I’ll start by saying that I’m an adult-onset athlete. That means that I did no sports whatsoever until my forties when I started playing tennis (to take my mind off of my impending divorce).
Fleet Feet in Albany, NY started a program for new runners called “No Boundaries.” Two of my tennis friends talked me into signing up.
The carrot was that we could go out for Mexican food and margaritas after our weekly sessions.
This started on April 1, 2008. We met with other new runners every Monday night with the goal of eventually running a 5k race in July.
In between these sessions, we were supposed to complete short runs.
pre-skirt lol
I don’t remember much about the runs other than it was not Couch to 5k… we started with 1/4 mile and little by little increased our runs until we could run 3 miles.
There were talks on form, clothing, injury prevention and other running-related topics.
Did I really dress like this?
I immediately felt empowered the first time I ran a mile and I quickly realized that I enjoyed my accomplishment in running much more than in tennis. You set your own goals and it wasn’t just the score and whether you won or lost the match. Winning in running means so many things.
I didn’t wait until our scheduled first 5k in July. I ran several before and loved the competition and meeting other runners..
with my partners in crime
I wasn’t serious at first. I didn’t run in the winter and I only ran 1 mile or so during week before my weekend 5k race.
I quickly met my goal of a sub 30 minute 5k and I was happy. Due to my advanced age, I often won an age group award.
And so I ran lots of 5k races and even mentored a group of newbie runners.
I took me until 2011 to get up enough nerve to run a half marathon.
And now I’ve run almost 70 of them including 2 full marathons.
still wearing the same hat 13 years later
Happy Running! How did your racing begin? Please share.
Since today is Tuesday, I’m linking up with Zenaida (The Running Teacher) and Jenn (Runs with Pugs).
and tomorrow:
I’m also linking up with: co-hosts Coach Debbie Runs, Confessions of a Mother Runner, Mile by Mile, and Runs with Pugs
My First 5K and More... 
Great synopsis of your running history! I should do one someday… and… count the Half’s I have done! Marathon count is 24.
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Thanks. Wow. 24. I’m going to be done after 3.
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Well, you started marathons Way after I started them!
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It’s so interesting to read about your running story!
I did my first marathon in 2003 at the age of 35. I somehow just slipped into running… I had no idea what I was doing but I knew I loved it. Especially the racing part!
It’s true that it’s easier to make the podium as we age. But still, it’s something to be proud of – all the other ladies stopped running but you still are!
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Yes. I appreciate being able to still race.
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I like all the photos of young Darlene! It’s hard to imagine you NOT being a runner. I started running in high school, not on a team or anything, just on my own because the idea always appealed to me. Up until then I was doing Jane Fonda workouts, so of course running was much more fun than that!
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I remember aerobic classes and Jane Fonda.
lol. Not exactly young. Probably older than you. But yes younger. And wearing shorts.
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You’re amazing! I love this story, and I, too, have been known to do things for mexican food LOL!
I’m adult onset as well. I danced and rode horses in my younger days, but neither of those really counted at the time.
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I mean. Food is a great motivator.
Hope you continue to run for many years.
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I loved reading about how you got into running! How fun that Mexican food and Margharitas was used as a carrot!
I think what inspired me to run was also that you set your own goals and also that you mostly compete against yourself, there was no intimidation from other people that I’d easily get in other sports. This is also why strength training has also been so appealing to me.
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Totally agree. I love setting my own goals and challenging myself.
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I love hearing your running story. I also started as an adult, in my mid-30s. I mostly started because I was burned out on doing aerobics videos at home. My first race was a 10k. I hadn’t even run that far before the race. I finished 3rd in my age group and I think that’s what hooked me. And here I am, more than 30 years later.
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Great story. I remember those videos. lol.
I had only run one mile when I entered a 5k. I’ve never looked back.
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It’s always interesting to learn what brings other runners to the sport! I started running in hs to stay in shape for field hockey, and then I ran in college to exercise. It was a few years later that I started running races and doing it because I truly enjoyed it.
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Thanks for sharing. Glad you are still out there.
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