established in 2014

I had tried running prior to 2014, but 2014 was the year that it stuck.

I had a health scare that finally had me realize how horribly unhealthy I was.  I was overweight, and cruising for bad news.

In July, 2014 I downloaded the Couch-to-5K app on my phone, bought a pair of running shoes, and got to it.  At the time, I was pretty sure that I was going to get to running a 5K and probably cap my distance at that.  I sure wasn't going to be one of those wacko half- or (god-forbid) full-marathon folks.  Nope, just a 5K for me, thanks.

C25K was a smashing success.  I ran in the St. Patrick's Center 5K that August, and thus began my journey into the Awkward.

Running is insidious.  The mind starts to play number games on you. It whispers to you, "You know, if you can run a 5K, then a 10K is only two of those."  Pro-tip, if the organ responsible for knowing starts to convince you by staying "You know", beware.

Still, the brain was right.  2 5K's is a 10K, and it was in fact doable.  I worked myself to a 10K distance by that October, and in a fit of next-level WTF-was-I-thinking, I signed up for a Trail Running Program, and a Half-Marathon Training Program.

I had some injuries that quickly sidelined my trail running and later half-marathon training, but I ran my first Half-Marathon race (St. Louis Track Club's St. Louis Half-Marathon).  Not to risk being under-stupid, I also ran the 30K Skippo Trail Race the week after the SLTC Half.

It was around this time that my ever-patient wife mentioned that while she was happy that I was running and being healthy and happy, she was concerned about that "ultrarunning" stuff that was showing up in my social media feeds and magazine articles.

Of course, I laughed and said, "I could never be that stupid!"  Somewhere in the recesses of my grey matter, a brain cell raised an eyebrow, and in a level-tone said, "Hold my beer."

Fast forward a couple years, and I now casually finish half-marathons, openly consider full-marathons, and have DNF'd my first 50-Mile race.