I love running. AND, I hate running. Lately, the love is winning over the hate. Running is SUPER hard for me. I am far from a natural runner. I am slow and lumbering in my gate. However, I owe much to running. It was integral in helping reach my lowest weight prior to marriage. It helped me accomplish crazy things that I would never have thought I could do, like running in many 5K’s, 1 10 K, and 3 half-marathons! It has also helped me manage the stress of teaching. I have only picked it back up on and off again (mostly off again) in the years since becoming a mother. But before I got married, it was not uncommon for me to run 3-4 miles, 4-5 times a week.  

After I got married, it wained as I spent more time with my husband, who, although he did run one half-marathon with me, despises running! Once I got pregnant with our first daughter, I kissed running goodbye! I was incredibly sick with “morning” sickness for the majority of my pregnancy. Running was so far from anything I could consider while working full time teaching kindergarten and trying not to throw up too often. I did however dream about running during both of my pregnancies. After our oldest daughter was born, I spent most of time surviving my return to full time teaching while taking care of a baby who did not really like to sleep. Then, before she really got the hang of sleeping (she still struggles a lot with it sometimes as an eight year old), we were expecting her sister. This time the sickness lasted all of my pregnancy and I threw up so much that my oldest would fake throwing up to copy me.

Now, my girls are 6 and 8 and we have had extra time at home. So, for the first time in these past 9+ years I have run somewhat regularly. The regularity is still more of an ebb and flow as I figure out how to make it work with the other, more important, responsibilities I have. Unfortunately, my dislike of running still rears its head and pulls me off track. BUT, now I also have an adorable 6 year old who has certainly caught the health and fitness bug! Just tonight as I was finishing dinner, she came out dressed to run and reminded me that we needed to get our run in. We were supposed to go yesterday, but I got caught up sewing a project for my sister-in-law’s online shop. I told her yesterday that we would go today. Then we got busy with dentist appointments for myself and our oldest, and a breakfast and shopping adventure for my little running partner and her Grammie to celebrate her birthday.  

So, we headed out for a run after dinner. As I was getting changed, I asked her if she wanted to go for a long run or just run until she wanted to turn around. I admit being super relieved when she said we’d just run until she wanted to turn around. My heart dropped when she changed her answer before I finished getting ready to wanting to use my phone and C25K app to go on a long run. I accidentally started her on this last week when I invited her to run with me instead of ride her bike, like she normally does, and pushed the button to re-start my C25K app back at Week 1, Day 1. Or so I thought. After running for what was definitely longer than 90 seconds, or whatever the Day 1 run duration is, I checked to make sure the app was still working. Good news, it was! Bad news, it had picked up where I left off about a month ago and we were doing Week 6, Day 2 instead. And, that amazing little girl of mine kept up with all but the last few minutes of the runs. Tonight we did Week 6, Day 3 and she took one 45 second to 1 minute break. We covered just over 2 miles in total distance and ran for 20 minutes total. She is amazing and I told her several times thank you for getting me out there to run! Also, as I have run with her, I have perhaps caught the running bug again. There is something refreshing about making it through a run that you don’t think you can. It is phenomenal for me to make it through a super hard work out and be covered in the sweat of that hard work. Most importantly, I am giving my daughter a habit that will serve her well for her whole life. If she falls in love with running or any exercise activities at 6 years old then she is being set up for success. And, it does seem that she is a natural runner. That can take her places. Places like good health, good habits, the development of perseverance, stress relief, camaraderie from possible future track teammates, and even college scholarships. She may not always love it, but this is one preference of hers that I certainly want to feed and facilitate.

So, my love/hate relationship with running continues. And as I receive more and more gifts from running, I admit the hate part is waning and the love part is growing! What kinds of activities do you love and hate? What things are your children helping you grow in? Please share below so that we can grow together!