My first race!

I haven’t wanted to be a “runner” since I ran in track and field in elementary school. I loved it back then and I have no idea why I quit, but I did, and haven’t tried running since. I must have gotten it stuck in my head somewhere that I couldn’t run. My knees have bothered me since playing hockey in high school and I just figured there was no way I could do it.

Then, a few months ago, I started noticing my cousin was running a lot! The way I thought about running began to change. I started noticing other people I knew, who were running. And I started to think maybe, just maybe, I could run too. Maybe I could even run in a race. So I took a chance and registered for the Team in Training, Moms in Training program for the Sole Sisters Race in Dartmouth. I knew if I committed to something as big as a race, I wouldn’t be able to quit as easily.

I was so scared to go to that first Moms in Training meeting.

I didn’t know anyone and I still didn’t know if I could actually run. And then there was the fundraising part…I’m terrible at sales and asking people for money! Well my TNT campaign co-ordinator Amanda, my coach Kaitlyn and the other moms all made me feel at home in the group right away I LOVED IT! I loved everything about it. The walk/running training program was set up so that you had a training schedule you could follow in your own way. You could walk it, walk/run it or run it depending on your level. I’m proud to say after my 8 weeks of training I ran for most of the Sole Sisters Race. I met my goals and am still improving them today. It wasn’t all easy. I had some bad shin pain (not shin splints thank goodness) and days when I didn’t feel I could run 2k let alone 5k. But I just keep going and will definitely keep running thanks to TNT!

Did I mention that race day was pretty scary too? I was so happy that another blogger friend Laura from Mommy Miracles was participating in the Moms in Training Program and there to make me feel better about it being my first race!

As for the fundraising; it was much easier than I thought, also thanks to the amazing help Team in Training gave us. There was so much support and ideas, that it wasn’t difficult to raise my goal amount, long before the deadline. I participated in an online auction, a fundraising yoga class and asked family and friends for help. Anyone can do it, but you do have to step out of your comfort zone and ask people for money.

What was the most amazing part of this journey? The Sole Sisters Race was pretty fantastic. There was so much positive energy happening all around us, thousands of amazing women walking or running, each for a different reason. But the moment I will always remember, is my oldest daughter saying she was so proud of me, and that she wants to run a race with me someday. My family is my inspiration and what makes me want to be a better person every day.