January always brings a fresh slate and the opportunity to set new goals. If you’ve ever thought to yourself, “I’d like to run a 5k/10k/half marathon/full marathon” or “I think I’d like to become a runner,” then January is an excellent time to make a commitment and embark on a journey toward accomplishing that goal. As a former couch-potato turned runner, I’m here to share a few reasons why I think running is a fabulous hobby for every mama. Even you. Yes, really.
Let’s get one thing straight up front–I am not your “typical” runner. (If there even is such a thing–but that isn’t the point of this post.) In an effort to be totally transparent and real here, I’ll tell you that my pants size is a two-digit number, I still have a solid 25 pounds to lose before I reach even my first “goal weight” and I have never considered myself athletic. In middle school, when they made us run a timed mile, I was so red in the face for hours following gym class that I vividly remember someone passing me in the halls and asking if I was okay or if I needed to visit the school nurse.
Suffice it to say, I never in a million years would have thought I’d grow up to become a runner. Except, I did. And I can confidently say that I’m a better person for it and it also makes me a better mother. Running has expanded the horizons of my life in many ways.
Running has taught me to push my limits.
When I first started running, I agreed to train for a 5k and write an article about it for the the magazine that my college Recreational Sports department published a few times a year. I followed a couch to 5k training plan and I successfully completed that first race. I never thought I’d run another one, but I was wrong. I kept up recreational running after the initial 5k (it was great stress relief during law school) and then, somewhere along the line, I decided it sounded like fun to try a half marathon. I honestly have no idea what possessed me to pull the trigger and sign up for that first half marathon–but that is when I truly became hooked on running. I never would have believed I could finish 13 miles–but I’ve done it 7 times now!
Running has helped me find community.
Running has helped me form countless new friendships with women that I otherwise might not have ever met. If you’re looking for some motivation to get started as a runner (or to get back into it after a hiatus), there are no shortage of running groups available in the Dayton area. I’ve found a huge network of women through our local chapter of Moms Run This Town (MRTT), a national free running group for women. There is a large chapter based out of Miamisburg, but there are also groups for North Dayton, Beavercreek, and Northern Cincinnati. A quick Facebook search can help you connect with these groups. There are organized group runs most weekends and all paces and distances are always welcome.
Running is an easy way to carve out valuable “me” time.
It might be ironic that my last point was that running helped give me a sense of community, but it also affords me the opportunity for oh-so-precious “me” time too. It’s hard for my husband to fault me if I tell him I need to go out for a quick run to clear my head. Time spent logging miles is also a great way to enjoy your favorite TV show (if you’re treadmill running), enjoy some tunes or a new podcast, or just enjoy the peace and quiet!
As we embark on a new year, there is no time like the present to give a new hobby a whirl. Have you ever considered running a 5k?
Make 2019 the year that you check that box. I hope to see you out at a group run!
