Sidetracked

It is funny how life can sidetrack you. You are going along living out your "plan" for you life and whammo. Now getting sidetracked isn't always a bad thing. In my case, it was one of the best things in my life...my daughter came into our lives. She just came a little early. I was still a junior at OSU, John and I had only been married about six months and we just didn't think we would be starting a family at that point in our lives. God had other ideas and His timing is often way off from ours. I love to tell her how God meant for her to be born when she was because He has something special planned for her.

One year eleven months and eleven days later her brother was born. Again, another sidetrack. We weren't "planning" on him either but what an amazing surprise.

As alot of mothers know, it can sometimes be hard to find time for yourself as a young mom. I would go to the gym every now and then or sometimes go run with a friend but I was never able to be consistent. Slowly my dreams and goals and "plans" became theirs and that was okay. For a while it had to be about them. That is what you do when you become a mom.

As my children have grown, however, and I am becoming a "seasoned" mom, I realize the importance of me time. Taking care of myself and setting goals and accomplishing them in front of my children is one of the greatest lessons I could teach them without saying a word.

After the Biggest Loser contest, I knew I needed another goal, a deadline to meet. After I signed up for the half marathon, I began to train. I decided in December that I needed to run in a short race just to get my feet wet. I signed up for the Frigid Five in Edmond. On Saturday February 13th, I lined up with hundreds of other people to run five miles in 40 degree weather. I ran it in 57:34.  Twice my daughter found me and ran with me part of the way. One of the best memories I will treasure.

With one race under my belt, in a time that I was really proud of, I was hooked and ready for another race.

The Starting Line

In November of 2009, I participated in a Biggest Loser contest with the Taekwondo school I train at. I ended up losing twenty one pounds. When it was over, I wondered how I could keep from putting it back on(because that is my M.O.). I decided that I would train to run in the OKC Memorial Marathon in the Half Marathon event. And so my journey began.

I never really thought I liked running until I was in the 7th grade. Basketball (myfirstlove) was over and track season had begun. I was ready to sit this one out with the girls who detested sports when Coach Malone approached me and said "get in the truck you are running the mile". I looked at him, looked at the jean shorts and blue Keds I was wearing and said "no thanks". He said "get in". So I did.

We drove down the road. It seemed like we had driven forever. He dumped us out, told us to run back to the school and told me to keep up with the older girls. Ha ha ha, ok coach. So we took off. I didn't do too bad, I didn't do too great but as I was running and the school came into sight, I got really excited. This amazing feeling of accomplishment swept over me and I began to run a little faster. Soon I could hear the girls screaming for me as I neared the stop sign which stood as the finish line. A surge of energy came over me and I sprinted (which is a slow jog for most). I know I didn't look fast but I felt fast as I finished my first mile strong. I can still remember that feeling and I wanted to feel it again.