It's not something I've ever really thought about. Classifying myself athletically. Normally, I would just say non-athletic or leisurely athletic. I haven't participated in organized group sports since I was a kid. I used to play baseball and even stopped that when I was 10 or so.
In school, I used every excuse in the book to get out of gym class. And I was never very good at it. I hated to run and to play basketball or floor hockey. Gymnastics week was the worst because I'm uncoordinated. Track and field was terrible too. I was an overweight teen (I am an overweight adult too) so participating was embarrassing for me. I was picked last in most sports, or friends picked me because they knew how humiliated I was to be chosen next to last.
But last night, as I was tracking my most recent run, it dawned on me... I am a runner now. I enjoy running. It makes me happy and it helps calm me. There's a sense of accomplishment when I step off the treadmill and I think about routes I can do when it's spring time outside. I try to do better every run and I push myself. I've even thought about signing up for a 5K.
I really wish I could go back to my high school self and tell her to participate. To try and get better. To try and get stronger. I wish this was something I've always enjoyed doing. This is such a wonderful feeling. Now, all I can do is be a good role model for my daughter and hope that she finds fitness as fun as her mom does.
I am a runner.
I am athletic