Running with the Wind, Part 1 by Dr. Donaldson
My brother Doug is the one that got me into running. At the time, I didn’t know what a life altering experience it was going to be. He asked me to go with him running one day on vacation, after I had my first child. I told him I wouldn’t be able to go too far. “Come on, just a little ways”, he said. “Just until that sign post you see up there”. He had always had a way to get me to do things and I knew he was up to something. When we got to the sign post and saw I hadn’t passed out yet, he said “Let’s try a little further. Let’s run to that big cactus over there in the road.” And we ran to the big cactus over there. He did this two more times, once to another sign and once to a grate in the road, until I was tired and then he graciously allowed me to turn around and then we had to run the whole thing over again to get home! I was tired but not particularly exhausted. It gave me a rush. I felt like I had conquered something big. I felt great! That day I ran my first mile and 1/2. I was 35.
I found I loved the freedom of being alone while running and would also find people with whom to run. I found I loved to be outside feeling the weather. I found I loved running in hot weather and sweating profusely. I found an outlet for my built up frustrations. I started running the hills of Pennsylvania with joy and delight. It became my meditation. It became my peace. It balanced me. I started running 5 miles as often as I could with a full time job and eventually 5 children. Through all the children I kept running. With the children I would run. I would take them to the park and put them in the sandbox and run around them in a wide circle. Good for me, good for them to not only see their mom exercise, it gave them a sense of independence. The other mothers thought I was neglecting my children. Now many, many years later all my kids run and/or exercise regularly. I always wonder if this is because they saw their mom running around them!
The other benefits of running for me were amazing legs without cellulite and a great ass. I would make sure I stretched after each run especially my spine. I would do sit ups and push ups to maintain my upper body. I never wanted to not be able to run. I would than God every day I went out to run that I was able to run and enjoy it. My mother was disabled at my age so I felt I had been given a great gift to be able to be healthy enough to run, especially while working full time, mostly night shifts, and raising a family. The one day I got a chance to run with my brother again. He had been running flat courses in Illinois and I had been running hills. I noticed how much more strong I was by running hills. I tired less than he did! I was very, very happy! Finally I was in just as good shape as he was, maybe better! At least as far as running went. Running together when we would see each other, had created a wonderful bond between us.
Dr. Donaldson is the Founder of Regenerative Medicine Center in Aspinwall, PA.
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