Twenty


On Saturday, after doing yard work, talking to neighbors, vacuuming the minivan, folding clothes and setting the kids up for a picnic on the lawn, I decide to go for a run.

I laced up my Brooks running sneakers that I had bought so many years ago, left the kids playing in the front yard with my husband nearby, and took off down the street.

“Five minutes“, I told myself, knowing that I really should do that Couch to 5K plan which starts off nice and easy. But, I get dizzy trying to keep track of my time in such short bursts of run/walk, so it’s easier for me to do it my way.

Down the street and I was panting. Running sooooo slllllooooowwwwlllly, it seemed funny to be breathing hard, but I knew I just had to get past that wall and my breathing would calm down a bit.

Five minutes! Wow, that went fast.

How does everything feel?

Some of you may remember why I stopped running. I ran after I had Jilly, my second, but I got pregnant so soon afterward with our son, D, that I didn’t have a chance to run a lot. And then part of my insides decided to fall out, and that put an end to me running.

Forever, I thought.

Ten minutes. Wave to neighbors who yell “Keep going! Keep going!”

I keep going.

At 15 minutes, I’m on a long street thinking about how many time I ran this street before. I’ve run it when I was pregnant with Belly, and then pushing Belly in her Baby Jogger. I’ve run it in 80 degree heat with Jilly in my belly. I even pushed both girls in the Double Jogger a few times before.

That was, what, six years ago? Seven?

I am so slow a child on a bicycle could whiz by me in a blur. My feet are coming up and down, just a few inches to minimize the jolting on my body (hey, how’s everything doing in there?).

And then, as I close in on 20 minutes and my street appears in sight, I realize I love doing this. I don’t want to run a marathon, a half or even a 10k. I just want to go out on a lovely day, a rainy day, a snowy day, and put one foot in front of the other on the hard concrete and feel my asthmatic lungs fill with air.

Some may derisively call what I’m doing “jogging”, but no sirree, I’m running.

Running!

Comments

  1. the new girl says

    Good for you!

    Having your insides fall out is just…so hideously UNFAIR. As if we don't sacrifice ENOUGH already.

    Sheesh.

  2. the new girl says

    Good for you!

    Having your insides fall out is just…so hideously UNFAIR. As if we don't sacrifice ENOUGH already.

    Sheesh.

  3. kiwi gomes says

    You go girl! It's that time of year! I'm smiling at the treadmill … did some walk/running myself 😉 I hope to see you run by my house!

  4. kiwi gomes says

    You go girl! It's that time of year! I'm smiling at the treadmill … did some walk/running myself 😉 I hope to see you run by my house!

  5. Go, Beaker, go!!!

    There's something so freeing about running outside. Reminds me of that scene in Friends when Phoebe runs all kooky because, well, it's just more fun to run like a kid.

  6. Go, Beaker, go!!!

    There's something so freeing about running outside. Reminds me of that scene in Friends when Phoebe runs all kooky because, well, it's just more fun to run like a kid.

  7. Yeah!!! Good for you. So glad you kept your bladder in. 🙂
    I'm not looking to run a race either. I actually have a bit of a fear of even running in front of people. I hide out on my treadmill. I'm hoping to come out of that so that I can be outside where it is much more exciting. But to run just to run is the best part, I think. The competitive-running-in-front-of-everyone-and- being-timed thing doesn't really turn me on either, at least not yet.

  8. Yeah!!! Good for you. So glad you kept your bladder in. 🙂
    I'm not looking to run a race either. I actually have a bit of a fear of even running in front of people. I hide out on my treadmill. I'm hoping to come out of that so that I can be outside where it is much more exciting. But to run just to run is the best part, I think. The competitive-running-in-front-of-everyone-and- being-timed thing doesn't really turn me on either, at least not yet.

  9. Yeah! Great job.

  10. Yeah! Great job.

  11. There seems to be a lot of that going around! Starting the couch to 5k tonight at the gym.

  12. There seems to be a lot of that going around! Starting the couch to 5k tonight at the gym.

  13. Tracey - Just Another Mommy Blog says

    You go girl!

  14. Tracey - Just Another Mommy Blog says

    You go girl!

  15. Suburb Sierra says

    I have vivid dreams of running and enjoying it, but then in real life I hate every minute of it so I don't do it…maybe I should give this couch to 5K thing a shot? Hmmm…off to explore.

    Oh, and good job! 🙂

  16. Suburb Sierra says

    I have vivid dreams of running and enjoying it, but then in real life I hate every minute of it so I don't do it…maybe I should give this couch to 5K thing a shot? Hmmm…off to explore.

    Oh, and good job! 🙂

  17. Saw your status update on Facebook and literally applauded!!!

    Go Christine go!

    (My word verification is "restio". IGNORE IT.)

  18. Saw your status update on Facebook and literally applauded!!!

    Go Christine go!

    (My word verification is "restio". IGNORE IT.)

  19. I am going to do this. I am going to do this. I am going to do this.

  20. I am going to do this. I am going to do this. I am going to do this.

  21. I only run, if being chased.

    Please do not chase me.

    But…yea! I'm so glad you've discovered your love of running again…like the wind, my friend…like the wind!!!!

  22. I only run, if being chased.

    Please do not chase me.

    But…yea! I'm so glad you've discovered your love of running again…like the wind, my friend…like the wind!!!!

  23. How I long to be out there again, running my own familiar streets. I'm so glad you got to "put one foot in front of the other" and just breathe.

  24. How I long to be out there again, running my own familiar streets. I'm so glad you got to "put one foot in front of the other" and just breathe.

  25. Boston Mamas says

    DUDE! Good for you! We now officially need to sit in the same "never say never" corner.

  26. Boston Mamas says

    DUDE! Good for you! We now officially need to sit in the same "never say never" corner.

  27. Mama Goose says

    Nice!

    Thanks for the inspiration to get back at it.

  28. Mama Goose says

    Nice!

    Thanks for the inspiration to get back at it.

Leave a Reply to lori Cancel reply

*

CommentLuv badge