Sexy Mother Runner Featured Friday Runner: Meet Eris!

Every runner has a story... 

At Sexy Mother Runner we believe sharing those stories is a great way to share the gift of running while helping to motivate others.  This week's Featured Runner had a nagging desire to run that never left her. No matter how many times it was put on the back burner she never forgot about it and with her will and determination achieved her goal! She accomplished her goal and reminds us to always 

"enjoy the journey!"

Meet Eris!

Eris after the Wahiawa Pineapple Run 10k. 

Why I Run… 

I started running faithfully a little bit over two years ago.  I had ran track in middle school but hadn’t actually done any running except running to the grocery store, running after my kids, and running to the mall to get the latest deals. Otherwise I found no reason to run.  In 2007, I began to train for a half-marathon since my sister suggested we try to do the Houston Half Marathon.  At that time, my first son was about 18 months and I was thinking this would be a good idea to get in shape and reward myself with a trip to Houston.  About six weeks until my training I found out I was pregnant with my 2^nd son. The 1^st trimester nausea and tiredness caused me to cut back on my running.  I later tried to keep training but due to a high-risk pregnancy and many complications I was forced to stop.

I hadn’t thought about running for several years until I went on vacation to Honolulu in 2004 and my active duty cousin was running the Great Aloha Run (GAR, an 8 mile fun run) with his unit. His incentive was to get a three-day weekend pass without using vacation if he ran the race. It was that day I sat in my hotel room wishing I could run or maybe walk 8 miles.  I was inspired, but just like most things while your on vacation you think of all these fabulous things you’d love to do but when you get back home your dreams are often placed on a shelf and you never think to about it again until your next vacation.

It wasn’t until December 2009 I began to think about running again.  I was with my husband as he picked up his race packet for the Honolulu Marathon.  I was excited he was going to perform his first marathon but I was also envious of all the other people who were there. I wanted to be there picking up a package. I wanted to have a race bag full of goodies.  It was in the Honolulu Convention Center I realized I wanted to run but this time I knew I didn’t want to start and stop again. I wanted to give it my all.  I thought of races I wanted to do and three weeks after he completed the Honolulu Marathon I began to run.

In the beginning it was tortuous to get up and go for a run, because I couldn’t run a continuous five minutes. It was more like get up and go outside and try to walk at least one block without passing out.  It was during this time I wanted to learn all I could about running and how to increase my endurance. I studied every training log I could get my hands on. I asked my active duty friends about running and to give me any advice.

 It was my countless nights of research that led me to the Couch to 5K program.  The only problem was it was December and I wanted to do the Great Aloha Run (GAR) by February.  I know I know one shouldn’t start off with such a high goal but I was determined to do it!  I began with a walk/ run combination and signed up for the GAR.  By the time it was time to do the GAR I was only on about week 3 of the program.  I decided I was going to run for 2 to 3 minutes and walk for 5 minutes or any combination that would get me to the finish line.  When I crossed the finish line I was not only ecstatic I was jumping up as if I had qualified for the Boston Marathon. 

I wasn’t concerned about my time, or if I had placed.  I was happy I had finished what I started. It was this race that catapulted my desire to run.  You see I don’t run for PR’s (personal records), or to qualify for a particular run, I run simply because I love it and I love how great I feel after I run.  I don’t have a glamorous runner type body, I can’t run with just a sports bra and lululemonshorts quite yet.  However, I do read running magazine and running bogs for inspiration and encouragement. But after two years of running I’m glad I still enjoy it and I’m glad it helps me to stay focused on my ultimate goal which I hope to never lose “TO JUST FINISH and ENJOY THE JOURNEY”.

~Eris

Did Eris inspire you today? If so leave her a comment! 

She would love to hear from you!

Would you like to be a 

Sexy Mother Runner Featured Friday Runner?

If so, email us at sexymotherrunner@yahoo.com 

and inspire someone today!