Last night I was in the laundry room, and as I pulled the umpteenth piece of clothing out of the dryer today and shook it out, one of my running socks fell out of the toddler-sized sweatshirt and landed on the laundry room floor.
As I looked down at my running sock, I smiled without even thinking about it.
And that reaction got me to thinking...
My running clothes make me smile and make me happy, and part of that is because when I pull on my shorts and those socks that I only wear when I am running, it is sort of like putting on my "super suit" and my running me is sort of like a secret identity or alter ego,
When I am out there on the road or the track or even on the treadmill, running 8, 10, 14, 20 or more miles... paying attention to miles, splits, and paces...pushing myself physically and mentally... I am a different Erin than I usually am. I am still me of course, but I am a me that most people wouldn't suspect exists when they see me in my jeans and hoodies, or hear that I am a mom of 12, or just bump into me in the grocery store.
Most people see the "me" that I am most of the time...the me that is happily rocking my Noah, helping kids with homework, joking with teenagers, snuggling Josh, reading scriptures, cleaning dirty floors, doing loads of laundry, working on the computer, cooking meals, paying bills... nurturing, cleaning, organizing, planning.
But in my running clothes, I am another me. I am a dedicated athlete. I am in great physical shape. I am committed. I sweat. I push. I train. I demand much from myself. I work towards goals. I am focused. I am disciplined yet free all at the same time. I am driven. I am strong. I am a runner.
Through running I have found strength that I did not know I had. I have found abilities I did not know I had and have achieved things I never could have imagined were possible. Running has added another dimension to my life and another piece to who I am.
I am still a daughter of God, a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a friend, an adoption coordinator, an eternal optimist, an early riser, a Disney-lover, a homebody, a bookworm, a believer, an advocate, a writer, a chicken, a tender heart, a perfectionist, an animal lover, a cheap date, a hard-worker, a sensitive soul, and lots of other things.
But when I slip on my running clothes... my "super suit"... I am a runner. I am an athlete. And that makes me smile.
25 comments:
Well said girl.
Love
This
Post.
Super-awesome.
EMZ took the words right out of my mouth! Great post.
And it occurred to me that you must do laundry every day of the week! ; )
Great post Super Runner! You are an amazing woman in ALL of your roles. And I would guess that many people see the qualities in you in your everyday life, you see in yourself while running.
Great post! You are amazing in so many ways!
Thank for sharing this post! I really loved it.
Love this for so many reasons! You really are a super woman. So often you remind me that if you can do it, so can I with just my two kids worth of laundry and life.
Your amazing girl. Great post
Love this post. I think any runner can relate to that special feeling that occurs when we don our running clothes.
Amen! It brought a tear to my eye. I know just how you feel. I admire your strength, and all your are able to achieve. You inspire me and so many other "running Moms" to be that SUPER person, to be that athlete when they put on their own "super suits"! Thank you!
Wonderful post! You are definitely a Super Woman in my book!
Love this post. Every time I leave the gym after a great workout and spin I feel like wonder woman. I don't ever look any different, but I sure feel different and I think it's similar to the way you feel.
loved this! I have to admit, when I'm having a hard time getting out of bed for a run or pressed for time and trying to squeeze it into my schedule I often think to myself "well, if Erin can fit it all in, so can I!" :) Thanks for the constant inspiration :)
I love this post :) My 'public identity' (a mild-mannered conservatively dressed psychologist) is so different from my sweaty 'secret self' :)
Love this! A moment of "a-ha!" in the midst of laundry, no less. I need some of those moments. I definitely do more than enough laundry (although probably not nearly as much as you, I'm sure!)
Love love love this post. Thank you :)
Erin, as someone who would like to become a runner but is still stuck on the first step what do you recommend? Fav. book, magazine, or piece of advice for those of us who haven't made the leap yet?
Awesome post!!
This post made me smile. A big huge grin. Loved it.
I... LOVE... THIS... POST!!!
Simply wonderful!
Well said!!! I love when people find out that I'm a runner...Oh I didn't know you run! It is a super suit! Oh and I can't even fathom the amount of laundry you have to do....stops me from complaining about my own!!
so great and so true!!
Yes! Love this so much! :)
LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS!!!
I truly think you are Super mom/Erin/women/runner and if I actually knew you... I'm confident there would be 57 more things to add. You rock girlie!!!!
I love this post and feel the same way so many times. I never ever thought I would be a runner, and yet by the grace of God, here I am. Love it!
You go Erin. What an uplifting post. You are truly Super Erin. Your love for running is simply contagious.
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