Being a runner

In 2009 I decided to start running with a local running group.  I have never been a runner or really an athlete.  I grew up skinny, some say too skinny. I graduated high school at 101 lbs and that was only because a friend and I had a bet to see who could put on the most weight by graduation day. I know, I know many people say it isn't a big deal and they had the other problem; but I will say it sucks when people say you have an eating disorder or you don't get hired for a job because someone thinks you are too little to handle it.  Remember folks, everyones body is different.  Back to my point, I was active, but not an athlete. I was very clumsy.  I was good at falling and embarrassing myself, not being athletic. (Terry Johnston, you can tell stories all day I am sure.)
So here I am in my, cough, cough, 40's (early 40's...) and I decide to start running.  No big deal, right?  Haha.  I couldn't run a 5k (3. something miles) without stopping to walk.  I walked A LOT. I did it almost every week.  I wanted to be strong and fit. Not much happened. Guess what?  You have to run/walk more than 3 miles once a week....
Ok. So I decide I want to run 10 miles.  A challenge.  I had this friend and she signed up for a race, Iron Girl.  It sounded cool.  All girls 10 miles.  I can do this.  So I trained.  I ran 3 miles (5k) 3 times a week. I was able to run 5k without stopping to walk, but OMG I was exhausted!  How do people work out so much???  Those runners, they are lunatics!!  Anyway, I did this race, 10 miles.  I was hot and sweaty. I had my period and it sucked.  But it was fun.  Really fun!!  I was tired.  I ate a lot afterwards. I was exhausted and I napped. How do these "runners" manage?  It is so tiring to train and workout and race and go to work every day and make dinner etc, etc.  How do those people manage their lives?
After the race I was hooked.  I decided I could do it too.  I wanted to become a runner.  Now, HOW??
It is magical. A pill,  a secret.... Want to know what it is? Doing it.  That's it.  All you have to do is get out there. Once a week, twice or 3 times is better.  It will suck.  Sometimes it will suck tons.  Just go.  Find a friend.  Join an online group for accountability. Tell people what you are doing.
I have gone from not running a full 3 miles at once to easily running 10+ a day. 
You don't have to do that.  Do what you want. Find your goal, your rush. Walk, run, swim, bike, whatever you want to do. Whatever makes you feel good, alive and energized.
If I could do it I know anyone can.