Mommy with her two biggest fans after a race.

Here’s a little secret my family has learned – if mommy hasn’t gone for her run then she’s a much grumpier person. I was never a runner before becoming a mother. Back in high school and college I was active, but athletic activities were not ways I identified myself. I enjoyed the occasional game of tennis, or hike, but they were not priorities in my life. 

My running journey goes hand in hand with my motherhood journey. I found when I became a mom, something shifted and priorities suddenly changed. Another little human now needed me and I’d do everything in my power to take care of him. And, like many other moms, my own needs were an afterthought.

I don’t know what compelled me to sign up for that first 5K when my son was 2. My time certainly wasn’t my own with taking care of a toddler, working full time and then figuring out how to train for something I’d had no experience with. I’m not even sure I told anyone at the time I’d even signed up and I definitely went solo to the race while the 2 year old napped at home with daddy. 

What I remember, though, is a sense of accomplishment finishing that race. I’d put in the work to get ready and actually finished it! There was a mom and her teenage son running too and I remember thinking to myself at the time how cool it would be to do something like this with my son in the future. 

Since then, I’ve run multiple races with now both of my kids, sometimes pushing one in a jogging stroller and sometimes trying to keep up with them. Running has become a priority in my life. I make time for it, schedule around it and plan for it. Which helps in my parenting. My kids see a mom who commits to something when she says she’ll do it. 

Some days are easier than others of course, in both running and motherhood. A run might be easy one week and go horribly wrong the next- same pace, same distance. Some days the baby might have napped like clockwork, and others not so much! Now, as my kids get older, and I’m on the cusp of the teenage years, things are easier in some ways but so much harder in others. Running has been easier as they can stay alone for a quick 30-minute workout and I don’t need to negotiate the joggling stroller. But, there is the guilt there too about setting a good example and being a role model for them. Do they get it? Do they see the work I have to put in if I want to improve my mile time? Why don’t they do the same in whatever they want to accomplish? 

And then the youngest comes up to me this morning after my workout and says “Mommy you are stinky – but I’m sure you had a good run. And I love you very much.” So, yeah, they get it. Running helps me tackle this motherhood journey and I’m so glad for it.