My Daughter’s First 10k: A Rainy Race Adventure

May 4, 2025 by Aimee Settlemires ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Every year my hometown hosts a very popular 10k. In 2022 this race marked my return to the running community so it holds a special place in my heart. Unfortunately, I have not been able to run it in the past two years. I was beyond excited that I would be participating this year, and, as an added bonus, my daughter L had agreed to join me.

My 14 year old daughter is not a runner. I have tried to get her into running for a while, hoping that I would craft the perfect little running buddy. She has shown some interest by joining in running club last year. (She hated it.) She even checked out the cross country team. (5 a.m. practices? No, thank you.)

I was pleasantly surprised when she asked to run the 10k with me. I gave her plenty of chances to chicken out. Once I submitted her race fee, I told her she was committed. I told her immediately to start doing some walk-run-interval training.

Fast-forward 3 months from signing up to race week. She has walked maybe three times on the treadmill. I know she isn’t ready, but I figured we could probably still make good time with walk-run intervals. I had made peace with the fact that this wasn’t going to be an actual race for me. No PR’s would be broken. My only focus was making sure L had a good time.

Two days before the race L informs me that two of her friends will also be running it. Did this hurt my mom heart a little bit? Yeah, maybe. I was thinking this would be 6.2 miles of her and me having a great time jamming to Taylor Swift. I also knew that she is fourteen and her friends are her whole world. We would just have a big girl-running group. I was down for it.

Race morning we woke up and sipped some coffee together. It was perfect. We drove into town and picked up each friend from their home. We signed in at the race pavilion and stood around stretching. Looking at the cloudy sky, I was hoping the rain would hold off until after the race. I soon realized that I was a fourth wheel of the group. The girls were huddled together. They laughed over hushed whispers. Meanwhile, I spoke to adults that I have come to recognize from past races. I texted my husband and shared my disappointment with the morning. He said let them be girls and you race on ahead. I didn’t want that though. I was determined to stay as a group and bond with L.

We lined up and were off. We rounded the first corner and the girls were already walking. They were laughing and holding hands. I slowed down and walked. It was awkward though. I was in front or behind them. Off to the side. They were in their own world, and I clearly wasn’t in it with them. They weren’t excluding me on purpose; they were just having a great time being together. It was then that I decided to take my husband’s advice and race on ahead. I told them to stay together and that I would see them at the end.

I felt great. I held a 10:35-11:00 pace comfortably. My legs felt great, and I wasn’t gasping for air. I probably could have pushed myself more because my pace felt so easy. My head, though, was with L. I was hoping she was having fun and that she was not too far behind me.

As I hit mile 5 the sky started to darken. A few drops of rain started to fall. I picked up the pace and finished strong with an end time of 1:08:33. Not a 10k PR, but a PR for the course. Last time I ran this race I finished in 1:16.38. And that took everything I had. This time I definitely knew I could have pushed myself more.

Right as I crossed the finish line the bottom fell out and rain came pouring down. I got under a tent and checked to see where L was. I was surprised to see she was back at mile 3, nowhere near the end. It was raining and thundering. I called my husband. He immediately wanted me to go pick her up in the car. I wanted her to finish. I wasn’t about to wait at the finish line for her though. I started to walk back through the course and through the rain until I found her.

As I walked back, passing runners of all sorts still in it to finish it, the rain was not stopping. This wasn’t a gentle downpour. This was a full on thunderstorm, complete with thunder and lightning. My clothes were soaked. I started getting stressed. I was thinking maybe I should have got the car, but, now, to turn around and get back to the car would just waste time. I kept walking with a fast pace, silently cursing myself for leaving her, for having her do this, when I knew she really wasn’t ready for the distance. I passed small kids, elderly grandparents, fire fighters in full gear. No girls.

I walked almost a mile and a half back. I finally found the three girls. One guy followed them. A police car lights flashing was bringing up the end of the race. The girls were laughing, skipping, practically dancing in the rain, enjoying what I could only describe as pure girlhood.

I pushed them that last mile. I made them power walk, coaching them like a drill sergeant. We rounded that last corner and saw the finish line. L and one of her friends ran ahead. I walked with the third girl. “They call out your name when you cross?” She asked. “Oh yeah, this is a big deal. You just finished 6.2 miles. And in the rain!” She smiled. “I can’t believe I did it.”

I took their picture. Three rain soaked girls with medals around their necks and smiles on their faces. I couldn’t be more proud of L. The day wasn’t what I thought it would be. Maybe in some ways it was better. Could have done without the rain though.

L has declared this will be her last 10k as she is retiring from running. (I haven’t given up yet. I will always quietly hope she falls in love with running like I did.)

Next week I start my training for the Chicago marathon! Stay tuned for updates on how training for my 2nd full marathon goes!

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I quit mid-run and also bought some geese

April 19, 2025 by Aimee Settlemires ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Every week I devote one day to a long run. It’s usually on a Saturday. It’s usually my favorite type of run. It’s usually at a minimum of an hour. I look forward to it every week. Even on my work weeks I will miss out on sleep, but not my long run. Today those feelings of appreciation and enjoyment were not to be found.

It’s a holiday weekend. Happy Easter. So of course our itinerary is a little bit more busy than usual. Friday was grocery shopping. Then Friday night we have our bimonthly game night with the in-laws. By the time I crawled into bed it was late. I was exhausted. Poor sleep from being on nights during my work week. Poor sleep Thursday from just trying to switch back to days. Then a long day of errands. I felt ran down.

Saturday we were to drive two hours down for my brother’s and sister-in-law’s baby shower. I knew I had to wake up early if I was going to get my long run in. I am not currently training for a race, so I have been keeping my long runs at an hour. I set my alarm for 5 am.

