Corporate Cup

I would like to say that "I'm back", or at least I hope that I am on my way back. I don't know who reads this blog, but if you know me you might know that I USED to run. Before I got pregnant with Lily I ran in 2 full marathons and some half marathons and some other smaller races. I USED to enjoy running. I still enjoy running, but throw a baby, working nights, no daycare and lack of sleep into that mix and it changes everything. I look into the mirror each day and think to myself...how did I let myself get here? Then I answer that question to myself with, "she's asleep in her crib...that's how I got here." Lily is every bit worth my extra 15 pounds tha I still tote around. She is worth it and more. Some days I look into that mirror and I am not happy about what I see, but most days I don't care because I have a beautiful little girl to show for it. My thoughts now have changed some. I have this beautiful little girl that I need to be around to take care of for many years to come, so I better get myself back into shape! Anyway, I have slowly started running again. Nothing major, but a few miles here and there. I was feeling pretty good and comfortable running between 3-4 miles, so I thought why not sign up for the Corporate Cup? It is only 6 miles...I can do that....and I did. I ran 6.2 miles on Sunday on a beautiful morning in downtown Omaha with hundreds of others. I ran it and it felt GREAT! I did not have to stop at all and I even beat the goal I had set for myself by 12 minutes. I worked the night before so I drove downtown after work in the morning not knowing anyone else who was going to be there. There were TONS of people there, but who is the first person I see as I enter the womens bathroom??? My best friend Jessica! I knew this was going to be a good day! She and her husband, Kevin, were there to walk the 2 mile walk with Children's Hospital. I hung out with them before the run and met up with them again afterwards. What LUCK! The best part of the day was at the finish line. Yes, yes, my baby girl and my hubby were there to cheer me on! I felt like I could not breathe and I was fighting back the tears when I saw them. It meant so much to me that they were there. Lily was so darn cute. She hadn't even seen me yet and she was full of smiles and clapping and cheering everybody else on. When I saw her I gave her a high five and finished the race with the biggest smile on my face and in my heart. This might sound silly to some of you, but to me it was the best feeling in the world to have my daughter present at my first race "back." If I would have known that strollers were allowed on the course I would have run with her...well that is if I hadn't blown the tire up on our running stroller last week that is! Who knows...maybe a half marathon will be in my near future?? Anybody want to run with me?