Dimity has already made a chocolate tart–including a crust from scratch, a first for her–but before we plunge our hands into turkeys and start peeling mountains of potatoes, we wanted to share a few running-related things we are thankful for.
Sarah
I thank God I have full use of my body. This statement may sound melodramatic, but I morphed into a committed runner as my maternal grandmother lay in the hospital, semi-paralyzed from a stroke.
I feel so fortunate to have several awesome running partners, including Molly, Kristin, Ellison, Sheila, and Heidi. Few better jumpstarts to the day than laughter, lively conversation, and running.
I ‘m grateful I live in a state where I can run outside year round, where natural beauty abounds, where the drivers know to give runners a wide berth, and where there are always other runners doing their thing.
Dimity
Legs, lungs, head, heart. I am so thankful for running, this vehicle that connects my body, mind, and spirit. Running is the place I do my best thinking; the place that sets my mood soaring; the place where I feel most grounded and alive.
I too am grateful for my local mother runner pals I regularly trot with–Tamara, Laurel, Liz, Lisa, Kelly, Katie–as well as this amazing virtual community.We’ve met enough of you to know that all mother runners all have a unique, strong, vibrant aura surrounding them; you may not always feel it, but I promise you, it’s always there.
Finally, I realize I am so fortunate to have a family that might not always get me and my athletic pursuits, but still supports me. Ben, my six-year-old asks me, “Are you doing that mother runner stuff again?” Um, yes. Amelia, my nine-year-old asks me, “Can you please make my breakfast in the morning?” Um, no. (And you’re old enough to microwave your pancakes yourself, sweet girl.) Grant, my husband, asks me, “What are your workout plan for the morning?”
So, so thankful.
Now it’s your turn, mother runner, to give thanks: please share with us what running-related “thing” you are grateful for. (If you’re reading this as an email, please go to this post on our site and click on the orange Comments ribbon at the bottom.)
I have so, so many blessings to be thankful for tonight, but I am especially reminded that my running life would not be possible without the love and support of my biggest fans, my family!! My husband, especially, always steps up when it’s time for my long run or a race weekend away, and never complains, even when I accidentally leave the alarm set for a 4:30am run when I’m not at home. I am grateful for the best support crew ever!
I am thankful for what running has taught me about myself. Nothing else in my life has given me the confidence that running has. I am thankful that running has taught me that I am stronger than I think, I am able to conquer physical and mental hurdles easier than I think, and that my body is more beautiful than I think. Nothing has helped me become a strong healthy and kick ass mama like running has. So I’m thankful for that.
I am thankful for my family: a husband who gets up with my daughter when I am at the gym. I am thankful for my parents who have joined me to get outside more. I am thankful for my brother and SIL for support and energetic comments. And thankful for my daughter who likes to go for rides in the jogger! Thank you, too for being a great resource for this new runner.
After almost 3 years from when I started running, I am shocked to find that my 50 year old heart beats at the resting rate of an athlete. I thank my supportive family for allowing me to get to this point of fitness.
I am thankful I know Jesus, and for the sacrifice He made on the cross for me. I am thankful I live where I can safely run outside; through timber, pastures, and the countryside. I am thankful for my husband, for each of our 5 beautiful children we have been blessed with, for aunts, uncles and grandparents who invest in the lives of our children. I am thankful I can run.
Wow, where to start? I am thankful for our Service men and women, my family, my friends, and my health. I am thankful for my four children, including the one I place up for adoption 23 years ago this month. (I am so very thankful that he and I have reunited.) My life is good. I am blessed. I am happy. I send my love to all the Mother Runners out there. I am thankful for all of you, as well, and the comaraderie you provide. :)
I am thankful for God blessing me with a healthy body and every time I go running I thank Him. Also thankful for my husband, my two kids safely home from college, my parents live close enough to visit and this virtual running family. Some days you just don’t want to do anything and this virtual family inspires me to get off my butt and out the door. I am so blessed. Happy Thanksgiving, yall!
I am thankful for my son who, at 20 months old, likes to “run, run” as he pumps his little arms. For my 3 month old daughter who sleeps long enough that I feel rested to run. And, of course, for my hubby who, when I questioned why I bother, said “I like when you go running. It makes you feel strong and gives you confidence.”