When the alarm went off and my husband hit snooze, I didn’t want to get up. Alarm rings a second time. He again hits snooze. I peel myself from the bed and gather my gear. I stumble through getting dressed. I sit down with my pre-run eggo waffle and coffee. Of course I feel the normal dread before the run. I really want to go back to bed. I know once I get started I will fall into a groove and cruise it out.

I felt so out of sorts. I just skipped my warm up. Figured I would warm up in the run. I couldn’t decide on a Peloton class. I was going to do just a run and listen to a podcast only to realize my podcast was a rerun that I already listened to. I could not get myself in the right head space. I started anyway. Ran then walked. Ran then walked. My shorts riding up. My right knee felt off. Most of all my mind felt off.

All of a sudden I felt sadness that this will be my long run for the week. Full of disappointment and dread. I was going to do walk/run intervals for the whole hour at this point. I couldn’t bring myself to feel good in this run. My shorts were also really making me mad. Just stay down! I hit the 20 minute mark then hit the stop button. This could not be my long run. It was awful.

I know not all runs will feel great. Some I will dread from start to finish. Today I had the opportunity to move my long run. I won’t always be able to do that. For my mental well-being, I am calling today a 20 minute shake out and tomorrow will be “long run Sunday”. Fingers crossed for a better mind set tomorrow.

On a happier note. This weekend we had decided to add ducks to our growing little farm. We currently have a dog, two cats, two fish, and a bunch of cattle who roam the hilltop. We thought ducks would be a sweet Easter surprise for the littles. We went to a couple of stores and came up empty. We tried for a third time and I spied four little ducks. Except not ducks, geese! Clint and me shrugged our shoulders and said “why not?” We brought four sweet little goslings home. They are currently in the basement under a warming lamp. We can’t wait to see how they grow!

Austin’s Shoes and Rotary 5k Recap

April 6, 2025 by Aimee Settlemires ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

My love hate relationship with 5k races continues. A 3.1 mile race should be easy and short to do, but in the middle of the run I hate that I have once again fallen into the trap that a 5k is anything but easy.

My last 5k race was back in October. I was only 4 months postpartum at the time, and I had only started back running after taking a year off. I was very pleased with the outcome of that race. I ran the whole race without stopping and kept a consistent pace of 10:52.

That was 6 months ago and, except for a small running break in November and December due to sickness, I feel like I have been putting in the work. I started incorporating consistent strength training in January. I have logged runs 3 times a week on the Tread with one long run on the weekends. I was excited to race and see if my training improved my 5k time.

I ran the Austin’s Shoes and the Rotary 5k back in 2023 right before my first full marathon. My finish time was 29.10 with an average pace of 9:14. I placed second in my age group. I wasn’t sure if my fitness level was quite back to that level, but I was ready to get out there and give it my best shot.

The weather wasn’t perfect, but decent for a run. There was a current tornado watch, overcast skies, and some pretty strong winds. Lining up at the start line I prayed the rain would hold off until after I finished.

The first mile is always the hardest. As always I took off too fast. With my pace somewhere at an 8:30 for the first half a mile. I am not an 8 minute mile girl. When I started hitting the first few hills I was already spent. I felt like my breakfast was going to make a reappearance. I listened to my body and took a minute walk break. Restarted my run at a slower pace. This course had some hills. I didn’t forget about the course elevation, but it does sneak up on you.

Somewhere in the middle of mile 2 and in between some terrible hills I wanted to quit all together. I was so hot. (Should have worn at t-shirt instead of long sleeve.) I was so thirsty. I was so done. I rounded a corner and, surprise, I saw the smiling faces of my husband and two youngest kids cheering me on from the playground. Then I remembered that it doesn’t matter if my time or pace is good, it is a gift to be able to run. I powered up the next hill and when I reached the bottom of that I was nearing the finish.

I rounded the last corner and sprinted toward the finish line. I crossed at 31:41. I was drenched with sweat and completely drained. I told my husband “I hate 5ks and I am never racing another.” After I got my official result. I found out once again I placed 2nd in my age group. I was a surprised that I placed and disappointed in myself at the same time that I didn’t get first. “Next year I will get 1st.” My husband: “I thought you weren’t running anymore 5ks?”

I got my trophy and we finished the morning with an early lunch from Chick-fil-a. The frozen lemonade was the perfect ending to a near perfect race.

Mondays, Motivation, and Mel Robbins.

February 23, 2025 by Aimee Settlemires ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s Sunday evening. Another weekend has come and gone. I look back at the past week, what I have or have not accomplished, and wonder how I can improve on the week to come. What can I do better? What can I do to make my routine smoother? What do I actually need to accomplish this week? I always get the Sunday Scaries.

I personally love Mondays. I know they are not everyone’s favorite day of the week. I know for a fact that Garfield the cat was never a fan. For me it’s a day to hit the reset button. Even if I had a terrible last week. Even if I didn’t run, bike, or lift one single weight. Even if everything that could go wrong went wrong. It no longer matters because Monday is a brand new week full of possibilities. Sunday evening I program my Monday work out and repeat the phrase “never miss a Monday.” I tell myself that this week will be my week. I set myself up for success no matter what last week looked like.

Speaking of routines and positive self talk, has anyone listened to the latest motivational speaker that’s trending? Have you heard of Mel Robbins? If you are on social media I am sure that you have heard of her. I recently came across a couple of Tik Toks talking about her viral morning routine. So, me being curious on anything that might give me some get up and go in my mornings, decided to take a deep dive.

