See Mommy Run: The beginning

I am not a runner. I don't like running. I do not get those who love it...those who run race after race after race. 

My husband Ricky ran his 2nd marathon a few weeks ago and of course the boys and I watched and cheered from the sideline. But at mile 26, with just 0.2 miles remaining, he collapsed from heat stroke RIGHT IN FRONT OF US. My head spun as they dunked him in an ice bath, shouted "code 1" and "his temp is rising" and eventually transferred him to the nearest hospital. I was told at one point that the situation was VERY close to being life threatening. 

Once it was clear he was going to be okay, I felt anger seeping out of my pores. Who in their right mind would WANT to push their body that hard? The answer is obviously my super stubborn, super goal-oriented husband...although the "right mind" part is still up for debate ;)

On the way home from the hospital, I made him promise me that his marathon running days were behind him. 

...Fast forward a few weeks and he told me he just had to do it one more time. He couldn't end on that note, not finishing. Not crossing the finish line. Honestly, I'm surprised it took him so long to say it. I knew it was coming.

It took me some time to understand but I finally do. It isn't because he loves running that he wants to get out there and do it all again. It's about more than that. It's setting a goal and following through. It's the ability to feel an extreme sense of accomplishment. And this may sound weird, but at this realization, I suddenly felt a little envious. To know that he was willing to go through the weeks and weeks of training - the early morning and squeeze-them-in-at-lunchtime runs - just to get across some finish line? Perhaps he gets something more from this whole running thing.

And I want to push myself to see what that is.

So here I am - someone who said they'd NEVER be a runner - deciding to do just that. I know it won't be easy but I also know I'm not the first person - or the first mom for that matter - to take on this challenge. 

I'm doing this for my kids - so that they see mommy pushing herself and doing something that isn't easy.

I'm doing this for my health - I'm not saying I'm in the worst shape ever, but I'm going to have to do a lot more than a detox every few weeks to lose some weight.

Most importantly...I'm doing this for me. To feel better. To set a goal and follow through. To feel an extreme sense of accomplishment.

My goals:

- run at least two 5ks in 2013

- improve my time in race 2

- run a 10k in 2014

- run the mini in Louisville in 2015

- to NOT GIVE UP until I do all of the above!

As of now, the "Body After Baby" series will not be coming back as I focus on my new health and fitness series "See Mommy Run". You can click on the images in the sidebar to read all posts for each. I would love to hear from others who have successfully gone from non-runners to race-runners :)

PS - I want to thank my husband for being an inspiration and for going on my first run with me today. By the way, the boys and I will be cheering you on when you cross that finish line at next year's marathon...And maybe one day we will run it together!!!