Editor's note: Congratulations to Ridgefield resident, Rachel Marino for winning our "Running Story" contest! Rachel is a busy mom who finds strength, inspiration, and friendship while running. She has run in 9 races in the past two years and will run in 3 more in the coming months, one of which is a half-marathon.
And it all began with Run Like A Mother...
The first time I ever heard of the Run Like A Mother race was shortly after my family and I moved to Ridgefield in the fall of 2012. I was at a playgroup when some of my friends in the MOMS Club told me about the race. It sounded like a great goal to work towards, and I had never run a 5K before.
I ran the 2013 RLAM, and it was everything I was told and more. I was not fast by any means, and walked a chunk of the race, but to have people (total strangers!) cheering me on- especially up that hill on Governors Rd- was an amazing experience. I knew I was going to run it again the following year.
As many of you can understand, shortly after that race I fell off the running wagon. As a mother, wife, career woman, there are always so many demands on our time that it's easy to come up with excuses.
That following winter a friend asked me to sign up for and run the Run for the Cows Race at New Pond Farm. My response was, seven miles? Are you kidding? I could never run seven miles! Then as I thought about it, and looked at my children, I had a revelation. What kind of example am I setting for them if I won't even try? Don't we want to teach our children determination and perseverance? Isn't the best way to teach by example? So I signed up, bought a running app for my phone and meticulously charted my running days, mileage and times until last May, when I completed the seven mile race.
I've since been more consistent with running. I have now run in nine races, and am registered for three more in the next few months- including a half marathon! (Something I never thought possible as recently as six months ago.)
Running has become a social activity and time to catch up with friends. It was a much needed outlet for me through the terminal illness of my mother inlaw. It is a way to gather my thoughts and organize the family's schedules. I compose emails and prepare for work while running. To be honest, half of this story was composed in my head while running!
I wish I could say I called myself a "runner" after all of this, but I still struggle considering myself a "real runner." However, just this past week, when the coach of my third grader's running club at school asked if any of the kids had parents who were runners, my daughter pointed at me and said "See my mom? She's a runner!" And I looked into her eyes and thought how simple it was for her- her mom runs, therefore she is a runner.
From now on, I will proudly call myself a runner! And it all began with one little Run Like A Mother race three short years ago.