I did not want to run tonight.

It’s been raining all day. Our group has gotten so small through the winter that most of the time it’s just been two of us, and I was kind of hoping my reliable partner would call it quits.

But this afternoon, I got his usual email planning our meeting point to run tonight. We reluctantly decided that as long as we didn’t have thunderstorms, we would go for it.

The rain had slowed to a light drizzle when I left my office, and the temperature was comfortable, in the mid-50s. Maybe this run wouldn’t be so bad!

As I parked and walked to our meeting spot downtown, the rain started to pick up. And while we stretched under a store awning, the wind started whipping. Uh oh.

We stretched a little, delaying our start by a few more minutes. I think my friend was hoping it would get worse so we could cancel the run after all. But we were there, and I was already wet from my walk from the parking lot. I wanted to go! And actually, the wind and rain did seem to die down a little bit.

We tried to take our usual route from downtown Annapolis over the Eastport bridge, but we had to change our plans.

The normal route:

Thanks to the all-day rain storm, the tide rose a little too high. Water flooded the street and sidewalk before the Eastport bridge, so we had to turn around and head to higher ground.

We narrowly avoided the water overflowing at the city dock, too, and headed away from town.

We had no trouble with flooding the rest of the way, but we were not safe from puddles! Despite my head lamp, I stepped in quite a few. I was wearing a newish pair of shoes, too. They’re not as crisp and white as they were before!

The rain didn’t really bother me, it would come and go. But at least it wasn’t cold, and my hat kept the rain out of my face.  At times the wind was strong, making it feel like I was running in place. My friend nearly lost his hat during our last mile.

At the top of Main St, we had covered our usual four miles, so we went our separate ways to our parked cars. I continued running and got to my car at 4.25 miles, but was feeling great. Like a kid playing in the rain! I added another loop to make it an even five miles. Woo!

It’s been a while since I’ve had a run like this. One where I just wanted to keep going!

I’m really glad I ran tonight.

Sing it with me …

Late last year, I decided I was going to run the Baltimore Marathon in October instead of Marine Corps 2011. I had such a great time at last year’s MCM and initially thought I would do it again, but changed my mind when Baltimore registration opened up in December. I signed up the day it opened!

I decided I wanted to focus on running different races, and figured I could always do Marine Corps again  some other time.

But I kept the MCM registration date in my calendar.

And I still follow the race on Facebook and Twitter.

And I was seeing status updates and tweets when friends signed up.

And then there’s this 50K I’ve been thinking about on November 12. No, I wouldn’t *race* Marine Corps … I’d just use it as a training run!

Still, I successfully avoided registering on Wednesday when it opened.

Then this morning, a co-worker came into my office and declared he was going to run the marathon. He is not even a runner right now, but is getting himself some new shoes this weekend and is ready to start training!

And then I looked on the website and saw “90% Full” this morning.

And I saw the status updates and tweets counting down how few spots were open.

And this happened.

Oh yeah.  I’ve lost my mind. But I may have found a theme song for my marathon training!

Who else is running?

Up to 2004, I led a pretty sedentary lifestyle.  I worked all day behind a computer, and didn’t move much outside of the office.

I remember friends talking about going running, and I was sure that wasn’t for me. Nope. Never.

I wasn’t an athletic child at all. I tried to join a track team with a friend when we were about 10, but was too slow to make the team. I played tennis for one season in seventh or eighth grade, but that didn’t go anywhere.

It wasn’t surprising that I had turned into a non-active adult.

Then one day in January 2004, some of my co-workers started putting together a team for a corporate 8K. No thanks, I’m not a runner…

But could I be?

I decided I wanted to try. I never had a weight problem, but I was sure my metabolism would be slowing down. I was approaching 30 at the time and figured it was about time to start exercising. Not just to maintain my weight as I got older, but for my health as well.

I bought a cheap treadmill, found an online training plan, and started running. And if you’ve ever been here before (or just peek around a little), you can see it’s become a major part of my life.

I’ve run all race distances from one mile to marathons, and added sprint triathlons to the mix in 2008.  For 2011 I’ve already lined up quite a few races, including a couple half marathons and another full marathon. I’ll be attempting my first adventure race this year, the Warrior Dash! Kind of scary, but I’m excited!

I run three or four times a week,  do yoga twice a week, and try to strength train three or four times a week. (Clearly, I double up!) During triathlon training, I add swimming and biking. It’s been a major transformation, and I’ve never been happier. Or healthier!

This trip through my fitness past was prompted by fitness-apparel company 4all’s search for bloggers to be brand ambassadors.  I think I’d be a great addition to the Team 4all roster!

I love to help and encourage new runners and athletes — I still remember what it was like to run/walk my first steps on the treadmill.  Online, I share tips and advice with Twitter and blog friends. In person, I work with my local running club as a mentor in their 10K training class each fall.

And I love to dress cute.

Yes, I think I’d be a good fit with Team 4all.

Don’t you think this tennis dress could also work as a running dress?