How I am Rediscovering Running

If you’ve been a semi-avid reader of this blog since at least the beginning of the year, you’ll know that I used to be a regular runner – this was somewhere between Baby #1’s first birthday and falling pregnant with baby #2. But, with 2 kids, I haven’t been able to get my mojo back…until now! I’ve started and restarted trying to run regularly, trying to make myself love it again. I’d just about given up – maybe I’m not a real runner, maybe it’s not for me…Sad what lack of sleep and trying to be everything to everyone can make you think 🙂

I’m happy to say that I have kicked that way of thinking and have been running at least 3 times per week for the past month. On top of that the pounds are dropping off, I’m standing taller and I feel stronger. Here’s what I’m doing to keep on track. Your situation may be a little different from mine, but hopefully it gives you some ideas for changing the way you see where you are and how you can get to where you want to be.

Make a date with yourself. I’m scheduling running like I would schedule anything else. The thing is, once I write it down and commit to it, even the 5:30 AM runs don’t seem so bad. In fact, I start to look forward to my run dates as much as anything else that I write in my diary. I’m also keeping myself accountable for running at least 3 times per week, if I have to miss a running date earlier on in the week, then something has to give to make up for it later on in the week.

Immerse yourself in healthy. I’m rediscovering blogs that I used to read from other moms who run. It’s always inspiring, sometimes funny and touching to read the following blogs: Run Wifey Run and her travels, Another Mother Runner dealing with depression and Run Fast Mommmy reminding us mama runners to keep it real. Choose to be inspired not envious.

I’m also reading books about being healthy. I’ve had AJ Jacobs’ Drop Dead Healthy in my possession since the FITNESS Meet & Tweet earlier this year, but I haven’t wanted to read it, I was too afraid of really looking at my own unhealthy habits. Now that I am reading it, I am actually patting myself on the back for what I am doing right.

Pacing myself. Their were many roadblocks keeping me from enjoying running like I used to, but one of the biggest was me judging myself and expecting more than what was physically possible. I’ve started running heaps of times in the past, but the only time I had success was when I used the Couch to 5K training plan. What I love about this program is the pace – you build miles at a reasonable pace, perfect for my body, perfect for my weak ankles. The only race I am running is with myself and once I remembered this everything truly fell back into place.

Not being able to go straight out and run an easy 10k a couple of months after giving birth was also another source of my frustration, after all I used to run half marathons. I was being hard on myself, I was being impatient. But, the reality is with months of inactivity while being pregnant, I would have to build my base miles again.  I like following a plan, it makes it easier for me to see my progress, so I have created a Bridge to 10K plan cobbled together from various sources. It’s working well for me and I can see my base miles clocking up and feel my body getting ready for the longer distances I so love.

How you are rediscovering something you are passionate about?