Gisela "G" Moreno- Finding My Way To Be Myself, "My Why"
Gisela aka G, she is many things to many people; a mother, close friend, a sister to so many, and we in the trail running community here in San Diego, she is the Queen Bee, The Leader of Southbay YMCA Trailrunners. This is her story.
I started running for enjoyment around 2007. Meaning before that I only ran for the purpose of losing weight and didn’t find it enjoyable. It was painful, disappointment after disappointments and upsetting that my body was not able to do what I was imaging it to do.
I am a mother of 2 boys, well now 2 young adults ages 22 (almost 23) and 19 years old. After having my boys 3 years apart my, Pregnancy and motherhood gave me much more than just baby weight.
I knew I needed and wanted to change my lifestyle in all areas … Mind and Body overall.
I just didn’t understand how I was going to do it and I had a lot of self-doubt, but I knew I wanted it bad enough to figure it out and learn how to.
I allowed for the process to take its course (about 2-2.5 years of time) I acknowledged where I was at and reminded myself, I didn’t get here over night, so I won't get to where I imaged, I want to be overnight. I learned to take it one step, one block, one mile at a time, and with time and change in my diet of course was a big factor I found myself believing I can make this change happen. With lots of tears, sweat, and sacrifices my self-doubt became less and the How became clearer.
In 2009 I ran my first official road race which was AFC Half Marathon. From there I ran all road races and enjoyed them for about 5 years. At this point I enjoyed running, the running community, the events, the milestones, and accomplishments. The ability of moving my body through space with less pain and more enjoyment. I still of course had challenges and setbacks as running doesn’t come natural for me. I didn’t grow up in the sports.
I started Trail Running in 2014 (if I remember correctly) and that is when I honestly felt like it all came together, it all felt just right, it all made more sense to me. Running on trails is what I am supposed to do. I try to stay mindful, to be present, accept where I am, strive to improve, and support everyone I met as I go and continue this journey.
I have been able to completed many 5K’s to Half Marathons, 3 -Marathons, 5 - 50K’s, and 1- 50 Trail Miler Trail Races. I run year-round, even when it's cold outside and my bones ache and when its hotter than hot. Once I’m done, I feel better and glad I went.
Trail Running has peace, energized, inspiring, humbling, exciting, beautiful, nature, wild, amazing, enjoyment, distance, fresh, endless, challenging, free, hilly, zig-zags, mystery, amazing places and much more.
Trail Running is community, love, support, encouraging, and giving. It's like a special formula without one the equation doesn’t add up. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I am at my Happy Place anywhere outdoors and being able to Run outdoors is such an Amazing feeling. I now believe and have felt that image I had back when I first started running. It might sound weird but when I visualize my runs and connect with myself by preparing my mind and body, I believe I will have a good run, and I do.
I would have never seen all the places I have nor believe that I would ever be able to run the distance I have … I am excited to keep this journey going as far as it will have me. Running helped me find myself and overcome the dark space I was in. Also, the people I have met and the trail running community is a huge part for me, their energy and enjoyment for the trails and reaching milestones together is what keeps this torch lit. My boys are the reason I started this journey, I knew being a parent I couldn’t just give up and I needed to be true to myself and lead by example.
My Boundless Motivation is the WANT, the WILL, and the WAY … meaning I have the WANT do what I can, I have the WILL to be able to do it and I will find the WAY!
To hear full interview of her story go to my YouTube Channel https://youtu.be/AyVgMu57bqU
