From the Heart of Illinois: Got My Running Legs Back...

Well I am officially back into running. I started up again after my post-natal check up back in June and have completed a few races already. On October 22 I ran the 5 mile "Red Ribbon Run" in Springfield and this last weekend I ran the 15K (9 mile) "Hot Chocolate" in Chicago. It has felt great to get back into it and I even coaxed my sisters to give racing a try. I think I have them hooked too! I ran the Red Ribbon with both Ela and Danuta and the Hot Chocolate with Ela. It was Ela's 34th birthday on Nov. 5th, which was race day, so it was a great opportunity to get in a great run and then be together to celebrate. I have the Turkey Trot coming up in Peoria and then I plan on training through the winter for some half marathons next spring and fall. Hopefully even meeting up with some of my good friends from Fort McMurray for one of them!

Danuta, Ela and I getting pumped up the morning of the race

Post-race smiles

So a lot of people ask me why I run. After all it's not the number one choice of activities for many people. For me it started back shortly after having Aniela. I initially just wanted to get out of the house and get some exercise. So I looked up a moms running group in Az and met up with Jen. Jen and I started out walking and after a few months of meeting for walks we thought we would try incorporating some running and eventually signed up for a 5K. Then after the 5K we did the rock-in-roll half marathon. After that marathon I was hooked. We continued with racing and even did sprint triathlons all the way up to the day we moved to Canada. Then in Canada I continued running and met, Diana and Suzy, who are now life-long friends. That's another great thing about running, the people you meet and the friendships you make are definitely the best. They understand running and are always there to motivate.

My Support Team

I never was a runner and if you asked me 5 years ago if I would do a race I would have probably given you a crazy look and thought, "no way could I do that." But you know what if you have healthy legs then you can do it. You don't need to go fast you just need to put one foot in front of the other. And often times when I am hurting during a run or race I think of the people who can't run for one reason or another and that drives me to keep going. Running is a passion of mine now. There are many days I dread it. Believe me waking up in the morning when it's pitch black and snowing is not my idea of fun. But I push myself to get out there because I know that the feeling I get afterward is worth it.

I think the biggest drive that keeps me running is the time I get to myself. It's my time to meditate, or to not think of anything, to blow off steam, or to just make me feel good about myself. It's my medicine for a healthy me, body and spirit, and I hope to keep doing it as long as my body allows me to.

Ela and I celebrating our race and her 34th birthday!