How I Got Here

Honestly, I still can’t believe I am here.  When I think back to the first day I ran, I never dreamed it would bring me to such fabulous places and meet such wonderful people.

I have been married for 9 years and have two beautiful children, 6 and 4 years old.  I am a former flight attendant and my husband is a pilot.  We met when we were working for the same airline.

Because my husband travels for work, I find that I am home alone to deal with the duties of a mommy as well as a daddy.  Because of this, I have always put myself last and the needs of my family first.  I am sure that this is what a lot of people do in similar situations.

This brings me to July 2011,  I was making mac and cheese for the millionth time, my kids were running around like lunatics, very cute lunatics mind you, and hubby was away.

I started to think, “what about me?”  I had an exciting life before kids.  I traveled all over the world, jumped out of a plane, ran with the bulls, partied like a rock star, just to name a few.  Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t change my life with hubby and kids for anything, I just wanted to have something for me too, something that would make me happy outside of the family.

I went through a few different things that kind of excited me, but they were all one time activities.  I wanted something that was more permanent.  Something that would challenge me and make me work hard.

I am lucky enough to be surround by friends who are all fit.  They run, bike and swim.  A few have asked me to run with them and I would laugh it off and say, “Sure, but only if I can walk.”  Why, why did I always say that?  Why can’t I run?  Well, I can run if I want and I want to give it a shot!

I found the C25K plan, and the next day, I set off for my first ever run.  With the plan, I had to walk, then run for 1 minute and I had to do it 8 times.  I only had to run for 1 minute at a time and I thought I was going to die.  But here is the thing.  I didn’t die and I felt totally awesome!  I couldn’t wait to run again.  I felt free, I was alone with my own thoughts and my own music.  I found it!  Running is what made me happy.

In nine weeks, I went from running 1 minute to running 30.  I was psyched.  My first 5k was in October and then I did a four miler in November.  Once I crossed the first finish line, I knew I wanted to do it again and again.  In July 2012, my runaversary month, I ran 91 miles.  What a way to celebrate!

I noticed my body started to change for the better, I was happier and I was setting a healthy example for my children.  That is very important to me.  I want them to know that they are capable of anything.  That hard work is good for you and the things that take the most time and challenge you, are the things that are most worth it.

I found most of my inspiration came form my family, but I also found it on Facebook running pages and blogs.  I couldn’t believe how strangers were able to motivate me to keep on going.  I loved that, and that is how Running While Mommy came to be.  I wanted to share my experience and motivate people to get out and do what they love.  It does not have to be running.  You can bike, hike, swim, spin or knit, I don’t care as long as you are not forgetting to take care of yourself.  I am as busy as any other mother out and I wanted to let women know that you can make it work.  You can take care of your house and kids and still find time to be good to yourself.  It is not easy, but it is possible.

This past January, I received a phone call from one of my best friends.  She is a mom to three beautiful boys and married to a wonderful man.  Her oldest child and only girl, past away at 6 years old form Leukemia, 9 years ago.  She was calling to ask me to join her Team in Training team and run in the Nike Women’s Marathon on October 14th.

Her daughter Haley, would of been 16 October 18th and she wanted to put this team together so that we can celebrate Haley’s life and honor her birthday.  I had never really thought past five miles, but there was no way I was going to say no.  I decided on the half and have been training since April.  We are now just 40 days away from what I am sure will prove to be the most exciting, challenging, and emotional weekend of my life and I can’t wait.

So the bottom line is I run because I can and there are those who can’t.  I run because it makes me strong.  I run because it keeps me sane.  I run because it shows my children that they can do anything they put their minds to.  I run because I love my husband.  I run because it brought me closer to my friends.  I run because I want to show people that you don’t have to just sit on the sidelines and watch.  I run because my parents told me I can do anything I want to.

I am a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, and now I am a runner.

 

 

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Tags: active moms, aha moment, couch to 5k, family, finding time, fitness aha, making changes, parenting, Why we run