Some time ago, I mentioned that I would be participating in a run in October. Specifically, it’s a 5K run in support of breast cancer research called Run for the Cure – if you’re Canadian, you have likely heard of it. I was inspired to participate in this run for a number of reasons. The biggest one is probably that my mother-in-law was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, and underwent a mastectomy. She will hopefully be having reconstructive surgery soon. Before this, I hadn’t really been touched by breast cancer. Her diagnosis and treatment have made it real.
But the truth is that I probably wouldn’t have signed up based on that reason alone. What really spurred me to action was my friend Nicole. She has recently been touched by breast cancer in her family, as far too many people have. But she decided to do something about it, and together with my other awesome friend Alexis, she started team Bloggers for Boobies. It was seeing them take action that spurred me to action, too. Knowing that so many women have been affected, and knowing that I didn’t want that for my own daughter, I decided to join her team. If you’re local, we’d love to have you, too – if we get one more person, we’ll all get free T-shirts! Plus we’ll be helping to kick cancer to the curb, so there’s that.
Back to me, since that’s who this blog is all about (cough, cough), once I signed up I had immediate second thoughts. You see, I haven’t participated in any sort of run since I was in grade 10 and it was required for gym class. That was in 1992, and I was a whole lot younger than I am now. But even still, I didn’t enjoy running at the time, not at all. So the idea of taking it up again as a 35-year-old mom of two was, frankly, terrifying. I didn’t even own running shoes, for crying out loud. I was thoroughly unprepared!
But many, many people told me that I could do it. So I headed to the Running Room, and let them watch me walk to help choose the best shoe. Unfortunately, the ones that fit me best were also fairly unattractive, but I decided that as I puffed and wheezed and turned red and possibly passed out, my shoes would hardly matter. I also chose what I believe to be the world’s largest sports bra, because I like full support. All kitted up and ready to go, I now had no excuse, so I downloaded a Couch 2 5K app for my iPhone and set up a running playlist to make hitting the pavement bearable.
Me, after my first run
And … I went. And … I survived. It was surprisingly not terrible, in fact. At least until the next day when I couldn’t walk up and down stairs without wincing. But then two days later I went again, and I still didn’t die, and my legs didn’t hurt so much afterward. I did turn alarming shades of red and I did sweat a lot, but I didn’t die. In fact, I kind of enjoyed it. Maybe running is kind of like going to the dentist for me these days – it’s precious, child-free time, and so I enjoy it even if it does involve mild discomfort and possible awkwardness.
It turns out that I can do a lot more than I realize, including enjoying myself while I go running. I confess, I feel absurdly proud about that. Maybe even proud enough to make it out a third, fourth and fifth time.
Are you a runner? If so, where do you run, and what are your favourite tunes for running to? I’m still a newbie, here, and I can use all the tips I can get!
PS – I feel kind of cheesy asking this, but since it’s for a good cause, I would gratefully accept your donation towards Run for the Cure.
I’m a runner! I recommend incorporating trails into your runs because they are more interesting and more importantly, reduce the likelihood that you will get shin splints (which suck and hurt and end beginners’ running careers fastfastfast). Even just a wide, flat gravel trail is easier on you than asphalt.
Also, I bet we have the same enormous bra! Foam padded (a must after all this breastfeeding), velcro adjusting straps, big Big BIG! Moving Comfort I think. It’s awesome and the only one that I’ve ever not had to wear two bras for running. Yay for support! And yay for supporting such a great cause! I hope your MIL is doing … well? Feeling strong? Yes, feeling strong, that’s it:)
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I tried to be a runner, and quite enjoyed it also (aside from the pain and feeling like I might die)…. and then my knee packed up and refused to get any better and felt like it was being hammered at with steel spikes by tiny people living inside it every time I tried to run. It still creaks a year and a half later. When I went back to walking it felt SO SLOW. Good for you, though. And yay for enormous bras.
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I’m not traditionally a runner, but having an iPhone makes it way more fun, and I’m kinda starting to get into it. I’ve done the Run for the Cure several years past, including last year. I surprised myself last year by running the whole 5K with no breaks, but I paid for that dearly for the next 3-4 days. I’m hoping to be in better running shape for it this year so it’s not quite so painful afterwards. Plus, it’s the perfect exercise to do while away on vacation to counterbalance all the eating I plan to do!
Right now I just run around my neighbourhood. The music on my iPhone and scoping out houses for sale are what keep me distracted from the pounding of my feet and the desire to stop and take a break!
