I had planned to run a half marathon eight years ago. I was twenty eight, teaching Spanish at a middle school, and running with a science teacher. Then I got pregnant..... seven years later I live in another state with three children-two on the spectrum. Not to mention I had moved twice in a year and didn't sell the house, blah blah blah life is hard. Anyway, since Mother's Day, I made serious changes. Why? Because I was "that mom."
I didn't want to be "that mom." The one with two children with I.E.P.s driving the principal crazy. The one who is never on time, never sends anything in, and is severely overweight. What did I love before I had kids? Running- I needed to start running again. How do you find the time to do something when you are not only a mom, but a work outside the home mom? The answer is you lose something else. I lost sleep. I woke up early instead of sleeping when the kids sleep. I still do or I take the two year old in a baby jogger around lunch time. Sometimes I blog less so I can run more. But something had to give-I wanted it to be my weight. I have found if I don't run first thing it won't happen because the rest of life goes on during the day. I also need to leave the house. If I do the treadmill thing the children find me and we all remember the Oprah episode on the dangers of treadmills and babies. I have enough with strabismus, kidney reflux, and autism. I don't really need to add plastic surgery to my repertoire.
Here is how it has been since May:
1. Peer pressure can be a good thing. You need to work with other moms your age. You are not twenty two and you don't weigh 90 pounds. Find moms that have the same goals you do. Facebook is wonderful for good peer pressure. Every time someone you went to high school or college with "just finished a three mile run," you are motivated to get out and do it too. Stay away from the Barbies you went to school with. Stay away from the Barbies you know now. Let them peer pressure each other.
2. Find another mom to run with. She is just as motivated as you are to get some time alone and her old body BACK. You also have plenty to talk about on a long run. You don't want to run with someone who is going to talk about investment banking and blink at you when you ask about a funky rash you found on your middle child.
3. Sign up for a race. I remembered my original half marathon goal and decided on the October race in Hartford. I wanted to prove to myself that you can go back again and that dreams and goals can come true, just not necessarily when you thought that they would. Six months gave me plenty of time. If you have never run ever, shoot for a 5K.
4. Go slow. Don't worry about speed at this point. If something starts to hurt slow down.
5. Make a play list for when you run alone, and fill it with the cheesiest, ridiculously top 40 music you can think of. Now is not the time for Bjork. Now is the time to Walk on Sunshine with Katrina and the Waves.
6. Race day-peer pressure again but with the group of people going at your speed, not the people way ahead of you. I recommend a race because you have something to work towards and you have tons of people cheering as you go. You don't have anyone cheering while you change diapers. No one cheers for the gluten free snacks you attempted to make and have the kids eat. Did anyone cheer when you checked out of the grocery store with everything you needed and all three children still in their seats? What about the day you taught all your classes and then made it to OT, Speech, and then gymnastics? Applause? NO? Really? All right then-run on.
The best thing about it is the stuff that used to drive you crazy isn't such a big deal when you run. You not only lose weight but you can handle whatever is going to happen during the day. And you KNOW something is going to happen.
I hope this doesn't mean I am getting used to my Connecticut surroundings. What am I going to do next? Trade my coffee for chai tea? Don't hold your breath, but then again, I did run a half marathon.
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