Run Baby, Run!

My journey to physical wellness started again in mid-2020. I was divorced about 6 months and was stuck, with the rest of the world, on lockdown due to the pandemic. I had no excuses anymore and nothing but time. I was not unhealthy or needing to lose weight, necessarily, but I had not made myself a priority for years. And while I had definitely lost some weight through the separation/divorce process, I was not doing anything good for my body and I didn't have the excuse of "being too busy" anymore. When I started thinking about working out again, I realized that I probably had not worked out regularly since my "wedding dress diet" (the fear of walking down the aisle and looking awful in a dress with hundreds of people staring at me) in 2006/2007 that prompted me to get into shape and lose a significant amount of weight I had put on since entering into a relationship with my ex.

While my weight was stable post-babies, I definitely had not made my health a priority in many ways. Having grown up an athlete, it was kind of pathetic that I completely neglected my body and my own personal wellness for so long. I worked out periodically with my new neighbor friend in her home gym, but it was not until the pandemic (a few months in) that I finally decided to start making my wellness a priority. So, I began to run.

I was never a runner. In fact, I was slow as could be and had always hated running. I played all sports known to man growing up and probably 99% of my coaches complained about my slowness - it definitely held me back in some sports such as soccer. I had previously tried running as an adult and did complete the Couch to 5k program successfully, but hated every minute of it and did not stick with the running once I hit the 5k end of the program.

I decided during the pandemic, though, since a gym was not an option and I had nothing but extra time with the world shut down, that I would give running a chance again. So, I started with the couch to 5k program again and after going day to day watching the clock for the first few weeks, the run became my sanctuary. Even running through the intense Texas summer, I found it relaxing and freeing in many ways. I finally found a groove and within no time, I was done with the 5k program and was successfully running without stopping and watching the clock. This was huge for me - overcoming the mental hurdle of running and being bored was such a big deal.

I decided to keep going and went on to complete the 5k to 10k program - I recall starting this and thinking I was absolutely insane for trying it, but I wanted to keep challenge myself. The world was still mostly shut down, I had no interest in going to a gym and sharing equipment with other people and this kept me active. And in no time, I was done with the 10k program. In less than 6 months I went from walker to a runner. I was a runner! And for the first time in a long time, I saw muscles that I had not seen in years and I felt really good. Running became my happy place, my escape, and the beginning of a wellness journey that would take some interesting detours.

I learned several things on my running journey:

1. Don't look too far ahead - focus in the present - looking too far ahead always made the run that much more challenging (this would prove to be a good lesson in life)

2. Invest in good running shoes and socks

3. I will never be a long distance runner - 10k was about it for me and I was good. As a slow runner, the time it took to do the longer runs on a regular basis became a big investment of time that I just could not commit to on an ongoing basis

4. You can do anything you put your mind to! - I think I already knew this, but had not challenged myself in a while - at the beginning I definitely had thoughts that "I was not a runner", but soon enough those thoughts changed and "I was a runner"

5. Running when the concrete is wet is not a good idea for a clumsy Elizabeth. You fall harder the older you get, just saying. Ouch.

6. Music and podcasts are your friend during running - such a great escape

As I look back on becoming a pandemic runner, I have to be proud of myself. It may have taken the world shutting down for me to no longer make excuses about working out, but whatever it took - I finally made a change and decided to make my own physical wellness a priority. And once it became a priority, there was no looking back. What started as a day by day activity turned into a habit that I looked forward to and needed in my life. And here we are....run baby, run!