An Introduction and Background to this Mommy in Motion

This blog is for motivation, for myself, and possibly for others.  As I keep it, I hope that it helps to show that although I am not perfect, and never will be, I am trying to become better.   I am 39 years-old, 5'6" and as of this morning 184.6 lbs.  I don't expect the first two statistics to change, at least for several months, but I am hoping the last one will decrease dramatically.

I am a mommy of four.  I am blessed to have my four little ones and they bring so much joy to my life.  Upon finding out I was pregnant with my last child, I stopped running.  This is due to the fact that I had been pregnant in May of of 2010 and had a miscarriage.  The bleeding started after I did an easy two-mile run.  Two miles back then was easy for me.  I had completed several 5K and 10K runs and a half-marathon.  I was training for a full marathon when I found out I was pregnant.  I didn't plan to do a marathon pregnant, but I thought I could keep running.  I wanted to stay in shape.

The bleeding started the same day as the run.  To me, even if it really had nothing to do with the run, it was too much of a coincidence.  I continued to bleed for three weeks, off and on.  I would go and get regular ultrasounds.  The baby's heartbeat was really weak, but there was still a heartbeat.  I would pray really hard that the heart rate would pick up.  Finally, one day, the bleeding got really bad.  I went back to the doctor and there was no longer a heartbeat.  My heart was broken.  There is no way to put that pain into words.  If you, or your spouse, has ever experienced a miscarriage, it is a bit more understandable to you what I felt.  I knew for three weeks that the baby was unlikely to make it, but I kept hoping, kept praying, as any mother would.

The day I found out I had a miscarriage, I felt like I should be running a marathon.  I had started running on June 8, 2009, with the purpose of doing my first half-marathon. I had found joy and peace in running around June 8, 2009.  I had started with the goal to run, in order to lose weight.  I lost weight, rather quickly, but found something I enjoyed in the process.  After my miscarriage, I ran a 17.75K a couple weeks later.  Much to my surprise, that was a trail run.  I had not trained, ever, for a trail run.  This was a couple weeks after miscarrying the baby.  I had stopped running for the three weeks when I was hoping the baby could make it.  That was a difficult run. 

I then ran the Akron RoadRunner Marathon on Sept 25, 2010, in 5:39:46.  On Nov. 13, 2010, I ran the Richmond SunTrust Marathon in 5:31:46.  I found it very interesting that it was exactly 8 minutes less.  I didn't run the whole way, I had to walk off and on starting at about mile 16 w/ the first and mile 18 with the second.  I was pleased to complete those.  So, that is my background.  I am not fast, but I enjoy it.

I completely gave up running the day I found out I was pregnant, the next time.  That day was February 14, 2011.  Yes, Valentines Day.  Doctors, nurses, everyone told me that it had nothing to do with the running. I wasn't going to take the chance.   I had many problems during my pregnancy, all having to do with the Pemphigoid Gestationis that I was diagnosed with.  I had to be on prednisone for 9 months.  The problem continued after birth.  My baby was born on Oct 5, 2011.  She was tiny, but healthy.  Due to the problems associated with the Pemphigoid Gestationis, I had an amniocentesis to make sure her lungs were functioning at 37 weeks and 1 day.  She was delivered Caesarean section on the next day, weighing in at 6 lbs 3 oz and being 18.5 inches long.

I started running off and on when she was a couple of months old, because I had to let my body heal from the surgery.   I admit that it was more off than on.  I would run, maybe, a couple times a month.  Things would always come up, as any mother of a young baby knows.  I would not commit and pay for any races.  The commit and pay is a big motivator to me.  If I pay for it, I am going to do it, unless my back goes out. 

As I started running on Monday, which was the first day in my running plan to do a half-marathon on June 15, 2013, I thought I should start a blog about being in motion.   I didn't want it to be part of my family blog, because that is more of a journal about my family and myself.  It is something that I try to write in regularly to keep track of fun times and other things that happen around here.
I initially thought, as I ran, that I would call it "A Body in Motion," but that one was taken.   "A Mommy in Motion" fits.  

My first week called for 2 mile runs on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.  I did the first two runs at a local park that has a running trail.  The last run, I did in the neighborhood.  One of the best things about running is that you can do it anywhere.  I love to be able to just step outside and start a run.  It doesn't require a gym membership. 

My next purchase is going to be a jogger stroller so I can run with my little one while the older children are at school. 

Please feel free to follow me and read my blogs.  Comments are appreciated.  Thank you for taking the time to read the introduction to what I hope is a long-life of running from this time forth.