"I don't mean to brag, but I can run like the wind blows."
I love to run. I probably always have, but didn't understand it to be a favorite thing until I started running with a purpose. It was back in early high school, great pal Kristen Brooks told me she wanted to run in a Rise 'n Shine race. It was a 5k and so she wanted to train but could really use a buddy. Sounded fun, so I was in. We met at various locations (usually around Colby's campus) and ran. One training sesh was on a Wednesday. It got wicked cold and the rain started, we looked at each other and smiled, 'Challenge accepted.' (We didn't say these exact words because HIMYM wasn't a thing then, but if it had been we would have.) When we got back our lungs were on fire, our ears were frozen and our thighs were bright red, but we did it.
The race was fun and from that point on I ran. I used to take our yellow lab, Cordy, with me. And later as the boys got older I'd run with them. Pat got me up many hills including the mega one up Downing Ave. Even before that though, Dad used to take me out running. Hmm, so I guess before the races I did do some purposeful running... In 7th grade, I was on a rec league's co-ed basketball team. Funny enough I was the only girl. Frustratingly enough I was never given the ball. Dad's advice was to blow their socks off till they didn't have a choice but to pass to me. One way to do that was to be the first one down the court, and to do that, I needed to be good at running. He would wake up with us at 5:30am (such a Marine) and run. When I was tired he would say "Just make it to the next telephone pole." and after that "Okay, now just make it to the next one." That mentality of baby steps keeps me running further even today. When I just can't anymore. He'd say "Can't isn't a word."
Needless to say, I enjoy running. I love the challenge before and the accomplishment after. I love pushing myself past that feeling of exhaustion and somehow after cooling off, having twice as much energy as when I started.
So lately I have been bummed out. I say I love to run, but I have fallen out of shape. It makes me sad to think I am no longer good at something I love to do. I also do not appreciate the extra jiggling that has found itself quite comfortable around my midsection (babies'll do that to you.)
And so, like writing, 2013 is, for me, about diving back into what I love.
I missed writing...
Nik said, "So write."
I'd say how much I disliked being out of shape...
Nik said, "So run."
I'm not sure how my brain complicates things to seem hugely unable to happen, but it does and I am ridiculously thankful for my husbands ability to pop that balloon of impossibility, giving me the courage and motivation to simply change.
And though nights with babies are long, a move is in front of us, potential deployment, as well as all sorts of uncertainties-- Today, I took a deep breath, texted Abby, my RFAM (running from afar motivator) and ran. bam. And now I am writing. double bam.
two of my favorite quotes come to mind...
(the original thought from I. Asimov, I edited it and made it mine)
Change is going to happen, might as well embrace it and it will probably be awkward because its new and uncertain, so I'm going to embrace that too. I'm learning and always will be. And I'm good with that. Here's to running, writing and doing what I love. I encourage you to do the same.
PHOTOS:
taken by yours truly.
leaves: with my good friend Ashley when we met up in Old Town Alexandria.
boat: with my mommy, taken off the shore of Benin, Africa
The race was fun and from that point on I ran. I used to take our yellow lab, Cordy, with me. And later as the boys got older I'd run with them. Pat got me up many hills including the mega one up Downing Ave. Even before that though, Dad used to take me out running. Hmm, so I guess before the races I did do some purposeful running... In 7th grade, I was on a rec league's co-ed basketball team. Funny enough I was the only girl. Frustratingly enough I was never given the ball. Dad's advice was to blow their socks off till they didn't have a choice but to pass to me. One way to do that was to be the first one down the court, and to do that, I needed to be good at running. He would wake up with us at 5:30am (such a Marine) and run. When I was tired he would say "Just make it to the next telephone pole." and after that "Okay, now just make it to the next one." That mentality of baby steps keeps me running further even today. When I just can't anymore. He'd say "Can't isn't a word."
Needless to say, I enjoy running. I love the challenge before and the accomplishment after. I love pushing myself past that feeling of exhaustion and somehow after cooling off, having twice as much energy as when I started.
So lately I have been bummed out. I say I love to run, but I have fallen out of shape. It makes me sad to think I am no longer good at something I love to do. I also do not appreciate the extra jiggling that has found itself quite comfortable around my midsection (babies'll do that to you.)
And so, like writing, 2013 is, for me, about diving back into what I love.
I missed writing...
Nik said, "So write."
I'd say how much I disliked being out of shape...
Nik said, "So run."
I'm not sure how my brain complicates things to seem hugely unable to happen, but it does and I am ridiculously thankful for my husbands ability to pop that balloon of impossibility, giving me the courage and motivation to simply change.
And though nights with babies are long, a move is in front of us, potential deployment, as well as all sorts of uncertainties-- Today, I took a deep breath, texted Abby, my RFAM (running from afar motivator) and ran. bam. And now I am writing. double bam.
two of my favorite quotes come to mind...
(the original thought from I. Asimov, I edited it and made it mine)
Change is going to happen, might as well embrace it and it will probably be awkward because its new and uncertain, so I'm going to embrace that too. I'm learning and always will be. And I'm good with that. Here's to running, writing and doing what I love. I encourage you to do the same.
PHOTOS:
taken by yours truly.
leaves: with my good friend Ashley when we met up in Old Town Alexandria.
boat: with my mommy, taken off the shore of Benin, Africa
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