I started watching a few clips and I liked what I was hearing. This “Let Them” theory of living life. I decided to buy her book The Let Them Theory on audible. I have never bought a self help book or had any real interest in reading a self help book. As I get older I find myself struggling to let some things go and focus on what really matters. Do I dwell on what other people think of me? I would be lying if I said “no”. We are human, we all want to be well liked, but sometimes that comes at a cost. If we are always worried about what others think when do we live for ourselves? I won’t say the book is life changing or that I am completely made over by reading it. I am not about to go tattoo “Let Them” on my body, which some people have done. I will say that it’s a really good book and has some interesting approaches to self care, relationship building, and pursuing one’s goals. Definitely a recommended read if you want to take a hard look at your life and see if there are areas that need improvement. Now that I have that crossed off my TBR I can continue reading my normal book interests of dragons, fairies, and orcs who make coffee.

As the night comes to a close, and I set my alarm to start fresh Monday morning, I know that I probably won’t feel like getting up. My motivation won’t be there, and I will have a million excuses as to why I should skip today’s already planned work out. When motivation fails me I hope routine will save me, because I know that I need to keep showing up for myself every week. Movement brings me too much joy to skip. Every Monday is one Monday closer to those 26.6 miles in Chicago.

Visit my Instagram average_girl run to get all the latest updates on my progress. See my post from today below about my long run Sunday.

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Why I Love Peloton, and So Should You

February 16, 2025 by Aimee Settlemires ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

The Backstory

After nine years I found myself a new mom again. I had spent the last of 2020 working bedside nursing, being pregnant, and just trying to survive without getting sick. Fortunately, I went through my pregnancy and labor without any major complications. I also stayed healthy and avoided getting sick with COVID. In 2021 I was still living the COVID-quarantine nightmare, I was taking care of a new baby. I had a new job as a nurse practitioner. I was working night shifts 7 on and 7 off. Prior to grad school I was an avid runner. I went to the gym daily. I lifted heavy weights. I ran 5ks for fun (Actually, ran one on my birthday as a present to myself.) I allowed my hectic life to become an excuse to let my healthy lifestyle slip away. I needed a change, but starting is the hardest part. I had no desire to start back at square one. Peloton got really big during the pandemic, but it didn’t hit my radar until five months postpartum. Not only was I at my heaviest weight, but I was at my laziest. I just didn’t move like I used to. I let the complications of life and graduate school immobilize me and now I didn’t really care for who was looking back at me in the mirror. Enter Peloton.

He actually bought me a Peloton!

It started as a joke with my husband. I would tease him about buying me a Peloton knowing good and well it was too expensive. Plus where would we even put the darn thing? I wanted to loose weight and get my strength back. I started doing at home work outs with Youtube videos. Going on walks in the park with the baby. Slowly started moving in whatever way my body allowed. I continued to scroll, seeing reels (I was not on the TikTok bandwagon yet.) of Peloton bike in action. I was drawn to the energy of the instructors, the music, and the insane of amount of different classes available. I kept telling my husband I didn’t really want one all the while doing research. I listened to testimonies of users who swore it changed their life. Lots of people compared its members to a cult they were so dedicated to the brand. Any available downtime at work I had was spent drinking the Peloton kool-aid. I was hooked and I hadn’t even taken a class yet.

When my husband surprised me on Mother’s Day 2021 with Peloton shoes I was speechless. I actually believe we were having a slight argument about whatever married couples bicker about. I remember wanting to stay mad out of spite. I wanted to be petty and simmer in my anger. I wasn’t even sure I was in the right. It didn’t matter because it all melted me when he handed me that box with the Peloton logo on it. I can literally see every woman’s eyes roll at this part. Hunny! It’s an exercise bike- it’s not that SERIOUS. It was more than that though. At least to me it was. It meant that he knew me. Clint gifted me something I didn’t actually ask for. He saw through all my “I don’t need it.” and “It’s too expensive.” He wanted me to have this because I wanted it.

The Peloton Hype is Real

Okay, so my incredibly sweet husband got me the Peloton. Did that make me more susceptible to really love the bike? Maybe. Probably not though. If I told him I hated it he would have sold it in a heartbeat and got the money back. I had to wait a few weeks for delivery. The anticipation was horrible. It finally came in July of that year. When I finished that first beginner ride I signed away my soul to the cult known as Peloton. Not really, but I did really love it. To feel that exhaustion you only get from pushing yourself – it had been such a long time. I forgot how much I truly loved movement. I forgot what my body was capable of. It sounds silly and such a self help move, but after the ride I set out to reclaim that version of me.

I had stopped running in 2016 for several reasons, number one being I had no time. I was in graduate school, I was newly divorced, and I was working full time. I had also gained a lot of weight in the last several years. Running was difficult for my knees with the added weight. I attempted to stick with it and one afternoon I fell, twisting my ankle and lacerating my knee. I needed stitches and crutches. Maybe it was the easy way out, or maybe it was what I needed at this time. I allowed this injury to be my excuse to exit the running scene. When Clint and I met, I talked about how happy running once made me and how unfortunate it was that it wasn’t feasible anymore. Maybe he knew then what I didn’t even know, that one day I would return to running.

First Peloton ride. (Very emotional.)

As my Peloton journey continued I started to gain my strength back. My post baby/post grad school pounds slowly melted away. The great thing about Peloton is that they offer classes in anything you can think of. Running, walking, hiking, pilates, barre, even sleep meditation. The variety in classes and the endurance that I had acquired through consistent bike rides had me moving more in the few months of owning the bike than I had in the last few years. I still remember I was pushing my youngest in the stroller at the park, enjoying a walking class through the Peloton app, when I suddenly got the urge to run. I hadn’t ran in five years. Who did I think I was? I am going uphill with a stroller with a pretty healthy-sized chunk of a baby and this is the time I am going to be like “Huh? Let me just pick up the pace a little bit.” That is exactly what I did. I did not go fast. I did not go far. I did run though.

