My Heart...

As many of you know I have struggled most of my adult years with depression and body image issues. Although I have overcome most of my demons, they continue to haunt me. However, I find that I’m the most confident and alive when I am running. When I'm running I feel at peace with myself and my God. It is in those times when I’m running that I can take out all my frustrations of the day on the pavement beneath my feet. I can have the best conversations with God and thank Him for the beauty in this world. I am able to thank Him for the river that runs next to me, for the fawn that just crossed in front of me, for the birds above me, for the sunrise and the sunset. I also thank Him for the company of my running buddies who inspire me and encourage me to just keep running.

I remember when I first started running especially that first day on the treadmill when I couldn't even run fifteen minutes. I would walk 5 min, jog 5 min, walk 5 min, and jog 5 min. I remember struggling. I remember the side aches, my heart beating fast, and the way my chest felt tight. It took everything in me to keep going. But in that moment when I was overweight, unhealthy, depressed, and broken; I had a moment with God. I remember asking God for help. I asked that he would help me get through that grueling 30 minutes. I told Him that if he could just help me get through it, I knew I could serve Him better. I knew if I felt better about myself I would be able to serve him more graciously. Maybe if I felt better about myself, I wouldn't stay locked up in my apartment too embarrassed by the "muffin top" over my jeans or my tight fitting clothes.

God helped me get through that run and God helped me get through a true 30 min run without walking, later 45 min, 60 min, and then 2 :29 minutes when I ran my first half marathon. I will never forget the feeling of accomplishment I felt that day.

Running has improved my relationship with God. Running has inspired me. Running has made my body healthier. Running clears my mind. Running helps my depression. Running forces me to do something for me. Running has inspired me to do something for others who may be in similar situation as I was/am. Running has inspired to reach out to those women who want to do something for themselves for once, for those who want to set a goal, and for those who want to establish friendship and community with other runners.

My heart is to start a running club. The details are blurry but my vision is not! My vision is to have a group of women running together, supporting each other, and cheering one another on to get through that first 30 minutes together while sharing in tears, laughter & sweat. My vision is to embrace each other’s goals and learn from each other while having community together, eating, stretching, and recovering together. Lastly, my idea also includes serving and donating our time or our money to an organization to help the less fortunate in our community and in our world.

I'm inviting you to be a part of my running club. I can commit to 1-2 runs per month as a group. I will pick a location to meet at and we will run together cheering each other on. We will finish our run, feel proud, and celebrate with food and drinks at my house. I will choose a charity and if you feel compelled to, you may donate monetary funds to that charity or donate our time volunteering. I have listed a links below of an organization that I have been in contact with.

Running has changed my life and I hope I can encourage you to help it change yours as well.