There is so much I am thankful for. First is my family, who support everything I do, no matter how crazy it sounds to them. They allow me to run and my 10-year-old joins me on short runs. I am thankful for being able to run because there are many who would give anything just to walk, let along run.
I am thankful for the confidence running has given me. I started running at the age of 45, and have since returned to college to earn my Master’s Degree in Education and am now teaching first grade! I’ve never considered myself “athletic”, but running has shown me that I am an athlete. No matter how slowly I am running, I’m still out there getting it done!
I am thankful that I became a runner in my late thirties. I love running!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Whenever I run I give thanks that I can run; that I am injury-free or on the mend, for my safety and the safety of others out and for my family who is understanding, not only when I run but bike and swim too.
Thank YOU Sarah and Dimity for addressing our needs in an informative, fun and entertaining way!
I am so thankful that God has blessed me with a body that can move so freely! And for my husband, who every time I’m on the treadmill comes over to say I’m doing great, even though I’m slow. Oh, also for my fat little dog that runs slower than me, because nothing else is slower than me.
I am thankful that I have passed on my love of running to my now 12 year old triplets!!! My son, Max, is going running with his Papa on this Turkey Day and dragging his Dad along for the run too. Max is already too fast for me. Thank you to Dimity and SBS for keeping me entertained on dark, early morning runs!
I am thankful for my family that is so supportive of my running. For my kids that think that I am fast enough that I “win” every race. (The first thing my 6 year old asked me after the Chicago Marathon). For my running “besties” that help me achieve my goals and finally for my body that allows me to run as little or as much as I want injury free this year. Happy Thanksgiving!
Well…my boss who I am close with is fighting breast cancer right now, so I am feeling thankful to be healthy! Happy Thanksgiving!
I am so thankful for a husband who supports my crazy training. Who gets up early and goes with me to every race, waiting for me at the end with a big hug and a kiss. So very thankful.
I am thankful, as always, for legs that move, a good pair of shoes, my favorite tunes in my ears and miles and miles of glorious Oregon roads to explore. I’m also thankful for my BRF Cyndie Pelto, who inspires me to do more than I ever thought my lil’ old body could do. And I am also ever thankful for my husband who allows me to run, to exercise, count my calories and just simply be me.
I am thankful for my husband, who says, “If we get a call from the school, don’t cut your run short. Finish your run, and I’ll pick up our daughter.” I am thankful for my daughter, who writes things on her list of rules like “Cuddle if I tell you to” and “No embarrassing dances/songs/stories.” (Regarding the second rule: not a chance!)
I am thankful for Sarah and Dimity, whose books I discovered while searching for “women runners.” It’s because of you two and the Mother Runner community that I feel a connection to the running world. I haven’t found my running buddies, but I have been inspired to take on longer distances and encouraged to take care of my body. Those podcasts are really helpful.
Happy Thanksgiving, and warm wishes to everyone.
I am thankful for this body of mine that carries me as many miles as my mind needs.
I am thankful for my sister who runs with me, lets me vent, and encourages me.
I am thankful for my sole/soul sis Chandra who is my virtual running buddy. We met 15 years ago in the freshman dorm hall and even though we live miles apart, our friendship stays the same.
I am thankful for running communitites, especially mother runners. What an amazing support system we are!
I am thankful that I am able to run, it has been a journey and certainly not an easy one at times, but I am so thankful for this amazing community that supports each other. I am especially thankful for my sister Stephanie, who supports and encourages me each step along the way.
So many things to be thankful for that it’s hard to put into words. I am thankful for a body that has grown stronger and has taught my brain that I am stronger than I ever imagined.
I am thankful for my BFF, Christy J. We met as freshmen in college, by “chance” (though I don’t believe for a moment that it was “chance”). That was 15ish years ago and though we are now separated by many miles, she is an encouragement and inspiration. I I started running because she motivated me to try. I kept running because she inspired me to keep going.
I am thankful for my family that doesn’t ridicule my “odd” obsession with starting my day with a wicked sweat. For their encouragement.
I am thankful for the AMR tribe, and our fearless leaders. I’ve learned so much in my short 2 years of being a mother runner.