Once I knew I could start running again. It was like relearning the sport all over again. I had to start with run walk intervals, but Peloton had a class for that. I kept at it. I kept cross training with the bike. Weeks passed, and I had worked myself up to running a mile. How humbling that was. I remember a time I could run 8 miles without stopping. Once I could run a mile I thought maybe I should sign up for a race. Nothing raises the stakes like signing up for something with a deadline. In May of 2022, a year after my surprise of “I got you a Peloton”, I completed my first 10k.

The Full Circle Moment

Running is pure joy to me. I am a runner. It’s an essential part of who I am. I almost lost that part of myself without realizing how important it really is to me. If it weren’t for Peloton I am not sure if I would have found it again. Peloton changed my life. Gosh, I sound insane. That’s the truth though. In the short time of being a member I have returned to running and have come so much farther than I even could have imaged. Have I mentioned I ran a freaking full marathon? The classes, the instructors, the achievements, the music options, the programs. All of it. It keeps me turning on that bike and opening up that app. It makes me show up everyday. It’s a community that I am so thankful for. If you are reading this I hope you’re inspired to either join Peloton, and if so add me to your leaderboard, or, if not, I hope I have inspired you to at least find your version of what Peloton is for me.

Waking up at 5 am and getting PR.

The Peloton Tread

I recently grew my Peloton collection with the Peloton Tread. I love love my bike for cross training days, but as a long distance runner – running is sort of important. I was running all my runs outside. I would wake up early in the morning usually around 4 am and be out the door by 5 am. I ran in all types of weather. Rain, sleet, snow. I lived in town so with some additional safety lights that I would wear plus the street lights this was pretty doable. Recently I have moved to a more rural location. I am living in the sticks. It’s dirt roads and moonlight at 5 am. I attempted several times to run in the dark – after all it’s just dark. I would never get past our drive way though. It was just a different type of dark out here. Which lead to the purchase of the Tread. Mornings are the only time I have to run. With a preschooler we are attempting to homeschool and very mobile infant, if I don’t run in the morning, I don’t run. I am not an afternoon runner. I get sluggish and lazy and end up just vegging out on the couch if I wait. I am not a professional treadmill user. So this is just my basic overview of what I love about the Peloton Tread and my not so favorite things. Anyway, don’t want to spoil the ending but keeping up with the theme of the day, I love my Tread.

Perks of the Tread

The number one perk of the tread is the convenience and the control. I don’t have to worry about weather; hot, cold, rain, shine. I am able to run in a comfortable temperature. The ease of having it right in our basement is awesome. I just have to get up and get ready and walk downstairs. No out and backs. No driving to a track. I have less excuses why I can’t get my butt up and go run.
I love the screen. It’s the perfect size. I am not squinting. The touch screen is very responsive. I don’t usually watch shows when I run, but with this screen I may have to binge some Netflix on a long run.
The width of the belt. I have been on some narrow treadmills in my life. It’s ridiculous. I am not a petite girl. I am about 5’7″ and most of me is legs. Narrow treadmills make me feel cramped and confined. At any moment I might misstep and fall right off.
The dials on the railings. On each side of the handrails is a dial. The left is for incline and the right is for speed. How many people hate having to push the button repeatedly when increasing or decreasing speed? Especially, on an interval training day! With the dial you just push it forward to your desired speed or incline. The tread doesn’t miss a beat. The is no delay and no pause in your pace waiting for the treadmill to catch up.
It’s built very well. It’s not light or flimsy. It’s probably never leaving my basement because there is no way we are going to be able to carry it out. You don’t bounce around at high speeds. As someone who isn’t so light-this was a must. I don’t want to feel like I am going to break it by just running.
It requires a passcode to start. I have four kids, and, while I don’t see them jumping on the treadmill and going for a run, I do see them trying to play around with it. It brings me comfort that it can’t just turn on. It requires a person to put in a passcode and to have the safety key in place.
The aesthetic of the machine. It’s just sleek and pretty. 🙂

Cons of the Tread

I think you know what I am going to say first. PRICE! The Tread is not cheap. The most basic option package is 2,995 dollars. For the Tread+ you are looking at spending 5,995 dollars. It is quite an investment. Is it worth it? For me, yes. Though it did make me take pause before deciding I wanted to buy it.
It’s really, really HEAVY. This isn’t exactly a con, because it is sturdy and makes me feel safe while running. It just makes it difficult to move and where it can be located in your home. We choose our basement. We wanted an area with a solid floor and away from the kids. It took my husband, father in law, and son to move it downstairs. It is staying put for sure.
I don’t have a third. 🙂

In Conclusion

I love all things Peloton. I don’t have a rower as it has never interested me, but at this point who knows. Let’s not rule it out. Being a Peloton member I get everything I need. A sense of community, motivation, options, the list goes on and on. Do I miss going to an actual gym? No. I have a whole gym at the tips of my fingers. I look forward to being a lifelong member of the Peloton community. I hope this gives you some insight into what Peloton is all about. Maybe even connives you to drink the Peloton kool-aid. 🙂

From Sick Days to Stronger Runs

January 27, 2025 by Aimee Settlemires ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

I never thought it would be this hard writing this blog. I love writing. I love running. Simple, right? No.

For the past 2 months life has been hitting me at full force. Thanksgiving morning I ran what felt like the perfect 3 miles to celebrate the holiday. That Saturday I started having cold symptoms. All the kids had some sniffles. I wasn’t surprised that it had now made its way to me. December held a slew of activities for our family ranging from birthday parties to overnight robotic competitions. Every week off consisted of doctors appointments, piano lessons, robotics practice (literally every single weeknight.) It’s that end of the year rush they talk about. When did we decide to schedule every possible thing in the first two weeks of December?

