Sunday, June 9, 2013

Things are a changin

"That page has changed you.", said my husband.

 When I heard him say this, I thought 'oh here we go, he is going to tell me I am on facebook far too much (and he MAY be right)',  and he is going to tell me that I need to focus on me and worry less about impressing people.   For all of my life (almost 35 years)  I have tried to impress, please and entertain people.  I am always worrying about people liking me.  And for the first time, I truly feel accepted.   I am so grateful for my little page and all of the people who have joined it.  The running community is an amazing group.  So accepting and helpful.  <3 

Now, I am the first to tell you that I am a work in progress.   I know I am showing progress, and I have to fight the urge to compare myself to other people.  This is something I struggle in all parts of my life...not just in the fitness area.  I am really working on accepting me, and praising my own accomplishments.  I need to see that I am capable of so much more than I have dared to do.  

One big area where I seek acceptance is with my family.  Now, I have a great family. But I feel like the black sheep.  I feel like they just dont "get" my lifestyle and love of running.  Most of them are much more content to socialize over some beers rather than during a run. I am working to encourage them to try more, and I do have some cousins who are trying, so that is exciting.  But I have a secret when it comes to my family....and that secret is my page and blog.  I am so worried about how they will see it, and see me.   For some reason, I am a lot more comfortable telling a bunch of complete strangers how I feel, instead of sharing it with my family.

I feel so at home on my little page and I get so much motivation and encouragement from everyone who is a part of it.  I find myself wanting to be more positive in all aspects of my life, because that is how RGX would do it :)   On my hard days, just thinking of the people I have met or inspired though my page, and that will get me through a run.   Thank you so much for your likes, comments, shares and encouragement :)  

So,  what my handsome, wise husband meant when he told me that the page had changed me was this:  I am becoming more confident.  I am feeling more secure in WHO I am.  I am less scared to try things, more willing to meet people.  I am coming out of the shell that I had built around myself.  I am becoming the ME that I always hoped was possible.  I AM HAPPY.  I AM RUNNER GIRL X.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Here I am

Ok, so here it goes.   First blog. No pressure, right?   I am Runner Girl X.   I am just a regular girl who discovered that i can run, and do a lot of other badass things....I just didn't know it yet.  Day by day, I am learning more.

 I was not an active child.   My daily activity consisted of walking to the library, 3 blocks away. Reading was my extracurricular activity. I had the best spots for reading, but as great as that is, it is way too sedentary for a child.  Sports were encouraged in our house, but you needed to be good.  My step sister was an excellent athlete, lettering in basketball and winning state track titles.  i enjoyed sports and I went to most of my sister and brothers sporting events, but never played on a school team myself.   I was always too worried that I wasn't good enough, so I just avoided trying.  I have yo yo dieted since I was a teenager.  I watched my mom struggle with her weight, and body image my whole life.  I realize now how much that has affected me.    On top of it all, I have some depression and anxiety issues, but thankfully, the running helps with both :) I decided to start this blog and page to help me work through some of this old emotional crap, and make room for a more positive, healthy me.  I can't promise it will all be happy, but it will all be real. I am ready to get over some of the things that have been holding me back from being ME

I have been with my husband Personal Trainer Man (PTM) for 8 years, but we have been married for just over a year.  We had to make sure we REALLY liked each other first ;). We were pretty unhealthy in the beginning.....lots of fast food, soda and cigarettes :P  We were overweight, but didn't care enough to change.   In 2009, we joined a gym and life changed.   I stuck to Group Fit classes and fell in love with exercise.  We quit smoking, cut back the soda and got moving!    Over all, I have not lost a huge amount of weight (about 25 lbs so far), but I am stronger than have ever been.   Right now I am in a running phase right now, and I struggle with going to classes and keeping with my race  training.   I am running a 25k in 12 days.  So right now, I am just running and doing some yoga.          After the race I am planning to back down on my miles and up my classes.  I look forward to getting back to group fit.

We started running four years ago, but only in the past year has it become something I love.  We finished a half marathon in April and PTM will do his first full on the day I do my 25 k.  I am really looking forward to seeing him cross that finish line.  For once I will finish a race before he does :)


So, that is why I am here.   I thank you for being here with me.
Be well, my friends.  XO