16 years ago I was a chubby, unhappy couch potato who decided to try running. I ran my first race, the Shamrock Shuffle in 1999. It was hard. I was slow. But I kept running, and each mile moved me along a new path. I learned I could do things no one (including me) thought I could do. I changed my body, I changed my health, I changed my world.
In those 16 years I've run 6 marathons, 2 ultra marathons, countless half marathons, 10, 8 and 5Ks. I've cycled thousands of miles. I've spent nearly a year on crutches spread across 5 years of multiple foot surgeries. In my life I've learned to walk 4 times and learned to run 4 times.
Today I ran the Shamrock Shuffle again, as the first race since my (hopefully) last surgery. I was faster than I was 16 years ago, and much slower than I was 10 years ago. I felt strong. I ran the whole way. I felt good at the finish line. My foot feels fine (so far).
Shuffle on.
