Shortly after my 45th birthday, I started running. I tried running at other points in my life and became really bored with it, preferring step aerobics, walking, and Yoga. My commitment to exercise has always been off and on. I did it when the mood struck me, or when I noticed had gained a few pounds. But I always loved it. I crave movement. It makes me feel so much better. It makes me feel alive. And nothing makes me feel more alive than running (okay there's dancing, but we'll get to that at a later time). I know I'm not alone in being a woman in her 40s who suddenly started running. I never imagined I would be so in love with a sport at this point in my life that I'm actually starting a running blog.
A combination of events conspired to my taking up running. I turned 45 on 4/5, thought that was amazing and strange, and though I'm not one to dwell and mope about, it dawned on me that I am probably half way through my life and if I am going to maintaining a quality of life I better start taking better care of myself. I have young children and want to keep up with them. And I want to be there for all the momentous event in their lives.
So, one morning while walking the dog, I looked around. I mean I REALLY looked around. The sky was a blue as I 've ever seen it and the air was cool and crisp. Before I knew it, I was running, feeling my heart race, and feeling connected to the universe and grateful to be on the planet.
I started off slowly. It's been a year and I'm only running two miles. I hope to be at 3 by the end of the summer. But if I don't make it, I won't feel too bad. It's not really about the distance, just the fact that I am still here and thriving. My running is a celebration on the one hand and a meditation on the other,
The other thing is that it has opened up a space in time for my mind and I started thinking more clearly than I have been for awhile. If you're a parent, chances are you know what I mean. I began to share my thoughts with my friends on Facebook. I write them everyday, which has facilitated some great coversation. I hope to do the same here.
This blog was oringally Thoroughly Modern Mollie which linked to my newspaper column. I am keeping that connection and all those posts because they are about being a parent, which is afterall, the most important thing in my life.
