This post started as a Facebook status but I’m longwinded so here we are.
This could be my story. My longest race was a 10k but I’m training for a Half-marathon in February. I know I don’t “look like a runner”…whatever the hell that means. This whole idea of fat acceptance just blows my mind. Why is that even an issue? If you want to run, run. People love to talk about how “you need to get fit” but apparently they just mean in a gym in a treadmill working towards THEIR idea of fitness. Better yet, you should hide while you exercise until you look thin enough to be able to exercise. Doesn’t make sense to me either.
Running was my escape when my dad was sick. I started doing races even before I knew he had cancer. My parents purchased a treadmill years ago. It was more of a clothing storage unit than an actual piece of workout equipment. There were intentions for it but it didn’t get much use. The good thing was that it was in my parents’ bedroom. Using the treadmill was my excuse to get my dad out of the room at first. This thing was loud! He has always been supportive so we would make deals. If he went to the sunroom, I’d have to run (or walk briskly and jog).
Eventually, he got too sick to keep making the trek from the bedroom to the sunroom. I took the treadmill to the sunroom and let him have his space. I couldn’t bear leaving the house. Besides, it was summer in South Carolina. My brisk walking turned into running. The feel of my heart beating was a welcome distraction. The music was a melody to my anxiety. The soreness made me feel alive. With each step, I thought about my dad. How he would encourage me to run when we’d go on walks together. How he’d tell me to get up at 5 am to get my day started. I cried on that treadmill as I envisioned the races I’d finish and how I wouldn’t have him to celebrate with.
I won’t pretend that running is easy. It is hard for me. I think about him with every step I take. I honor him with every race.
2 comments
I love her story. I love yours! I could not run at this point! I can get cardio in when I am in my workout room. But you get me on the road and I die! Size should not matter on this! It always trips my brain out to hear how small minded and mean people can be. I see amazing women of all different sizes ‘killing it’ and it never crosses my mind about their size. What crosses my mind is DAMN… I wish I could do that!
It can be so hard to start running. I told myself I wanted to become a runner and now I’m working towards it. I signed up for a Half Marathon and have been training for it. I’m so excited and can’t believe I’m going to do it. I get so emotional about it but I love it!