Day 8: I’m Not A Runner

I’m not a runner.

Last April, my neighbor and I decided on a whim to try the Couch to 5K training program. We were sitting in our sun room enjoying a glass or two of wine. One of us suggested the idea, the other agreed, and the next day we were lacing up our running shoes to begin. I don’t know what I was thinking because I’m not a runner.

Eight weeks later, we ran our first 5K race and finished it in 33 minutes. I swear to you, I almost died. “You can go ahead,” I kept telling my neighbor, “I’m slowing you down.” Of course she stayed right by my side until we crossed that finish line together. That was so hard and I felt so proud because I’m not a runner.

Her and I kept running the whole summer. We ran in the sweltering 95 degree Chicago heat. We ran early Saturday morning when we could have been sleeping. We ran in the rain and in the dark. Three miles at at time, three days every week. One foot in front of the other, waiting for the our running app to announce in its robotic voice, “three. miles.” Then we’d slow to a walk, and I’d be sweating and gasping for breath because I’m not a runner.

My family and I would often pack our bags that summer for a weekend trip to our lake house. I would toss in my running shoes and my headphones. “You never know,” I would say to myself. Turns out running around the contours of the lake in the early morning is actually really peaceful and beautiful. But I still hated it because I’m not a runner.

Winter came and my neighbor and I couldn’t run outside anymore. I was glad because I’m not a runner. The thing was, though, I started to not feel so good. I started to feel tired and bloated and, to be honest, a little bit cranky. My husband thinks I’m a runner so he bought me a treadmill and put it in the cold and empty basement. There I am, music on, treadmill whirring, three miles at a time, three days every week.

Dana, who is not a runner

I’ve already signed up for another 5K this summer with some friends from work. I have my eyes set on a 7K in our little lake house town this summer. I’m not sure about that one, though… because I’m not a runner.

Thirty-one days of stories as part of the Slice of Life Story Challenge, hosted by Two Writing Teachers.