new barrier, a distance I've never run before.

This Saturday morning, I'll be running in the Molly Marine 5K at Parris Island, South Carolina where I first began running. I'll savor the experience and be reflecting on just how far I've come since I first stepped on those yellow footprints nearly 36 years ago.

Novi Super 5K

After an 9 mile run on Saturday, I learned about the Super 5K being run in Novi on Super Bowl Sunday. I enjoy the hoopla and want to get race experience under my belt so I'm prepared come race day so I decided to give it a shot.

Sunday morning was beautiful so the race promised to be packed with people. Sure enough, they ran out of shirts for those of us who signed up on race day.

Nevertheless. I had a great time and did pretty well coming in the middle of the pack considering I'd run 9 the day before. And I did get a 'Finishers' glass...my new favorite possession!