Two weeks ago I started running!!!! This is something as an adult I don’t do and never really did as a child. I’ve never really been a sporty person, my mum loves telling the most embarrassing stories of myself and my sister attempting to do sports day and how we used to always come last. I used to love the summer as I used to get hay fever from the grass so I used to get my mum to write me a note to excuse me from pe, I never really cared that this would cause me to do a litter pick I was just glad I never had to do pe. 🙂
After leaving school I never done one ounce of fitness it did not interest me, that was until I became a mum. Being a mum to 4 little darlings and hubby being in the army I never really got time to do any fitness, or even really leave the house with out a child attached to me. I became a lover of a Davina dvd and I did manage to get to the gym a handful of times with a friend but these seemed to be phases as they never lasted more then a few weeks thanks to lack of time.
I even done the Race for life about 9 years ago but I don’t recall running much of it, I don’t think I did any other fitness after that for several years. Then about 3 years ago I plucked up the courage to go to Zumba, which pending children I went to twice a week and flipping loved it. I was probably far from being in rhythm but I could not give a flying monkeys, and what made it even better was people started to notice a difference in my body. I did Zumba for some six months or so I believe but I started doing a degree in Health and Social Care so my time became limited with essay dead lines. Then about 2 years ago it stopped completely as my hubby spent an incredible amount of time by his mum’s side as we nearly lost her. I do sit and wonder why though as we get nothing more then a card from her these days but that’s another story!!!
During the summer holidays last year I tried to get my motivation back and started doing the old Davina dvd’s, ok I only managed it two or three times before I got the most devastating news of my life……….. my husband had bowel cancer !!!!!!! So all attempts of fitness went out the window and my focus became cancer and kicking it up the ass!!!! Which I can say we, well hubby for sure kicked it right where the sun don’t shine.
While hubby was going through treatment I could not be any more proud of him, the continued determination and strength that he showed was over whelming. He even tried to do a sponsored beard growing but because of treatment he was unable to fulfil, which in a way I was pleased, as I cannot stand him with a beard it looks terrible. So with this all playing on my mind I decided to sign up for the Race for life, not sure what I was thinking though as this is completely out my comfort zone especially as I don’t run!!!
Not sure when I had in mind that I would start training though as hubby was still going through treatment and life was manic. I had my fitness dvd’s out for some time and even had my workout clothes out to give me motivation but nothing was working, I was also having physio on my shoulder and leg which was not helping things. Well I still have my bad shoulder and leg, but hubby is in remission so two weeks ago I said to my hubby “Shall we go for a run tomorrow after taking the kids to school?” we had been doing a bit of walking after we had taken the kids to school but this was not enough for me, I had a run to prepare for.
So two weeks ago I went for my first run well more like jog and loads of walking with hubby it was tough and as much as I felt I let myself and hubby down it did feel good, I kept at it and wow how things have improved over 7 runs.
Two weeks ago I could not run more then probably ½ a mile with out having to stop as my chest would be to tight and my legs felt like they may give way as they felt like concrete. At the time of writing this I have been for a run 7 times and I can feel and see such a difference already. I can slow run about a mile and a half and I’m getting my breathing under control enabling me to run for longer. My recovery time with my breathing while out running is improving its just my legs feeling heavy that I need to work on, but I’m getting there.
My confidence is growing and my self esteem…… when we started running I would get dressed in normal clothes and even put make up on just to take the kids to school, to then go home and get changed to go for a run. I would then obviously take my make up off to have a shower and then I would do it all over again. This past week I have gone to school in my running clothes with no makeup on and not even put any on after my run, ok this is probs because I have a glow from the running and the sun J. Not only am I improving in my running with massive thanks to hubby as if it was not for him I would still be walking more then running. My confidence is growing not only in my self esteem but to reach out for my dreams…. I’m feeling more positive about things and starting to feel like I have more energy. I’m still waiting for the better sleeping pattern to kick in and hope it will do soon, however my arm, hubby and children are contributing to my crap sleeping pattern at the moment.
I’m so glad I started running and I think I can say I’m starting to enjoy it, but shhhhhh don’t tell hubby!!!! I have never been much of a runner but I’m trying my hardest and as long as you can say that then that’s all what’s matters. So go reach for your shoes and even if you only manage 5 minutes you will feel so much more focused and mentally stronger!!!! Its worked for me!!!!
