today I didn't...

...get up at 5am
...drive to the beach
...pin a race number to my chest
...line up in my starting coral along with hundreds of other runners
...run a mile
...run another one
...run another one
...run another one
...run another one
...run another one
...run another one
...run another one
...run another one
...run another one
...run another one
...run another one
...run another one
...cross a finish line
...get a medal
...stand on the beach with a plastic cup full of beer and revel in a feeling of accomplishment

Unlike the past four years, I didn't run in the Rock'n'Roll Half Marathon. And I miss it. Four years ago a friend convinced me to run it with her (at the time I couldn't run more than 2 miles). The rush of working towards and completing such a major accomplishment spurred me to challenge myself to run it again, even though I would be doing it alone. Two years ago I ran it as a training race for the Twin Cities Marathon (which I ran in October). And last year I slogged through the race when I was pregnant but didn't know it yet (though my sickness during the race should have been a sign that something was going on).