I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this but I’ll be running in the Berlin half marathon in a few weeks! For some reason I didn’t sign up when I had the opportunity so I had to fundraise for a bib. I ended up raising close to 500 euros for a dog rescue in the UK so despite feeling like I was selling girl scout cookies to my family and friends, I ended up raising money for a good cause and in return, they’ll let me run in the race—my home race!
I’ll be honest, I don’t really care about racing or completing a run in a certain timeframe but I do like the energy of running in a big group of people and knowing my friends will be cheering for me. I’ve found running to be such an individual and private exercise for me since I’m not part of a running club (yet..) so in this once instance, knowing I’ll get to run in the city where I live on a nice spring day with support will be fun. I haven’t stopped running since I started running consistently this time last year and I’ve become more confident in my abilities.
All of this to say, come April 6, I’ll be running around the streets of Berlin and hopefully completing the distance through the pillars of the Brandenburger Tor! I ordered some new shoes for the occasion which if I decide to keep them, I’d need to start breaking them in asap. . .
On a semi-related note, I also decided it would be a good idea (lol) to sign up for a Hyrox race. The race is also in Berlin and takes place at Tempelhoferfeld which is pretty cool. Right after my half marathon, I’ll shift my focus to solely training for this race. I feel, okay about it? After these two races, I’ll want a break from any sort of competition. I like challenging myself but I also enjoy the private nature of my exercise routines and using them as a form of release and self-care.
Wish me luck!