Why I'm Running

Ugh. I'm probably going to annoy the hell out of a lot of people because I haven't shut up about this all week, but I have to devote at least one blog post to this topic, given that it means a TON to me - and I wanted to explain why.

Those of you who are on my Facebook are already aware, but for those of you that are not - I am running my first 1/2 marathon this January. Why you ask? Well, for starters, I'm still struggling to lose the last 10 or so lbs. I have been for months now. Grr. I've also discovered that I actively enjoy running. Yes. I said that. I enjoy running. I have come to love something that I once truly despised. Funny how that can happen.

Anyway, those are the least important reasons I'm doing this. In May, I'll be running my second 1/2 marathon - and this one is crazy cool because I'm doing it for my friend Heather, and her adorable little 4 year-old girl who is battling Leukemia. Her daughter shouldn't have to go through the hell that is fighting something like cancer. No child should - so, we'll be running to raise critical funding for the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation in May of 2012. I've already started hitting everyone up for donations, and if you'd like to donate, you can click here: https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=492975&supId=347488959

Now that I've discovered that I can run and simultaneously help out a great cause, I'll be repeating this again in November of next year in Santa Barbara, where I'll be running and fundraising for The Gwendolyn Strong Foundation to find a cure for Spinal Muscular Atrophy, (SMA). If you've been reading my blog, you already know this is another cause that I strongly support.

I can only sort-of begin to imagine what it must be like to be the parents of a sick child. It must take immense courage, strength, determination, patience and love. My friends Heather and Victoria are shining examples of this. They are among the strongest and most inspirational people I know - and I have them to thank for encouraging me to do this in the first place, because it feels really, really great to be doing something good for other people who need help. That part is even more addictive than the running.

If you know anyone who might be interested in donating or perhaps sponsoring me in May for the PCRF race, drop me a line!

Thanks for reading.

Guest Post - Heather Rusch Gonzalez - "Do you ever just stare at her, and think, that is SO awesome?"

NOTE TO READERS: Heather refers to her children as #1, #2 and #3. That said, enjoy:

There's this great farmers market by my house, that I go to every Saturday. I'm a quasi-vegetarian, so I do the majority of my grocery shopping there. I usually bring my 3 year-old with me, and more often than not, meet my friend Snork (from maidensnork.blogspot.com) there. She's Russian, and just can't resist a one for $6, 2 for $10 deal.

A few weeks ago, we're wandering through the flower vendors' tent. I'm a creature of habit, and have to complete things in a straight, non-backtracking line. The flower guy is way out of the way, but #3 digs the flowers the best, so we start there.... Back of the last row. #3 stops and sniffs all of the flowers as we wander through the stall. I usually let her pick which bundle we're taking home with us, and apparently for a 3 year-old this is serious business that requires extensive research.

For anyone who knows me, they know this must drive me nuts. I'm impatient, and to first be bypassing the goat cheese to visit flowers, then to follow her around while she inspects every flower there... It's a struggle. All I can hear going through my mind is that I really just want to pick up some bok choy and move along.

So the Russian and I are watching Baby one morning, making her rounds amongst the buckets full of flowers, and the Russian says, "Do you ever just stare at her, and think, that is SO awesome?"

And the truth is, I don't. I mean, I love my kids, of course. But do I really appreciate them? Not as much as I should.

I've never been one to want kids. I don't really like them (except for mine, of course). But in general, they're loud, obnoxious, messy, and... frankly.. inconvenient.

But of anything in the world, my kids make me happy, all the time. I'm not the type of mom who caters to my kids, who makes them the center of my existence.

But they are a vital piece of me.

I get jealous, sometimes, of the Snork's kid-free existence. She can do what she wants, when she wants to. Without, really, any repurcussions or planning.

So, no, I might not be able to pick up and take off to Moab for dirtbiking, or eat sushi for dinner every night.

But, I've got three little people who think I'm the greatest thing since potato chips, who I get to miss work for so I can watch her get an award for being an outstanding speller, who can make me laugh by making a goofy face, who say "Mommy, I love you the BEST," for no reason.

It's easy to forget that, in the minutia of the day-to-day parenting.

Having kids hasn't defined me. But having kids has helped me define myself, and made my life fuller than I could have imagined.

End note from me - I think Heather appreciates her kids more than she even knows.

Additionally, I think this is one of the cutest pictures I have ever seen in my entire life.

You can read more of Heather's musings here - http://www.365awesomedays.blogspot.com and follow her on Twitter here: @hmgiraffy