My Running Moment: My First Run, Again

Note: This fall, the Ready, Set, Run! blog is featuring a series of guest posts called “My Running Moment: _______.” This series of personal submissions will allow guest writers to share their personal running stories, with the hope that their running stories will be a source of great encouragement to those who read this blog. If you are interested in contributing, please email Jeanne (jnielson@nays.org). 

 

My Running Moment: My First Run, Again

I started running consistently in 2008, when my husband and I got the completely wild notion that we were going to run the Chicago Marathon. I should point out that before that time, I had never been much of an athlete. In fact, I had pretty much failed at every sport I ever tried. Back to 2008. It was a truly crazy time in our lives. We were both working full time and in the middle of adopting our daughter. Our training was going fairly well, until I sprained my ankle on Christmas morning, which is a whole other story. With a bum ankle and winter, training came to a screeching halt. We never ran that marathon, but that was really the starting point for my love of running.

A year later, our adoption process was complete and my ankle was healed, but the training never picked up. I realized that I had to do something. So, I SLOWLY started running again, as well as adding in other workouts. This time, I had to balance that with being a mom. During the months that followed, I quickly learned that I loved the feeling that came after running (or working out) much more than not running.  I loved the “runner’s high” so much, that I started training and competing in triathlons. I wasn’t fast or winning any races, but I loved running and racing. I loved the challenge of running and adding up the miles. I loved finishing what I never thought I could.

In the fall of 2011, I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. With his birth, I looked forward being able to run again. However, I had significant complications with his birth, and wasn’t sure if I would ever be able to run again.

After months of physical therapy, weight lifting and patience, the day arrived when I felt like I could try running. I climbed on the treadmill, set my pace and started running. I was running! And, it felt amazing! That day, my first run after over a year of not running, felt magical. I only ran a mile, but I was running.

In the months that have followed that first run, I have been able to continue running, as well as train for triathlons again.  That run has also taught me to:

 

-                      Set goals. Whether they are big or small, having something to work towards gives such a sense of accomplishment when I reach it. I love being able to raise the bar higher and higher on what I hope to accomplish.

-                      Believe in yourself. Running is as much physical as it is mental. Believe that you can accomplish your goals and complete what you set out to do. If you tell yourself that you cannot do something, you won’t do it.

 

Happy Running!

Charity Cunningham