Why do I run?

Why do I run?

So many people have asked me that over the years, that I finally came up with my pat answer: “So I can eat ice cream every day”

I don’t necessarily eat ice cream every day, nor do I run everyday, but you get the general idea. I really should say that I run for sanity. I think I may eat ice cream for sanity too.

Running has been a part of my life since I was in high school, I played field hockey, lacrosse and ran winter track (hurdles if you can believe that a 5’4” person can actually clear them – I could even 3 step them by the time I was a senior!) . I then played field hockey and lacrosse all through college. Now, I just run.

When I became a stay-at-home suburban mom (so not what I had planned in my life when I was 25!) running became more important. It was a way out of the house. It was 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 3 hours of me time. Even those runs that I used a baby jogger and had my daughter with me, it was still me time. It’s a little difficult for a 15 month old to have a conversation with mom in the first place, it’s even harder when mom is behind you pushing a jogger and trying her darndest to breathe.   Let me tell you, the year that I ran with the jogger I think I built my speed through it . You try doing 10 minute miles on hills pushing 40 pounds.  I don’t run with it any longer, my daughter weighs 40 pounds and she’s not so quiet any longer.

Running is my sanity check, it’s my stress reliever, it’s my me time. Over time, I’ll be delving into different aspects of running, training, cross training, balancing family, career, volunteerism, etc. It applies to all of us – parents or not. Single or married. There’s a balance in our lives and running is a part of that scale.  I look forward to your comments and thoughts  -The Gabster