Colorado 1/2 Marathon

About two weeks ago I finally went online and signed up for the Colorado 1/2 Marathon. I have been wanting to do it since last year, but having had such a hard time getting back to running, I didn't want to let myself down. I guess for me the best thing to do was sign up and I'd figure out the training part after.
The first week went relatively well. I must say that since just before Christmas, I have been waking up at least 2-4 times a week and attending fitness classes at the gym (at about 5:30 am!) Waking up wasn't the easiest thing, but I find that when the alarm goes off at 5 am there is no excuse to get you out of going to the gym... you are awake and there is nothing else you can do at 5am.... So Group Power has returned me to my weight lifting roots and cycling class has helped to rebuild some of my cardiovascular endurance over the past few months. And though there have been some runs here and there, my first run as an "official 1/2 marathon participant" went incredibly well. I of coursethe credit to the early morning workouts which have slowly but surely helped to get my strength back and put me back mentally in the game., making running a bit easier than the last few times I had tried to get back to my running. After the first week, however a chest cold accompanied by some terrible headaches began to take over.... and alas, my running was put off!
The past few days I have been back at it. replacing early morning classes with early morning runs. The weather has been somewhat frigid, but the peace that I find on morning runs truly warms my soul.
The sun, hitting everything around me at a different angle makes everything surrounding me look different then it usually does. The brown grass of winter has a lively glow, morning dew melts off of the leaves and fence posts. Even the horses or dogs that I pass in the morning seem to be filled with the crisp air and the freshness of a new day. I know it all sounds a bit cliche or cheesy, but what beauty I can find in the silence of the morning!
I am still yet a bit nervous that I have gotten a late start to training... a very late start. I do look forward to waking up on May 3rd... gathering my belongings and heading to the start line for my first half marathon. I feel in a way as though I am reclaiming a part of myself that I had let drift away. I think the training will settle in and though this may not be my fastest, I have no doubts that it will still be a very proud moment for me.