God bless you all!
My Mom was diagnosed with MS when I was 12, and I am now 41- and she is still with us – So I am thankful for that. I am also thankful that every day I can put one foot infront of the other and move on my own. And that I can do that as fast as I choose makes me grateful. And that my daughters can grow up with a Mother that can run, bike, swim, ski, surf along side them makes me just plain misty eyed.
So very thankful for my entire running community…local, distant, virtual. I receive (and hopefully dish out) so much support from each of these avenues. I am also thankful that despite having cancer, I am able to run as much as I want.
I’m thankful for my friend Stacey who got me out of the house this morning for our very own turkey trot – and my first work out since baby #2 was born 8 weeks ago. Our 4 mile walk/run has given me the kick start I needed to start getting my post-baby body back into shape and get back to running.
So so thankful that my health issues have turned around–that I am running again, and most of these runs are enjoyable. Thankful for my family, friends, and my wonderful coworkers. Life is indeed very good.
Thankful for other runners from my running club meeting me at today’s Gobble and Gorge finish line with a water bottle for me after an 8K with a great time!
I’m thankful that my husband drove me to and from my half marathon this morning. This time last year, he was so angry about having to pick me up from said race, he made me cry. This year, he sat in the ATL traffic for almost an hour to drop me off and then picked me up with a post race smoothie!!!!!
I am thankful for my mom. I know I may not have her much longer and we are headed for tough times. I am thankful for my memories.
I am grateful for my sole sistas (my sister in laws) who joined me and 40,000 other people for the Dallas Turkey Trot this morning.
I am thankful for my family who supports my running and my husband who introduced me to running. And now he cannot run as much because of a full knee replacement but he still rides he bicycle along side me while I run. I am thankful my 50 year old body can run even with arthritis. God has blessed me which I am most thankful for.
I am thankful that I’ve been able to run with my sister. We may not live near each other, but we have been able to meet up and run 3 events together this fall.
When I run with her, I run faster than I think is possible.
I’m thankful for my husband and daughter. My husband supports my running habit and my daughter sees her mommy living a healthy lifestyle.
I’m thankful for my great community of “fitterknitters” who all met as knitters and have now taken up running. Supportive, awesome community squared.
I’m thankful for this wonderful motherrunner community and for the HUGE 5k PR I set this morning (PR by almost 5 1/2 minutes!). Running hasn’t been fun for me lately. This morning’s 28:15 (my first sub-30) changed all that.
I’m thankful for my determination. My first half is now in less than 2 weeks and I’m so freaking excited! I have felt strength that I never knew I had. I can’t wait to make myself proud!
I am thankful for a body that is able to run and a spouse who supports every aspect of my love of running.
I filled the last couple of miles of today’s eight miler with many thanks – for the beautiful sunny, warm day, for the lovely neighborhoods I have to run in, for the simple fact of being able to run, and for the opportunity to host friends for a holiday meal.
This year I am thankful for so many things, but I’m perpetually thankful for my super supportive husband. He’s my biggest cheerleader and never (okay, *rarely*) balks at my weird running related requests or working my runs into his schedule on days when I can’t face running with the double stroller. I’m training for my first half marathon and if it weren’t for his support I’d be sitting on the couch and moping around. Instead I’m sitting here figuring out when I can get to packet pickup for my 1st 10k on Saturday. Of course, I’m also thankful for my beautiful boys, who cheer me on even when I run out of snacks and we have a few miles left.
I am thankful for my running friends who have become lifelong friends!
I’m thankful for being able to run and for WANTING to move my body to keep healthy. So many people I know don’t actually want to physically engage their bodies and they suffer for it. I’m also super thankful for my husband who has run with me before we were dating, including 2 hours before our first date. He gets my running, my obsession and keeps encouraging me.
I am thankful for music, a loving husband who is more and more supportive of my running, the fact that it’s never too late to start running (I was just shy of 48 when I started), my sweet and crazy kids, and running friends (online and in person). Also VERY thankful I found the Tribe here. I’d be lost without you all, esp. Dimity and SBS. xo
I am thankful running has given me goals, new challenges and a way to make new friends.