Just Sign Up
It was April 2022, and I was on my way home from celebrating a friend’s birthday when I decided to sign up for my first half-marathon. I had been running on and off for about two years, but never with the structure and discipline that comes with having an actual race date. While in the car with my friend, we discussed trying something different, something that would require time and effort…and that’s what got the ball rolling.
After signing up and seeing my confirmation email stating Congratulations! You are now registered for the 2022 Long Beach Half Marathon, it started to set in: I had a little over five months to prepare. I naturally started doom scrolling, watching YouTube videos, and asking friends who run for advice. The learning process brought both joy and nausea. Did I really just sign up to run 13.1 miles…for fun? I answered myself with a doubtful yes, but deep down, I knew I was going to get it done one way or another. This led me to programs like Couch to 5k on TikTok and eventually subscribing to Runkeeper for $9.99/month, an app by the running brand Asics. The cool part was being able to input the race date, my current stats (mile times and distances), and select how many days I planned to run. It immediately generated a plan for me to follow.
At this time, I wasn’t fixated on speed or having the lowest heart rate; I just wanted to meet the goals set for each week. I remember feeling so motivated and envisioning myself crossing the finish line in October. I was still new to the world of signing up for races, but I was receiving information from friends and from runners on social media platforms. My advice: yes, obtain information and keep it on your radar, but don’t focus so much on it that you miss the fun in training. You’ll surprise yourself—shaving off seconds or not feeling as winded as you once did. There’s always something to celebrate.
If you’ve been called to do something, listen to that inner voice and show up for yourself. Find a fun 5K, 10K, or even a half-marathon that is months away, convince a friend to join and sign up! You’ll thank your future self for going after it. It’ll especially feel so rewarding to see your friends at the finish line.
