More than just a run
I started my year, well, January 2nd, 2013 running. It was cold, snowy, icy....but I ran. I started with a mile. By the time March rolled in I was pushing 5 miles four to five times a week. I live in Ohio, and its freakin' cold in the winter! As the weather warmed, my running actually got....harder. Asthma had reared its ugly head and I struggled with just a half mile. It sucked. When I took my 10 year old for her health physical for track, I asked the doc what he thought about my issues. We decided to try an inhaler. I have never been on an inhaler, except for my brochitis years when I was younger. My 10 year old has been on one for 2 years, only when needed, generally with her allergies and 'exercise induced asthma' related to her track participation.
May has arrived, and I feel much better with each run, but I still feel far from where I was. Our local karate place put on a 5K fun run recently, and while I hadn't ran over a mile in two months, I thought....Why Not? What's the worse that could happen? I don't run for time, I run for me. There was a wide range of ages and abilities. Awesome moms and dads with their 5 year olds, walking couples, speedsters, and many with just the desire to finish their first 5K. I went with no expectations. The terrain was a fun trail along the towpath, with lots of vegation and allergens, but it felt so good to just GO. I walked a few times and I had to use my inhaler when I finished, in addition to my normal usage before the race started....but I did it!
After finishing the run, I met new-to-me runners and really, I LOVE meeting people that like to run. Makes me feel 'normal-ish'! I took second place for women, which was just shocking to me. Like I said, I don't run for time.
When my 11 year old (her birthday was the day of the 5K) saw my medal, she had a lot of questions. She knows my issues and she herself has set limitations for herself already in regards to her distance running abilities... I was very honest with her, my need to walk a few times to ensure I was breathing right, how I felt while running, how I felt when I was finished. She looked me in the eyes and smiling so big...she asked if she could try running a mile with me. At that exact second, that medal changed both of us.
I am lining up one 5K per month this summer minimum, and I have even sweet talked some non runner friends into trying out a fun run with me in August! It has been such a fun journey and even though I have hit roadblocks, my support system keeps me moving. I am so excited to see what happens next!
May has arrived, and I feel much better with each run, but I still feel far from where I was. Our local karate place put on a 5K fun run recently, and while I hadn't ran over a mile in two months, I thought....Why Not? What's the worse that could happen? I don't run for time, I run for me. There was a wide range of ages and abilities. Awesome moms and dads with their 5 year olds, walking couples, speedsters, and many with just the desire to finish their first 5K. I went with no expectations. The terrain was a fun trail along the towpath, with lots of vegation and allergens, but it felt so good to just GO. I walked a few times and I had to use my inhaler when I finished, in addition to my normal usage before the race started....but I did it!
After finishing the run, I met new-to-me runners and really, I LOVE meeting people that like to run. Makes me feel 'normal-ish'! I took second place for women, which was just shocking to me. Like I said, I don't run for time.
When my 11 year old (her birthday was the day of the 5K) saw my medal, she had a lot of questions. She knows my issues and she herself has set limitations for herself already in regards to her distance running abilities... I was very honest with her, my need to walk a few times to ensure I was breathing right, how I felt while running, how I felt when I was finished. She looked me in the eyes and smiling so big...she asked if she could try running a mile with me. At that exact second, that medal changed both of us.
I am lining up one 5K per month this summer minimum, and I have even sweet talked some non runner friends into trying out a fun run with me in August! It has been such a fun journey and even though I have hit roadblocks, my support system keeps me moving. I am so excited to see what happens next!
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