My Running Moment: After Sports

Note: This fall, the Ready, Set, Run! blog has featured a series of guest posts called “My Running Moment: _______.” This series of personal submissions has allowed 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: After Sports

I liked basketball. OK, I loved basketball. And, I still do. But, unfortunately, I’m now “on the other side” of the peak of my basketball career…if you can even call it that. I played through high school and, while I wasn’t a Division I talent, was fortunate enough to play college basketball at the Division III level. I loved every minute of it, and tried my best to get the most out of my talent. They were great years!
 

Then, after 4 years of college basketball, all of a sudden it was over. Just like that…no more games, no more fans cheering, and no more grueling practices with teammates. While I still like to play hoops now and then, it will never be like it was back then. So, basketball became something in my life – a place of exercise, physical exertion, and fun – that needed to be replaced with something else.
 

As a basketball player, I never thought of myself as a “runner,” or even a person who thought much about personal health and fitness. Even though I ran countless sprints in practice, I never really thought of basketball as “running.” When I stopped playing, though, I began to realize how much I liked just being active. How good it made me feel to run – to exercise in a regular way. And so, I did something I never thought I’d do: I started running. Not a lot, and not necessarily every day. But…running. Just for fun.
 

Running has now, more and more, become a normal part of my life – something that I do for exercise, health, and pure enjoyment. I try to run 2-3 times a week, often pushing my little girl in her jogging stroller. I’ve even run a marathon with my (more serious runner!) wife! While I probably won’t ever play basketball again in front of thousands of fans, I’m thankful that regular exercise and healthy living haven’t disappeared from my life. I can always run. And I hope I’ll be running for many years to come.


-Jon

My Running Moment: Began as a Child

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: Began as a Child

My running moment began as a child. Growing up, being active and exercising was part of my daily routine. My dad is a high school football coach and athletic director, so going to sporting events every night was my life. Being active was really not an option. My first memories of "running" were with my mom - as a rider first, in a jogger, and later on as a runner. We spent endless hours as a family running and walking around the track while Dad finished up with practice.
 

My mom devoted the majority of her life to raising her children. I am the second of four kids and I am so thankful for the example my parents gave of what a family should look like. Some of my greatest memories as a kid were in my mom’s jogging stroller for hours as she ran. As I got older, those runs turned into bike rides, and eventually running next to her. Over the years, these runs/walks have been filled with conversations that I am forever grateful for now as an adult.
 

However, I will say I never have considered myself a runner. Thanks to my sister-in-law, my runs have become a lot more regular as we recently ran a marathon together. But, if I had to sum up one single running moment it would be very hard. I would have to say it has, more or less, been a life spent thankful for the example set for me at an early age that exercise is important and can be enjoyed as a gift.
 

Currently, running is my release. Working full time and being a wife feels like enough responsibility for now. Running is a reason to put everything aside and just get away to think, chat with a friend, or just go.
 

Not a day goes by that I am not grateful for the blessing it is for me to be able to run and enjoy being outside!  Running has always been part of my life and I hope will continue to be something I can enjoy for many years to come.

Lyndee Biles Nielson

nyc marathon & Sandy

I have been blessed to enjoy (or mostly enjoy) running several different marathons so far in my life. Let me tell you, those marathons were a BIG deal to me. I trained for them faithfully and consistently. I had the marathon date circled on my calendar - months before it actually came. Friends trained with me and came to support me during the races. The marathon - both the training for it and the actual race - occupied a lot of "space" in my life. And that was a good thing!

Still, there are days when we all need to remember that running is not just about...running. It's about life. There's a danger in anything we love - a danger that it will become an obsession, and not just a wonderful part of life that we enjoy and cherish with friends. The marathons I have run have played a big part in my life, but they do not DEFINE my life. My life is not defined by running any more than it is defined by food, entertainment, or a nice pair of shoes! Running and other forms of exercise are meant to ENRICH our lives, not become an obsession that takes away from living life with people we love.

