Why I Run...

I ran a couple 5K's with my best friend Jenny years ago. I didn't think much about it really. It was just something Jenny wanted to do and I was game to do it with her, so I did. After that running didn't really cross my mind again until fall of 2011. I'd seen some of my friends from Ohio posting pictures about a Race for Life run they did together and I thought, "Oh I'd love to do that". A friend of ours had been diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer.

The base here happened to be having a 5K Breast Cancer run that October, so I signed up and did it. Then I did the Turkey Trot and saw a very pregnant woman, Cindy, running... Seeing her running ignited a spark in me. I thought, well if she can run being that pregnant what is my excuse!

So I ran a few more times; a few more 5K's.

Then I called my sister Holly. If you've followed my blog for a while, you know this story. I asked Holly if she wanted to do something crazy with me while I was home for Christmas. I was think a 5K Santa Run or something. At first Holly told me no she didn't want to do anything crazy.

When I told her what I wanted us to do she said, "that's not crazy"!

I said, "No, those people that run 1/2 marathons & full marathons are crazy"!

She said, "Well, if we are gonna be crazy lets do the 1/2".

For some stupid reason I agreed and signed us up...with 1 month until the race. I bought us new shoes and myself something to run in. December 18th 2011, we hit the pavement. It took us 3 hours, 24 minutes and 56 seconds!!!

The goals we had at the time were: 1. Finish. 2. Finish in under 4 hours. 3. Inspire Mom. That was the reason we were running...that and we were absolutely crazy!

Since then I have continued to run and my reasons for doing so have changed over time.

A lot of runners say they run for:

• the t-shirt
• the bling
• fun

I will be honest with you. I want my t-shirt, my medal and I want to have a good time. Bad runs happen, but those that are enjoyable more than make up for it. I have some deeper reasons I run. I think all runners do and the more they run the more those reasons make themselves known. We evolve as runners - just as we do in most anything. With practice and persistence we grow as individuals. 

Reasons why I run today?

1. Time. I am constantly chasing a new Personal Record or Personal Best.
2. To push myself, test myself...see just what I am capable of.
3. The experience - it's one of the highlights. You always see something amazing & inspiring that you wouldn't see if you were sitting home on the couch.
4. I used to say, "I have asthma, I can't". Now, I'm kicking asthma butt!
5. Coffee :)
6. To inspire/encourage others, although I'm not too good at it when I get tunnel vision during a race.
7. For the thrill, the excitement of crossing that finish line again and again with a new improved time.
8. My sanity. Running relieves a lot of stress and you just feel better mentally. Running is very mental. At first your like "oh this hurts...why am I doing this...I'm gonna be out here for 2+ hours...what was I thinking..." and on and on, but then you're mind switches to, "girl, you got this! you're gonna do this!" and the excitement runs through your veins and pushes you forward.
9. It's the best facial ever! I'm a salty sweater and at the end of a race my face feels gritty from the salt released from my body. Once I wipe my face off & put some moisturizer on...my face is baby soft!
10. Killer calves :)

I look back and I see how far I've come and seeing that I've improved keeps me going, but the number 1 reason has stayed with me from the very first 1/2 marathon. 

Inspire Mom

In 2007 or 08 - I'd seen my Grandpa, who also struggled with his weight, at my Uncle Glen's house. I had a Pepsi in one hand & bent over to pick something up with the other. It was then that my Grandpa, who never sugar coats things, said to me, "Girl, if you don't quit drinking that stuff you are gonna be as broad as your Mama". I felt bad that he said that about Mom, but I also knew he was right, he always is.

My Mom has struggled with her weight her whole life. I don't know a single time in my life when my Mom hasn't been trying to loose weight. Summer 2011, she suffered a serious set back and had to have surgery. She'd lost a lot of weight and was feeling so great. All she talked about was working out and P90X and it drove me insane! I wasn't ready to take the journey to a healthier me at the time. Due to the set back she put it all back on. She looked miserable. She felt miserable. 

Honestly, seeing her sitting in the truck with the seat belt cutting into her stomach scared the life outta me and that's what it took to get me off my butt. I realized right then and there I did not want that to be me. I returned home, got busy taking care of me. One way or another I was not going to look like that miserable unhappy woman I'd seen over the summer...the one I happen to call my Mother. 

Thing is I didn't want her to look that way either!!! I wanted her healthy, happy and trying to pour P90X down my throat, but it was like the set back she had took the life plum out of her. She just couldn't get back up. She had no motivation, her will power was missing. Now, my Mom may struggle with her weight, but the one thing about her that amazes me time and time again is no matter how hard life has knocked her down...she always finds the strength to get back up! She is so strong!! She has recovered from things that I've no idea how I would handle or recover myself. I've seen her knocked down, stepped on, kicked and abused in one form or another, but she is like a true phoenix. She always rises out of the ashes, stronger & more beautiful than before. 

Sometimes I've had to wait a long time to see her pull herself back up...but she always does it! Because of that I am no quitter. I've never seen my Mom quit. She will exhaust all options and give until she has nothing at all left to give and then out of somewhere within her she will find just a little more to give. That strength & power that I see in her gives me the strength and power I need each and every time I lace up my running shoes and step out the door. 

I've been waiting and watching and I'm happy to report that my Mom is currently pulling herself up and rising out of those ashes once again. She is down 17 lbs and on her way to a healthier, happier person. 

December 2011 I wanted to inspire my Mom - to give her a little bit of strength to try again. Today, she is still inspiring me and because of her, I run. 

Tim, Mom, Holly, Nick, Hailie and Hannah all running a 5K Twlight run! 

They make me proud!

I hope you can read the little story my Mom wrote about my niece Hailie. 

Now, as I look back and I watch my Mom rise up again I thank God that Holly & I were crazy enough to attempt 13.1 miles. Just look at the above picture, my Mama running, smiling and getting it done!!!

I love you, Mom!