I Can't Stop Once I've Started - It Stings

Well, hello everyone reading. This is my first blog! I was totally enchrinched in reading all my buddies blogs about their running adventures and since I have become addicted to this style of living with trail shoes on, I decided to join in. I am always looking for advise about fitness and or anything for that matter so I invite anyone who is willing to help me with my first year of training for .... ultra's! I have been an athlete my whole life so running is not new to me but running long distances is new. I played baseball all the way through college and so most of my running consisted of sprints until recently. I love lifting weights and staying healthy, although like most everyone, I had my years of taking it easy after college. I have a freind named Patrick, a.k.a. squatting bear, who kept telling me how cool it was to run the trails at Shelby Farms. Little did I know that once I finally took him up on an invite and started, I could not stop. Running the trails may be the most surreal, spiritual, and comforting time that I have ever spent. So far, I have run in one measely race, the 4 mile Turkey Trot in November. I finished with a respectable 8 1/2 minute mile pace and realized how fun the race day adrenaline can be. Since then, I have been running every week and am up to about 25 -30 miles a week, including 4 - two mile sessions a week to get warmed up before lifting weights. My next big race is the G'town half marathon and I can't wait. Needless to say, I am still a baby in the running world but I can't begin to tell you how much it has changed the way I live day to day. I can't wait for more adventures to come! Enjoy yourself this week and make sure you sweat at least once a day!