You may already be familiar with Beth Probst, as she was on our podcast recently. Listen in here.

This first blog post is an opportunity to introduce myself. That’s a big ask. But here’s what I think you should know. I’m a married, 42-year-old mom of a 7-year old boy named Jake, a mutt named Joey and a rescue cat named Lucky.

I hate the act of running but loves calling myself a runner. I’m a very stubborn Finlander who regularly uses the word sisu when talking about the why behind things I do. Please note, there is a fine line between stubborn and stupid but when you attribute stuff to your inner sisu you can justify just about anything.

I’m an active person who has battled the scale much of her adult life. You know that saying, you cannot outrun food? Yeah I’m living proof of that. Combined, these things make me a very mediocre runner who cannot and will not quit showing up at starting lines even if it means finishing in the back of the pack. Every. Single. Time.  Especially if there is a medal and some serious swag.

Early last year, I set some serious running plans and dreams. I was going to clear a 3-hour half-marathon—the one and only running goal I’ve ever set; ten years and 12+ half marathons in, I have still not accomplished it—and write a book about it. I even went to this huge personal development conference by myself in January where I stood with 10,000 other women and set my intentions and danced to Beyonce. (P.S. I’m a huge introvert, so this was a really HUGE deal.)

Anyways, I started training and writing the book. And then March hit and we all know how this story ends…my running dreams were shattered. I know not everyone will get this but I genuinely believe that if you run a virtual race and nobody sees you, it does not count.

So I shelved my shoes and self-published a book instead. It is all about why I hate running but keep showing up anyway and includes some tips and tactics for other gals like me who just want to have fun.

The book that happened during COVID—impressive!—but the last chapter didn’t happen as planned.

There were just two problems with this situation. First, I had always figured my closing chapter would be about me hitting my big PR of a sub 3-hour half-marathon. Yeah. That didn’t happen.

Second, I must admit, I felt a bit like a fraud publishing a book about running when I hadn’t run in 8 months. I could have easily gotten over that except for one thing: that stupid running bug. (Plus, close-out shoe sales, but that’s another post). When the clock struck 12 and we ushered in 2021, I found myself itching to train. And so here we are.

I’m now a 42-year-old who has returned to the treadmill to start training for a half-marathon that “may” happen on May 1. If it doesn’t, I’ll find another one somewhere because once I start training, there is no turning back. See above reference having a lot of sisu.

I reside in the United States of Polar Vortex, aka Wisconsin, next to the world’s largest ice box, aka Lake Superior. I wouldn’t trade it for anything, except that I don’t like going outside when it is cold… so the treadmill and I have a standing date for the next few months. I’ve also invited Tim Riggins (for those of you living under a rock, that’d be the teenage heartthrob series from a decade or two ago called Friday Night Lights) to join me.

This situation, combined with some new socks, a lifetime supply of Nuun, and a massage gun and I’m like 50% recommitted to taking my running and goal seriously.

I look forward to sharing more of my running highs and lows in the coming months, if for no other reason than to let you know, there is a runner slower and less motivated than you, and somehow I manage to keep showing up and actually enjoying myself. If I can do it, so can you. All you need to do is find your inner sisu and give yourself some grace.

If you are interested in reading more about my journey, please consider checking out my book. It can be purchased on Amazon. Or, if you love a discount, purchase here and include discount code AMR2021 at check-out to get 20% off.