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I’m not a runner at all. I’d love to find pleasure in it, but I don’t. Walking is ok, and I used to really enjoy it with my husband, often in the evenings in our eighbourhood both before kids and after our first daughter was born, when we’d stick her in the stroller after dinner and head out. But since daughter #2 arrived in November, the walks have been less frequent and somewhat shorter. We have only a single stroller, so the three and a half year old has to walk alongside us, which slows the pace, or else be carried on daddy’s shoulders — which also slows the pace, or at least limits the length of the walk. I have recently started Aquafit classes twice a week, however, and to my surprise I’m really enjoying them. It feels good to be physically active in a way other than chasing 2 kids around.
Don’t feel sheepish about soliciting support for Run for the Cure, it’s a good cause. We’re supporting my husband’s cousins, 2 young ladies in North Van who will be running for the cure in support of their aunt who is currently in treatment.
Hooray for running moms! Hooray for running for breast cancer! Enjoy every step – you might just get addicted. I run, too. On and off – more on lately. I think it’s a good skill if you are a mom – in case you want to run away from home. I’m happiest when, beyond a basic sense of learning what is a safe pace (and I imagine the running room is excellent on advice for starting out well and running injury-free), I don’t worry too much about numbers: how far, how long, how many, etc. Just run!
I have that same app – it’s great. Keep at it! I hear you on the bra. I have to wear 2. One to hold them up and one to suck them in. Running room actually has classes where you do group runs. I personally detest running with other people as it is “me” time and I am quite slow but many people find the classes quite motivating.
Yay for running! If ever there’s a reason that can ‘spur you to action,’ I’d say that’s a pretty good one! I just went for the second run of my mothering career last night and it’s funny how much different it is than before I had a child. As you point out, I think it’s easier when it’s “me time.” I used to have to trick myself into continuing, but I google earthed (yes, that’s a verb now) my route after my run last night and was surprised to see that it was almost 2 1/2 miles. I never would have thought I could run that long without stopping. Having a massive, ridiculous sports bra certainly helps, too
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well done! i’m planning on being a runner again, and yesterday I bought running shoes in the sales! now, if there only was a flat lane around here, I’d be there already …
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I am not a runner, although I run, although not as often as I should, although I’ve made the commitment to go three times a weeks, and I do, except when I don’t, but I WILL otherwise you will all leave me in the dust. Also, I need to find a better sports bra.
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Go Amber! I love to run! Actually I started running when I was 15 and quite overweight. I lost about 50 lbs. in high school and eventually joined track and cross country. Running has brought me so many friends and great adventures too. Glad you’ve found running again (oh, and my running shoes are not so cute either, but they are great for my joints. Better that we take of our bodies than look good while sweating, right?)
I am a runner. I love it. Way back in high school I hated it. It took running just for me, not because a PE teacher was timing me for that realization to occur. I have a great running stroller and push my girls a lot, which is awesome cause we are all happy out there. I am a part of running club that does social runs and then something fun like pumpkin carving, chilli cooking contests or cheesecake eating. I take the girls to the club events too and my 4 year old loves getting her chance to run at the end.
The Ap I am using currently is Runkeeper.
http://runkeeper.com
I like it because it charts my progress, tracks my mileage, maps my runs, my friends can even watch my runs live online (though none of them want to). The ap sends me e-mails to congratulate me and report milestones. Silly perhaps, but fun.
Stick with it as long as it is fun!
i started running for the first time about 8 months after the wee guy was born – another mummy friend and i trained for the Sun Run. we ran a not too shabby 10K as our first ever distance race. since then i’ve been running off and on, adding it into sprint triathlons to vary the training (as i find running very, very boring so 5K is the most i want to run for). this summer somehow i got suckered into running in my home village festival event, a whopping 7 miles and many hours of jet lag. since i’m away from PoMo my training has suffered but i’ve managed a few jogs. wish me luck for the day, and all the best for your endeavour too.
PS: the running track at PoMo rec centre is OK for timing yourself, or you could try running up The Crunch from your house???
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Good luck!
I’ve been planning to run at the indoor track on really rainy days. So far, though, the weather has mostly cooperated so I’ve been OK outside.
I’m not quite ready to run up a mountain yet, though.
Hooray for YOU! I just registered to do my first Run for the Cure in October. I am so excited to be a part of this event, and literally can’t wait for race day! I’ve only been a runner for about a year now. But, seriously. It’s addictive!
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It’s totally addictive. I’ve been running for about six weeks now, and I sort of love it!