The ghost of Bethany's running past...

While cleaning out my old closet at my parents house this weekend I came across some items I had totally forgotten about. Here's a look into my running past.

This is an award from my first 5k EVER. And yes, it says 1990! I was 10 years old. I asked my parents if I could run this race. I have no idea why. I ran a few times after school with my gym teacher before the race. Now I coach girls this age to run their first 5k, how fun is that?!

I remember really really really wanting the framed "Essence of Running" picture. I think I got it for either my birthday or Christmas one year. It hung in my bedroom for years. "Running is a road to self-awareness and self-reliance...you can push yourself to extremes and learn the harsh reality of your physical and mental limitations or coast quietly down a solitary path watching the earth spin beneath your feet, but when you are through, exhilarated and exhausted, at least for a moment everything seems right with the world."  If I didn't get it then, I definitely do now.

I had totally forgotten I got the above award. Yes, 1995-1996. Man, I feel old now. I also found my track spikes from high school. Oh how I loved those shoes. I wanted to bronze them., but they have happily been donated now.

And last, but not least....my bunn-bunn!

I'm not sure what this has to do with running, but I'm sure I was holding bunn-bunn and sucking my thumb when I took my first running steps ever. Bunn-bunn went everywhere with me for a few years.
                                                         Oh, the things we find when we clean out old boxes in old closets in old houses.