The 30/30/30 Project (Day #11)

On October 5, my countdown began: 30 days until my 30th birthday. In honor of this, on each of the 30 days leading up to my birthday I will recount one memory from the past 30 years… either one that has helped define me, one that makes me laugh, one that makes me think, one that encourages me…  or maybe a little of everything. If possible, I will post a photo to go along with the memory.

It’s my 30/30/30 Project: 30 years. 30 memories. 30 days.

Here is my memory for Day #11:

This memory is going to be quick, unfortunately, because I ran out of time to write today and am exhausted… but I want to get this written before I go to bed. The point of this project is 30 memories in 30 days. I’m sticking to it!

On November 4, 2006, the day of my 26th birthday, I ran my first half marathon. Prior to this, my longest race distance had been 5 miles. I had started power walking that summer, and around August of that year I upgraded to jogging. I ran a 5k in September, and when the beginning of October rolled around, I decided I would set my sights on a half marathon.

I was nervous and excited the morning of the race. My parents met me there and brought a bouquet of balloons for my birthday. It was a very small race; it was the first year they held it and there were only a little over 100 runners.

I didn’t go particularly fast, but I did what I set out to do: 1) finish the race; 2) in under 2 hours (I came in at 1:56:59)

When I finished, I remember thinking that running a full marathon seemed unimaginable. (Two and a half years later, I would prove to myself that it was not only imaginable, but possible!)

Here I am running my first half marathon on my 26th birthday.

About Audrey

Audrey McClelland has been a digital influencer since 2005. She’s a mom of 5 and shares tips on her three favorite things: parenting, fashion and beauty. She’s also a Contemporary Romance Author.

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1 Comments

  1. 10.16.10
    admin said:

    Janie… I remember that day like it was yesterday! I was SO nervous about you running 13.1 miles. WHAT!? Dad and I drove to so many different spots during the race, our stomachs in knots… and then you’d run by, smiling, and we were SO proud of you! Who knew that 3 years later, with YOUR incredible inspiration, I’d do my OWN half marathon! Life is funny like that. You never know when someone will set someone else’s sights SO HIGH! This is what you do and this is what you are! I LOVE YOU!! Mom

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