Day 19

I signed up for my first 5K today. First time I've ever done anything like this. I'm really excited! It's not anywhere fancy, going to Gainesville (about an hour from home, but that was THE place to be in high school), but it's still my first! I'll get a shirt for doing it, plus it supports the 5 points of life. They are sponsoring the bone marrow, whole blood, cord blood, apheresis, and organ/tissue donations for the area. I've always donated blood, up until recently. The last few times I've tried to donate, they haven't been able to find a vein on me. I firmly believe in the saving power of donations, especially living donor tissue. I can't wait until next year when I can run the marathon for them.

Teaching myself to become a healthier person has made me want to reach out to other people and tell my story. I'm still working on it, but if a girl who weighed 315 pounds can decide to run a marathon in just over a year, anyone can. It just takes heart (and other such muscles *puns*). I love that marathons are ran to raise money and awareness for diseases and disorders. I need to get involved in the running scene around Ocala. As a nurse, I find myself drawn to helping others at all times, and if pushing my body to the limit for one day is what saves a child from cancer or encourages one more person to donate blood, then by all means, I've accomplished something.

At the running store today, he gave me a booklet of the races throughout the state. I'm going to see about entering a 10K around June (maybe not, it's really hot then). I feel like I need the practice of racing, realizing how it feels to have others running around me, and this is the way to go.

Not sure if you can tell, but I've been thinking about a lot of things to do with my running lately. I feel like all kinds of doors are opening to me, I can't wait to see which door I decide to walk through.