A cotton whore by any other name...

My parents were runners in their early 40s when they opted to give up junk food and smoking for extra servings of carbs and new Nikes. As a kid- I was less than thrilled. I barely weighted 50 pounds, had knobby knees and elbows to match, but I could eat my weight in donuts! The idea of not having cookies in the house, made me just mad. So one faithful day I decided that I would show them. Along with my cousin we decided to pull our money together and walk from my house to the closest store (approximately 1 mile one way) and buy a pack of cookies!!! We headed off in the middle of the afternoon (these were the days of just going outside to play in the day without having to check in). We were so excited to get the cookies and then start back home...walking and eating cookies. We ate the entire pack between us! It never occurred to me that I just walked 2 miles for a pack of cookies...I was just a mile short of the 5K my parents were planning to run that Saturday!

Together my mom and dad completed 5Ks, 10Ks, Half and Full marathons. At the time, I had no desire to run. I didn't even run at recess...tetherball was my game of choice. I thought my parents were crazy and uncool! My parents...The runners- now that has a ring to it, eh! Although most people thought it was a mighty big accomplishment, I looked at it as another Saturday morning that I would be standing at a finish line waiting for them to cross so I could join them in a free banana and donut breakfast.  I would have much rather been in bed nursing a hangover!

Of course, I have always been an athlete. Both in high school and college, I played a variety of sports. One of these sports was responsible for paying for some of my college. But let me tell you it was not RUNNING. I actually did not play soccer my junior year in high school because the soccer coach was replaced by the cross country coach and I refused to run that much AT SOCCER PRACTICE without a ball! So I spent my days in off season track. My life seems to have taken some real ironic turns- reminding me that God has a sense of humor and likes to apply it to my life, often!

Once I got out of college, I realized that running was an EASY sport. Ok, ok, all you runners do not get your sports bra heart monitor in a knot... I don't think running a 5K is easy by any means...just ask me after running a 5K in June on a Saturday proceeding a Friday night at Gerald's Martini Bar. But it is simple in terms of all you need is a desire and a pair of running shoes. No other sport is that easy to prepare for....you can just lace up your running shoes and GO GO GO. Or in my case go, go! I didn't have to join a fitness club, I didn't have to buy special equipment- I just have to ignore sanitation workers cat calls and drivers with a Vendetta against fitness!

I started running every 5K locally that I could sign up for- since my parents were paying and driving- why not....(can't pass up a free fly and buy).I would run with my mom and talk and enjoy the sights of that particular East Texas town (my dad is an incredibly fast runner who use to finish the race and then run back to meet my mom and me and finish it with us). My mom had a steady easy pace...and was running more for the benefits than a medal.  Sometimes my mom would get a lil competitive and aim to beat someone in the race, but usually it was the 80 year old or someone missing a limb....how could I argue- the woman had goals!  It was not until one poorly put together race, that I actually won my age division by default. I was then HOOKED. I mean come on...where else could I pay $15, get to run with others on a designed course, get a cool t-shirt and free breakfast after! And then on top of that there was a chance to place and get a medal. In college I had actually placed in a sorority Fundraiser Run, but I left early and never got my medal- reason  #400,456 to hate sorority girls! As stupid as this sounds...there is just something about getting a medal...it is like an Olympic ceremony, bowing my head for the director to place my medal on my neck. In my mind I hear the national anthem playing and the crowd cheering for me!

Now as I have gotten older, the idea of the medal is less appealing simply because at my house they become weapons of mass destruction as my toddlers use them as nunchucks! However, the idea of a t-shirt has been an overriding factor in my decision to run so many 5Ks. I have a time goal that is mine personally, but I feel like if I place that is just extra fries in my happy meal...since I already get a shirt!

Last year I ran about 10 5Ks...placed in some, but have t-shirts for ALL! Win WIN for Team Guire! This year again I have signed up for 4 so far with plans to register for others too. Some try to convince me to run farther...like a 10K. I did ONE single 10K in my life and I almost died in a pile of Azaleas....too close to a bed of roses...and I would much rather die drinking a vodka and sprite while sitting on the deck smoking a cigarette.

I see 5Ks as a challenge...a challenge to get out of bed in the morning and workout...and a challenge to sign up, run, and live to talk about it.

The difference between a jogger and a runner is an entry form!