On behalf of Champion, I have been asked to share my personal running journey. My running story doesn’t have any triumphant returns, remarkable life changing events, or newsworthy segments. What makes my story mine, is the fact that I keep going… even when I had all the excuses to give up. I kept persevering. I would like to think of myself as a #RealChampion.
My fitness journey is very similar to my faith journey. It isn’t necessarily the most exciting journey. I fell in love with it at a young age. I have had my ups and downs. I am not the strongest at my craft… yet I love it and continue to learn and grow from my experiences. My journey is my own… and I am always learning and growing from my experiences.
I have always been a runner. I was an active child who was encouraged to run, bike, and play outdoors as often as possible. Running was fun and I loved to run.
I ran cross country and track through junior high and high school. I wasn’t necessarily the fastest runner on the team, but I was on the varsity team… so there is that. I think they saw my heart and potential… even when I didn’t.
How is that picture for a WAY-BACK-WHEN moment! Hello high school track! That was me and my 4×1600 relay teammates warming up at one of our track meets back in 1994.
I was never very competitive with running. I loved running, but I did not like the races! For most of my teammates (at least on my basketball and softball teams) they did not like running when we were punished for making mistakes. I, however, enjoyed those moments and didn’t find them as punishment. Weird, eh?
I ran for fun through out college. I ran mostly as a stress relief and as a social thing with girlfriends. There was no competition or real plan with the run… just to run for fun. It wasn’t until I was married that I really fell in love with running… or rather after having children that things really took off for me.
I ran my first adult race with a girlfriend from church. It was a local 5K benefiting a charity. Running was fun and social. It made me feel good. It also helped me meet other people in our new area.
In 2004, I decided to train for and run my first half marathon. On a whim I registered for the Louisville Half Marathon. Training was fun. I trained by myself on the streets and trails of St. Charles, MO. When I ran that race, I had no expectations. I just knew I was to run. Running was fun… it always has been fun. It was fun!
The next few years change happened in my life. We moved cross country and added three little boys to our lives. As a mom, running added a whole new level of passion and need to run in my life. Running was my me time. My alone time. The time where I remembered WHO I was and WHOSE I was.
The evolution as a running mom was always changing. I went from running with a single jogger to running with a double jogger. Quickly followed by running and chasing a child on a bike while pushing the double jogger. Soon after pushing the single jogger and chasing two on bike. Now I am back to running solo, but chasing three kiddos on bikes.
My running journey has covered thousands of miles, multiple cities and states, and countless memories. I have run many races. I have run multiple 5K’s and 10K’s. Two 200-mile relays. 11 half marathons. One 20 miler. 3 full marathons. I may not be the fastest runner on the course, but I am the runner with a smile on her face and in her heart… because I love running.
My favorite chapter of my running journey is the fact that my children (and husband) have shown a desire to join me with my running. We ran our first race together as a family last fall. I am looking forward to running many more miles and races WITH my children in the future!
My personal running story has had many adventures. I am still learning and growing as a woman, mother, wife, and athlete… runner. My story is not finished. I look forward to seeing and enjoying the many running adventures the future holds.
Thank you to Champion® for sponsoring this topic on #RealChampions. I believe that champions are not always those who are the super athletic and elite. Real champions are those who overcome and persevere when everything in them tells them to quit… they continue and keep moving forward. Real champions are the every day people, every day champions, who make themselves a priority to live a healthy and active lifestyle.
What does your running story and journey look like?
For me, I am excited to continue running through life, one day at a time. Who knows what the next chapter in my running story will hold! Another marathon? An ultra? Running with my kids!?
What does #RealChampions mean to YOU?
Loved learning about your running journey! I am not a runner by any means, but the few times that I have gotten into running have been since my kids were born as a break and my time to myself. I can really relate to that very well!
You know your passion! I love that your love spread to your family! I know tons of beautiful moments are going to come our of that! (Family marathon 😉 Haha!) XOXO Keep on running my friend!
It’s always fun to see other runners’ stories! Mine has evolved too…from depression fighting to mom sanity to stopping the aging process! And it has been fun, every step of the way.
So fun reading your story! And that pic of your kids and dog – adorable!
To me #realchampions are the everyday athletes like you and me who get up everyday, put our kids, spouses and housework first, then try to fit in time to train as hard as we can without the benefits of coaches or sponsors, We work our butts off simply because we love our sport whatever the sport may be! Great job on being a #RealChampion my friend!
Wow! That’s great that you found running to be fun from a young age! I didn’t get into running and racing until I hit 20 or 21.
Thanks for sharing your running journey!
oh how I love this and SO SO agree with you.
Id also add CHAMPIONS KNOW WHEN QUITTING IS THE BEST THING TO DO, too.
Yes! Yes! Yes! 🙂
Love this. We have very similar stories as you will read tomorrow (minus the high school cross country) !
I love your running story! I feel alone in running sometimes, I wasn’t a star athlete in high school, always on the varsity team, but never made it to state. As an adult I run because I love it, because I need it, and I just started doing races in the last few years )late 20’s early 30s)… I don’t have any amazing weight loss story or anything that it seems like everyone else has, I just love to run.
I’ve always been the opposite that I love races but not so much the running. I’m not fast so I don’t race to win I just love the atmosphere.
That’s an incredible journey you’ve been on, I love how much its changed as you’ve grown.
That picture of your family is adorable… and the puppy in the stroller makes my heart melt! I just found your blog and am so glad this was the first post I came across… I loved reading about your journey so far and look forward to following along!!
Oh wow what a journey it has been for you! Love the throw back pics and seeing you with the kiddos when they were small – you really have had a long journey! Awesome that your kiddos are expressing a desire to be with you running -that’s got to be the best feeling!
Love your story. I think a lot of people can relate. and as always I LOVE Champion.
I loved reading your running journey! It is amazing how much running can change us and how it becomes a time for us to spend with ourselves, but also as a way for us to meet others!
I loved reading your journey! Running is my me-time, as well. It’s when I can relax and just enjoy life.
I loved reading about your running journey! for me I feel my best when I am on a bike. True “me” time uninterrupted by work.
I didn’t realize that you had been running for so long. I didn’t start running until about 10 years ago and did nothing in HS and aerobics in college. One of my biggest regrets!
How awesome that running has been such a constant in your life and now you are passing it on to your kids! I agree that being a real champion has much more to do with perserverance that which prize you win!
I love your story, Rachel! It’s the sticking-it-out part that resonates with so me since that has always been my struggle. I teach group fitness classes partly to make sure I stick with it consistently!
What a fun running adventure you’ve been on! It’s amazing how running ebbs and flows during one’s lifetime but the important part is that we never give it up completely.
What a wonderful story! I also ran XC and track in HS, and just ran occasionally in college but didn’t start up again until I graduated. That’s when my mom and I ran our first 5k together and the rest is history 🙂 Isn’t it amazing to think how many miles we have covered??
Love this! I don’t have a running story – yet – since I’m not a runner, but maybe one day 😀
I love this! It’s such a good story. I’m also not competitive, so I’m glad to hear that I’m not the only one 😉 I also love that your family runs with you these days–I imagine that’s such a great experience.