Colleen, what's with all the running?

I realize some of you might be asking that question or maybe not, but thought I would answer it anyway.  Growing up in San Francisco I went to the San Francisco Ballet Academy and continued my dance into my teens and early 20's broadening my dance training to include modern and jazz.  From there I moved to Sacramento in the early 80's when aerobics was hitting the scene and I went for it. I became an instructor, freelanced on the side holding classes at lunch time in conference rooms for some businesses while working at a karate studio and a gymnastic academy with set classes.  Upon moving back to SF, I continued teaching at a gym in the downtown financial district for those who wanted a quick 30 minute workout during lunch and then worked set classes at a gym in Stonestown SF; remember the Fitness USA gym?  I loved my students and we would have the best time getting all sweaty together, pushing ourselves to be the best we could be while having so much fun.  I had a full class of regulars and they became like family.  Well, being in a gym I also took on the job of training others, helping them with a fitness plan and of course, selling membership plans.  I learned a lot about gym "life" and am thankful for all the knowledge I gleaned from so many great people.  But when I wasn't in the gym, I was running down on the beach, through the gorgeous trails in Golden Gate Park, or the many blocks in the avenues.  Not to mention, I pretty much walked everywhere in SF, as it is such a small city 7X7.  Running was what I did to 'relax and unwind' and I would run 2-3 times a week.
At 23, I met my husband and we were married at 24 and I had my first child at 25. Another child was born 2 years later and then we relocated to Central Oregon.  Skip forward some years to my third child, I am now teaching a small aerobic/fitness class for some sweet baptist church ladies a couple of days a week.  It was great fun and I loved getting back in the groove of 'workin' out'.  I was even a member of the Cascade Nautilus for a brief period.  Well, God saw that I would be having one more child and so I did.  

Being very active in our new home church in a couple of ministries, a leadership position, and also holding a part time job there as the church secretary, meant not much time left to balance taking care of a home, raising 4 children, homeschooling, being there for my husband, etc.  So, my love and passion for  being fit took a backseat or maybe even was put in the trunk, forgotten about.
Until about almost 3 years ago, a change happened in my life that caused me to reflect on quite a lot of deep personal "stuff"...not like the meaning of LIFE overall, but the meaning of MY life.  And as you go through that kind of stuff, you find things that you had forgotten all about or that you even knew you had still. There it was, in that deep trunk of "Who I Am" I found my passion for running and love for being fit.  So at almost 200 lbs., I activated my membership at Anytime Fitness and began.  


While getting ready for a yard/garage sale the other day, I found my wedding dress and some of the aerobic clothes I use to where.  I tried them on and was surprised that my wedding dress was a little looser on me than on that special day and my aerobic gear fit great! 
I know that was a very surreal day to relive that part of ME in a new way.  God puts all kind of "stuff" in us that causes us to be the person that we are, that stuff never leaves, it is still in that trunk, but oh the joy of lifting that lid and digging deep to rediscover those parts of who YOU are. Happy trails to you on your life journey!

Because of Jesus,
Purple Butterfly