During this time my simple little cold became a full blown upper respiratory infection that would not leave. I would start getting better only to get sick all over again. One week I completely lost my voice. Another week, I was waking up in the middle of the night with fevers and cough. I had terrible sinus drainage and a hacking cough that made sleep (the little I get) impossible. Getting sick like this couldn’t come at a worse possible time. I had started running and increasing my mileage. Plus, I finally realized that running on our rural roads in the dark was not an option for training. It was time to buy a treadmill.

I won’t lie and say that I didn’t automatically want a Peloton Tread. I have the Peloton bike, and I love it! Plus, I use the Peloton app. Almost all of my workouts and runs are done with Peloton. It made complete sense to get the Tread. The downside was the price tag. I shopped around and thought about other treadmills; cheaper options. It was hard to spend that amount of money on myself. My husband knew I was struggling with the guilt of wanting one and told me just to get it. He didn’t need to say anything else. Peloton purchased. Of course, it would arrive right as I got sick. Running would have to wait.

I spent the entire of month of December sick. It wasn’t until the second week of January that I had started to feel better enough to start running. Of course, as I got better everyone else got sick. The first week my youngest baby got croup. Then next week my daughter came down with pneumonia that bought us a three day hospital stay. It felt like a never ending revolving door of what would we come down with this week.

Here I am in the last two weeks of January 2025 hoping for a much needed reset. Where am I at with my running and training? Pretty much square one, but that’s okay. It’s the life of a working mom. I took time off to get better and then took some more time off to focus on the kids. Some weeks or months will look like this. I have signed up for a 10k in May and have got my application for Chicago approved. I have started strength training and did an hour-long run yesterday. It hasn’t been consistent, but I am still making an effort. My real marathon training doesn’t start until June-I have some time. I am still trying to pick a training plan. My last marathon I used Peloton’s marathon training plan, but didn’t follow it to a “T”. I will either give that another go or maybe use a different one. Right now I am just focused on gaining strength and running at least 3 times a week.

Stay tuned as my next post will be all about Peloton and my full review of the Peloton Tread. 🙂

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Rediscovering the Joy of Running After Motherhood

November 21, 2024 by Aimee Settlemires ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

This last weekend I was able to run in a way I haven’t be able to run in a long time. For the first time since having my son, I ran a whole 5 miles. I won’t say I was forgetting what running meant to me. However, I did find it easier to make excuses to skip runs. Then I finally pushed myself to get out there and run. While I was on a half a mile walking trail next to my work, I suddenly remembered how much I love this sport.

I have four children. With each child life as a mom looked a little different for me and priorities shifted. This last baby was no different. My whole focus is now a demanding little chunky baby with the bluest eyes and the chubbiest thighs. I understand that this is completely normal. After having a baby, jumping back into getting fit is the last thing anyone wants to do. From 2022 to 2023 I did more running then I have ever done. After training and successfully running my first full marathon I was drained. The pregnancy and the birth of my son was a welcomed break to do absolutely nothing.

After I had my six week check up and got clearance from doctor. I was ready to get back to running, though it felt differently now. I knew I couldn’t just go out and run ten miles like it was nothing. I hadn’t run in over almost year. I felt so defeated all my hard work was just gone. I was starting all over. I was back at square one, and it was overwhelming. Doubt and negativity crept into my brain. I began to tell myself, “Maybe you just had that one good year of running. Perhaps that was it.” I ran a full marathon. I proved to myself that I could do it after feeling like that was something I could never do. I can cross it off my bucket list and move on, though the thoughts of returning to running stayed with me.

I started back with cycling on my Peloton, yoga sessions, and light strength exercises even though things were hard, which just put more fear into me about lacing up my beloved running sneakers. No one was pushing me except me to get back to running. The thought of starting over was horrible. My mind kept returning to “I will just have to start.” I was not going to allow myself to give up running. It may look different after pregnancy, but it wasn’t something I could give up. My first run was a mile that my husband joined me for. Toddler, infant, and puppy all in tow we started down our new drive for our walk/run. A week after giving birth we moved into the house we had been working on for eight plus years. New baby plus moving? It was a hectic, but a blissful, time.

So, I traded out paved city streets for red dirty country roads. The first mile on a different terrain felt tough. The roads had a lot more hills and rocks. It feels more like trail running out here. It was a fun time because my little three year old was running besides me. My three year old was keeping pace with me. That was where I was starting at with running. Granted, he is a pretty fast three year old with actually good form. Possibly a future running partner.

Over the next couple of weeks I went on a handful of runs. A mile or two here and there. Each left me with a feeling of accomplishment of getting out the door. However, I also felt sadness that I was struggling with such a short distances. The entire time I am running I am thinking this is so hard. I am counting the minutes until it was over. I wasn’t enjoying myself.

Then there was the whole getting back to a consistent running schedule and finding the time to run. Before, I would wake up early and run before anyone gets up. Now, I live out in a heavily wooded area with no street lights, no houses gently lighting my path. Just pure darkness. I am thankful for the distance from town. I appreciate the quietness of country life. However, the darkness out here is just different. I have lights but it is still terrifying to run out on these pitch black back roads. If I ran in the afternoons I would take my toddler in the jogging stroller. Now, I have an infant plus the toddler hates the jogging stroller. Afternoons are a no go. Evenings I want to spend time with my family. By the time they are home its again pitch black. Time is a currency that I currently broke in.

I have no time, no consistency, and felt difficulty on runs. It was starting to feel like running is no longer for me. I started questioning my decision. What did I get myself into signing up for a marathon? Before I really started giving running a chance again. Before my body felt like mine again.

