Its Never Too Late To Challenge Yourself

This post is for all the sports moms out there that may have some how, some way managed to lose their own sports path and goals because they are so focused on helping their children achieve their goals and dreams!

I was an active kid and did a variety of sports. I ran cross country in high school and in college I did 5K, 8K and 10 mile races with friends for fun. And then something happened. I got married and started my own family, juggling the demands of running a busy house and running my own business. And somewhere in all of that craziness I forgot about me. I forgot that I love to play, compete and challenge myself.

As I entered my forties I decided it was time to find the athlete in me again! I took up golf and last year I set about learning how to run again. I made it my goal to run a 5K race this year – no matter how slow. And guess what I did?

Last weekend I completed my first 5K in twenty – count them – twenty, years! It was so much fun! We hung out with the Easter Bunny before the race and it was great to see Moms, Dads, teens, kids and little ones in strollers all out there to run together. I ran the race with a good friend – who like me, decided it was high time to find her inner athlete again. We didn’t care if were last (which we weren’t), we just wanted to run the whole thing. We finished the 3.1 miles in 40 minutes. Not lightning speed by any measure, but we accomplished our goal and that was the best part.

And as an added bonus, I think I have now got my 14 year old son hooked!! He ran the 5K race too – it was his first one and he finished it in a blazing (compared to us) 23 minutes. Not too shabby for the first one! When I asked him how it went at the end, he simply asked, “When can we do that again?” COOL!! So, I think we are going to run another race in June.

I know its hard to carve out time for you when you are shuttling kids back and forth to practice, going to competitions, and still trying to keep the household moving, but you have to do it. Be creative. Make the time and give yourself a challenge. The rewards are HUGE! Not only will you feel amazing, you set the most important example for your kids that you possibly can!

So, what’s  your challenge and how are you going to go about achieving it?