Follow This Mother!
Michelle Emme is a marathon mother runner, but it’s the 13.1 distance that has captured her heart. This Hermantown, Minn. mom of three daughters—Gabby, 14; Miranda, 10; and Samantha, 8—is training for her seventh half-marathon, the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon next month in Duluth. She’s training for a sub-two hour finish this time (You can do it, Michelle!) and will follow this race with at least a couple more half-marathons yet this year. Oh, and it’s her 45th birthday this Saturday—happy birthday, Michelle!
Best recent run: I had to bail on a scheduled half-marathon up on the Gunflint Trail on May 5 because I came down with a fever and accompanying virus the Friday before the race…
Hump Day Giveaway: Honey, Do You Need a Ride? Confessions of Fat Runner
Honey, Do You Need a Ride? Confessions of a Fat Runner by Jennifer Graham landed in our mailboxes recently, and we were psyched for the opportunity to dive in—and to share it with you. Here’s a Q+A with the author, and at the end, check out how you can win one of three copies for today’s giveaway.
For people unfamiliar with you, can you give us a quick bio of you/your family/your running?
Jennifer: I’m a runner, writer and single mom of four who has learned the hard way that relationships are more fragile than we think, but our bodies are stronger than we think.
I started running 25 years ago when I was single and childless and working full-time as a newspaper reporter…
Mother Runners Donate BIG to One Fund Boston!
A little over a month ago, we had our world–and our hearts–shattered by two bombs near the finish line of the venerable Boston Marathon. The next day, one generous and clever mother runner suggested we morph one of our tees, one with a hand-painted heart on it, into a tribute to the souls affected by the tragedy. Dimity and I thought it was a brilliant idea, figuring we’d maybe sell a few hundred tees and donate the profits to One Fund Boston.
We were awestruck by the power of your response: You showed your support and love by purchasing 1,987 (!!) T-shirts. For yourself, for your sisters, for friends who ran Boston, for mothers-in-law spectating the race…
Successful Half-Ironmother!
Before I start this (long) race report, I just want to start with a reality check. As my friend Bine (rhymes with “Tina”) and I were driving to the race on Saturday morning, I said to her, “This is really whacked that I think this race will feel short.” So if you’re reading this—as I’ve read countless long-distance race reports—and think, “I could never.” I’m here to tell you: I’m whacked, and you could.
Without further ado, 10 things I learned at the HITS Triathlon Series, Grand Junction Half Distance:
1. Make a list and check it four times. I did the former, and even checked everything off, but that method was still not foolproof…
The Gals Answer Questions—and Relive a Scorcher Run
Dimity and Sarah recount a brutally hot run they recently survived in Sacramento, showing sometimes they don’t heed their own advice. After their done laughing at their own stupidity (and chafing!), they answer a few questions from mother runners, including how to come back from a stress fracture and how to run races on a budget. Finally the mothers ponder how to stay motivated and gain satisfaction despite slowing down, and SBS admits she’s actually been contemplating stepping up to an ultramarathon. Listen all the way through to hear the debated word of the week.
If you’re digging our podcasts, we’d be super-grateful if you’d take a minute (because we *know* you have so many to spare!) to write a review on iTunes…
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