Running Addiction

I've had some recent inquiries about my 'running addiction'. I'm a running addict. I'm well aware of this. In fact, most of my friends that are runners are in some way addicted to running. Some can miss a day easier than others. But many (like myself) get irritable if too many days pass without running (or at least some type of cardiovascular exercise).

Can I stop running? Well of course I can stop. You don't see me running on the treadmill in my walking cast do you? Do I want to stop running? Really? Does that seem like a realistic question to ask me? No, I don't want to stop running.

So why the addiction?

My 'addiction' if you want to call it that has evolved through the years. I imagine it will continue to evolve as my life changes. Running 10 years ago isn't the same for me as running today. I'm not the same person I was 10 years ago. So now I run for different reasons.

I'm a Mom. And part of the reason that I run now is because I am a Mom. I run so that I can have just a few minutes to myself, to clear my head, to sweat out the thoughts that don't need to be rattling around in there, to make me a better Mom to my kid. So partly I run because I'm a Mom.

I'm a wife. I run to get away from my husband. Just kidding ;) No, I run so that I can be a better wife to my husband. How so? Because taking care of myself is one way that I can be a better wife to him and a better mom to Lil Man.

I'm me. I also run for me. Because at this stage in my life, running is one of the few things that I do for me. It's my time. It allows me to set a goal, reach for the goal, and feel the accomplishment once I've met it. It doesn't have to be a race. It can simply be a run. It can be the accomplishment of knowing that I completed a run that day.

Let's face it. Being a Parent is hard. Being a stay at home Mom can have some very trying days. Running is an outlet for me to relieve stress.

Being married is great. But being married can also have it's own stressors. Running is an outlet for me to relieve stress.

Are you seeing a pattern here?

So yes, I am addicted to running. But with this addiction also comes a balance. I balance my home life/family with my running addiction. Although Hubby doesn't share my passion with me, he is supportive and tries to work with me so that I can get my runs in. He realizes the importance both to me and for him.

As the saying goes.. If Mamma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.

I'm looking forward to getting this boot off and going for my half mile test run.