I started running in October 2010. I started it as a challenge to see if I could learn to love and overcome what I had always hated most and what had always been a huge challenge.

Growing up, running was punishment in sports. I was the slowest one in any group run, and I had no motivation to try at something I knew I wasn’t naturally gifted at. I couldn’t see a reason or a purpose.  When I took up running as an adult, I was searching for a challenge and a way to get back in shape. Running, and learning to love what I always hated seemed like the ultimate challenge.

This time, however, I wasn’t running for anyone else. I wasn’t competing with anyone else. I was only pushing myself to get faster, run farther and do better. It was a great feeling to see the slow progress of being able to run longer, feel stronger and become more fit as I moved through the days and months of running.

Then, in November 2011, I inadvertently began upon what I now call “The Race a Month Challenge“.

I just started training for my first half marathon which I intended to run in May 2012.  I signed up for a November 5k and a December 5k in order to kick start my training for the race and ran each of those successfully. With January 2012 fast approaching I began looking for a New Year’s Resolution that would keep me in shape, be attainable and go beyond my May 2012 13.1 goal.

What I came up with was a goal to run one running race per month for the entire year. I achieved my goal that year running even more than 12 races, but keeping up the once-per-month pace in distances ranging from 3.1 miles to 13.1 (twice!). It was a long commitment, but I had so much fun I decided to keep it going.

I’m no longer competing with the rest of the runners as I thought I was as a kid. Instead, I’m competing with myself, with my limits and with my mind to keep going regardless of what’s in the way that makes me want to stop.

I’ve participated in at least one running race per month since November 2011. I have no intention of stopping and enjoy the motivation of the monthly race routine. Some months are faster than others, some months are more of a struggle than others. The most important thing, however, is that one race per month gets completed and my long-term commitment to fitness, and running, keeps going.

If you’re looking for a personal fitness challenge, I encourage you to consider taking up The Race a Month Challenge and seeing what you gain from the experience.