Monthly Challenges...No!
First, I will acknowledge that it has been months since I posted an article under the "Health Is Wealth" category. My goal was to create monthly challenges, then share the results. Well, I failed at that challenge! Still, I am committed to living a healthy lifestyle and will continue to share my journey with you.
Earlier this week, I was admiring a couple who was running in the rain. It’s Seattle, so it’s not uncommon (or even noteworthy) to see, but for some reason it made me think of my own running history.
In 1996, the summer before I headed off to college, my friend introduced me to track running. I could barely do a full lap without getting out of breath, but I persevered, even if it was more of a walk/run routine. My friend did her solo routine, and I did mine. For the first time in my life, I actually felt like an athlete. Given I played zero sports through elementary, middle and high school, this was a big deal!
In the early 2000s, I gravitated toward treadmill running, eventually building my endurance to run for a full 30+ minutes. I also lost a significant amount of weight, over 60 lbs.
Then life happened. I was unhappy in my career and started grad school. Later, my dad’s health declined and passed away. All of this made me stop everything. I shut down and started coping in unhealthy ways like binge eating.
For probably a decade, I would start/stop my running routine, but I never achieved my early 2000s level of fitness success. I even signed up and paid for two 5K runs, but I never showed up! It just seemed like I couldn’t find that “thing” I had years earlier.
Then in 2015, I moved to Seattle. I got a running coach and was inspired all over again. It was the first time in a while that I acknowledged that it was ok to ask for help and have someone run by my side. Well, the 3rd time was the charm because I finally showed up to a 5K! That experience made me promise to always show up, not just for the run, but for myself.
I don’t run much now because of my achy knees. Too bad I can’t count running to catch the bus, which happens almost weekly! In those moments, I miss running. That brief burst of speed makes me feel strong despite having to take a few moments to catch my breath. And I feel encouraged that my imperfect, 40+ year old body still has something to give.
Nowadays, I’m a Barre3 girl and daily walker, and I’m fine with that. But I will be forever grateful for what running not only did for my body, but also what it taught me about myself. I can push myself beyond what I think is possible, and that’s something I can run with anywhere.