I started running for the first time back in 1996, the same year I kicked a decade-long smoking habit. I knew that quitting smoking would never work unless I supported it with other healthy lifestyle habits. And so, my original goal, the first time I ventured out into the big wide world with running shoes on, was simply to get my butt off the couch and do some exercise.
Imagine my astonishment at discovering that I actually liked to run. By the end of the first month, I was not merely going out to run in order to get exercise and keep my weight down. I was running because I wanted to.
Who knew?
By the time I discovered that I was pregnant in 2003, I was a well-established part of the Toronto running scene. I participated in every event I could get my hands on, my life was all about race numbers and personal best times, and I was in the best shape of my life. I saw no reason why I couldn’t continue running throughout my pregnancy.
As it turned out, my body had other ideas. A smallish percentage of women, including yours truly, have a problem where their inner ear fluid gets completely messed up by pregnancy. I was having trouble keeping my balance at the best of times – there was no way I would pull it off with an ever-changing centre of gravity, while wintery conditions (read: ice on the sidewalks) prevailed. And so, much to my dismay, I had to hang up the running shoes.
It was supposed to be a pregnancy-only thing, but my break from running turned out to be a lot longer than expected. There always seemed to be something preventing me from going back. New mommy exhaustion. The pressures of combining work with family. Mourning the loss of my Dad. Postpartum depression after the birth of James. Being hit with George’s autism diagnosis. When I did try to return to running, an old injury – a previously broken ankle – flared up and caused me grief. On another occasion, I developed plantar fasciitis – an excruciating foot ailment that lasted for a full year.
The long and the short of it is that in early 2009, I had not run for six years and my weight had ballooned to a number way higher than it had been during either of my pregnancies.
Then, after one magical email, everything changed.
The email was from an organization that has been a lifesaver for my family since the time of George’s diagnosis: the Geneva Centre for Autism. They were entering a team in that year’s Charity Challenge portion of the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, Half-Marathon and 5km event. Was I interested in being a part of the team?
Hell yes, I thought excitedly, hungrily scanning the email for sign-up information. The 5km run, I decided. That would be a perfect way to get me back into the sport. I filled in the registration form, but just before I clicked “submit”, something made me stop.
I didn’t want to do the 5km run. Back in my heyday of racing several years previously, the 5km distance had been my least favourite. I had excelled in the distance runs, the ones where I had to use pacing strategies and experiment with my limits of mental toughness. If I was going to race again, I wanted to really challenge myself.
I pulled out my calendar and worked out that with six months to go until the race, I just about had enough time to train for the half-marathon. Without giving myself time to think it through, I changed the distance on the registration form and submitted it. And that was it. I was committed.
Overnight, I changed from a couch potato into someone obsessed with getting in the right amount of mileage for each day. This time, I knew that the running would stick. I knew that there would be no circumstances, no injuries that would keep me on the sidelines. All I had needed, it turned out, was the right motivation.
What better motivation could there possibly be than doing something to benefit my child?
During my training for that first autism run, I got back into shape, shed sixty pounds, and best of all, rekindled my love of running. My time for the half-marathon was less than stellar, but I didn’t care. All I cared about, as I stood completely spent at the finish line, was that I had done it. I had run this race for my child and for other people living with similar challenges to him, and the sense of victory was so immense that it brought tears to my eyes.
I did it again the next year, knocking more than six minutes off my time.
I am doing it again this year, for the third time. This time, I have a lofty goal: to break two hours for the half-marathon.
This annual event, my Run for Autism, brings together the elements of my life that I am passionate about. Not only am I raising funds for a cause that affects my child, I am modelling a healthy lifestyle and a love of physical fitness – setting an example that my kids will hopefully follow. At the same time, this annual project gives me opportunities to be an advocate for people with autism, whose unique, out-of-the-box ways of problem solving can make them a truly valuable asset to society. And while I’m doing all of this, I get to run.
I feel as if I have rediscovered a part of my soul that was missing for a long time.
Sometimes people ask me how I do it, what it is that enables me to train for months on end and then race for 13 miles.
For me, the answer is simple. My son lives with the challenges of autism, day in and day out. Surely I can manage running for a mere two hours at a time.
It really is the least I can do for my child.
Have you ever been inspired by your kids to do something special that goes beyond the bounds of regular parenting?
This is an original post for World Moms Blog by Kirsten Doyle of Toronto, Canada. Kirsten can also be found on her blog, Running for Autism, or on Twitter @Running4autism.
Photo credit to Action Sports International professional sports photography.
That is truly inspirational. I like your perspective on how your child is living with autism day in, day out, what is 2 hours a day of running indeed? I applaud your efforts. The first step is always to get started right?
I should take my own advice, I haven’t run in over 2 years!
You are right – the first step is to get started. It’s also the hardest step. Thanks for reading, and I hope you are able to get your running shoes back on!
What a wonderful post I have been a runner for half my life and started and stopped along the way with pregnancies and a broken foot a couple of years ago. I find that I mentally and physically need and crave the release it brings me and it especially is a wonderful way to survive our long, cold, brutal winters. I run year round, rain, snow, sleet or shine and love it. My children even accompany me on scooters or even run some of the way alongside me. Minneapolis,, known as the city of lakes, has running events every weekend and I think it is an awesome way to raise money, give back and promote a healthy lifestyle especially in a country in which many people are obese and fighting health issues. Kuddos to you! I’d love to be able to run distance again! (but can’t given injuries). 🙂
I too am a year-round runner, although sheets of winter ice on the sidewalks occasionally puts me off. I haven’t thought of letting the kids come along on scooters – thanks for the idea!
This is a great story. You are making a difference in your life, your children’s lives and in Autism research all at the same time. You are an inspiration!!!
Jen 🙂
Thanks, Jen! There is a great quote that I heard that applies here. “Be the change you want to see.”
What a great story of finding motivation through something that you love that also helps your son. As a fellow runner, I can totally understand how that would keep you going. And I love that you changed the distance from 5k to 21 – that’s totally something I would do on a whim to really go for it.
Good luck with the under 2 goal. I’ve run 3 halfs and have been above 2 – would love to go sub-2 but it would take work.
Yes, going sub-2 is going to take a lot of work. I really need to start going to my running club’s Tuesday night torture sessions – I mean, speed training workouts 🙂 Thanks for reading!
“…the sense of victory was so immense that it brought tears to my eyes”… Mine too! Well done, Momma, on all fronts. Way to do something wonderful for your son, your community, and your own body & spirit! As for the question at the end of the post, I really try to practice what I preach since having my children. I don’t have one stand out example, but it comes into my life everyday since becoming a mom, and I know I am a better person for it.
I know what you mean, Tara. I honestly think that being a mom has made me a better person. I believe that the best thing we can do as parents is just live our lives in a way that will help our kids grow up healthy, happy and balanced.
I am so proud to be your friend and you inspire me in so many ways. I love you girl!