I grew up playing multiple team sports year round and was very athletic, but never a runner. Truth is I hated it. I remember how much I loathed the laps we had to run around the school to warm up at soccer practice. That was absolute torture!  When my friends and I would get too chatty during practice, as punishment , our coach made us run more laps. Those physical fitness tests we had to take in gym class each year…miserably failed every one every year.  Fast forward 30+ years and here I am choosing to run and actually starting to like it. How is that possible? A total attitude change, that’s how.

When I began boot camp classes last summer, I was amazed at how strong I was becoming but I just couldn’t keep up with the cardio we would do.  I dreaded the jumping jacks and the running….basically anything that required stamina because I didn’t have it. All those negative feelings about running came flooding back and shook my confidence at bit because I couldn’t keep up with everyone else in class.  On the other hand, I’ve always loved walking and do it regularly with friends and family as a way to stay active but also connect and catch up while enjoying the outdoors. Towards the end of last year I started to think about how I could turn my love for walking into at least a like of running.  I decided to set a goal to do a 5k in 2018 and at the end of January, started training. I also decided to approach it not as a form of torture but as the next step in continuing to gain strength, physically and mentally. I’ve been training regularly for almost 2 months and I can say without a doubt it has been a game changer for me. Physically I’ve become stronger and leaner. Every week as I run more and walk less, I just can’t believe how far my legs are carrying me. Knowing where I was a year ago and now I can run for over 30 minutes literally blows my mind and is by far one of the biggest accomplishments of my life…and I haven’t even done the race yet! Not to mention the countless health benefits to running so I’m doing my body good in so many ways.  Mentally it’s an escape from the stress and craziness of day to day life. I don’t listen to music so it’s quiet time to be with myself. It’s the “me time” so many of us need but unfortunately don’t get much of. Or I run with a friend and we support and encourage each other along the way. It’s setting new distance goals each week and the euphoria that comes when I smash them. And sometimes it’s as simple as lacing up my sneakers, putting on the cute new workout gear in the smaller size, feeling the sun on my face and just being happy to move.  There isn’t one negative thing about it!

I say to my daughter, Isabelle, anytime she is going into a situation she doesn’t like…everything is what you make it.  I had to approach running the same way. I hated it all those years in my youth because of my attitude towards it. I couldn’t see any good in it whatsoever.  Boy was I wrong! With a little attitude adjustment, running has become something I really enjoy with benefits to my overall health beyond measure! It truly nourishes my mind, body and soul every time I do it. I’m officially registered for a 5K and it’s now less than a month away!  I’ll be running it with members of my bootcamp tribe who have been some of my biggest supporters…especially Wendy, who pushes me hard and makes be better because of it. One run can change your day, many runs can change your life.

~Regina