I love me (and running)!

October 28, 2011 by Sheryl 29 Comments

Welcome to the I Love Me! Carnival!

This post was written for inclusion in the I Love Me! Carnival hosted by Amy at Anktangle. This carnival is all about love of self, challenging you to lift yourself up, just for being you.

Please read to the bottom to find a list of submissions from the other carnival participants.

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“Running is the greatest metaphor for life, because you get out of it what you put into it.”      – Oprah Winfrey

Just recently I asked my three year old son Dylan who he loves.   He responded:  “I love mommy, daddy, Benjamin and I love myself!”  I just adore how he included himself on that list!  Sometimes you just get pearls of wisdom from a three year old – it is important to love yourself!

As moms, we often put our own needs aside while focusing on the needs of our children.  We are so proud of our kids and all the wonderful things that they do, and rightly so!  Our kids are amazing.  But you know what – we are amazing too!  I’ve learned as Dylan gets older, that it is so important to show him that we as parents do great things, and we have needs and interests too!  We as parents need to show our kids that not only do we love them, but we love and respect ourselves too.

I’ve started running this summer and it is something I am very proud of!  I was never much of an athlete growing up, and in the last few years I have enjoyed walking, biking and yoga.   I’ve always wanted to run, but somehow have never had time for it.   So this past July I decided to sign up for a 5k race in September, and start running!

I found an amazing running app for my Blackberry to keep track of my progress.  It’s called MiCoach by Adidas and it syncs with a site online.  I created my training program online by entering in a bit of information, such as my height, weight, and the date of the race.   Each time I run, I start the app on my Blackberry, and via GPS it calculates the time I’ve run, calories burned, pace and other kinds of neat stats.  I find it very motivating to track this information and see how I’ve been improving.

I’m proud to say that since July, I’ve consistently ran at least 3 times a week, if not more! And I easily completed the 5k race in September, and plan on signing up for a 10k race in the spring, and perhaps a half marathon next fall.  I should add that when I started running in July I couldn’t run for more than 5 minutes without my legs aching and being completely out of breath.   Last week I ran 10k (over an hour!) for the first time without stopping, and you know what – it wasn’t that hard!

Running makes me feel amazing!  Running has helped me easily shed the last few pounds of baby weight (while still eating A LOT), and has made my legs and butt really strong!  I can easily tote around my 25lb baby – I’ve really noticed how easy it’s become to carry him up and down the stairs.  And all my pre-pregnancy clothes that were snug before the summer now easily slip on.

But truly the benefits for me of running go far beyond weight loss or muscle toning.   You read about the runner’s high that you get from all the endorphins released while exercising, and it’s so true.   After a good run, those endorphins last all day long!  There is something amazing about waking up early, putting on my running gear and heading out the door.   It gives me time alone to think.   It gives me time to enjoy nature and the beautiful fresh air.   Hearing the crunch of gravel beneath my shoes as I run in a trail near my house is an amazing form of stress relief.  I feel a real sense of accomplishment at the end of the week when I look over my MiCoach running log and see the kilometers I’ve ran. And I’ve discovered that it’s impossible to be in a bad mood after you go for a run.

It’s not always easy to find time for a run.   I’m finding it much harder to be motivated now with the cold weather and lack of sunshine.  I’m doing my best to keep with it and stay active over the winter because it feels great to do something for me.   Something that makes me feel good.  Something that improves my health, both physical and mental! Something that gives me a sense of accomplishment and something that I am proud to model to my boys.

Dylan just loved watching me run the 5k race.   He was so proud when his mommy got a medal!   He broke his leg over the summer and had his cast on during the race.   He told me that he wants to be strong and exercise and run a race with me too one day!  I’m just thrilled that he sees the value in exercise, and I hope that we can run together.   I should add that my husband did the 5k race with me, and he is going to do the 10k in the spring also.   I’m thrilled that he is exercising too!

After our 5k - so proud of ourselves 🙂

So, as Dylan would say, I love my husband, my two boys and I love myself!  And I’ve discovered that I love running too!

As a mom, (or dad), what do you do for some “me time”?

