Cover Story Kim Daugherty Having passion and purpose make all the difference

“Mom Couldn’t Do It”
Recently, I ran my first half-marathon race. Yes, 13.1 miles! The one I chose to run? The 2010
Heels & Hills Half. I put a lot of time and effort into researching which races I would run this year, and recently the Heels & Hills Staff asked runners a question on their Facebook wall: “What is your story?”. Why am I running this event?

The question stuck with me all afternoon. I came up with at least a dozen reasons.

Before I get to my main reason for committing to running 13 miles, I can’t overlook my other motivators:

• An awesome Calorie killer - about 100 - 120 cals per mile
• Time spent with Kevin - when running long runs together I can have his undivided attention and a time to connect.
• Time with my girlfriend/running buddy Stephanie! Nothing like blowing off stress while running and sharing the joys/struggles of motherhood pounding the pavement!
• Setting and Achieving Goals. Enough said.
• Challenging myself beyond what I think I can do.
• Being a good role model for Mason & Gavin.
• If a 500 lb man on the Biggest Loser couldn’t walk 1 mile but 3 months later after diet and exercise is able to run 5, then, by God, I can do THIS!

While I thought of all the reasons I was running this race, it all boiled down to my mantra that I’ve recited to myself the last 11 weeks. I recited it when I was wanting to quit. When I got injured. When I was too tired to keep running. When I wanted to cheat and cut my run short. I
repeated these 4 words:

“Mom Couldn’t Do It”.

My mother passed away almost 10 years ago. She lived a lifetime with chronic respiratory problems, had parents that smoked and suffered a childhood of second hand smoke, asthma, chronic bronchiectasis, double lung transplant in 1996 and eventually passed away with transplant rejection in 2000.

Now, you can imagine that a lifetime of these types of lung problems does not create an ACTIVE life.

Growing up I have zero memories of seeing my mom working out, let alone running races. Her workout consisted of the daily struggle to walk from her car to her office and back home to take care of me, my brother and sister. She was on daily nebulizer treatments, steroids and oxygen. Just going around the mall would leave her breathless, often having to stop at benches to rest. The daily routine of LIFE was her workout.

Fast forward to me now, a mom of two healthy boys. I didn’t know where the notion to run came from when I started, until my mantra literally popped out of my mouth. I just said it - in the moment - right as I wanted to quit - “mom couldn’t do it”. That’s all that it took. And I kept
running.

As I ran I thought about her. Now, I don’t know that had she been healthy, she would have even WANTED to run a race or be an exercise enthusiast. But I know she didn’t really have a CHOICE. I do, though. It’s those choices she was denied that motivate me...that make me
want to try crazy things and not be afraid of trying even though I might fail. We’re only given this one life. I don’t want to go through mine, living a mediocre, safe life. At the end of my life I don’t want my kids to feel sorry for me, or wish I could have done more with my life. I knew
that my mom couldn’t do more. But I know she did all she could. She always gave everything that she could.

Since I started running I won’t say that I haven’t had my bad running days...or weeks. Because there have been. But when I make a conscious effort to commit to a race, it’s that mantra that keeps me going. It’s like quitting isn’t an option. And then when I look at my
boys, my next most important reason to race glares me in the face. I don’t want them to see their mom quit. And I don’t want them growing up thinking that a sedentary lifestyle is acceptable when God gave them perfect health. If they’re healthy and able, then I want to encourage them in whatever challenge or hobby that they find interesting. Mason has found swimming. I can’t wait to see what Gavin enjoys as he gets older.

On our refrigerator is a copy of my 12 week training schedule. They see me put a check mark (or an “x”) on each day. When I complete a week where I have all check marks, I’ll put a happy face next to that week. Mason asked me one day what the smiley faces were for and I told him. Now he puts sad faces next to my x’s. He’s aware that I’m struggling (I only have 2 smiley faces for 100% weeks), but he knows I’m not quitting. He’s excited for me to help him train for the running part of his 2nd kid’s triathlon this summer, and in turn I’ve asked for HIS help in the swimming portion of MY FIRST Sprint Triathlon. I can’t wait to make those memories with him.

So, my reason for running 13.1 miles is because I CAN. My mom couldn’t, but I can.

Kim lives and works in McKinney. She is co-owner of D&B Real Estate and would love to help you buy, sell or lease a home. You can contact her at 469-667-8225 or www.ServingInCollinCounty.com