Introducing...

Hi, I’m Running Lisa, but I wasn’t always Running Lisa. Running and I didn’t used to get along. When I was in high school, I was overweight and could barely finish a mile in 16 minutes. Then some day, a few years later, I thought it would be a grand idea to go for a run. I was living in Brooklyn at the time and ran around my Sunset Park neighborhood. I felt so fast and free and wonderful. A few months later, my aunt passed of cancer. I needed to do something, anything, that could help. I somehow decided it the best way to help would be to run the NYC Half Marathon and raise money for the American Cancer Society. I not only raised over $1200 for cancer research, I finished a half marathon and actually had FUN. *GASP* I had accomplished my goal and felt like that was that.  

Well I happened to have a secret that I never told anyone. I’ve always wanted to run a marathon.  I remember watching a video in my high school biology class about what happens to the body during a marathon. And I remember thinking, “Wow, that’s badass… but I could NEVER do that.” Flash forward several years later. After the half, I was feeling pretty OK. There were a few kinks here and there, but nothing too bad. Then I watched 2009 NYC Marathon, I decided I HAD to do it! Training for a marathon was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and definitely NOT as fun as training for a half. Things I didn’t even know existed were sore, but I made it through and finished my marathon in 5 hours and 12 minutes. Everything was now hurting and I, once again, swore off running forever…for about a week. I realized that this whole running thing was going to be a lifelong insanity, so I started making plans to run my next marathon in 2012.  First step, hibernate for the winter and put all the broken pieces together again.

Since the marathon, Running Lisa turned into Yoga Lisa. I’ve been sweating it out almost every day at Bikram Yoga and I must say, I feel pretty darn good. Race season is approaching and all my friends are training for their races. I’m starting to get that itch.  Then Sunday I went to cheer on all of the DetermiNation runners at the NYC Half Marathon and I remembered everything I love about running. We all came together as runners to encourage and support each other. We waited at mile 12.5 for the very last runner and cheered them on like they were an elite runner. It was amazing . It’s time for Lisa to run. So here we are. Running Lisa is getting ready to run again. I signed up for a nice little 5k and will start my training as soon as the nasty weather clears up. I’m so excited to pound the pavement again and find new and exciting running adventures. And so begins The Adventures of Running Lisa! STAY TUNED!