Thinking About Running for Myself and for Others

I first started running at age 28 after having 3 babies in less than 5 years and I soon realized how beneficial running was for me. The actual act of running didn’t always feel good, but I liked how I felt during the rest of life when I ran regularly.

Running balances me and makes me feel more fully alive.

Fast forward 10+ years and I find myself lost in the deep dark hole of depression after being mangled in a nasty accident with doctors telling me running was definitely a thing of my past. Doctors are experts in their field, but I am the expert of my body and I knew a return to running would help me, so I slowly did what I could to strengthen my beatup body through physical therapy, walking and biking until I was able to run again.

At first, my return to running was for me. I did it so I could enjoy life again. I did it for my sanity. I did it for my body, my mind and my soul. 

And it’s been a good thing. While I have down days here and there (who doesn’t?) I don’t struggle with depression anymore. And now that I’ve been running again for 4 years, I’m more convinced than ever that our bodies are meant to move and I wish everyone knew how regular exercise impacts every area of our life.

Having said that, my goal in life is not to convince everyone to run. Not everyone can and not everyone wants to. Running is not the point, moving is… and that means different things for different people.

My goal is to encourage people to do what they can with, with what they have, where they are. And since running helps me live well, so I want to use it to help others live well also.

That’s why I’m involved with the YES I CAN 5K, which I wrote about in A 5K for my Sister, the Special Olympics and YOU! One of our local radio hosts, Jackie from Y102 is co-directing the event, so to help promote it, I was on the air with Jackie and Scott recently.

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Here is the audio of the few minutes I was on-air…

On Y-102 for the Yes I CAN 5k

This 5k raises money for Special Olympics, so the more people that do it, the more funds that will be available to help folks with major obstacles live life well.

So consider doing something for yourself and for others by walking and/or running the 3.1 miles at the YES I CAN 5K on Sept 8, 2012. Application forms are here. Mail the application by Monday 8/13 and save $5 on the registration fee. (You can register up to the morning of the race for $30)