Why Run

3.99 miles in 46ish minutes. I say "ish" because I don't run with a gps, smartphone or even a watch. Not yet.

Why do I run? I run for so many reasons.
I run to prove to myself that I can.
I run to keep my sanity.
I run as a way to sort my mind, organize my day and meditate.
I run for the challenge.
I run for happiness.
I run because I am able-bodied.
I run to be a better wife, partner & mother.
I run to prove to others that it's possible.

When I started running, I was at my first bootcamp class. Warm-up was running laps in the parking lot where class is held. Run? Around the parking lot? I did, a little at first and then a bit more. By the end of the session, I was running between about 1.5 miles at home and I could easily finish the running warmup at the beginning of each bootcamp class.
I joined a gym and ran my first 5K. Not a great race but it was done and in the books. I continued running on a treadmill at the gym through most of the winter.

 In late February, due to a mild winter, I was able to get some runs in outside and wishing I could continue to do more runs rather than go to the gym. I had joined a Facebook running group around New Year's  and saw that there were many member who run early, like in the dark early. I tried it and loved it. I took safety precautions like wearing a reflective vest and running in a well-lit area. I also have access to a main road that has a sidewalk and there is plenty of commuter traffic that I don't get the heebies all the time. To boot, I was having awesome productive runs. I was barely eeking out 3 mile runs at the gym or in the afternoon but in the morning, I ran with ease. I got stronger and my confidence grew.

My long runs are getting longer. My short runs used to be my long runs. I now run between 3.5 and 4 miles on a weekday and 5 to 6.5 on the weekend. I'm running a local 5.2 mile race in a little over a week and a 10K in September. I'm entertaining the idea of a half-marathon in November. I have plenty of room for improvement as a runner but I'm here. I am a runner.