Run for your life

Yesterday was National Running Day, so I thought it would be appropriate to talk about my experiences as a runner.

I never ran in high school, and frankly didn't understand why others did. It was torture! I always dreaded having to run in drill team, though I wished that I enjoyed it. About a year after Madi was born, I found myself feeling lazy. I was close to the weight I was before I got pregnant but had a little more to lose that just wasn't coming off. I also felt like I needed to find a workout and stick with it. I tried yoga, pilates, weight lifting, dancing (again), etc. I enjoyed it all but I didn't look forward to doing them again once I was finished like I do now with running. What initially made me try running was Madi's father. He was a cross country runner in high school, and still did it when he had the time. He is, and was, extremely good at it too. So I went out and I ran. The first time I ran, I lasted half a mile. That was enough to make me want to stop. I felt pathetic, since Clayton (Madi's dad) could run miles and miles without breaking a sweat. I had to keep telling myself that he had always been a runner and I can't expect those same results. After I caught my breath and picked myself up off of the ground, I noticed that I felt good. That's when it all began.

When Madi would visit her Mimi, I would run. When I would find free time after school, I would run. I asked my in-laws to buy a jogging stroller for Madi and I for Christmas. That opened up a whole new realm of possibilites. For several weeks, Madi and I went running 6 days a week. That didn't end up sticking because of school and other obligations. But she loves to go with me and have time outside. While I push her, she yells, "Mommy wun!" The added weight is an extra workout too. ;) Before I knew it I could run for 45 minutes without even thinking about stopping.

The biggest obstacle for me was learning, and remembering, that once you run long enough to find that you have a "second wind", it doesn't get any worse. You hit a certain point and your body starts to work for you. You don't have to push so hard to keep going. Your movements become sort of robotic. Your mind is clear and you can go for miles just on the momentum. Getting to that point is what takes the most work. But you get out of it what you put in. If you stop before you get there, you've wasted your time.

It sounds cliche but running has taught me that I am capable of far more than I think I am. I never thought that my body could handle running 4+ miles at a time, but it can. You see that if you just keep pushing yourself, you can do anything.

I hope this influences someone to at least try to do something new. Whether it be running, yoga, biking, anything. You may discover a lifelong passion, like I did.

Below are pictures that I've taken while on some of my runs.

"Running is the greatest metaphor for life, because you get out of it what you put into it."
-Oprah Winfrey