I am a runner.

Defining who I am over the years has taken on many variations but one element has remained the same: I am a runner.

I am now also a mother.

And a wife.

And an {extremely} amateur photographer.

And a pain in the butt. {That's up for debate, of course.}

I truly enjoy running. It is something that I miss and I have to admit that getting back into the swing of things now has been difficult with three little munchkins. And a full time job. In the city. With a long commute. {OMG, I just said something about work!} But I am trying. I really am. And I want to blog about it because I have found that reading other blogs of moms who run (especially those with multiples) is a bit of an inspiration (and, truth be told, a kick in the butt.) If they can do it, so can I.

Don't worry, I am not going to turn this into a running blog because, truth be told again, I wouldn't really have that much to blog about but I do want to talk about running here and there. So, for those of you who come here to see and hear about the three little munchkins, bear with me. You don't have to be a runner to get something from these posts. It's about pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone. It's about finding strength from within because sometimes it really is mind over matter.

My priority list these days is far different from that of six years ago. There are some days now where I just can't get that run in. Life happens. Or I am just too tired. Tired in a way only a mother with three almost three year old can be.

So here's where I admit to my one great pre-baby regret: not running a half marathon. Not a full marathon either. Just a half. Why, oh why, didn't I just run a half marathon when I could have? Because now I am just old and out of shape and one of many who have added running a half (with a time goal, I might add) to my I Must Do This Before I Get Really Old list. And for those of you who don't think that I am old, I just told Rich the other day that the last time I checked, it was 1999. So yeah, I am old. Maybe that will be another post for another day.

Okay, enough whining, let's talk accomplishments and achievements. Excluding my mini running stint of 2009, I have been out of the running game for approximately four and a half years. I am sure I've blogged about this before but my last five mile run was four and a half years ago in September 2005. I did not yet know that I was pregnant with Abbey and I was scheduled to run 5 miles. Well, I wasn't really following a schedule that was what my normal run was.

I was feeling pretty crappy and I was supposed to go over to my friend Kelly's house that night to assist in painting the living room. I thought about skipping out on the run but, back then, I rarely did so. Rich agreed that I should just get the run in, telling me that I would probably feel better after. I remember pushing myself to finish that run. And I did. And then I went to Kelly's and ate onion pizza and drank Cherry Diet Pepsi. Oh, how I love Cherry Diet Pepsi. But not when I am pregnant. I tried to stay healthy.

Okay, where was I? Ah, yes. So I have been running for almost two months now and I think I am doing well. Using some of my treadmill tricks, I was able to pull out 3.5 miles, which was quite an accomplishment for me at this point.

And with the weather being so great, I decided to hit the pavement last week. There's a 3.25 mile loop (the middle mile is all uphill) starting on our street and I forced myself to run that. Without a watch. Based on the clocks in the house, I estimated that it took a bit over half an hour. I ran it again this past Monday night but I was smart enough to check the clock before I left (the batteries in my watch are dead) and it took me 35 minutes to run the 3.25 miles. Not fast but respectable. {Stay positive!}