I usually run for beer.
I sign up for the races that offer free beers at the finish line. I joined a run club which ends every weekly run at a local bar. I'm no fool. Running flat out sucks sometimes, and a girl needs a little incentive.
Back in March, though, I registered for race which promised no beer at the finish. And I had to
fund -raise to participate (give me money. please?). And it was in July (guaranteed hot & humid). And it was a 9k (5.6 miles? I had a long way to go. Literally).
Torture, you may be thinking, this gal likes to torture herself (minds out of the gutter please). I won't lie, it felt like torture leading up to the race. I had good runs, I had bad runs, and the bad runs really set me back. How was I going to be ready for this? I should have been training in the heat, but I would always talk myself out of it. Why wasn't there free beer? Why I am even doing this?
I'll tell you why. No, I didn't get a race medal that doubles as a bottle opener. But I did get to cross home plate at Fenway (the awesome-ist ballpark in the all the land), which is way more valuable than any free Harpoon or 'Gansett. Even better than that-- and that was friggin' awesome, you should know-- my teammates and I raised money for one of the most worthy causes there is, the Home Base Program, which supports post-9/11 veterans suffering from PTSD and traumatic brain injuries. Sitting in the grandstand, listening the stories of the vets and families this great organization has helped, it really put things in perspective. Yes, running 5.6 miles (#nowalkbreaks) was hard for me. Training was brutal at times. But it was nothing compared to what service men and women face every day, not only when deployed, but also after they have returned home.
I'll be honest, I wasn't sure if I was going to break up with running this summer. I hesitated to register for some upcoming 5ks even until the "big" race was over. If I (and my knees) survived, that would be the deciding factor. My knees feel fine, and having been part of such a humbling and amazing race, I know I can't pass up running it again next year. In the meantime, there will be plenty of boozey races to tide me over.
