Today I completed my first Triple Crown. When I take a step back to think about it, I am amazed, especially when I recall that I have only been running since October 2008.

I started running because my personal trainer at LA|FITNESS recommended that I try it, just to mix things up. I had been “stuck” in the gym lifting weights. My spinning had already drastically decreased because of my cycling on the road.

I’ll never forget my first training run on October 12, 2008. I wanted to turn around and go home after the first 15 seconds. My muscles were so unused to running. I was amazed at how out of breath I was given that I had recently achieved a level of fitness that allowed me to complete a 100-mile bike ride. Despite the initial pain of learning to run, I didn’t give up.

A few weeks after I started running, a co-worker suggested that I run a half marathon. I politely declined. I was satisfied with just short distances like 5Ks and 10Ks. She then told me about the Triple Crown and the cool medal you get when you complete it, and the rest is history. I made that my main goal for 2009.

And so that is how today fulfills a goal I set for myself 10 months ago.