I had worked all night. During the hours leading up to 6:30 am, I went back and forth about running after work. I was so tired from working all night. I texted my husband with complaints of feeling sleepy. I missed him and didn’t want to be away from him. He only simply replied “You need to run.” This was not the text I wanted him to give me. I was looking for an out. Give me a reason any reason, just to come home. He knows that after I slept I would be beating myself for not going. I changed out of my work clothes into my running clothes, and nibbled on my graham crackers. Then I finally said all the thoughts I have been having out loud to my co worker. I wondered if it would be okay if I just quit? Would I like myself if I gave up running? Would it be okay if I didn’t run another race or marathon? I asked myself these questions. I didn’t have an answer.

The walking trail near work is just a half mile, but it’s close to work and populated. As a woman, if you know you know. This is what I have to do when I am on shift. If I drove the hour commute home to run, I would just go straight to bed. Despite all the negative feelings. The overwhelming urge to just sleep. I stepped on to that running path that morning with the goal of running 54 minutes. Can I do this? Could I still be a runner?

The first lap does not feel good. I am out of breath and my hips hurt. “In through the mouth out through the nose,” I repeat to myself over and over again. No way I can keep this up for 50 minutes. It’s half a mile, and I am dying. Somewhere between 2.50 and 3 miles I start to find that comfort that feels familiar. By mile 4 I am smiling and it doesn’t even feel like I am running. I am mouthing along to the music lyrics in my ears. I smile at the walkers I pass by, and enjoy watching the sun climb up in the sky. My watch alerts me 54:00 minutes run over, but I am at 4.76 miles and I can’t stop so close to 5 miles. I sprint the last bit and finish right at 5 miles. My average pace for the run was 12.21/mile. When I finished, I was struggling to catch my breath, my heart pound. I grabbed a sidewalk railing to stretch and laid my forehead down on the cool metal. Tears gathered in the corners of my eyes and I could feel the smile on my face. This was the feeling I chasing. I can still run. Running still brings me happiness.

I am still a runner. I will always be a runner.

my favorite running partner and me.

Cash joins me on my short runs of 30 minutes or less. He is still a young puppy, only 5 months. Even so, he runs right beside me. He keeps me company on the days that feel extra hard.

Finding Motivation for Marathon Training as a Busy Mom

November 10, 2024 by Aimee Settlemires ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s been exactly one week since I filled out my application to run the Chicago marathon for St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Shall we reassess the progress that has been made? Honestly, no progress has been made. I wish I could say I got a solid training plan drawn up, but I didn’t. The first wave of excitement that came from confirming my commitment to the race faded pretty quickly. I got off work Thursday morning and fell right back into the day to day race of being a mother, one who was severely behind on laundry.

Motivation waxes and wanes. Consistency is what produces results. Isn’t that what they say? (Who is “they” exactly?) How am I supposed to become consistent if I am not motivated? I trick myself into becoming motivated. I did watch Legally Blonde this week. I did it just to see that one scene where she really starts to apply herself at Harvard Law. If you are a millennial woman, you recognize the exact scene. I was still hitting the snooze button and letting the day fall into place with no wish to “start”. No amount of watching inspiring movies was going to generate enough motivation to separate me from my bed. Early mornings are just plain hard. My bed is just not a place I want to leave in the morning. My body is smashed between two sweet baby boys. Their fingers are tangled in my hair. It’s their guaranteed move to make sure I stay put. Their warmth radiates off their small bodies. The soft sounds of their breathing lull me back to sleep after I hit the snooze. Pure bliss.

I want to start jumping into marathon training right away. I want to download a marathon plan and have a guiding light lead the way. This is my second marathon, and, while my first one went awesome because my only goal was to finish, my training was less than perfect. My longest training run was 15 miles. I went into that race not knowing if I could even run 26.2 miles. My finish time of 5:30:13 was a blessing. This time around I want to be stronger, more prepared for the miles.We are still 49 weeks away. Most marathon plans are 16 weeks or 22 weeks long. I could train for one twice if I wanted to. Perfect right?

I am struggling to get anything in and there’s no sense of routine or focus point. It’s just whatever I can get in with whatever time I have free. Which isn’t a lot especially if I am in the middle of a work week. I will try and get thirty minutes of something, whether it is yoga or cycling. I haven’t found a consistent routine for my training. It just feels like I’m floundering with the physical part of marathon training. I don’t have a program to guide my daily activities. It’s also really early to be starting one of those programs. Besides I am not ready to even start a program like that because I haven’t been running. I sound like a broken record I know. Starting is overwhelming though.

I work night shift at the hospital as a nurse practitioner. My work weeks start Thursday night and end the next Thursday morning. Seven nights in a row, twelve hour shifts, no consistent sleep. During my “on” week I have to choose between getting more sleep or working out. I can’t just fall out of training every other week. When I trained for my first marathon I would run when I got off or run before going in. We have added a new baby to the mix since that last race. I need to get home to him as soon as I get off. I am still his main source of nutrition. I need to work out because I need to get stronger. I need to sleep so my body can recover. I am stuck in this endless cycle. Should I get some sleep? Or should I get in a quick workout? It can be maddening. If you have made it this far in reading my blog I bet I can read your mind. “Why on earth would she decide to run a marathon when she clearly has too much on her plate already?”

Short answer, because I want this that bad. There is never going to be a good time in my life to do this. There will always be something in my life that is taking up too much of my time. My kids will be this age or that age. They will still need me just as much as they need me right now. There is always going to be work. Maybe not the same schedule, but I am not going to quit. (Unfortunately, there is no chance of me becoming an endorsed marathoner.) My husband and I moved into our newly built house that we (he) built on our own. It’s not finished. We live in what I like to call “construction chic.” This house is a lifelong project that will fill my weekends up for the rest of my life. When is a good time to start training for a marathon? I want to do this so badly. There is no time like the present moment. I will have to make it work.

Now, I have finished thoroughly complaining about the situation. Only I can control it, so what am I going to do about it?

