A Running Mom

There was a time, about 8 years ago now (wow!), where all of my free time was devoted to running.  I started running marathons in 2002, and quickly fell in love with them.  I often tell first time marathon runners, that you will either hate the distance, or you will fall in love with it.  I was newly married, had my first marathon (Calgary) under my belt, and quickly dove in to run others.  I even taught (and worked!), for a brief time at the Running Room.  After (to me), a devastating finish in Victoria in 2004, I hired a personal coach.  I worked downtown, and at lunchtime, after work, and on the weekends, I trained.  I cycled, lifted weights, and I ran.  I was working towards a Boston Qualifier (BQ).  Much thanks to the personal training I received, I reached that goal running Calgary for a second time in 2005, with a finish time of 3:39:40 (I needed under 3:40 for my age and sex).  My trainer told me he thought I could get faster.  Would I want to keep training?  And I made a choice.  What my husband and I really wanted was a family. That summer we found ourselves pregnant with our first daughter.  And I wouldn't change any of it.

Since my son was born in 2010, I have been a stay at home Mom.  My three kids are my full time job.  I haven't trained for a marathon since I only had my eldest daughter, running Goofy in 2009.  This jump to run Calgary in June, is my first time as a Mom of two, and as a Mom of three.  Finding a way to meet their needs, and my running needs, is a fine balance.

Last night, all three tucked in, my son woke at midnight.  I got him back to bed, and the littlest started waking, inconsolable, every 30 minutes.  By 3 am, and a dose of tylenol, she was fairing no better, and I was quickly realizing, a run of 24K was no longer a possibility.  Running that distance would have been a milestone in itself, but it was unattainable on no sleep.

By 7 am I was up with all three, the babe still crying, and I had to figure out a new attack plan.  I knew deep down it wouldn't be 24, but it also couldn't be 10.  I need to stick as close as possible to training.  It was -16C outside, with a windchill making it feel like -22C, and it was lightly snowing.  With my hubby's prompting, we decided it was best I try to run the distance on the treadmill.  That way if I got tired, I was already at home.

I managed 19K.  That in and of itself on a treadmill, makes me extremely proud.  I watched three episodes of The Good Wife.  By the third I just couldn't take any more law - ha!  And my legs just didn't want to turn over anymore.  2 hours and 10 minutes of running.  And that latte at the end was just a few steps away in my kitchen.

I think of all those marathon Moms, who 6 months post partum, still run world record times.  It's unbelievable to me.

And last night, in the middle of the night while thinking "how can I run 24 this tired?" I also thought "this may happen on race day too, perhaps it's good to know how far I can go with so little rest".

I'm in such a different training place now than I was a decade ago, and I'm glad I had those years of being able to focus on this passion of mine.  Now it's a new challenge.  And this challenge comes with some pretty cute cheerleaders at the finish line :)