I know Friday is supposed to be a post about something relaxing, but I’ve got running on the mind. Why?

Because I ran TEN miles this morning. TEN. Double digits. Woah.

People ask me all the time why I run. Have I ever done a post about that? I can’t remember. I know I planned to. But yeah…I run for lots of reasons. I run to stay in shape. I run so I eat. I REALLY like food. I run for my own sanity. I run to get away from my to-do list. I run to take a break from my kids.

But I also run for my people. It takes a village to raise kids, and it takes a village to support a mother runner. My mom watched Brown this morning who started spring break today so I could get my ten miles in. I love my people. I have a close family, which I’ve talked about before. My VIPs would be my husband, my kids, my mom, my dad, my two sets of grandparents, my brother, my aunts, my inlaws, and my brother-in-law and sister-in-law. They all keep me going. I think about them a lot on my runs.

I realized this morning as I was going through the motions of TEN miles that my runs are supported by them. Nearly all of my gear has been bought by them.

My husband got me the running top I ran today for Valentine’s Day. He also ordered me a whole box of my favorite Honey Stinger cherry cola energy chews that kept me going. My sons picked out my socks for me for Valentine’s Day. My mom and dad gave me my hydration belt for Christmas. My inlaws gave me my shoes for Christmas. My aunts gave me my iPod Shuffle for Christmas. My Mema and Pa gave me my Garmin for Christmas. My Jidi and Gma gave me the birthday money that I used to guy my Tifosi sunglasses.

They are all with me when I run. I owe a chunk of my success as a runner to them.

So thanks to my village. I couldn’t run without you!