A Running Mom

I’ll never forget the day the doctors told me they wanted to induce me on birthday. I had to wonder, “How fun is it going to be to have a baby… to be induced and have a baby… on my birthday? How fun will it be in years to come for the child? For me? Should I even be thinking about the ‘fun,’ when I’m not being induced for the fun, but, hello, the safety of the delivery? Guilt. Guilt. Guilt.” I asked the doctors if there were any other days before or after? And they pointed out how important it was that we did not wait much longer, and that the doctor we all preferred was only available on February 7. So it seemed the best date all around. Well that did it. Of course I would be induced on my birthday.

So the night before, February 6th, I was going about a million things, getting ready to have our third child, when I started to feel contractions. Regularly. All through the night. By the time I got to the hospital, they were strong and consistent. Bada-bing-bada-boom, I had gone into labor on my own on my birthday! Can you stand it? Yes, it was the best birthday ever. But I must admit, every birthday with Abby becomes more fun. It’s truly special and a blessing.

Happy Birthday, Abby! Now, when do we get to go for our first birthday run together? That will, no doubt, be a truly great run.

May your next run be a good one.

Rebecca

Do you run in the single digits?  I’m not the biggest fan of zero degree running. Nose hairs freeze. Sometimes I start to wheeze. Don’t like the chilly breeze. No, not for me, zero degrees.

So imagine this morning, thinking we were about to get a nice warm front coming through, dressing for a nice, four-mile run, only to get out in the crunchy snow to find it is ZERO DEGREES!

Off to the treadmill I went. Like a hamster. Sweating profusely in too much clothing. (Of course, I couldn’t be bothered with changing into my treadmill gear. You know, didn’t have much time. That kind of thing.) I loathe treadmill running. So I did intervals. Lunges. More intervals. Inverted sit-ups. More intervals. I saw 150 calories burned go by and ran some more. Perfect.

And then I ordered a cheddar burger for lunch.

Did you run on your treadmill today? How did you manage to keep yourself sane?

May your next run be a good one.

Rebecca

I’m struck by clarity when I run. I mean really struck. Like bolt of lightening struck. It’s an amazing feeling to have an issue clobbering me for days and then shazzam, I go for a run and I get it. I don’t know if that means I have a bit of glue stuck in my head, my heart or my neurological pathways, that keeps me from processing issues to their completion, or if for me, running just makes me focus on whatever is most on my mind so I deal with it!

I listened to a friend tell me the story of finding some questionable items in her husband’s pile of debris from his pockets that made her worry that he might be cheating. I remember as she told me, we were at the 4-mile marker of a 6-mile run. We had reached the top of a hill. I looked at her. I knew. She was right. I didn’t know her or her husband that well, but her suspicion had to be right on. I just knew it.

I spoke to another friend during a very quick run about her need to leave her husband. She couldn’t bring herself to do it yet. But she felt strongly that she needed to act. I felt in my toes that she was absolutely correct.

And then another friend confided in me that she knew she loved this fellow and that they were to marry. Not right away. But she knew he was the one. I was the only one she told. And yes, she shared this with me while we ran a quick, 2-mile run on a warm, spring day.

Maybe we all get a little clarity on a good run. Go out and get yours today. I’m off to find mine.

May your next run be a good one.

Rebecca

We visited friends in Philly this weekend. We had a blast telling stories, eating yummy food, and watching the kids have fun together after not seeing each other for years. Best thing for me was that I got in a good run right in the middle. I didn’t have a lot of time, since I didn’t want to disappear for too long. So I took off in search of the best hill I could find. It was just a mile away. A gradual climb at first and then a steep finish, for about a half a mile. Perfect. Plus, in true Philly fashion, it offered me views of hills, historical homes and happy people. I loved it. I ran pretty fast and pretty hard for 30 minutes. For me, it was just what I needed to enjoy sharing more stories, eating more food and having fun playing with all six kids!

Go Steelers!

May your next run be a good one.

Rebecca

A Running Mom :: 2009 :: January ::
http://www.arunningmom.com .