Bringing It Back Old School

The other day I was trying to remember when I first started running. Sure I would go for runs in high school, often with my best friend Courtney. We’d come up with funny little gimmicks to keep us going and have cracked out conversations (these were the days before the iPod…wow I feel old just typing that). It was a grand old time. And me and Court ran away from a lot of problems – you know like when her boyfriend was a douche or my boy interest of the month was a jerk, or when our field hockey coach was pmsing, or when our high school selves just needed a get away. But my runs with Court were definitely not my first big step into running. So now I’d like you all to take a little run down memory lane to me…waay back to the 90s (and you know we all love the 90s).

When I was just a little girl with wild hair and a little too much personality, my brother and I had a New Years Tradition. Every New Years Eve we took on the biggest challenge of our lives – running around our cellar as many times as the last two numbers of the New Year. So in 1990 we ran 90 laps around our basement, 1995 we ran the loop 95 times, and although it’s slightly embarrassing to admit, I think I made it to 1999 (yup, I was still doing this at 13). This all started long before I could remember, but it was one of my fondest memories of childhood. And we were pretty damn serious about it. I would train for it, Tony didn’t, but I refused to let lack of preparation slow me down. My mom used to bring us water and snacks so we could refuel. I used to wear special running clothes. And heaven forbid my parents wanted us to go somewhere other than my basement for NYE, a tantrum broke out (yup, I was still doing those at 13, too, and well I guess 23 ).

But the funny part was, as much as this was like the highlight of my life as a kid, it all started out as a dare from one of my parents friends. Essentially, Tony and I were a little too hyper one NYE so one of my parent’s friends dared us to run around our basement, knowing full well we would accept and conquer the challenge (we were soo badass) and then pass out soon there after. Genius, and a bit cruel, but seriously I can’t imagine my childhood without it.

So there you have it, my first big running debut. And come to think of it, it all started in the winter. So maybe I am made for winter running after all. :)