Monday, February 14, 2011

You've Got Mail

2011 Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon
Dear Katie,

Congratulations! You are now registered for 2011 Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon. Please check the event's official website for updates: http://runDisney.com/WineDineRun


I can't believe that I am registered for a half marathon! As I was going through the registration form I almost cried. Crazy, huh? I have spent so much time in my life wishing for different hair, smaller thighs and generally not treating myself well. I remember not being able to run a mile in gym class. I also remember the first time I ran 15 minutes straight. Two weeks ago I ran just under 5 miles straight, last week I ran 5 miles straight and this week I walked 5 miles and rode 7 miles. Not only am I still doing Jillian, but I am doing it with an extra pound in each hand! I have completed 4 5ks races and am also signed up for a 10k.

There is no reason for me to do anything but appreciate my body. There is no reason for any of us (men too) to do anything but appreciate our bodies. Today, of all days, is a good day to consider beauty. We see and hear so many messages of what beauty is, but most of those messages are devastatingly wrong. Beauty is compassion, forgiveness and generosity. There is so much beauty in this short, delicate life. We forget sometimes that it doesn't actually come from squeeze bottles or the sale rack at the Gap. It comes from within, and that is where I will find the love, strength and courage to keep going, in running and in life.

12 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. you... are... a... RUNNER!!!
    And a beautiful one at that :)

    I can't believe we are going to run a half marathon. Really never thought it would happen, it is NOT something I would seek out on my own. Thanks for the motivation my love!

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  3. Amazing job Kate.
    I have faith in little...you I have faith in.
    Succeed and be happy.

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  4. Katie... You are amazing.
    This post is beautiful, you are beautiful.
    After reading this, I feel beautiful too! :)

    And congrats on registering for your half marathon!

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  5. Thanks everyone! Your encouragement and support really means a lot to me, even if one of you is someone I have never met living in South Korea.

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  6. It's amazing that running helps us appreciate our bodies more and not pick at them as much. What a great post!
    To answer your question: I have high arches and I pronate but have never done better since I switched to barefoot and minimal running. The minimal shoes have 0 arch support. It goes along with the theory that your arches were meant to act as the support for the foot and that putting something underneath it to support it actually weakens it. But it is a long process to switch over and I wouldn't recommend it since you're starting to train for your half marathon. I hope to do some posts to answer some of these questions but you could check out barefoot running university dot com for a lot of the common questions and answers. Good luck!

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  7. Katie, you are truly an inspiration...I love reading your posts as you chart your journey to becoming a runner. For me, rowing was the sport where I learned to appreciate my body for its strengths, its beauty, and for what I could do with it.

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  8. Yay for registering!! I AM doing princess half and I am so excited for it! My training has been kind of all over the place but for my first half I used Hal higdons and just modified it a bit. Good luck! :)

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  9. First, thanks for your kind words! Best of luck with your training. I can tell you are motivated and will do amazing! Keep it up!

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  10. This is a very exciting venture. First it's the half distance and then it's the full....just wait and see. Best of luck in your training.

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  11. Awesome! I love Disney races. Actually thinking of doing that one this year too!

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  12. Which Disney races have you done in the past? I heard mixed reviews, that there too many people and the lines are too long. I have also heard that it's great, and that they are making changes this year to make it better.

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