I started running almost 2 years ago. This was a big deal for me because I hated running. I hated how it made my lungs burn and my body ache. But mostly, I hated it because I wasn't any good. I wasn't fast and I couldn't go very far. Being a competitive person, this was my excuse for not doing it, for not trying.
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Clearning up after my
irst race, Squaw Creek
Army Challenge, with a
great friend! |
But after having 3 kids and not exercising a whole lot other than chasing them around, I figured I needed to do something that would get me back into shape. I'm not going to pretend it was easy. It really, really, REALLY sucked at first. I didn't really know what I was doing so I just went out, ran as far as I could without puking, than walked, than ran, than walked and so on. It was not fun and my body hurt...a lot. But I kept going until I was running more and walking less. Soon I was finally running 3 miles without stopping. It was slow but I was doing it.
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Goal was to get in the 25's...
achieved with the help of a good
friend who kept me going! |
I signed up for my first race about 4 months after I started running. I signed up with a friend to do an Army challenge. My pride was on the line and that is what kept me running. I didn't want to walk and I didn't want to be the last one out there. And now I know I didn't really need to stress about it. Nobody cared how I did. Everyone was just excited to be out there together doing something they loved.
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First 10K with my sis-in-law and some
good running buddies! |
I learned something very important that day. Being a runner makes you part of a wonderful community. Running brings people together. I was running with one of my best friends who could have killed it. But she stuck with me, encouraging me through the whole thing. I saw this over and over again as we ran, crawling through mud and over obstacles. Everyone was out there supporting each other no matter how "good" they were.
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Half marathon with my sister
and her husband...both have
been awesome supports! |
After that race, I signed up for another and then another. And with each race, although I ran my "own race," I had friends and acquiantences who kept me going, who were so supportive no matter if they were faster or slower than me. I started to discover it wasn't really how fast I ran or what place I came in (although that continues to motivate me), it was about getting out there, being positive, and being supportive of each other. I discovered it wasn't necessarily about being competetive with others but being competetive with myself, to set goals and to try to achieve them. It was about being part of a community who understands your struggles, builds you up instead of tearing you down, and pushes you to keep going and get after your goals.
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My daughter's first 5K at age 7.
She finished in 39:58. So proud of her! |
In every race I have run, I have experienced examples of the amazing spirit of this community of runners: The random guy who ran with me for about a mile during a 10k, cheered me on to keep up my pace and made me laugh when I was struggling; my sister who enrouaged me to sign up for my first half marathon this fall; my two running buddies who helped me train for that half even though they were not running it themselves; the girl behind me in an 8K who I heard thank every single volunteer we ran past; a friend who offered to watch my kids this afternoon just so I could go out and run.
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A very hot, muggy 10K with some
awesome runners from my community. |
Running has obviously changed my life. My intended outcome was to get into better shape and be a good example to my children by incoorporating exercise into my daily routine. I never expected it to affect my emotional well being as much as it has. I certainly never expected it to be something I would come to love. And I never, ever expected to feel so much love and support from fellow runners.
I am proud to be part of this community. It's a community of love, support, and encouragement. It's a community that inspires me to get out there and do my best. It's a community that humbles me by the overwhelming support they give to honor those who are no longer able to run. It's a community with a spirit you can't really understand until you become a part of it.
Come join our community. Come run!
