100th Post

For my 100th post, I thought I should write something profound. Something heart felt. Something of substance.

Something worth reading, perhaps?

So, I went back and reread my first post, and skimmed through the archives to remind myself where I've been, and where I'm going.

I pondered over my original intent when I started my blog, which was....

As a means to stay connected with my friends and family on my quest to complete my first half marathon, and raise money to support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society through Team in Training.

I intended to track my training, give thanks for my donations, maybe do a little educating, run my race, and bring my blog to an end.

And I did all of those things.

Until it came to the bringing the blog to an end. Some how that just never happened.

So, here I sit 6 months later, still writing away.

Because...

One afternoon, I was looking at my site meter and it showed that someone had found my blog by searching for "Team in Training" on Blogger. Hmm...

So, I did the same thing. And amazingly I stumbled upon a blog of other TNT members. I visited the site and read a few entries, and then started looking at some of the member's personal blogs.

Very quickly I was hooked, and decided to join the RBF.

And after all that pondering and looking back, this is what I have come up with to write about for my 100th post, and considering it is the 100th post, I feel this is rather fitting.

I am an optometrist, meaning I went through optometry school.

Well, duh.

I was not your typical up tight student pursuing their doctoral degree.

I went to class, and tried my best to stay awake. I often succeed.

Sometimes I didn't.

I studied. Most of the time.

Sometimes I didn't.

I took my tests.

I passed. Usually.

Sometimes I didn't.

And I was an official card carrying member of "The Century Club".

We had 122 students in my class. The Century Club was the students who's class position was 100 or below.

We were proud of our status.

Because in our eyes, it meant that we were realistic. We knew the classes were important, and we needed to learn our stuff. But we also knew that there was more to life than the next test, and we tried not to be quite so obsessive or competitive. We didn't really care that our neighbor got a 98% to our 82% on the test.

I mean who really cares?

We always had a joke that the top 1/3 of the class made the best researchers, the middle 1/3 made the most money, and the bottom 1/3 made the best doctors.

And I am a good doctor.

I truly care about my patients. And I take the time to listen to their concerns, and explain things in a way that they can understand. And I get thanked for being "so different" on a regular basis. Which is sad, actually, as it says a lot about the state of our heath care, and what insurance companies are doing to it, but that's a grumble for another post. Or probably an entire other blog.

Blah, blah, blah.

Getting to my point....

As, I wrote a while back, I've been trying to figure out just what roll running was going to play in my life.

I've spent some time pondering over what other runner's do, and the roll running plays in their lives.

And I've decided that I am going to join "The Century Club" of running.

I'm going to stay at the back of the pack, where running a 10:00 minute mile makes me feel like I'm flying. I'm not gonna worry about fancy runs, and lactate thresholds, and all that stuff. I'm just gonna keep putting one foot in front of the other until those miles are in.

And, I'm not gonna give up my life, or time with my family or friends, or my boyfriend any more than I have to. I'll follow the schedule the best I can, but if I miss a run or two to attend a family wedding or a gathering of friends, or a night on the town with my boyfriend I'm not gonna sweat it. I'll just try to make it up the best I can, and let life go on.

And I'm going to try to eat better, but I'm not going to give up my pizza and ice cream. Because well,

I just might die if I do.

But, I am going to make running a permanent part of my life. I am always going to run.

Because I like it.

And maybe the bottom 1/3 of runners, don't make the best runners, but in this runnergirl's case it'll make the happiest runner. Because it will allow me to fit running into my life the best way possible, but still allow me the time for all the other things that matter to me.

So, here's to joining "The Century Club" of running.

Anyone want to join me?