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Thank you for reading this post from the I Love Me! Carnival. Please take some time to read the contributions from the
other carnival participants:

(This list will be updated by the afternoon of October 28th with all the carnival links.)

• The Art of Being Thoughtful – Becky at Old New Legacy likes that she is mostly thoughtful but wants to become more thoughtful. She shares a story that demonstrates that giving gifts doesn’t have to be expensive.
• I love me (and running)! – Sheryl of Little Snowflakes writes about her new love of running and how it has helped her learn to love herself!
• For the Love of Moe – Valerie at Momma in Progress shares her thoughts on a body forever changed, but forever loved.
• Where I Find My Worth – Sarah at Parenting God’s Children shares how finding her worth in worldly things always falls short.
• Oh Yeah, I’m Cool – Tree at Mom Grooves shares her very favorite gift and the thing she most wants to pass on to her daughter.
• Loving – Rosemary at Rosmarinus Officinalis talks about some of the things she loves about herself – some easily, and some by choice for the sake of healing.
• Baby Strikes A Pose – Emma from Your Fonder Heart writes about her family’s decision not to let their 7 month old model, and uses the opportunity to think more deeply about girls (young and old) and how they determine their self-worth.
• I Love Me! – A Rampage of Appreciation! – Terri at Child of the Nature Isle stops waiting for anyone else to tell her she is wonderful and goes on a rampage of appreciation for herself!
• Raising Healthy Daughters – In a guest post at Natural Parents Network, Kate Wicker offers tips to pass on a healthy self-image to the young ladies in our care.
• Unexpected Benefits of a Healthy Pregnancy – How does it feel to have a healthy pregnancy? Dionna at Code Name: Mama discovers that making positive choices can be empowering.
• Filling Up Our Watering Cans – Nada at miniMOMist believes that practicing Sabbath is the same as being a gardener who lovingly tends to the flowers in her garden. She needs to fill up her watering can first.
• Better Body by Baby – Jess from Mama ‘Roo and Family Too! shares how having her first baby makes her feel even more beautiful and confident about her body than ever before.
• These Breasts Were Made for Nursing – Becoming a mother helped Mandy from Living Peacefully with Children to embrace her womanhood and improve her self image.
• Yeah, I’m Pretty Cool – Amanda at Let’s Take the Metro writes about her own self love and how she hopes to foster the same self-respect in her children.
• Who I’ve Become – The future is bright with That Mama Gretchen who shares her past and present perspective on body image and how she hopes to become a change agent with her daughter.
• Ever-Evolving Me – Joella at Fine and Fair writes to her daughter about her innate drive to continue learning, growing, and evolving.
• I love you for your mind – Lauren at Hobo Mama turns a dubious phrase on its head with a little self-loving slam poetry.
• Stop Think of Love with Your Body – Amy of Peace 4 Parents shares an exercise to gradually transition from hating to loving your body – stretch marks, sags, imperfections, and all.
• I Love Me! – Jenny @ I’m a full-time mummy shares the things that she loves about herself!
• caught in a landslide – jaqbuncad of wakey wakey, eggs and bakey! shares a list of reasons why zie loves hir body.
• Love Your Tree – How do you picture the ways your body and mind change? Amy at Anktangle writes about how trees help her have perspective about her own growth over time.
• Pumpkin Butt – Zoie at TouchstoneZ writes about how birth and pumpkins are the way to accepting her body
• I do love me – Shannon at Pineapples & Artichokes talks about the lessons about loving herself she wants to pass along to her daughter.
• Appreciating Who I Am – Linni at An Unschooling Adventure describes the things she likes about herself and the way she appreciates who she is as a person.
• I love me! : A journey – Christine at African Babies Don’t Cry shares her journey on arriving at the point where she can say: I love me!
• My Daughter Doesn’t Care So Why Should I? – Jennifer at Hybrid Rasta Mama calls herself on the carpet for the image of self love and beauty she portrays in front of her toddler.
• Finding out who I am – Melissa at Vibrant Wanderings shares an exercise that helped her identify positive qualities she possesses, and how that has helped her learn to love herself.