Nike+ Human Race Quick Links

You know you're a beginner when all it takes is a little peer pressure to get you to sign up for a 10 mile run for your first road race ever!

This was me freshman year becoming obsessed with the companionship that running offers, and wanting to chase faster, longer, stronger, as all of my friends were. Little did I know, you just don't transform from prima ballerina to avid runner overnight. I put my training hours in and slowly, my body crawled up the learning curve. But, I realized that my fearless spirit had put me in a position where my mental and physical strength were pushed to the nth degree. I finished the Broad Street Run, friends and fellow Penn State fitness instructors by my side, in 1:26. (The picture above is after the race; I'm in the red shirt!) Even though I couldn't walk down the stairs for an entire week without my legs collapsing underneath me, I still began to crave the splendor of charting the next mile I had yet to touch.

The companionship of running is what gets me out the door in the morning after I have stayed up all night studying. My favorite thing about running is that this companionship can take many forms: a friend who is there to push me, a friend I am there to push, my PowerSong, my trusty Nike+ SportBand, the empty road, or my wandering thoughts. I am so excited for the Human Race because to me, it is the ultimate celebration of the companionship running offers. It's about the journey to October 24th as much as it is about race day. It's about celebrating strength in numbers and about the whole world throwing their inhibitions to the wayside and chasing faster, longer, stronger, one mile at a time. Remember, "Pressure makes Diamonds."

So, register for the Nike+ Human Rack 10K Challenge join my team, Strength in Numbers, set a lofty goal for yourself, and then simply get out the door and "Just Do It."