Wednesday 27 April 2016

If Recovery from Postpartum Depression Isn't Impossible, Then Neither is Running a 10 km Race!






I was the one in high school that would pretend to be sick on the days where we were supposed to do our "20 minute run". Even at my healthiest weight and several years spent working out (pre-pregnancy), I could never seem to get myself into running.

"I'm not a runner", I would explain to people.
"I wish I could, but I just can't."

Those words remind me so much of my outlook on life a few years ago, when I was 2 years into a battle with postpartum depression.

"I can't take it anymore."

"I can't do this much longer."

"I'm not strong enough...."

The most difficult thing in my life to date, has been my recovery from postpartum depression, and finding my way "back to the living".
Every single day I am grateful for my life, and my happiness, knowing that only a few short years ago, I thought I would not make it...

Having survived this period of my life, and coming out of it with a beautiful relationship with my little girl, and a stronger relationship with my loyal husband, has led me to believe that nothing is truly impossible.

This year, my husband began a fairly intense workout routine, to help negate the effects of going from a physical job, to an office environment; in my support of him we would (as a family) go to the indoor track every other day.
Not having any expectations on myself (because wouldn't that be a set up for disappointment!?), I started causally running in spurts around the track.

Mostly designed to kill time, these little spurts have gradually increased, and now I find myself not only able to do 5km, but I am now up to 7.5km and working towards 10 km :)

When I read about the Shoppers Drug Mart "Run for Women" in Waterloo, I immediately felt it on my heart to participate. Not only am I celebrating my personal recovery from mental illness, and my new-found physical running ability, but I am also helping to raise money for much-needed women's mental health programs in our community.

Now that's a "no-brainer"!

So, in June 2016, the same month as our 10 year wedding anniversary, I am going to run my very first ever 10 kilometer race.

I am running for my little girl, who still has her mom because of the healthcare she received when she was so sick she couldn't love her own child.

I am running for my husband, who somehow has stuck by me, even though our life had turned upside down and the women he married up and disappeared into her own head for 2 years.

I am running for myself, who never thought I could physically accomplish something like this.
Who is wanting to reclaim my body after the anti-depressants have morphed it into something I don't recognize.

And I am running for you. 

For the mothers that are struggling and wondering what's wrong with them. For the women that are fighting to understand why their minds will not work in the way they want them to.
For you, who may know someone in your family, or a friend, who is suffering from something you can't understand.
For the men that are trying to support women in their lives that are struggling.

I am a little scared out of my mind that I have committed to running 10 km in just over a month, but I am committed to doing this, for all of us. I am so proud to be able to give back to the community in this way, I am so very grateful for anyone who is able to donate and support me and the Grand River Hospital Foundation.

I am also grateful for the many messages and kind words of encouragement I have received; I have met many wonderful people, and am so thankful that this experience has allowed me to help inspire others.

Are you able to donate to help raise money for women's mental health programs? Absolutely anything is appreciated!
THANK YOU!!!

this HTML class. Value is https://www.runningr

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