Running

Most people who know me know that I am a runner. I've been running for over 25 years - I started when Ben was about a year old as a way to lose that stubborn pregnancy weight. At first I just ran in the neighborhood, and then another mom from church introduced me to running The Peachtree Road Race (for anyone not in Atlanta, it's the world's largest 10k run on July 4). I was hooked. I started running the Peachtree in 2000, and have run every year since then (virtually during the Covid years). Then I found other races, and have a collection of race bibs, medals, t-shirts, hoodies - you name it, I've got it. I just finished my 13th Hot Chocolate Race this morning with a PR (definitely getting faster with age - who knew?)

In 2011 I signed up for my first Tough Mudder in Cedartown, Georgia. I had no idea when I was getting myself into, but I thought running and obstacles - how much fun would that be? I managed to survive that one, and did 6 more. My Dad used to ask me if they wrote your race number on your forehead so they could i.d. your body after it was over (that was a fair question based on the amount of bumps and bruises I came home with). Randy did 6 total Tough Mudders, and I did 7. I had the elusive pink Tough Mudder headband displayed with my race bibs - he only jokingly threatened to burn it a few times. 

Running has gotten me through a lot of things in my life. It's one thing that I can do anywhere and it clears my head and allows me time to get my $hit together, or at least try to. The morning after Randy passed, I went for a run. It was more of a jog while sobbing, but it allowed me to get out of the house and figure out how to begin to get a handle on
my grief, which is so hard to do. When I went to North Dakota for his memorial service, I took my running shoes and clothes, and you better believe I put a few miles in. 

Terra Running Store in Cleveland, TN has weekly runs on Mondays. I started going in September (you may remember that I won some shoes from their random drawing) I have blocked that time on my calendar each week and it's a non-negotiable for me. Unless I'm out of town for some reason, I'm there. It allows me time to temporarily leave the grief train and not be sad, even if it's only for an hour. I recently applied to be a Terra Running Store Ambassador and was selected for 2025. I'm super excited about it, especially since this running community has given me so much without them even realizing it. That's the wonderful thing about running - it doesn't matter who you are or how fast you run, you are part of a community of people who support and encourage you.

So here's to running in 2025, and trying to leave the grief train a little bit more.





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