Create a Routine

Routines and consistency produce results. We know this. I know this. It may take time, but eventually, just like before, running will become easier to me. Most days I hope my love for physical activity will be enough to get me moving. I know some days I won’t feel motivated. I won’t feel inspired everyday to leap from my bed and hit the pavement before the sun rises. On those days my routine will hopefully save me. I will select my workouts at the beginning of the week and have them all written down. I am a girly who loves a list. Even more I love crossing things off that list.

Develop a Training Plan

Right now I don’t need a training plan for a marathon. It’s too early and I am no where near ready for that. I need to just be running in general. I don’t need to worry about how many miles I am getting in weekly. Don’t need to stress about how many miles my long runs are. I need to be strictly focused on just running. My goals should be time-focused. Running for thirty or forty-five minutes at least three times a week. I need to incorporate cross training days as well. I basically just need to move and do work outs that I enjoy. I love yoga, cycling, and strength workouts. Doing any one of those a day will be a step in the right direction.

Let Things Go

I cannot do it all. Despite my amazing efforts trying to be everything to everyone in my life. It’s just impossible. Some things are going to have to take a backseat and that’s OK. Laundry will have to pile up. Household chores will have to be outsourced to my two teenagers. (I am sure they are going to love that.) I will miss coffee dates with friends. I won’t make it to every event that I am invited to. I am not a super social person so those last two things won’t really be a problem. 🙂

Set Small Achievable Goals

Reaching a goal feels so rewarding. When I reach my goals I feel successful and it drives me to continue to work for the next goal. If I set unrealistic goals like running a 3:30 marathon, I will feel defeated. I will give up quickly when I realize that goal is unachievable. (At this MOMENT!) If I set smaller more realistic goals I will keep returning to feed that desire I have to achieve. Right now my goal is just to start running more. It’s a simple goal. I haven’t run for 9+ months. Running one to two times a week is goal completed. Another of my goals is to run a race. I signed up for a 5k last month with no goal time in my mind. I wanted to just run a race. It felt fantastic.

Don’t Be So Hard on Myself

I started writing this post a week ago. I forgot my charger for my laptop at work and didn’t write during my entire week off from work. It’s been almost a month since I signed up for the marathon and my routine is still in shambles. I have only ran once since I ran that 5k in October. What can I say? I am a mom! My life stays busy. I have constant interruptions that cause me to rearrange my plans. This is why I am blogging this journey. I want to show anyone who has a life, a career, or a family that even though it is hard to train for a marathon, it’s doable. I will have setbacks, but I am going to keep showing up week to week. Not every training week will be perfect, and that’s okay. There will be some weeks that will be amazing, and that will be great. I just need to keep running. It will all be worth it in the end.

Running for Hope: Breast Cancer Awareness Race Experience

October 29, 2024 by Aimee Settlemires ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

I hate running 5k’s. I loath the distance. It’s too short to fall into a good running groove. I basically feel like I am sprinting the entire time. By the time I do feel warmed, and I can start holding my paces the race is over. Go figure. Every time I sign up for a 5k I forget I dislike running them. Then I reach the starting line and remember I hate them. I only love them when they are over. I would rather run a 10k or even a half marathon. I love the feeling running a race gives me. The surge of achievement as I across the finish line. In between large races I like to do smaller races because it helps me keep focus on the larger goal. The 5k is the most common, frequent race available to the average runner like myself. So, I continue to sign up for ones in my area whenever possible.

I have not ran a race since the local Rooster Run 5k in June 2023. It was unbearable. At the height of summer in Mississippi. In heat you can’t breathe in and your clothes immediately stick to your skin when you step outside. Basically, it was like I begging to have a heat stroke to run this race. As you could have of guess I didn’t do very well and was happy to have finished. Next race on the schedule St. Jude half marathon in Memphis. In September 2023 in the middle of training, I found out I was pregnant.

We had just started trying for our 4th child. We were beyond excited with the news that we had conceived so quickly. I continued to run during the early months of my pregnancy. I fully expected to manage to run the half come December. However, I developed a severe hip/pelvic pain known as Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction. It felt like my pelvis would fall apart with the slightest of movement. It was a struggle to even turn over in bed. I didn’t want to stop running, but I decided at that point to listen to my body. I dropped from the half marathon, and focused on my pregnancy. It was a hard decision for me to make at the time. Running had brought me so much joy, and I was finally good at it! I promised myself I would not lose my fitness. I would cycle and continue to strength train. (I was seriously delusional.) Between morning sickness, trying to build a house, work, and taking care of three kids already, I was exhausted all the time. I allowed myself to put staying strong on the back burner, and let myself truly enjoy my last pregnancy.

Here I am almost a year later with a beautiful four-month-old, blue-eyed baby boy. I am wondering when my first race will be. I can sign up for a 10k in May that is held every year (Several months away.) This will give me time to regain my strength and my endurance. (Most likely what I should have done.) Instead I signed up for Hope Continues 5k to support breast cancer awareness that was scheduled two weeks away. Perfect. The night shift Aimee who signs up for these races is different. She is not the same Aimee who has to run them on race day. I knew when I signed up for this race, I would be working the night before it. I also knew I would be working again the night of the race, though I have done this many times before and knew it was manageable. Not smart in any sort of the sense, but manageable.

The morning of the race I was exhausted from work. I had worked all night, the day before I didn’t sleep well due to the fact my son is still frequenting breastfeeding. He does not go to daycare and is with me on the days I work. During my work week consistent sleep is not a thing. This set up works for our family, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s just a challenge that I work with, and have come to know. I arrive to the race. I watch the tents get set up. The racers in their pink gear gathering in the park near the starting line. You can tell who takes their running hobby seriously by the type of shoes and gear worn. Who is doing warm up exercises, several of them taking laps around the block. Runners don’t come to play even in a local charity 5k. My head is begging me to lay back and close my eyes, but I knew that would be a mistake. So, I sit in silencing and eat my pre-run graham cracker. Helpful tidbit; don’t run fasted. You will struggle, feel heavy, and sluggish. Give yourself some energy-EAT something! I am a firm believer you should never run on an empty stomach.

