A Year of Running

After my first 5k, September of 2012

It’s my running anniversary!

A year ago today, on July 3rd of 2012, I started the Couch to 5k program and went for my first run. You can read more about my experience here. At the time, I had a 5 month old, a 21 month old, and a distinct lack of energy.  Juggling nap-times, nighttime wakings, nursing, family meals and constant cries for attention had me sleeping every time I had a moment to myself and screening borderline for postpartum depression.  I knew that lack of exercise wasn’t helping, and I was really inspired by how much Greg enjoyed running, so I emailed him the link to Couch to 5k with a question mark, and started that very afternoon.

8 weeks after starting C25k, on the day of my first 5k (September, 2012)

Looking back at my photo memories from races and snapshots of the kids in the double jogger brought back all kinds of emotions.  I have run in fifty degree rain, twenty five degree sunshine, and eighty five degree humidity.  I have run with a single jogging stroller, a double jogging stroller, and on a treadmill.  Not simultaneously.  I have run up wooded hills, around a bay, across bridges, parallel to train tracks, and on an island.  I have run by myself, I have run with friends, I have run with my spouse.  I have run six 5ks, one 10k, and am training for a half marathon.  I have logged over 250 miles since I started running.

I am at a much better stage in parenting now than I was a year ago.  My children both sleep through the night (mostly), they go down for naps without a struggle, they’re both eating the same foods, Will can tell me what’s bothering him, and Andrew is practically walking.  Being a stay at home mom still requires constant energy, but I can do it now, and there are a lot of fun moments.

Things are easier because my kids are older, but I give running a lot of credit for my quality of life.  It forces me to make time for myself at least three times a week.  It gives me a runner’s high of positive chemicals from exercise.  It boosts my energy level during the day and helps me sleep well at night.  It gives me the metabolism to partake in a toddler’s snack schedule.  It’s pretty much awesome.  Even the kids like it, since they often get to participate in my shorter runs in the jogging stroller.  I am so grateful to be here, now, a year from starting C25k and still running.

One of my big fears of finishing C25k was continuing to stay motivated and keep running afterwards.  I stuck with it, even though there were some dry spells in the winter where I didn’t run much, and here I am on my way to a half marathon in September.

Most importantly, here I am, still taking time for myself each week and doing what I need to to be the most rested, energetic, and happy mom I can be for my kids and for myself.  One mile at a time.

If you’re thinking of starting C25k, I hope you go for it.  Just think about where you could be in a year 🙂

Rainy day run! Early summer 2013

Snacks = happy running, Spring 2013

First 5k as part of a team, May 2013

New Year’s Day 5k – my resolution was to keep running! Jan 1st, 2013

No babysitters?  No problem.  5k with the double stroller, April 2013

Winter stroller run, 2012