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Happy Anniversary!

Five years ago today, I ran my first mile. Five years ago today, a boy dumped me. Oddly, at mile 25.5 of my race on Sunday, thay boy and his new wife were on the sidelines cheering and I called out his name as if to say "look at me, I'm here, running, not on the sideline!" He still has no idea he caused all of "this." He doesn't need to know that either. It was funny though a few years ago when we crossed paths at a pasta dinner and he asked if it was my first marathon and I said "no, it will be my 5th." The Kathleen he knew did not run at all, not to mention five marathons...so that was pretty fun!

Five years ago today I met a new Kathleen that I never knew existed. This new Kathleen stuck to her "Couch to 5k" program to a T, and was able to run three miles at a time about two months later. That new Kathleen finally had the courage to do a triathlon, and then to train for her first marathon. I am so thankful that God works in really weird ways sometimes. I got dumped, was depressed for months, but came out of it an athlete. How cool is that? Over the past few months of my life I've come across another new Kathleen. I think I like her, as she runs fast, and is tougher than the last, but she still has some issues to sort out. She is still trying to find her way out of a recent breakup and settle back into the cozy, happy person formely know as, you guessed it, Kathleen. I'm confident I'll find her again, and I feel that she might be right around the corner. I may find her on a long training ride or somewhere in the middle of another PR race. You will know when I find her though.

I can say I am so thankful to be me, and so thankful I was dumped five years ago today (um ya...I didn't mention I think the relationship lasted a whole month, maybe a month and a few days!). I am in such a better place now than I was then, and have met the most wonderful people along the way.

Here is what I have done since changing my life on January 18, 2003:
- 7 marathons
- 3 Ultra marathons (50k)
- 3 Half Ironmans
- 5? Half Marathons
- countless 5k's, 10k's, 20k's, and sprint triathlons
- 1 IRONMAN!

What is in store for the next 5 years? Who knows?! I just hope I have as much to show for myself then as I do now (but I don't necessarily see any 100 miler's or anything crazy like that!).

Comments

greyhound said…
Quite a testament to your determination and your drive--and those things were inside you all along, independent of being dumped. And you know the good part? If you once needed that kick in the butt from outside, you no longer do.

You are not what you once were, and better yet, you are not yet everything you can be if you want it.
Jane said…
That's a great story. I didn't know you had a blog!
Jimmy Hinton said…
Touching tribute. You deserve every word!

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