In early 2011, I ran the 3M Half Marathon. I signed up on a whim; injured myself by training without a plan; and ran the race somehow. The next week, my brother convinced me to give trail running a try since it would involve less injury, less soreness, and more glory, I suppose. I bought a pair of trail shoes and tried it out, immediately falling in love. Before too long, I'd signed up for two trail races through Tejas Trails: Nueces 25K and Hell's Hills 50K. Not one to do anything halfway, I also became a member of the Hill Country Trail Runners. All of these decisions-the shoes, the races, and the HCTR membership-joined forces to be some of the best decisions I've made in my life.
Through Tejas Trails and HCTR, I've amassed an amazing running family, incredible life experiences, and have grown into a confident and increasingly strong runner. Reasonably so, it can be difficult for people to branch out into a new hobby, jump into an established community within that hobby, and come out on the other end with nothing but positive things to say about each and every person they've met along the way. Somehow, I have been blessed with such an experience. To dive into the specific blessing I've been given from any given person in HCTR would be an exhaustive task, so I won't do it. I can only hope that each of you realizes what you mean to me, what you have done for me, the confidence you have helped me build in myself, and the impact you have had on my past, present, and future in both my life and running.
This post comes in the wake of some exciting news: I have accepted a job in Houston and Ben and I are beginning the process of building our new life there. While I won't be at weekly club runs at Walnut Creek, sending out running buddy request emails for weekend long runs, or finally making regular appearances at the monthly meeting, I will continue to be as active a member of HCTR as possible. A move to Houston cannot, and will not, affect the ties I have gained with my running family in Austin; where I am today is almost unthinkable without the experiences I've had through this club and through Joe's races. I refuse to let that fade into the ether with this life change, for I would be losing that which got me here in the first place. Thank you all for everything you have given me: your time, support, cheers, beers, all of it. Thank you.
Until the next Austin trip or Tejas Trails race, happy trails, my friends.
Through Tejas Trails and HCTR, I've amassed an amazing running family, incredible life experiences, and have grown into a confident and increasingly strong runner. Reasonably so, it can be difficult for people to branch out into a new hobby, jump into an established community within that hobby, and come out on the other end with nothing but positive things to say about each and every person they've met along the way. Somehow, I have been blessed with such an experience. To dive into the specific blessing I've been given from any given person in HCTR would be an exhaustive task, so I won't do it. I can only hope that each of you realizes what you mean to me, what you have done for me, the confidence you have helped me build in myself, and the impact you have had on my past, present, and future in both my life and running.
This post comes in the wake of some exciting news: I have accepted a job in Houston and Ben and I are beginning the process of building our new life there. While I won't be at weekly club runs at Walnut Creek, sending out running buddy request emails for weekend long runs, or finally making regular appearances at the monthly meeting, I will continue to be as active a member of HCTR as possible. A move to Houston cannot, and will not, affect the ties I have gained with my running family in Austin; where I am today is almost unthinkable without the experiences I've had through this club and through Joe's races. I refuse to let that fade into the ether with this life change, for I would be losing that which got me here in the first place. Thank you all for everything you have given me: your time, support, cheers, beers, all of it. Thank you.
Until the next Austin trip or Tejas Trails race, happy trails, my friends.
