What Would Another Mother Runner Do?: Megan the Marathoner
Megan, definitely not flat, enjoying the Pittsburgh Marathon in 2011.
This email sailed into our inbox a few weeks ago, and Megan, a mother runner with five kids under the age of 11, agreed to let us throw it out to the masses of wise and helpful mother runners in the next installment of WWAMRD: What Would Another Mother Runner Do?
Here’s her situation:
I started running later in life, mid-30’s. I was single at the time and got hooked. I then ran six marathons, (Pittsburgh 4x, New York, Boston) between 1996 and 2000. I had my first baby in 2001 and my last in 2009. No marathons during that time, but I did do steady, short distance running along with instructing exercise classes.
In 2011, when my baby was two years old, I decided to try a marathon again. I was excited and pumped, just like the old days. I wrote up my training schedule and fixed my special meals and got to bed early and drank a ton of water. I ran the Pittsburgh Marathon for the 5th time, and it went well. Because I was so much older than when I started running, I actually qualified for Boston. Of course I had to run that, because it would most likely be my last chance.
The following year I did the training all over again and ran Boston 2012. Boston was very hot last year, and I finished, but it wasn’t pretty. I threw up my GU right in front of a group of spectators, and the whole crowd groaned. But that isn’t the point.
The point is that I have signed up for the 2013 Pittsburgh Marathon, which is on May 5. But I am mentally FLAT. I can’t get excited, I don’t want to drink a bunch of water, I don’t want to go to bed early and get up at 6 a.m. to run. I didn’t even start training really until 10 weeks out. I’m not sure I can even get enough miles in in time to run the thing.
What is wrong with me? This was my passion, my love. I could talk about running forever, and read running blogs and surf running websites for hours on end. I WANT to love it again, be excited again. But even when I’m out on a beautiful day running, I’m thinking about being done. What should I do?
Should she hang in there and do 26.2 on May 5 or chill out and forgo another ‘thon?
Dimity says: I would definitely just let Pittsburgh pass me by. Marathon training, not to mention going 26.2 miles on race day, can be so draining, both mentally and physically, that I really feel you’ve got to want it–or at least 70% of your body and mind has to cooperate. Instead of trying to drink from a dry marathon well, I’d train to go fast in a 5K; sign up for a triathlon; or just chill and not be on a training plan for a few months. I’m confident you have plenty of marathons left in you if you want them, but that’s the key: You’ve got to want them.
Sarah says: I don’t believe it, but Dimity and I are in agreement on this one! (If you listen to our latest podcast, you know we’re often yin and yang when it comes to matters of racing and training.) Marathon training is a different beast than shorter races–as is the race itself. It’s not something you can phone in. If I were Megan, I’d find a new running buddy–or reconnect with a former one–and enjoy running with her. If that gal is training for a race, maybe join her for some long runs, but have her set the pace, route, length, the whole shebang. Megan will stay somewhat race-ready…and maybe some of the friend’s enthusiasm will remind Megan of the zest she used to feel.
What would you do if you were Megan? Plow on through or call it quits?
If you’ve got a WWAMRD dilemma for us, email us at runmother [at] gmail [dot] com, and we’ll do our best to solve it for you.
And if you need more WWAMRD, check out the collection. Great way to procrastinate.
Music and Answers
Hey, Porsche: Nelly really is talking about a car (at least on one level).
The show opens with Dimity’s big confession of which singer she’s groovin’ to these days (we won’t spoil it for you), while Sarah admits to loving slightly more racy tunes (and to letting her children watch “Glee”!). At long last the mother runners move on to providing answers to questions, including one from Karen about adapting to altitude (Sarah admits she sucks at running on high) and Christina’s query about staying “race ready” over the summer even if she’s not on a training plan. They also talk about how to train your kids to survive your absence during runs. Along the way, they stumble onto the episode’s pronouncement—“oeuvre.”
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.
[audio:http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/podcasts.pagatim.fm/shows/amr_031413.mp3]**Also, the quickest way to get our podcasts is to subscribe to the show via iTunes. Clicking this link will automatically download the shows to your iTunes account. It doesn’t get any simpler than that!
Taking the World (Marathon Majors) by Storm
Sandi at the Brandenburg Gate in mile 26 of the Berlin Marathon 2012.
Be prepared to be inspired by the lovely guest Sarah and Dimity talk with on this episode: Sandi Borgman, a mom of three who has run the World Marathon Majors (New York, Chicago, London, Boston, and Berlin marathons) since being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. She ran her first half-marathon after her diagnosis about a decade ago, and she’s gotten faster over the years. (Except for the London Marathon, which she ran pregnant!) Now if she could only decipher how to register for the Tokyo Marathon, which was added to the Majors’ series a mere month after she completed the “final” 26.2. Next up for Sandi: Boston 2 Big Sur this spring. Watch out, world!
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.
