What training for another half marathon taught me

I wouldn’t consider myself a runner. I’ve always ran since I was a teenager, mainly to get a workout in, or for stress relief. I enjoy working towards a goal, which is why I did fitness competitions for so long. The work that it takes to train for something and then the adrenaline that you get from showing up and making it happen brings me so much joy. I stopped doing fitness competitions due to the toll it took on my body, and I missed working towards something, so I started doing half marathons. I still might do a full, but, honestly, I’m not sure my toes can take it. Any advice for helping my toes during running would be much appreciated!!

It seems to be getting a bit easier to train and find the time for it with the kids getting a bit older. But as a family we are definitely getting busier with sports and activities. I didn’t miss one weekend of training. I typically workout 4 days a week of about 20-30 minutes—which is a mix of weights and plyometrics, and then I do one long run on the weekends. This training works really well for me so all I have to change is making my run on the weekend a little longer, but it’s over an hour. I had the help of my mother, my sister, and some really awesome neighbors if my husband was working. I found over an hour every weekend to run, and people supported me because I was training for a half marathon.

So now that I am done with the training, have I run on the weekends?? No! I haven’t.

I’m embarrassed to say, yes me, who preaches self-care and showing up for yourself first. I have not. One reason is because my toes were so damaged, but really all I had to take off was one weekend for them to heal. And then we got “busy.” But I know for a fact that it isn’t any busier than I was before, but I showed up still and found the time.

So why am I not anymore?

Because it’s damn hard to just ask for space because I want it, especially when we have to ask for someone’s help.

So I’m writing this to show that we are all human. It’s really hard to ask for help. But it’s especially hard to ask just for ourselves. Maybe it’s the inner mean girl, saying I don’t deserve it, or that I shouldn’t have to ask for help.

But I know better than that. We need space. Us moms, we need to let of steam. We need time to ourselves. Being a Mom is by far the toughest job that I’ve ever done or will do.

This is what my business is encompassed around, if we aren’t happy, then how can we show up fully for the people that we love the most?

So if you’ve been feeling this way lately, know you are not alone, my friend. Give your inner mean girl some grace, but show her that there is a different way. Ask for help. Set up a time, just cause. You will be so much happier when you do.

Sending so much love,

Rachel Ibbison

PS grateful for this space to share my thoughts and process where I’m struggling and how I can work my way out of it. I hope this served you in some capacity to unapologetically take care of yourself today.