run like a girl

i don't know exactly what inspired me to put on my running shoes

that early september morning

maybe it was the sun

maybe i needed to get out of the house

maybe i finally wanted to get rid of the "baby weight"

(is it still baby weight after 4 years?!)

maybe i wanted to get active

i couldn't even make it around my block

yes, i know pathetic

but you are talking about a girl who is allergic to exercise

when i finally made it back to my house

i laid on the floor ready to pass out

zoe touched my head and asked in a concerned voice, "mommy are you ok?!"

the next day my sweet hubs, who didn't want me to get discouraged
 took me to a nearby track and said

"try running around the track once without stopping"

and i did it!

a few days later, he said

"try running around the track twice without stopping"

and i did it!

a few days after that, he said

"try running around the track three times without stopping"

and by golly gee i did it!

and so forth and so forth

i didn't want to tell my sisters just yet

they are both marathoners

and i didn't want the pressure

but one day i let my little secret out

"i started running..."

(if you can even call it that)

immediately they started giving me advice

taking me out for runs

helping me buy cute running gear

(a girl still has to look cute running you know!)

and slowly but surely i was up to running 5k

my sister told me to sign up for my first race--a 10k

double what i was doing at the time!

 she told me i needed a goal

i tried to regularly run as much as i could through the week

my parents would watch my girls so i could run

my hubs would wake up early sunday mornings, tired as heck, but would still run with me

my sister would pick me up and run in the rain with me

my baby sister would take me to the gym and work out with me to strengthen my weak legs

exactly seven days ago

this was my sis and me running my first 10k race

she stayed with me every step of the way

this is zoe, my mom and pia waiting for me at the finish line

(my hubs, dad and future brother-in-law were also there)

here's all three of us at the finish line

i still don't know what motivated me to put on my running shoes

that september morning

but i sure do know what kept me motivated to continue running...

my amazing family.

so if you can, go run like a girl (or a boy!)