Well, it’s not just talk any more, my friends – I’ve officially signed up for my first ever 10km run.

Oh yes.

Actually, it’s my first organized run ever, but it’s also my first 10km. So. Yeah.

So many firsts!

On April 29th I’ll be joining hundreds of other spirited sprinters in the third annual Quinte West Healthy Half Marathon in support of the Trenton Memorial Hospital Foundation. I’m starting to collect pledges, which will go toward helping purchase priority medical equipment for the hospital (fun fact: the government doesn’t purchase medical equipment – the funding comes from the community. Needless to say, it’s kind of a big deal).

I’m not going to lie – up until now, I’ve always firmly believed that I would never run a marathon. Ever. (Sure, 10km isn’t exactly a marathon but you get what I’m saying). I just couldn’t wrap my mind around why anyone would want to and I definitely could not find it inside of me to even pretend to get jazzed up by the idea. I was more than content to leave the organized running events up to anyone and everyone else.

It was two months shy of a year ago that I volunteered at the same run last year. Luc was actually working on the event and I came along to help out where I could. Even then, I couldn’t get behind the idea of willingly running anywhere for an hour or more, but I was still sufficiently impressed by the many, many people that were willing to do it for such a good cause (and because a lot of them also just apparently like running. Go figure!)

Well, as my “luck” would have it, prep for this year’s event just so happened to coincide with me getting all pumped up on my 2012 fitness resolution. I must have been riding on a post-workout high when I decided that signing myself up was a good idea. And, because I just can’t help myself, I started musing about the idea on Facebook and Twitter and, before I knew it, I had basically committed myself to doing it if for no other reason than holding myself accountable to my online public.

When will I learn?

Anyway, I’ve been training for about a month and a half and I’m surprised by how much I’m enjoying it. Seriously – I actually like going running!

I know, I don’t even know myself any more.

The idea of 10km is still a bit daunting to me but my progress so far has been pretty promising. My time may not be anything worth blogging about once all is said and done but I will run that whole distance. Seriously. I’m gonna do it.

If you’re the type that gets all jazzed up at the idea of running great (or even not that great) distances for extended periods of time, why not join me? Online registration for the Quinte West Healthy Half is open until April 26th (if the idea of running and raising money for a great cause wasn’t incentive enough, I hear there are great prizes and free give-aways! Swag! Oh yes.)

If you’re not the running type (or, y’know, you don’t live here) but you still want to help support the cause (and, really, why WOULDN’T you?) I would greatly appreciate your pledge! I have no fancy means of collecting money but send me an e-mail and I’ll get you sorted out!

Pledges in any domination are greatly appreciated. Your financial support helps me feel a little less crazy about signing up for this, so thank you!