Last weekend, the city of New York made a statement along these same lines. They did something that would have been unthinkable, even a month ago: they cancelled the New York City Marathon. In light of the damage, destruction, and suffering caused by Hurricane Sandy, they decided to prioritize in a different direction than a race. People, money, other resources - these should, at least on this week, be directed primarily to help those who have lost so much in the past few days. New York City, as much at is loves its marathon, made a statement that it cares about people even more. It's not just about running. Running isn't just about running. It's about life.

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

My Running Moment: Philadelphia 2011

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: Philadelphia 2011

I love to run because for me running is an adventure!  Whether I’m running a new route around my neighborhood, in another state or in another country, I love the thrill and excitement that running brings when I can experience new things.  Traveling by plane, car or bike is great, but I feel like I really soak in the place when I’m on my own two feet running around – plus it’s a chance to feel like a kid again!

 

In training for a fall marathon I was able to experience the shifting of the seasons from a hot summer to the changing leaves and the cooler fall.  Some rain and snow mixed in along the way all helped to add to the adventure.  There’s nothing better than running along a tree lined path with that fall smell in the air and the crunch of leaves beneath my feet.  But most of all the Philadelphia Marathon highlighted the three biggest reasons why I love to run:

 

1. To go new places: as I mentioned, I like adventures and going to a brand new city to run a race is one of my favorites.  It’s so fun to run in a new city and take in the scenery and Philadelphia did not disappoint.  From running by the Art Institute where Rocky famously ran the steps, to the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, the Philadelphia Zoo, along the Schuylkill River and more, the race course was full of things to see and cheering people along the way.  Plus, being fueled by some of Philly’s delicious fresh, homemade pasta from the market the night before, it was bound to be a great run!

2. To push myself: this marathon was the fastest time I have ran to date, but it was by far the most painful run as well.  My training was great and I was ready to go but it was an uncharacteristically warm and sunny day in late November and I was really starting to feel it already by mile 16.  However, having trained so hard and being on a good pace to finish, I pushed through mile by mile straining for the next water stop and finally the finish line.  I learned that day that the body is an amazing thing and can go much farther than I thought. I had run 4 marathons before this one, but on this day I was elated to know I truly gave it my best effort and had nothing left in the tank. 

3. To inspire others:  I love meeting new people at races; everyone has a great story of how they ended up there.  Best of all, at this race I got to stay with a friend who lives in the city and she came with me to see the race and cheer me on.  It was the first race she had ever been to and she was hooked – she loved cheering for all of the runners and the camaraderie of thousands of people pushing themselves and encouraging each other at the same time.  It’s pretty overwhelming to have 35,000 people running through the streets of Philadelphia at 7 am with smiles on their faces and nervous excitement in the air.  Since then she has been inspired to run herself…6 days a week for 3-4 miles at a time.  And she even likes it; amazing for someone who had never run regularly before.  Most people don’t think they can do it so they never try because they don’t want to fail.  But having someone they know taking a chance encourages them to step out of their comfort zone and try it as well.  As I found out, this was so rewarding for both her and me!  

There are so many reasons I run and too many memorable races to relive here.  I urge you to set a goal, find a race you want to sign up for and go for it; I guarantee you’ll have a great story to tell at the end of it all.  You will find out more about yourself than you ever thought and maybe even inspire some friends to come with you on the journey along the way.  Best of luck and happy running!

 

Nicole Calvin

healthy & active...together!

A lot of our blogs are about personal fitness – the importance of having a commitment as an individual to a life that is active, healthy, and balanced. And that'’s good! We all need to challenge ourselves toward greater levels of commitment, personally, in these areas. Health and active living won'’t just “happen.” We need to be going after it.

But, we want to remember, too, that one of the best ways to get into the good and healthy habits that make up an active lifestyle is to get there as a family. We don'’t do this alone; we shouldn'’t have to! A family can together make a decision to “set the tone” for what their family life will look like – either unhealthy and inactive, or something quite the opposite. Here are just a few suggestion to get you thinking about how your family can take some simple steps toward going after a healthy and active lifestyle together:

1. Watch less television.
It'’s great to have a few T.V. shows or sports teams that you watch together. But don'’t make family life all about the television. Limit it. Set parameters (on yourselves, too, parents!) for how often the television will be on during the day. Chances are, with the television turned off, you’re not going to spend all of your time sitting on the couch, with nothing to watch! Treat the TV. as a “special” treat, not as a constant presence.

