I grew up around a lot of runners. My step dad ran track and field throughout college. My older brother did the same throughout jr high and high school. I had lots of friends who ran. I always wanted to run, but never thought I really could – especially distance. Sure, just about every able body is capable of running, but I had a dream of running distance, not just down the street.

I remember running for a few months in high school during basketball season. I had tried out for the basketball team {you can laugh at that statement} and part of training was to build up to a 3 mile run. I think I made it to 1.5 miles before I stopped. And I promptly quit the basketball team. In college, my longest distance was a mile. Maybe 1.5 if I’m being extra generous. And I’m pretty certain that 1 mile took me a good 20 minutes. I tell you all this to say – If I can run, anyone can run.

After Hannah, my second child, was born, I started working out. I joined a gym, got plugged into an aerobics class. Shortly afterward, some girlfriends suggested we run a 5K together. So, 4 months after Hannah was born, I ran my first race. I hadn’t done any training for it, but hoped that I had built up enough endurance from my aerobics class to get me through. I made it. It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t fast, but I did it. And a fire was lit.

The day after my first race, I ran again. 1.5 miles around our neighborhood. I told a friend, and avid runner, about the 5K. She encouraged me to run a 10K with her later that month. I thought she was straight up crazy, but I signed up. Shortly after the 10K, that same friend said “If you can run a 10K, you can run a half marathon.” Again, my first thought was she was straight up crazy. But that prod stuck with me. Two months later, I started training for my first half marathon. Three months after that, I ran my first half. I haven’t looked back since.

This year marks the most races I have ever done in a running season. By year’s end, I will have completed 3 half marathons, 2 10Ks and 1 5K. My race season next year will kickoff with my first full marathon.

Over the next month, I’m going to share my personal tips and advice for beginning runners. Whether you want to run a marathon, or you just want to run a mile without stopping, I’m going to share my insights to how to go from dreaming about running, to being a runner.