Weddingbee Blog

I’m going to have a “real” moment with you guys. I know we all have perfect body image and all that stuff (right?), but… when we’re getting ready to walk down the aisle, we do tend to eat one less piece of cheese, just a tinier sliver of cake, etc etc. It’s hard not to think about the fact that we’ll likely be in 70% of the million wedding photos no matter how healthy (!) and positive (!) we are.

I’m currently in training for my second marathon. Basically, running a million miles per week guarantees that I can eat pancakes every day and not gain weight. Not a healthy approach, but I do love my pancakes.

Running hasn’t always been a passion of mine—(on my Saturday long runs, running is definitely not my passion!). I signed up for my first race—an 8k—purely because I wanted a challenge. I have never, ever, ever been athletic. People please, I have a BFA. Sometimes, I like to sign up for things that are way outside my comfort zone, just to see what I can do. Also, this 8k featured a free beer afterwards. I’m Irish; I’ll take it.

Of course that 8k was the day that Chicago was buried under a freak blizzard. Did my friends and I drop out of the race? No. Because this way we can say we are bad-ass ladies. Proof:

That was the very best beer of my life. An 8k is only 5 miles, but I busted my butt in training and again at the race. And I did it for myself.

That race meant a lot to me because I ran it one month after my broken engagement. It was my first race and symbolized the fact that I was so much more than my preconceived non-athletic notions of myself. I was hooked.

Only nine months later, I ran my first marathon in Dallas with my sister. My sister is a for-real badass (she completed 112 miles of a 140 mile Ironman triathlon while secretly preggo), but that’s a story for another day.

My first marathon was another big day for me. Six hours after starting, we crossed the blessed finish line together. That race symbolized how supportive my sister and I are for each other—we will never leave the other behind.

YOU try looking cute after running 26.2 miles.

In total, I’ve now run one full marathon, two half marathons, one 15k, three 8ks, and four 5ks. I’m by no means a fast runner—I maintain a solid 11-minute pace. Racing’s more than a number to me; it’s about building character, endurance, and a challenge to myself to supersede my own expectations. It’s not a weight loss plan; running’s a plan for your heart.

What’s my point? Well, a lot of brides work out like a fiend before their weddings in an attempt to lose weight. More often than not, they end up frustrated and burnt out. And starving. Why? Because they’re doing it for the wrong reasons. My point is that there are other, more important reasons to work out. I’ve been racing for three years now. I’m in great shape, but the benefits of running are good for more than just one blissful, romantic day. Taking care of our bodies, challenging ourselves—those benefits will last us a lifetime.

I’ll share my best running tips here from time to time, but to get started… educate yourself! I love Kara Goucher’s Running for Women. Easy and enjoyable to read—she inspires me every time I lace up my sneakers!

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With all the drama a wedding can bring, taking care of your body is something you do for yourself only. Nobody, even that incompetent florist you hired, can take your workout time away from you. And when you’re mad at your venue coordinator for misspelling your name for the gd-eighteenth time…run, box, bike, lift it off! This is your time—take it.

And if you ever need extra inspiration to give it your all in your workout, the quote below always helps me:

*All photos mine unless otherwise marked.