Running happy toward my first half marathon

I first heard the phrase 'Run Happy' during a VERY short lived attempt at running while living in Vancouver. Running is second nature for most Vancouverites, I can't even count the amount of people I met who had done marathons, halfs and 10kms, they spent their weekends getting up at 6 am to run the entirety of the seawall. I decided to acclimatise myself to my new city and join these crazies, after all I played Gaelic football in national school and a little basketball in secondary, I was practically a runner already! Right?! I confidently decided C25K was not for me, and I went hell for leather into the unknown.

My first attempt was abysmal, in fact I gave my poor underused lungs exercise induced asthma and had to borrow an inhaler.Not ideal.
However my quiet competitiveness was undeterred, I signed up with a running group and away I went. I was miserable. I pushed myself way too hard in the first 2 weeks and and eventually even the thoughts of going out for a session in the evening caused panic, the sweats and the occasional tear.

I gave up, deciding runners were crazy, my legs were tired and it was time to hang up my unsuitable Forever21 runners. I dreaded telling my group, if it was in Ireland they would lament my loss at the pub and move on, but no, this was Vancouver, the healthiest city in Canada, where kale is king and exercise is practically a religion.These people knew where I lived and worked so avoidance was not an option, I showed up at what I decided would be my last group run and half heartedly confided in one of the girls. She immediately ratted me out to the group (traitor) and I was hurled with what I can only say was positive abuse!
I feigned outward interest in their advice to keep at it and not to give up, but inside I was already imagining all the Saturday morning lie ins I could have instead of training for 5 and 10 km races. But it wasn't until someone mentioned running happy, that I actually perked up and took some notice.
The concept of running without a watch or a view to a personal best had never entered my mind. That some people just run. Run for nothing, run for happiness, run to escape the monotony of their working day.

I never went back after that. I guess for me I just needed time to decide whether a runners life was for me. I took up Bikram Yoga instead, easy on my muscles and nothing too challenging. But I always thought back to that Run Happy mantra and now that I am back in Ireland I'm giving it a go.

This is my last year before I hit 30 and I want to make it a memorable year. I want to do all the things I never thought I would or could do. So I'm hitting the half marathon goal and challenging myself physically and mentally. I've joined a total half marathon beginners group and adding a hot pilates class in once a week to start off with. This time I am totally determined!

Wish me luck!