Remembering Why I Run

Remember when I was a healthy blogger and leading the healthy parade?

When I retired Peace, Love and Muesli I might of also retired many of my strict healthy eating guidelines. I might of also started eating potato chips with abandon and given up all forms of exercise.

I have a really good excuse.

I was emotionally bereft. I couldn’t possibly exercise my body while all my energy was being used in mending my broken spirit. Right?

But then my pants stopped doing up. I can’t admit that I enjoyed that. So I started running, again.

And it hit me. I wasn’t running because I was a healthy blogger, I was running because it makes me feel good. And capable and smart and fit. Running is also excellent for healing a broken spirit.

I believe those are called AHA moments. Especially gratifying when they come with the added benefit of doing up your pants.

Last year at BlogHer in San Diego I signed up for and ran the 5K, both mornings. This year my BlogHer conference goal to stay up past 8pm and maybe even do a little dancing. I decided there would not be enough room for running shoes in my carry on suitcase. Dancing shoes only.

Then I remembered the high fives from the hardore runners while I completed my first 5K run and the friends I met during the run. It’s not dancing but it’s a pretty fun time.

Move over dancing shoes and make room for my sneaks.

Just to be sure I wouldn’t change my mind I joined Run. Blog. Give. with Jamie from Chosen Chaos, she’s encouraging us to collectively run the distance from San Diego to New York City. And to donate money per mile or kilometer to a charity of your choice. There’s no losing!

If you are coming to BlogHer join me and log your kilometers with Jamie.

Now if only someone could do something about this heat wave.

P.S. I just finished reading Ashley Judd’s memoir and she had great things to say about Women for Women International, a charity supporting women survivors of war. I’ll be donating my money there.