Becoming a morning runner....

Becoming a morning runner….

Life has its challenges for sure, but waking up shouldn’t be one of them. Yes some days it’s more difficult to get out of bed than others, but for the most part, I wouldn’t trade those mornings for the world. 

The alarm goes off anywhere between 4:30 and 5 am.These early spring mornings bring me quiet before the storm of the day about to erupt. They allow me time to sit in the quiet, journal and make intentions for the day, drink my coffee and get out the door. 

Stepping outside the door, I can feel the brisk air, I can see the sun beginning to make its way up for the day, I can hear the birds chirping, the deer are still out and often staring at me to see why I am up. The cars are minimal with most people still cozy in their beds or just waking up themselves or making their coffee. The roads are quiet except for my consistent footsteps…right foot, left foot, repeat.

I start to pick up the pace and take my first few steps down my quiet street and then settle into a pace that is comfortable for my warm up. Whether I have an easy run or a workout on the calendar, I take gratitude in those mornings. I take solace in the fact that I have these moments to myself….right foot, left foot, repeat.

With each step forward, the sun continues to rise and the flowers and trees are showing their new found brightness. The scent of the lilacs flowing through the air as I run from house to house. Life is good…right foot, left foot, repeat.

The endorphins set in by the end of my run and I am ready to enter my house, begin my day with my girls, and get them off to school. The workout is done. I am capable of attacking the day and getting things done. The anxious feelings often subsiding. I feel confident that I can get after any thing that may come my way….right foot, left foot, repeat. 

I haven’t always been a morning runner, but I don’t think I will ever go back. These mornings allow me to see the world differently. To take the time I need for myself. To know that I deserve the peace and quiet that others may get a bit more easily. All of us moms deserve those small moments. Becoming a morning runner has allowed me to develop consistency with training that has allowed me to go after big goals like going after a Boston Qualifying time and then training and running the Boston Marathon. My girls see me come back from my run and they are proud of the consistency I put in, of how I work hard to go after my goals, how beneficial it is for my anxiety to run before the day starts. These are things I hope they take with them as they continue to figure out their needs and know that they are just as important. 

I encourage you to think about ways to put yourself first. If you’re a runner, see what you can do to transition to some “me” time before the world awakes. Even if you can’t go far, sometimes a walk outside on your street, or back and forth in front of your house, or just taking your coffee outside, might just change how you start and go after your days. 

xoxo