I was recently asked by a co-worker how I got into running, and did you know that talking about running is one of my FAVORITE things to do? Everyone has that THING that they can talk about to a family member, friend, or even stranger for hours (if they'll listen), and RUNNING is my thing, so you know I lit up when she asked me. 
In my early years, I was always an athlete, playing various youth sports, cheering etc. I liked to be busy and signed up where I was needed. I got into running in middle school when I signed up for cross country and track. For some reason, I was attracted to the hardest races... hurdles and long distance. I continued running throughout high school, and when I got to college, I ran to stay in shape, although I don't really remember how often that was. When I married my college-football sweetheart following graduation, we continued running here and there, going to local gyms and such, participating in a few local 5K's and got SO EXCITED when our cell phones were able to play music on our runs (no GPS yet... but MUSIC). We then got busy with growing our family and our careers for a few years and built a new house with babies on our hips, leaving little time or energy for running. That is, until our girls were close to 2 and 4, and my husband had this idea of training for the Houston Marathon in order to get back into shape and lose the weight he had gained over the last several years. A MARATHON!! I had never even watched anyone run a marathon. But as he started running in 2013 again, using the Couch to 5K app on his phone (how cool that our iPhones now had APPs and GPS in addition to music!), I started getting the running bug again. I too started pushing play on the Couch to 5K app, not even able to make it 400m without having to walk, but I kept going, and pretty soon, I was able to run the entire 3 miles without walking. And I was actually pretty fast back then.
When it comes to running marathons in my 40's, you will find me strength training (and also walking) almost just as much as running, because, my goal is to stay as strong and less injured as possible as I continue to run for the JOY of running. For all of my longer runs and races, I use a run/walk method, not necessarily at any particular time intervals, but I take walk breaks when I need to (usually timed out around the hills and water stations). And when it comes to strength training, I combine my running with BODi (formally known as Beachbody) programs. I push play on my favorite programs in my home gym, usually skipping the cardio days and replacing those with running. I typically average 4 strength days a week, and I prefer 30-45 minute workouts.
So today, I am going to share how I got into running and how I continue to run marathons into my 40's with the goal of staying a life-long runner. I am not a competitive runner, I am no longer chasing personal records, nor am I ever going to qualify for Boston, but I run for the JOY of running, to do something HARD that reminds me that I can do hard things, and to be part of an amazing community who is always striving towards goals. I THRIVE in having something to train for, being outside in nature and sunshine, having a schedule, learning and growing, and being surrounded by other growth-focused women, if only online. Running makes me feel ALIVE, keeps me HEALTHY, calms my ANXIETY, and makes me HAPPY. I have been running most of my life, but running half marathons and marathons as a mother runner since 2013 (11 years this year!) when my husband and I ran our 1st half marathon at the San Antonio Rock n Roll race series.
In my early years, I was always an athlete, playing various youth sports, cheering etc. I liked to be busy and signed up where I was needed. I got into running in middle school when I signed up for cross country and track. For some reason, I was attracted to the hardest races... hurdles and long distance. I continued running throughout high school, and when I got to college, I ran to stay in shape, although I don't really remember how often that was. When I married my college-football sweetheart following graduation, we continued running here and there, going to local gyms and such, participating in a few local 5K's and got SO EXCITED when our cell phones were able to play music on our runs (no GPS yet... but MUSIC). We then got busy with growing our family and our careers for a few years and built a new house with babies on our hips, leaving little time or energy for running. That is, until our girls were close to 2 and 4, and my husband had this idea of training for the Houston Marathon in order to get back into shape and lose the weight he had gained over the last several years. A MARATHON!! I had never even watched anyone run a marathon. But as he started running in 2013 again, using the Couch to 5K app on his phone (how cool that our iPhones now had APPs and GPS in addition to music!), I started getting the running bug again. I too started pushing play on the Couch to 5K app, not even able to make it 400m without having to walk, but I kept going, and pretty soon, I was able to run the entire 3 miles without walking. And I was actually pretty fast back then.
Later that year, we ran our first half marathon together as a training race for him as he got closer to running the Houston Marathon, and had such a great time, we signed up for more. And a couple months later, he ran his very first marathon alone, cheered by me and the girls, his parents, and some friends, and finished under 5 hours, which was his goal. It was one of the coolest things I had ever seen. With tears in my eyes, as he ran by us with only a couple hundred meters to go, I decided that day that I too would run a marathon. I was SO INSPIRED by his dedication that year as he trained and then ran the entire 26.2 miles without stopping and knew that it was something I wanted to do.
