Challenges

After having a baby, getting back in shape sounds about as appealing as eating eyeballs.  I'm one of those people that enjoy physical activities, so imagine my surprise when I had no motivation to move my rump post baby!  

I've always been a dedicated runner.  Ever since eighth grade track, I've been running.  Maybe it was cross country season, road races, track, whatever.  I was running!

Finding the gumption to kick it in gear after my baby was challenging.  Please don't be mad when I say this...

I had never been out of shape.  Never, ever in my entire life.  That is, of course, until I spent nine months growing a human, eating whatever was in sight, and gaining plenty of "water" weight.  

And no, I was not one of those talented women that ran a marathon the week before I was due.  No sir!  I stopped running around the three month mark.  Then, add an extra month or two for recovery time after giving birth and well, running didn't sound fun.

But I knew I had to do it.

I needed it.

Not because I wanted to lose weight. Nope, it's a part of who I am.

So, on a warm October day, I did it.  

It was slow.

Painful.

Horrifying.

My lungs burned like fire.

I think I did a mile.  A slow mile.  

But I did it.

My body definitely didn't feel the same as it had before a baby.  There was some extra jiggle in my butt and stomach area.  My chest weighed about a ton from producing all that milk.  My stride was short and my feet barely left the pavement.

But I did it.

During my first week of running, I saw a fellow runner I had coached in the past.  Bless his heart, he encouraged me and was impressed that I was running after having a baby.

Meanwhile, I was trying to muffle the sound of my heavy breathing and disguise the painful look on my face.  Perhaps he thought the sun was in my eyes.

 Still, I'm glad I saw him.  Sometimes you need encouragement from a fellow runner, especially if you don't believe in yourself.

What's the status now?  I still run.  It's nothing impressive.  I go for about a half hour.  

Soon, though, my favorite running partner and I are taking my son in the jogging stroller and doing miles upon miles.  I'll be slow compared to her at first, but I know I can do it.

Whatever your passion is, if you've lost it or had to put it on the shelf for whatever reason, go find it.

You won't be sorry.