It all started with one off the wall comment from a friend about running a marathon. A comment made by a sender who did not run and received by a receiver that did not run. Just a comment. No past history or basis for accomplishing. Just a comment that sparked something inside the mind of a 30-something year old Mom who didn't have any reason to start running but who was oddly inspired by the statement. So there it was...an OPPORTUNITY. Something new to try when you had lived long enough to try lots of different things. I had dabbled with cooking, cleaning, decorating, shopping, reading, scrapbooking, parenting, teaching, wallpapering, painting and even water skiing, snow skiing, roller skating, ice skating, knee boarding, and biking....but never RUNNING. So why not I thought. Certainly, this must be doable. So then I did what most people do in our society when approached with an interest in something new....I GOOGLED it! When I did, I came across every thing I needed to know to learn to run. Training plans, nutrition plans, and fitness plans. But the most important and most memorable thing I came across was INSPIRATION!! I read an article, actually it was more like a message board, of testimonials of people who learned to run. People from younger (20's) to 'older" (60's) who were beginning runners. I read testimonials from people who fought tremendous weight loss battles, from people who just had major surgeries like knee replacement or open heart surgeries. I read about people who thought they could NEVER EVER in a million years be a runner, but who had succeeded!!! I was pumped!!! If these people had learned to run then by golly, I COULD TOO!
So I started an 8 week training plan exactly like the one I posted here under the RUNNING tab at runningmoms.org. I put my full faith in it because I knew it worked and then I stuck to it. The first month was hard. When I had to "run" for 1 minute without stopping, that was hard. I remembered that it felt like a minute was forever. I remembered pushing myself just to run without stopping for that minute and shoving back those thoughts that told me to JUST QUIT. I made up a string of mantra's that I told myself to get through those early weeks. Mantra's such as " Winners never quit and Quitters never win!!!" and prayers like "Dear God, PLEASE give me the strength, energy, and determination to keep going". You know what?! Positive mantra's and prayers are exactly what helped me to make it through those 8 weeks. I learned that yes, RUNNING IS 90% MENTAL. I learned that what we tell ourselves ABOUT ourselves is extremely powerful. I learned that I could push myself a little harder each time and as long as I didn't QUIT that I could SUCCEED in that week's goal. And of course, over time......your body adapts:)! Your oxygen capacity increases. Suddenly the same amount of work became easier. And I felt stronger than I ever had in my entire life. More stronger and confident than when I was a teen or in my 20's. I realized that it didn't matter that I had had 3 kids, and hadn't exercised in 20 years. I COULD LEARN TO RUN!! AND IT WAS A WONDERFUL FEELING:)!! I did the Rocky dance when I ran a whole mile without stopping.....a million dollars can't buy that feeling! I told myself if I could learn to run 1 mile, then I most certainly could learn to run 2, then 3 and so on. I always think back.....because running that first mile was the most difficult...... yet it was the most REWARDING. And I keep telling myself...IT IS WHAT I AM TELLING MYSELF THAT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE!
That was over 2 years ago, I still enjoy running! I ran my FIRST MARATHON this past June. Some days I think about that......and I inspire my own self. I want to shout out to every woman I know that it's possible for them to become a runner too! I want them to know that they should get rid of ALL THOSE NEGATIVE THOUGHTS that say " I could never......" and replace them with the kinds of thoughts that say " I could!" Running is not for everyone, but EXERCISE is:)! And running just happens to be one of the most convenient forms of exercise I know. Nothing beats the feeling of coming in from a good run!!! The kind of run that energizes you, that makes you feel like you were flying on your feet, the kind of run that let's you know how great it is to be alive and thankful for the body that God gave you. Our bodies are wonderfully amazing and capable instruments!
I don't know what your goals are....I don't know if you are happy with your current level of fitness....I don't know if you have stirrings in you to do something that could change your life for the good in countless ways FOREVER.....but if you are interested....RUNNING is for YOU...click on our RUNNING tab and then choose TRAINING and START TODAY:)!!!
From one running mom to another,
Edna
