We all have a running story and I love hearing everyone’s. So many people lose weight, get in shape after babies, etc… I’ve heard stories about using running to “run away” from being unhappy, running towards a goal, being able to drink more wine and beer or eat the things they love. Running to see the world from a different vantage point or raise money for a cause. Stories of absolute inspiration regardless of the why.

You Gotta Be Crazy trail half marathon. Tough one. Didn’t fall though!! But the cameraman scared the crap out of me at the bottom of the hill
Someone asked me if I could afford it, would I have laser treatments to get rid of scars. It’s not like I’m riddled with them, but I’ve got some. No, I wouldn’t. My scars – and even the few stretch marks I got during my growth spurt in high school – are the map of my bodies story and if I’m not entirely proud of them, I’m at least OK with them and I don’t want them gone. I like my bodies story.

- Peavine 50/50 half marathon I earned some scars. My shoulder and knee got bandaged at the end. I fell at mile 1.4 down Evans Canyon and beat myself up including a broken hand but I finished
My running story isn’t about running away, it isn’t about my love for food or alcohol, it’s not a weight loss story. I like to deal with issues that bother me head on with compromise. No running away for this girl. I like food but I don’t have any issues with food and if I’m being completely honest I often have to remind myself to eat. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy good food and I cook a lot but I don’t often have cravings. I don’t think about food. I don’t fight the urge to eat. I don’t drink alcohol so that’s not an issue for me either. Weight loss?? Nope. I’ve been pregnant 7 times and had 10 surgeries for those babies and the most I’ve ever gained from my current weight is 35 pounds. I weighed 120 pre-children and I weigh 124 now. When I get supplements for my menopause symptoms (which I manage naturally) I make sure there’s nothing in them that would encourage my body to lose weight. I understand that makes some people irritated, but I’ve never had a huge issue with weight. I’ve been conscious of my weight and exercise since I was 17 and I strongly feel that eating healthy my entire adult life and staying active has allowed me to not struggle with it the same way other people do.

I won first place at the Running With The Bears Half Marathon. 1st in age division, 4th woman and 14th overall
My running story?? My first exposure to running was in Jr High School. The first time I ran to actually stay in shape was my Freshman year of college. Since then I’ve run off an on for cardio and an outlet until about 7 years ago when I “got serious”, actually trained and entered my first half marathon. Some of my best running memories are using a friends jogging stroller when Bri was a baby (yes, they made strollers 20 years ago….), buying my double stroller and rotating many of the kids through it and most sentimental is having my kids ride their bikes or run with me. I distinctly remember a 12 mile run in the winter on an almost eerily cold, still day when it started snowing huge, fat snow flakes and within minutes was nearly a white out. One of my best runs ever. Or the run I did on the 178 mile relay race last summer at 1:30 am when everything in my body felt epically amazing and I ran the leg with average 7 minute miles in the pitch black of night.

9 of my kids ran last month with Chris and me at the Halloween 5K.
If I were posed the question that I enjoy asking “Why do you run?” I suppose my answers would be: I run to have time to myself, for myself. I run to be a healthy example to my kids. I run to decompress, to learn how to internally process, to work through my thoughts. I run to stay fit and age gracefully. I run to feel endorphins. I run to beat myself. I run because I feel utterly free. I run because no matter what life has thrown at me, I can handle it best when I run. I run because I love it. That, I suppose, is my running story.

Finishing a long training run and enjoying it!