2. Sit down and eat together – for as many meals as possible!
You'’ve all heard that the statistics point clearly to the healthy benefit of eating a few solid meals in a day, rather than unhealthy snacking all the time. One easy way to move in that direction is to sit down, gather around the table, and eat meals together.  Eat at the table, not “on the run,” or standing around in the kitchen. Make meal time family time, and limit the unhealthy snacking tendency.

3. Make your own fun.
Parents (and kids!): get creative. Make a decision to do something together that you haven'’t tried before. Go to the gym all together, and play basketball. Take a jog/walk as a family in the park. Go on a bike ride. Explore a forest preserve, or walk around a lake together. A key part of making new habits as a family will be breaking the old ones (especially if they include sitting around watching T.V. every evening). Make a drastic change, and do something fun and active – together.

4. Start habits early.
If you'’re a parent of young children, you have a major advantage! You can start now, so that your kids grow up being used to a family that eats healthy, stays active, and does both exercise and fun activities together. When the weather is warm, make a family tradition out of an after-dinner walk. In the winter, head to your local gym every Saturday morning together, or go for a hike in the woods. It'’s easier to set the course now, then change it later!

Doing this together as a family is only going to strengthen your individual resolve to eat healthy, stay active, and live well. So, next time you find yourselves standing around and snacking before an evening of several hours planted in front of the television… -reconsider! Sit down as a family. Look each other in the eye and talk. And then head out to do something active and fun together.

My Running Moment: Disneyland 2011

Note: This fall, the Ready, Set, Run! blog will feature a series of guest posts called “My Running Moment: _______.” This series of personal submissions will attempt to 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:  Disneyland 2011

Last September I ran my first ever half-marathon. I had never really thought about running for fun until I made the decision that in order to stay healthy I needed to start moving! As a former collegiate athlete I always ran because I had to stay in playing shape. When college ended I felt that I had done enough running for a lifetime. After a few years I realized that I had made an unhealthy decision. I was lethargic and unhappy.

While talking with some of my friends I found that they felt the same way. We decided that together we were going to change our habits. Our goal was to train together and hold each other accountable for healthy living. With that, our goal of running in a half-marathon was born and in September we traveled to the happiest place on earth and completed our first half-marathon. Since then, I have continued in my healthy choices and have been able to run in another half-marathon and even went so far as to run a full marathon!

How I Did It:

1. Partner Up – Find support from friends and family. Having training partners is wonderful. They keep you accountable to stick to a schedule. On days when you can’t run together call a friend/family member to say when you will start, when you want to finish, and what pace you want to run at; at the end of the run check back in to share your progress.

2. Set Realistic Goals – As I trained, I set many goals. I made sure that they were attainable and would motivate me on my journey. It is really easy to just think of an end result, but you have to plan on how to get there. Each time I met a goal I made a new one. You will be surprised at how much you can accomplish in a short amount of time.

3. Make It Fun – Yes, I ran with friends at Disneyland, but that is not the only fun that I had. I ran in my neighborhood, at the gym, and also found new places to run around my community. I would also play games while I ran. Not every run is easy so you have to make it fun! I would challenge myself to run through three songs or I would set distance challenges.

I started running to challenge myself to make better choices and to live a healthier lifestyle. I found out that I really enjoy it. It challenges me and makes me stronger physically and mentally. Like most things that are hard, they have lasting impacts. I didn’t only change part of my life I changed all of it. I have been able to apply the above three steps to other parts of my life with great success. When faced with a challenge at work or home I find a support group, set goals, and make it fun. Who knew that when I started this journey I would be rewarded with so much! My “running moment” has become a running lifestyle.

Kristie Birkenstock