Running has been a part of my life for years now. The only time I had to set it aside was when I became pregnant. It is my stress reliever, anxiety lifter, and aggression release. For me, running began in my early 20’s after I graduated from college. When I was in college, I use to see girls running around campus. At that time, I had never tried running for exercise so I pretty much knew I couldn’t hang with them. That didn’t alleviate the jealousy I had though. But I resigned to knowing that I was just incapable of this kind of exercise and let it go.
One weekend I spent some time with a family member. She was an avid runner and told me how running was her outlet. I shared with her my desire to run, but my fear of even attempting it knowing that I would never have the stamina to get anywhere. She made one statement that changed my understanding of how to become a runner and the freedom I could find in it. “Start small. Set a distance goal. Even if its running from only one mailbox to the next. Then increase this distance everyday and you will soon find you are a runner.”
I immediately made this my goal. The next day I put on my old tennis shoes and the only workout clothes I could find and I went to the end of my driveway. Looking for the neighbors mailbox, I literally ran to it and stopped. Yes, I did have to catch my breath at that point, but I loved the way it immediately made me feel. Day after day I went further and further until I increased my distance to one mile. This was a huge triumph for me. I was officially a runner (well, a 1 mile runner) and I was beginning to see the benefits of how running could change my life!
Within a few months, I had reached a stamina that allowed me to run 5K and 10K races. I ran any chance I got and anywhere. While I loved the way my body began to transform by losing a few extra pounds and toning up, it was the “high” that came with running I loved the most. It was like there was a new found emotional and spiritual freedom whenever I was outside and taking in nature. Running soon became more of a “spiritual high.”
Quiet time is a must for me everyday. Most days it takes place in the morning when I wake up and have my cup of coffee. But running is a different type of “quiet time.” It is almost like a state of mind that brings me closer to God and in a way that I can focus on talking with him directly.
In my early twenties, while finding my way in life, this was exactly what I needed…a “spiritual high.” This time with God as well as a place to set goals and achieve them one day at a time, brought me a realization of my purpose. Through this running experience, I was also able to begin to set bigger goals such as completing my master’s degree and traveling to places I had never been.
This post is how running changed my life. It brought me spiritual freedom and continues to every time I get outdoors. It has given me a new Red Dress to wear literally and figuratively. Running may not be for everyone, but fitness in one way or another is. As busy women it is so easy to make excuses for lack of time for any of these things, but one thing is obvious. When we choose to put ourselves first, we become a better partner, mom, leader, and most of all a Red Dress woman. Get out there and find that thing that excites you and gives you an outlet. Decide to tackle your day by putting YOU first!
There are many books on how to begin to run. My favorite is Chi Running. It is about the process of building your stamina, but mostly focused on body form. The purpose is to be able to run long distances without injury. Returning to this book over and over again always gives me a great reminder of my form. I check in with this form every time that I run and it has helped me stay away from injuries and increase my stamina to run distances.
Top: Gift (similar)
Leggings: Nike, $45
Hat: C.C. Beanie, $15
Shoes: Nike, $110
Sunglasses: Gift (similar)