But it wouldn't happen the following year, as I battled plantar fasciitis in my left foot, slowing me down for about 18 months. Instead, my husband ran the Houston Marathon again, this time with some friends and beat his previous time. Again, I watched from the sidelines with our girls, and was so amazed by not only his dedication and persistence, but the amazingness of one of my doctor colleagues who was running his final marathon at age 60 after running a yearly marathon for most of his adult life. He and my husband actually got to run quite a few miles together during the marathon and I snapped a photo of them, which is now so special to me as he passed away this year at the age of 68 with cancer. If you've never watched a marathon, that is truly the BEST part, seeing people of all ages, sizes, and abilities running the same 26.2 miles, some finishing in under 3 hours, others taking over 6 hours, but crossing that same finish line with a smile across their face and feeling that same sense of pride and accomplishment. After watching this 2nd marathon, I knew in my heart that I just HAD to get there and experience it for myself. And so I finally signed up to run my 1st Marathon the following year, and you guessed it, in Houston.
There were many half marathons in between that very 1st half marathon in San Antonio and my 1st marathon, including the Rock n Roll Dallas 1/2 marathon where we ran our PR's that still stand today (2:06) and also our most grueling half marathon, the Army half in our hometown where it was bitterly cold and sleeting during the race. Each race taught us something and was also great time spent together doing something that brought us joy... in a type 2 fun kind of way. If you know, you know.
In 2016, I finally got to run my 1st full Marathon, and I even managed to talk my husband into doing it with me, making this his 3rd Houston Marathon in a row. Our girls stayed back home with grandparents, and I didn't realize how bad I would miss having them there until it was over. We finished the marathon together in 5:25 (my fastest marathon to date), and I think my words were something like, "this is the hardest thing I have ever done, harder than childbirth, and I will never do it again."
But we all know how that goes... days later, I signed up for another marathon later that year, as I was so sad that I didn't have my family at the finish line. If I was going to dedicate that many months to training and go do something SO INCREDIBLY HARD, I at least wanted my daughters there at the finish line to see their mom finishing something she started. So, I trained for another one, this time alone, and later that year, I ran the Bryan College Station Marathon, a much smaller race with little crowd support, but had my husband and girls there cheering for me every step of the way. And it made me so happy to see them at the finish line.
Since then, I have gone on to run a total of 5 full Marathons, currently training for my 6th, and 16 half marathons, with a goal to keep on running until I can't run anymore.
Running as a mother runner has given me something that is just for ME during this season of work, motherhood, and caring for a home which I think is so important for everyone. I started this blog and my social media account and even wrote a book titled "Fill up to spill out," because I feel so passionate about this idea that we cannot pour from an empty cup. Running has been the THING that has filled my cup over these last 11 years, and really even before that when I didn't realize how much running meant to me.
When it comes to running marathons in my 40's, you will find me strength training (and also walking) almost just as much as running, because, my goal is to stay as strong and less injured as possible as I continue to run for the JOY of running. For all of my longer runs and races, I use a run/walk method, not necessarily at any particular time intervals, but I take walk breaks when I need to (usually timed out around the hills and water stations). And when it comes to strength training, I combine my running with BODi (formally known as Beachbody) programs. I push play on my favorite programs in my home gym, usually skipping the cardio days and replacing those with running. I typically average 4 strength days a week, and I prefer 30-45 minute workouts.
My girls were 2 and 4 when I got back into running as a mother runner... and now they are almost 13 and 15. They have never known anything other than seeing their mom run races and workout regularly, and the best part is now they are old enough to run and lift weights WITH THEIR MOM.
Running has been such a consistent thing in my life for so many years now, and I quite honestly can't imagine life without it. But what has made it even better the last few years is finding my BODi community that combines running AND BODi and provides the best accountability and support I need to keep going. As a BODi coach myself now, I strive to help other moms find JOY in running and fitness and filling their cups each day, and I'd love to invite you into my virtual gym community. Don't hesitate to reach out to me on IG at filluptospillout or filluptospillout@gmail.com for more info!
Until next time,
Allison
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