I know it is easy to say that someone else can do something but you can’t. I decided in June of this year that I would start running again. I signed up for a 5k for October, I got on my running shoes, and I started running again.

Sounds simple, right?

Well, it was really hard. I was out of shape, and I was kind of wheezing when I first started. I have been a runner almost my entire life and now I am out of breath and thinking how could I be this slow? I mean, I ran a marathon. Okay, it was 6 years ago and 2 boys later.

Yes, it was discouraging, but I kept going. I don’t have any magical secrets to share. I don’t have a magic pill or a special shake. It is really just hard work. Sound boring? Well, it is the only secret I have to share.

Honestly, I needed this. I needed to prove to myself that I could run again. I tried to exclusively run in the morning at first. It was awful. I felt tired, and my husband was also not sure if I was being realistic with my expectations. I was struggling to get back into a workout routine, and I thought it would be too hard with my two boys. I decided I was not going to sabotage myself with my own excuses.

Since I sometimes fall asleep reading to my boys, I could not count on running/working out at night. Also, I knew it would get dark at night at some point.

One day, I started waking up in the morning and I stopped feeling tired. I don’t know when, but it happened.

This Not a Morning Mom did the unthinkable. I proved myself and my husband wrong. I can run at 5 in the morning and be a functional person.

Why am I telling you all this? I want you all to know that if I can do this, you can too. Stop talking yourself out of getting into the right physical shape. Stop telling yourself to wait for the perfect time. There isn’t a perfect time. Do it now, and I promise you won’t regret it. I have so much more energy than I have had in a long time.

Maybe running isn’t your passion but find out what is and make it happen.

Be your own cheerleader because their will be skeptics. Probably your biggest one will be yourself.

Also, make time for you. I am getting my hair colored right now. It has been like 5 years or so since I have done any coloring.

Finally, I achieved my goal, but I am not stopping now. Do I run every morning? Nope. I don’t beat myself up when I need to miss a day or two.

I realized a while ago that life isn’t about the race. It is all about the journey and the training.

The training will never be easy or glamorous. It isn’t supposed to be. I’ll never forget how I stayed motivated during my marathon 6 years ago. I told myself that I trained too hard to stop and give up.

Anyway, if I can do it anyone can. The more you train physically, the better your mind will be mentally. Stop thinking and just start doing. Your brain will eventually realize what your feet knew all along.