Round Table

Mantra:  "I run because I can"

I work Mondays at a Dr's office and at lunch, a group of girls and I were discussing the reasons we run.. One girl was running to be heart healthy, another girl runs because her husband does and its something they do together on a regular basis, my favorite reason from this other girl, it was quite simply, so her pants fit.  We all have our own reasons for running.  Mine is more than one reason.  Sure I do love that my pants fit and that I am thin.  I have never struggled too much with weight issues. I run because I need to be healthy and I need to be STRONG.  I have Cerebral Palsy , it is mild and I have never thought too much about it.  Untill my late twenties.  I was just to weak to pick up my own babies.  I wasn't tired, didn't feel run down, I felt good.  I just had no strength.  Household chores that should not require effort did.  Like lifting laudry basket or pushing the vaccuum. But what really broke my heart was having a difficult time picking up my babies, helping them get in their car seats or booster seats or just picking them up because they wanted to be held by mommy.  I would have to sit down let them climb on my lap and then I could hold them.  And THAT is not OK!   I went to  a small gym, hired a trainer to learn to lift  weights the correct way.  To stregthen my muscles so I could just do normal mom things.  In just weeks I noticed a difference. 
I have to stay in a work out routine.  The times that I have stopped for whatever reason, my muscles go back to their weak ways.  I stay pretty true to my work out routine.  I accidentally fell in love with running along the way. 
Running keeps my head clear and de stresses me.  The trail I run on is peaceful and beautful.  So it truly is my "happy place".  And I feel STRONG when I am running. 
I saw a quote just the other day on the blog "Runner dude" which by the way,  the more I read the blog, the more I love, but it was this "I run because I can!"  in a nutshell thats it for me.  "I run because I can"