marathon mommies

While running on the treadmill yesterday afternoon, I had a magnificent brainchild (This was moments before I started seeing spots in my vision, indicating I was getting another magnificent migraine. Counting today, because I've been having vision problems all morning, I've had symptoms resembling a migraine 4 times in 8 days. As you can imagine, I'm a little nervous as to why I'm having a string of migraines, or whatever it is, as I'm normally a really healthy person. I'm seeing a chiropractor this afternoon and my eye doctor tomorrow, so I'm hoping to get some answers or a solution to this annoying problem. Back to my brainchild).

I really enjoy running. Running is one of my favorite things to do. It's great exercise, a wonderful stress reliever and a prime opportunity to reflect on life and pray about things. I'm not a natural runner and didn't grow up competing in track or cross country. In fact, I despised running as a child and high schooler, and come track and field day, I'd make any excuse to get out of running in the relay races. I found I had an interest in running while in college and used it primarily as an outlet for an emotionally difficult time in my life. It sort of just stuck with me after that and I've been doing it ever since.

Like I said, I'm not a natural runner and still have to force myself to do it, knowing it's great for my mental and physical well-being. With such a busy plate, I try (try is the keyword) to at least run 3-4 times a week, usually 4 miles each run. I know it's not much, but it's all I really have time for and I still feel I'm working up to it with having a baby 6 months ago.

Since before I was married, I had a goal: To run a marathon. At the time, when I set this goal for myself, I was engaged and planning my wedding, going to school full time and also working a full time job. I was up to running 8-10 miles before I realized, with all the irons in the fire, I didn't have time or energy to meet that goal. Something needed to give, and training for a marathon was the only meaningless thing consuming my time. So I sadly set the goal aside, knowing someday, I'd still like to achieve it.

Over the course of the last 7 years, I've began training only to be disrupted by major life changes - pregnancy and having babies (good disruptions, don't you think?). Which brings me to today. I've achieved the dream of marrying a wonderful man and having three precious children. I love the life we've created for ourselves, but I find it all too easy to set my personal dreams and goals aside, figuring I'll have time for those sort of things later in life. Though my family will always be my main priority, it was that thought that spurred my brainchild.

What if, with proper priority and time management, I could set a goal, a rather BIG goal for myself, and with support from my husband, actually ACHIEVE this goal? I'm sure you can see where I'm going with this. If there was one thing I've wanted to do, one goal I have yet to achieve, it would be running a marathon! I'm not naive in thinking I could go out tomorrow and run a 26 mile race without killing myself. I know that it takes time, commitment and a whole lot of training to be able to accomplish a milestone like that. I would need to start a whole lot smaller than that...

And THAT, my dear fellow mommies, is where YOU come in! It seems, no matter what you do in life, whether it's trying to lose weight or going out for a cup of coffee, it's always easier and much more fun to do it with other people. I want to meet my goal of running a marathon someday, before my children are off to college, and was wondering if YOU would like to join me in this crazy and fun endeavor?!?!? Like I said, I'd start small, training for 5ks and such, and use those smaller milestones to work towards the bigger one.

I'm still in the initial stages of brainstorming ideas about this, but my first thought is this: I want anyone who is a MOM joining me on this adventure. We, as moms, deserve to take our OWN goals and health into consideration, not only those of our families, and accomplish something we never thought physically, mentally or emotionally possible. It doesn't matter where you're at, physically, or if you've ever ran a day in your life. Because like I keep saying, we'll start small.

If you're interested in joining me on this endeavor, please say so by posting a comment below. Once I've an idea of who's interested, I intend to put together and post training schedules, a weekly accountability post, a race schedule (5ks, 10ks, 1/2 marathons, etc), and figure out a monthly Fun Run schedule, where we can meet somewhere and do a longer run together. This plan is not limited to local mommies. I'm extending this invite to mommies around the nation, and you can tweak the plan as necessary to accommodate your current life and living situation. We'll all work and train together, encouraging and holding each other accountable along the way, to meet our ultimate goal: Run a full marathon - hopefully together.

We are the Marathon Mommies. Hear us roar.