another mother runner

Why I Run: Jessica Morrison

Self-described 30-Something Mother Runner Jessica Morrison, a mom of two, saw her 5K time in 2011 drop from 25:42 to 21:54. A nearly four-minute decrease over three miles is seriously impressive. Want to be like Jess–or at least celebrate in her glory? Follow her on her blog and on Twitter at @Rhodymomrunner.  She wraps up this holiday series of Why I Run. We’ll, ahem, run another installment of them at some point in 2012, and will let you know when we’re on the prowl for submissions.

Running is my almost daily appointment with myself; I’d like it to be daily, but with a 1½ year old and a 3½ year old, a rigid schedule is all but impossible…

Why I Run: Christina Reynolds

I’ll be honest: I don’t know much about Christina, other than I love her blog name and Twitter handle, both variations on the badass theme Mom Runs Faster Than Dad. But I don’t think I need to know more: love that attitude and sass. Looking forward to more of it–and her smile–in 2012.

I joined the gym in December of 2005. I was more than 30 pounds overweight, thanks to the typical post-pregnancy weight that a lot of us moms carry around after the birth of a third child. I started with using the elliptical, walking on the treadmill, and lifting weights. I really don’t remember the day I crossed the line into the world of crazy people that run by choice…

Why I Run: Laurie Marr

I met Laurie Marr on Twitter, the way Dimity and I connect with a lot of #motherrunners. I clicked on the link to her blog…and soon had tears streaking down my cheeks. Laurie committed to running—and blogging—because she had a stillborn baby daughter named Brienna Marie. Grab a box of tissues, keep your child(ren) nearby to hug, and read about how she progressed from a 100-degree 3-mile run to a marathon, all with her angel-daughter guiding her. One sum-it-up quote from her blog: “I am stronger than I ever gave myself credit for.” Laurie now is also often joined on her runs by her 8-month-old son, Pete…

Why I Run: Renee J. Ross

Dimity and I had the pleasure of meeting Renee Ross after we gave a talk at the Nike Women’s Marathon Expotique last year. Her exuberance about running her first half-marathon was palpable and infectious. This mom of one son started running in 2001 but 2010 was her big year, her “year of my journey of healthy living.” She shed 50 pounds, primarily by exercising in her home in Georgia, but then she ventured outside to run. This year she took on five more half-marathons, and she has her sights set on doing 10 halfsies. Renee told us she runs for bling, but as this poem shows, she gets something out of the race itself, not just the finish-line goods…

Why I Run: Nicki Conroy

Nicki Conroy is proof that you can always hang a left at the fork in the road: Headed down an unhealthy path, she decided she would start running after the majority of her six kids were out of the house. We love it when women act–and not just contemplate it or talk endlessly about it. You can catch her in action at Nicki’s Nook and at @NickiinNY on Twitter.

When I saw on Twitter that Another Mother Runner was looking for submissions on why mothers run, I immediately replied. I figured that can’t be all that difficult to put in words as people ask me that question all the time. Boy, was I wrong…