The Creative Mom

I am a runner.  I do not run fast or far, but I do run, and that is what counts.  Deciding to BE a runner instead of just going running was a breakthrough for me.  I removed the option of not going.  I could not BE a runner and not run.  It was a part of me and a part of everyday of my life. 

After the birth of my baby I returned to my pre-baby weight in about a month.  Don’t get disgusted and stop reading! I was able to do this because of an evil combination of  9 months of morning sickness and a Nazi gestational diabetes diet.  Believe me, I would have much rather gained 30 pounds.  My problem came when I started to breastfeed less and less and my over compensation for my lack of sugar during my pregnancy had turned into a major sweet tooth.  I had also lost a lot of muscle tone during my pregnancy which added to the new flabby me.  In the past I had gone to the gym or taken long power walks to stay in shape.  But, with an infant, I had neither the time nor the inclination to leave her to do either one of these.  So I started running. 

I bought a jogging stroller and a really good sports bra and took off.  I didn’t get too far at first, but I kept at it.  After a while an amazing thing happened.  No, it didn’t get easier, and I didn’t get that NEED to run or the fabled runner’s euphoria.  I got snotty.  I loved that I was a runner and other people were not.  I loved that I trotted past people in my cute running outfit pushing my beautiful baby, and I would think to myself how they wished they were runners too.  And, it did make me feel good.  I might not accomplish anything all day, but if I went running then something was a success.

 Most importantly I am giving my daughter a healthy mommy, and probably a more sane mommy as well.  And, of course, a mommy that is better than those other mommies who aren’t runners.