I took my first steps into running in late October of 2012. It wasn’t easy and I quickly learned just how dreadfully out of shape I was.

As the days passed and I started logging more miles it slowly became a little easier. One day I was even able to do an entire run without any walk breaks.

As the months passed I started to feel stronger, I started to run faster and I started to be able to go further and further. I found that I WANTED to keep going. Running wasn’t a chore or a necessary evil, it was something I enjoy…Maybe even love.

Here I sit, less than a year into this journey and I am in love. I love to lace up my shoes and head out. Every single run is different and everyday there are new challenges.

I can’t afford therapy but my runs do a great job of helping me work through my problems.

Since the very beginning of this journey I have set goals for myself and I’m not going to stop doing that now.

When I looked at my final numbers for the month of July (78.4 miles, 9:18/mile average) I immediately saw what my next goal needs to be. I’m going to run 100 miles in the month of August. The closest I’ve ever come to 100 miles was back in April when I was hot and heavy into my Broad Street Run training. Even back then I only ran 84 miles in the entire month.

Let’s break it down. 100 miles in a month is a little more than a 5K every single day. Here’s the thing, I only run 3-4 days a week. That comes out to a lot of long runs.

Now for some 100 miles in 31 days is child’s play. Some could do that with one leg tied behind their back. For me this will be a challenge. It’s what I like to call a stretch goal, something that is attainable but it’s going to take extra work.

I need to stay healthy. I need to make the time to get out there. I need the cooperation from my family to allow me to make it there. I need to do a lot of running.

Please come along with me as I make my way to the 100 mile mark. I’m going to need all the cheers I can get. I’ll post periodic updates both here on the blog and on the Mommyland Facebook page.

Here’s where I am as of today (5 days in with 26 more to go)…24.3 miles down 75.7 to go.

How about you? Do you have any goals for running? No goal is too small! I’d love to cheer you on too.

The Broad Street Run

When I first started running again I began to set goals for myself. I want to run 12 5K races this year, run in The Broad Street Run and do the Disney Half the beginning of next year.

The Broad Street Run was going to be the biggest hurdle for this year. It’s a VERY popular race, so popular that the servers went down during the registration last year. This year they were going to do the registration by lottery, not everyone would be selected to run.

That means that I had to have some kind of luck to actually have an chance just to get in. It wouldn’t matter how early I got up on registration day. It didn’t matter how good of a runner I am. It didn’t matter that I’ve never done it before and it’s a MAJOR goal for me this year. All that would matter was am I lucky or not.

Well, I got lucky and I will be running in the 34th Annual Blue Cross Broad Street Run.

The largest and fastest race of it’s kind and I get to be a part of it. Woot!

When I woke up Monday morning and found that email waiting for me I was beyond excited.

Training

I think I’m right on track with my training. I’m getting ready to start week 13 (of 14) of the 10K Trainer and I’m already easily running a 10K.

Once I complete the 10K Trainer I plan to steadily add about 10% to my distance each week while continuing to run three days a week.

I’ve never run in anything like The Broad Street Run so I want to be very careful not to try and push myself too far too fast. The last thing I want is an injury that will take me out of the race completely.

Goals

I’ve set the goal to finish my ten mile race in under an hour and a half. That’s a solid nine minute mile which should be doable for the flat, slightly downhill course. The main thing I see slowing me down is traffic.

I’d like to run a solid eight minute mile and I’ll make that my push goal.

I have 74 days to work on my distance and speed.

How are you doing with your fitness goals this year? Will you be running in The Broad Street Run too?