Now that I can’t do it very often I realize how much I miss it. Running, that is. I remember watching the very first Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati back in 1999 and dreaming about running it one day. That very next day my dad and I went for a run and began training for 5K races. That fall I joined the cross country team at my high school as a freshman, where I made some of the best memories over the next four years.

Fast forward to 2005 and I’ve just had knee surgery after tearing my ACL and meniscus. Not fun. After months of physical therapy, re-learning how to walk (or at least it seemed like that was what I had to do), and wearing a super fashionable brace, I knew that I wasn’t going to be able to do all of the same things I used to be able to.

I eventually eased my way into being able to run again, but not without pain. In 2008 I ran the Flying Pig’s half-marathon (13.1 miles) and checked off what had become a dream of mine nine years earlier. I knew during the race that I had done something to my good knee, but kept on going (was landing too hard on the good one to compensate for the bad one). I landed myself back in physical therapy once again.

After visiting with my knee surgeon, I was yet again advised against running and to instead pick up an activity like biking. My chiropractor says the same thing. It’s frustrating, especially in nice weather, because running is what I want to do. I know that probably sounds crazy to people who hate running, but for those who don’t, you understand.

This is not to say that I’m never running again, because I do here and there, but I am having to get used to the idea of doing other types of cardio exercise. I joke that I may become a speed-walker, but at this rate, it may not be a joke at all. ;-)

One thing I loved about my cross country team is the super cool uniforms we got to wear. HOT PINK AND BABY BLUE!! So fun. Here I am during a race when my hair had so many highlights in it I might as well have been a blonde. ;-)

With a couple of my teammates after a race checking our times (I’m on the far left)… PLEASE EXCUSE MY BANGS!

Those were the good ‘ol days!

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