Running

While this blog is mostly about my kids and their growth I feel like it might be okay to talk about myself once in a while.  I guess I am a part of our family history as well. 

I learned a long time ago that my health (mostly my mental health) depends on me exercising regularly.  I also have learned that I do better when I am working towards accomplishing a goal.  I ran a 5k on the fourth of July and it left me hungry for the next step.  I wanted to do something I had never done before.  This led to signing up for my first half marathon this fall.  I strained my hip flexor little less than a month before the race and spent two weeks injured and wondering if I was going to be able to even run the race.  I was able to pull it off and came in about two minutes slower than my original goal.  (Nat came in fifteen minutes faster than our goal, which is another story for another time.  He's an animal.) I was pleased but felt like I had more in me and this led to signing up for a Spring marathon.  Which led to this morning's run in the snow.  I came home soaked but happy that I found it in me to get up at quarter to five and go despite the weather.  I was so frozen that I didn't even notice that my reflective vest had inched all the way up my torso.  I have a great group of ladies that I am training with and that have similar goals.

I also love what running does for my relationship with my body.  This body of mine has made four healthy boys and now comes along with me as I chalk up mile after mile.  I really feel like I find myself along the way.

Pushing myself like this physically and having the strength (both mentally and physically) leaves me really grateful.  Grateful that I have a body that can run, grateful that I've learned what I need to do to keep myself happy, grateful for the ladies that keep me happy and entertained through all these miles, grateful that I live in such a beautiful place, grateful that we have the means to pay for another pair of running shoes, grateful for my mom who exercises every day of her life and grateful that I have a husband that supports and encourages me.   Grateful is a good, good place to be.