The race begins and we are off. I start out strong with a 9:50 pace. I hadn’t made it to the first mile when I found myself repeating “I can do hard things.” and “Just don’t stop moving.” I knew running these 3.1 miles this morning wasn’t going to be easy, because I hadn’t consistency run in over a year. This was my first race back. Did I really think that I would PR? With my delusional brain, maybe. I joked with my husband and coworkers about winning in my age group. Secretly thinking “It’s a local race. Small. It’s possible.” Running that first mile quickly humbled me. My expectations of this race, and my goals quickly shifted. Runners of all types began to pass me as I struggled to hold my 10:45 pace. I didn’t quit though I just kept looking ahead and putting one foot in front of the other.

At the last curve a young girl sprints of head of me, joy on her face as she turns around smiles back at her mother. I remember in this moment that running is such a joy. Anyone who is a runner will tell you that. Others may find us strange, but the ones who get it, get it. It’s so much more than a just a hobby. I push myself to pick up my knees to finish strong. I see the finish time clock 33:00. I will finish in this minute.

Overall, the energy of the race was unmatched. Breast cancer survivors lined the streets, ran or walked alongside of me. Mothers, daughters, sisters ran in support of the women affected by breast cancer. Lost loved ones were remembered. Survivors were celebrated. It was an amazing race to run. I stepped back into the running world to find myself again as a runner.

Everyday women are being diagnosis with breast cancer and starting their fight. Early prevention and detection is key to survival. To learn more about breast cancer or if you want to donate to support breast cancer research visit: https://www.komen.org/

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To donate to support me running the Chicago Marathon for St. Jude. Click the link below!

http://fundraising.stjude.org/goto/Aimee_Runs

Why I Choose Charity Running for St. Jude

October 23, 2024 by Aimee Settlemires ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s the morning of my first half marathon. I dress quietly in a dark hotel room. Lacing up my sneakers, I eat a cold pop tart. I should have packed my toaster. My husband holds my hands in the back of the Uber as we ride silently to downtown Memphis. I’m nervous. I stare aimless out the window at the passing buildings. My only focus is making it to the starting line. Missing the start of the race has been one of the many fears I’ve had during marathon training. It’s still dark out. Only street lights and buildings light our way. The sun hasn’t risen yet, but downtown Memphis is buzzing with race day festivities. People of all ages dressed in brightly colored attire. You can distinguish a support person from a runner by looking at the types of shoes they are wearing. After weeks of training, St. Jude Marathon weekend is finally here.

Thousands of runners gather to run a marathon, half marathon, 10k, or 5k, all in support of St. Jude Children’s hospital. The course takes me through downtown Memphis, past historic landmarks, right through the campus of St. Jude Hospital. Spectators waiting along the way have so much energy I can’t help but smile from the start. I try to read every sign, high-five as many people as I can, and just soak in the race. It’s obvious that this weekend is a much-loved event in Memphis. The city shows up and shows out.

When I reach the St. Jude Hospital campus my breath hitches in my chest. Patients and families are lined up. Children of all ages are wrapped in blankets. They stand, sit in wheelchairs, or are held in their parents’ arms. They smile wide at me. This race is for them. I am running for them. They are out here to see me. My heart just wants to explode. I slow my pace and give high five and hugs. I shed tears behind my sunglasses. This isn’t just any other run. It means so much more.

There is some criticism with entering the World Major Marathons with a charity bib. Why? Some feel that charity runners have not earned their spot because they didn’t meet the qualifying cut-off times. They feel these runners are not “real” runners, at least not “marathon quality” runners. I like to believe that it’s a small group of people who feel like this. I have found the running community as a whole to be welcoming and supportive. They welcome everyone no matter what their distance or pace is. Besides, 26.2 miles is still 26.2 miles no matter if you run it in 3 hours or in 6 hours. It’s still a long way to run.

I knew I would never meet the qualifying times for a World Major Marathon. My average pace is around 11:00-11:30 minutes per mile. The fastest pace I can sustain for about 6 miles is around 9:30/mile. It took me 5:30:13 to run my first marathon. I knew the only way I could enter a major marathon was by raising money for charity. The alternative was relying on the lottery.

The first time I ran for St. Jude Children’s Hospital was in December 2022. I chose to raise money for the half marathon in Memphis. It holds a special place in my heart. I don’t reside far from Memphis, and St. Jude has a pretty phenomenal reputation. I was in nursing school when I first toured their facility. I was blown away by their approach in caring for children. I walked away a changed person that day and decided I would like to work there. After I graduated nursing school and started working, I realized quickly that my passion was in critical care nursing. It takes a special person to be able to work with children, and I knew my limits. My heart just couldn’t handle it. Still, my love for St. Jude didn’t change. It only shifted. If I couldn’t work there I would support them through donations.

St. Jude is dedicated to treating children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. They are leading the way in childhood cancer research. Families never receive a bill for treatment, travel, food, or housing. Since opening in 1962, St. Jude has pushed the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to 80% within the U.S. Donations help aid in cutting-edge treatment not covered by medical insurances. It’s a special place that is changing lives everyday. While I might not have a personal story of how St. Jude changed my life, I am a mom. A mom that knows when your child is sick nothing in this world matters until they are better. Every child deserves to be healthy, every child deserves a fighting chance. I choose to run for St. Jude to raise donations and to spread awareness. So I might be able to give just one child that chance.

In the words of St. Jude’s founder Danny Thomas, “No child should die in the dawn of life.”

To donate on my behalf for St. Jude click the link below: