I have not always been a runner. Well that’s an understatement. Not only was I not a runner but back in high school I was literally scared of running! I struggled through a lap around the track and kept my distance from anyone in running shorts. But, since I really hate having things in my life that scare the bajoozles out of me, I decided to start running when I was 23. A cute runner guy may or may not have had something to do with that. And he may or may not be my husband now (don’t tell him!)
So, I started really slow like any new runner, alone, in the dark, so no one could see how much I sucked. But I really didn’t suck for long. Mainly because I started to love running in a way that I’d never loved anything else ever. I loved how I felt free-as-a-friggin-bird out there in the cold dark quiet air. I loved how I didn’t care what people thought of me while I was running. I loved how I somehow morphed into a different, much more awesome version of myself when I ran. A version of myself I actually thought was pretty cool. Yup, what a nerd.
Yes, having three kids slowed me down for a few years, (although I was known in the neighborhood jogging along with a big-azz double stroller for a while), but my major love affair with running didn’t even begin until my youngest was a year old. I mean really at that point with three little kids in the house I would basically have taken any opportunity aside from tragedy to get the f out for a little while. So that’s when the 4 miles became 6, 7, 8, 14, and the pace picked up. That’s when I started training and racing, half marathons and my first full marathon, which wound up being a Boston Qualifier at 3:29:15.
And I don’t mean to sugar coat this love affair with running at all, I’ve had my ups and downs to say the least. Most runners get that piece of it. But through the bouts with illness, injury, overtraining, lack of motivation, scheduling challenges, people thinking I’m crazy, ME thinking I’m crazy, and all the other hard stuff that comes with distance running, in my life there hasn’t been anything else that’s taught me as much as running has. So I keep doing it. As nauseatingly cheesy as it sounds, each time I finish a run, I swear I’m just a little different than when I started 🙂
Here are my PRs to date:
5k- 22:43 Cancer Care 5k Paramus, NJ 9/23/12
10k- 44:42 Paramus 10k Paramus, NJ 10/21/12
15k- 1:11:59 NYRR Spring Meltdown 15k NY,NY 3/30/14
13.1- 1:38:52 NYC Half 2013 NY,NY 3/17/13
26.2- 3:29:15 (BQ) NJ Marathon 5/5/13
wow you are fast!! how did pregnancy/post-preg change your running ways, if at all? did you get ever feel very discouraged from plateauing at a certain point and not seeing much improvement?
I was not really “competitive” meaning I didn’t race much or view running as more than exercise, until my youngest was a year old so I only saw improvements after having kids. I wasn’t able to run at all during my pregnancies due to complications (I was at high risk for early labor due to cervical problems) so I wound up starting from square 1 after each pregnancy. Running is, before anything else, a psychological release for me, so plateauing doesn’t bother me unless I am trying to gear up for a goal race. Injury has been the biggest bummer but thankfully I have figured out plenty of mistakes I was making and have been training much smarter now, resting more, and eating clean to allow as much recovery between runs as possible. Thanks for reading!
It will take some time.
Just found your blog! Love it! I’m a mom of 4 and a paleo-ish eater. I do better when I eat mostly paleo so that’s in my plan as I get back on track after #4. I started running again after baby #4 (born 8/15) and got some mean shin splints from overtraining. Going to take a bit of a break (did a half last weekend) and then train for the Houston Marathon in January. Do you have any tips or advice on getting over shin splints? I’m planning on cross-training for a few weeks and then starting back slow with low mileage when I feel a bit better. Thanks!
I’ve never personally had shin splints but from what I know, it can be a result of running in the wrong shoes, increasing mileage too quickly or speed too quickly. It sounds like your plan will ease you back in so you can better identify the culprit of the pain! Good luck! And thanks, so glad you’re enjoying the blog 🙂
Running is most important to get your body fresh and healthy. I run in the morning and I am doing this for the last 4 years. Well, it helps me to be energetic for the whole day which helps me to do my college project work sufficiently. Like, nowadays, I am working on a task of college assignments and for that, I am taking online help by go to review of EduBirdie services. I have to write the blogs till late night and that’s why I prefer running daily.
Is it true for us? That we need to run. Your post is good. But I am reading the blog on dental PPC. Thank you for sharing this post related to my work.
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Your journey from being scared of running to becoming a passionate and dedicated runner is truly inspiring.
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