Nov 22, 2018
Why I Run…
“Why do you run? What got you started running?”- I hear these questions all the time! Along with “You look great- is it because all of that running?”
Starting a running regimen was not easy. At the time I was kind of a couch potato…sort of. It all started in late 2015 early 2016. I was finishing up my first term on City Council for my hometown Antioch CA. When you are an elected official you are invited to a ton of events, fundraisers, speaking engagements, meetings and forums. So, you are active but the one constant at each of these meetings is FOOD! The food is yummy but not always the best when you are trying to watch your calories, so you grab a bite here and a nibble there. It never ends. Also, people are always inviting you to meet over drinks to discuss anything and everything. So, between the eating and the occasional drink I gained a little weight. I was at my yearly doctors’ appointment when she told me that I was pre-diabetic and if I continued down the same road I would have diabetes along with other problems. So, I started to take things seriously.
In the fall of 2016 I decided to get healthy. I have tried different things in the past. Weight Watchers, Boot Camp Style workouts, and a fad diet or two. They didn’t work, or I would lose weight and gain it all back and then some. This time it would be different. I was determined to take control of my health.
The first thing I decided to do was deal with the food piece. My eating was off the chain! Instead of jumping on a fad diet I thought “what are the basics of a healthy meal?” A protein, a fruit and vegetable…oh and water, lots of WATER! I determined what vegetables I liked to eat, then what fruit and then proteins. I made sure first thing in the morning to drink 16 ounces of water with a goal to drink 104 ounces of water a day. Then a healthy breakfast, not just hot tea and a bagel but a meal. My favorite chicken apple sausage, three mandarin oranges, baby carrots and another 16 ounces of water (so 32 ounces water by the time I eat breakfast). All my meals not only breakfast but lunch and dinner are full meals and always includes water. If I want a snack, then that’s fine. Usually a fruit or sometimes some almonds. Here is the tricky part: If I want pizza, then it’s ok to have a slice or two but not the whole pizza. If I want a burrito that’s fine but I do not over indulge. When I start to feel full then I stop, no more stuffing myself.
So, back to this running thing. In 2017 one of my new year’s resolutions was to run a 5K. Simple. I found a 5K happening in Antioch; the Rotary Bunny Hop 5K. I had never run a 5K in my life, so I needed to prepare. As with most things I found an app on my phone that help with training for a 5K. It was great. It eased me into running. I would put my earbuds in and a little voice would tell me when to jog, run, sprint, or walk at different intervals. Pretty soon I was jogging three miles 3–4 days a week. You know what I noticed? I felt good!
The ENDORPHINS! Wow! You know you hear about the runner’s high, but you never really believe it until you experience it. I must confess when I was in High School, I was on the track and field team and loved it. My specialty was the 110 low hurdles. I loved that event! And back then I would get the runner’s high. I had completely forgot about that feeling until two years ago. When you are jogging, the runner’s high comes gradually. The first mile is hard. Your inner voice is telling you to turn around and go home. Your body is hurting, and you are doubting that you can even make it, but you push through it. You breathe the air in deep through your nose and exhale through your mouth. The second mile is interesting because your mind is going over the events of the day. “Ugh! I missed that deadline!” “Whew! I finally finished that report.,” “So and so totally pisses me off!” “OMG, I forgot to finish that report!” Lots of negative thoughts can happen but you push them to the side because they will become a distraction if you are not careful. Then the third and final mile. You made it! That’s when the endorphins kick in full force. You think “wow I just did that, and I feel good!” It was hard in the beginning, but I made it through! When you come off that high whether you did your personal best or had your worst run it is very emotional. You must face it and go through it and deal with those feelings. You cannot hold them back. Whether it is a warrior yell or tears of defeat you must experience it!
After, your first 5K you are addicted. You start looking for others and you start challenging yourself. After I finished my second 5K in Sacramento I decided to compete in a 5K in all 58 counties in California. How did I come up with this challenge? A few friends from college started competing in marathons and decided to run a marathon in every state. I decided to do something similar and little more doable. I know this challenge will take some time to complete but I am enjoying it. So far, I have run in the following counties: Contra Costa, Sacramento, Napa, Alameda, San Francisco and Orange. Last month I was supposed to run the Wonder Woman 5K in Santa Clara County, but before the race I broke my toe and had to be sidelined for 6 weeks. Don’t worry I am now back up and running again.
Next year, I have planned for runs in the following counties: San Diego, San Mateo and Marin. I am also squeezing a 5K in Cabo San Lucas so wish me luck!
So why do I run? I run because it makes me feel good. I run because I enjoy getting out and seeing the different landscapes and communities. I run because it is freeing. We are lucky here in Antioch that we have so much beautiful open space and several great trails and routes to run on. In fact, one of the 5ks that I ran in Antioch was held at the Contra Loma Reservoir here. It was a gorgeous day and it was so fun to have Antioch featured so beautifully.
Running is about perseverance, determination, and pacing yourself. Not too different from running for office. There are a lot of stop and starts, highs and lows, and sprints and marathons so to speak especially as you get closer to voting day. Some days you feel defeated but some days you feel exhilarated and you keep going because the feeling of finishing what you started is a great feeling. I feel passionate about running for office because of the things I want to accomplish for the community and I will keep running on all levels to keep pushing myself forward and to stay focused and free.
