Running

I ran my first "race" when I was 6 years old. It was once around a local park, about a half mile, and despite the fact that all the other 6 year olds ran to their mommy's or got distracted by the giant playground, I still like to basque in the glory of coming in 3rd - 1st girl ;)

Even though I didn't do much running on my own until years after my victory race, running was a part of my daily life through my parents. Both marathoners at the time, it was simply part of their routine to run daily. Breakfast, coffee, run. I loved going to their races and watching them run by as I stood among the crowd screaming "go mommy, go daddy!", and not to mention, got to eat all the fresh fruit and power bars I could get my hands on.

9th grade came along and so did the proposal of running cross country. At the time, I was dancing ballet, and had to choose between the two because of the severely different ways my muscles would be trained. I chose to run. Little did I know the injuries I would soon endure, from ligament tears in both knees to a fractured hip; it just so happens that the year I began running would be the only full season I would complete.

After high school I continued to run after recovering from 2 knee surgeries, but mainly to run off a night of drinking and 3am fast food burgers. Eventually, I took running more seriously and eased into a weekly routine while avoiding further injury, which allowed me to actually enjoy running, and the feeling I had afterwards.

Now more than ever I love and appreciate my ability to run. Pregnancy definitely aided these feelings; after a difficult 9 months of morning sickness, back pain, and the typical baby-on-the-bladder-running-prevention, I was eager to get back into the swing of it. Not to mention, the motivation of losing baby weight always got me out the door, even after a sleepless night.

Running is my everything-outlet. If I'm overwhelmed, I'll go for an extra long easy-run, focusing on it being "me time" and return home with a clear head and ready to take on the world. If I'm angry, I'll put on a good rock play list and stomp out a faster, harder run, leaving all my anger in the dust. Even when I'm happy, I'll run along to an upbeat music selection and just appreciate the world around me. I love running in any mood, any weather, anytime.

The feeling I have afterwards is the most rewarding. Ironically it gives me a fabulous energy boost, and I always spend the rest of the day feeling refreshed and level-headed. In my attempt to prevent injury now more than ever, running has forced me to take better care of my body by incorporating more stretching and yoga-esque strengthening techniques. Even if it's only 10 minutes before one of my kids needs me and I'm slapped back to reality, I love the me-time where I can just focus on myself, my body, my flexibility, and my health. I'm a better mom for it, I think, because if I feel good and have a good energy, I'm going to reflect that onto my children. Good vibes! They're contagious.

I feel lucky every day that I was able to overcome all of my injuries, and despite my less-than-perfect running structure, I'm still out there 4-5 times a week. I also feel lucky that Eric is so supportive of my exercise; after a long 8 hour day at work, he comes home to watch the 2 girls while I head out for my daily run, and I know that can't always be easy on him.

I hope my body allows me to run for years to come. Call me crazy, but I love it.