This is the story of how Kabri became a runner, and the tricks and tools she used along the way. Read more about her running story in Part 2 and Part 3.
Part 1: A Beginning Runner’s Story
How Kabri choose running…or how running choose her!
Three years ago, I began training for my very first half marathon. Little did I know that my journey of becoming a “runner” was just beginning.
As an active child and young adult, I participated in many forms of team sports. The love I had for sporting success, namely in competitive soccer, softball and rugby, could not scrub out my disdain for running when not chasing a ball. After college and a couple of years in a very active job, I earned both a promotion and a transfer. I was brought in from the field and placed in front of a desk, as well as moved from the east coast to San Francisco. With the beautiful Bay Area’s outdoor opportunities around me, I was determined to be the exception to my coworkers and I called “the office 35”– the 35 pounds everyone seems to gain after coming in from field positions.
When I started to tally my options, I found that there was only one activity that was realistically within my budget and time constraints. My tally went something like this:
- Cycling: need a bike – parts, maintenance and gear are expensive
- Swimming: need a pool – work hours limit activity to before-6am or after-6pm
- Local team sport: work hours limit availability and prohibit consistent attendance.
- Running? Gear—not too expensive, time—flexible, area— boundless
Only problem— I hate running. I was determined to make running work. I figured that if I could somehow learn to love running now, then I would be in a great position for the rest of my life: able to get up and run wherever I was in the country or world. So, in order to facilitate a semi-enjoyable entry into the world of running, I decided to combine my goal with another love I had found since moving to California – hiking. I was going to be a trail runner, it was settled!
To read more about Kabri’s running experience; how she overcame new running aches and pains, read Part 2 in the series.
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