[audio:http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/podcasts.pagatim.fm/shows/amr_030713.mp3]**Also, the quickest way to get our podcasts is to subscribe to the show via iTunes. Clicking this link will automatically download the shows to your iTunes account. It doesn’t get any simpler than that!
Week 1, AMR Virtual 5K: Bibs, Badges, and Aimee + Mandi
Just like the mother runners who will proudly sport it, The AMR Virtual Run bib multitasks: it’s a combination training countdown and race momento.
Pretty sure that’s Mandi on the left, Aimee on the right, but I’ll confirm that next time we check in with one another.
A badge, designed by mother runner Michelle for your website or your Facebook profile.
We love this so much, we have to post it again.
Races 2 Remember, which designs a variety of custom bibs, cheering signs and pace bands, worked up this beauty for us—and you! Download it here, and then mark off your weekly progress to race day!
Finally, don’t forget to regularly check into the AMR Connect Forums: there’s support and camaraderie just swimming in there.
Tell Me Tuesday: Running through Daylight Savings Time Shift
Forget the Ides of March: It’s Daylight Savings Time you’ve got to beware this month!
T.S. Eliot might have called April the cruelest month, but Dimity told me recently she thinks March is the hardest month to run in. The weather can shift in a heartbeat–snow showers one minute, gusts of rain the next–and then there’s the whole “spring ahead, fall back” time shift thing. As a parent (and a human being), I love when daylight lingers well past dinnertime. But as a devoted morning runner, I loathe being plunged back into darkness after being treated to a few weeks of weak dawning light.
We shift clocks ahead an hour this Saturday night. (Right!? Hard to believe, but true.) Since being prepared is half the battle, here’s how to keep right on running next week and beyond.
Schedule a rest day for Monday. If you’re on a training plan (say, for instance, our half-marathon or 5K Finish It ones), juggle your workouts now so at least the first day of the work/school week a bit less rough.
Go to sleep earlier. Easier typed than done, we know, but be pro-active about protecting your sleep: Skip book group next week; don’t offer to bake 30 cupcakes for your kid’s class; read a book in bed instead of sitting in front of a glowing computer screen; take Hyland’s Calms Forte or drink herbal tea to slow your racing brain to a jog.
I honestly wouldn’t put it past Dimity to pull this move.
Set your gear out the night before (heck, sleep in it!). Somehow deciding on which pair of capris to wear and digging out a clean sports bra always seems less daunting pre-bed than at 0′ dark-thirty. Dimity goes as far as setting out a banana or graham crackers the night before her workout.
Don’t dither. (Or, as Dimity puts it: Don’t think; just go.) I’m not a snooze-button kinda gal so no matter how groggy I am when the alarm goes off, my feet hit the floor. I wipe sleep away by turning on the bathroom light full blast (only hurts for a few seconds, I swear), brushing my teeth, then rubbing my eyes with cold water. Give those tricks a try.
Make plans to run with a friend. Not new advice we know, but worth repeating: You’re far less likely to bail on a run when you know Sheila, Jessica, or Meredith are waiting on the corner for you. (Or maybe all three of them are–the more the merrier.)
No, you’re not dreaming: Watching Damian Lewis in “Homeland” makes morning workouts a whole lot sweeter.
Light the dark. Don’t pack away your reflective vest and Knuckle Lights quite yet. You’ll be less likely to curse the darkness if you can see your way–and drivers can spot you. Remind yourself it’s getting lighter a little earlier every day.
Line up some entertainment. Cue up some new songs or download some podcasts to lighten your mood, if not your morning. On easy run days, sometimes the only thing that gets me out the door is the excitement of listening to Peter Sagal and Carl Kasell on NPR’s “Wait, Wait….Don’t Tell Me.” If you’re tethered to a treadmill, this is the week to catch up on “The Mindy Project” or season 2 of “Homeland.” (No way to stay groggy during that show!)
Suck it up, buttercup. While these tricks and tips will help, we’re not going to sugarcoat it for you: The first few days after we spring back are going to be rough. But as tired as you may feel when your alarm sings out or when you tie your kicks, just remember how much peppier you’ll feel the rest of the day because you started your day with a run.
How ’bout you: Tell us how you make springing forward less daunting.
AMR Virtual 5K: Let’s Get It Started + Everything You Need to Know
Insert yourself here. (You can just hear their laughter, right?)
Welcome to the First (Annual? Maybe. We’ll see.) AMR 5K, a training program and run where we, righteous, fierce badass mother runners that we are, will all push each other out the door and across the finish line.
Here’s the 4-1-1- necessary to get your 5K on:
Why are you doing this?
Taking a wide view, because we know that the more mother runners there are in the world, the better place it is.
Focus in, and we’ve heard from plenty of you that you need some tough love and a gentle shove (hey: that rhymes). You want to figure this running thing out, but for some reason—time, schedule, motivation, inspiration, frustration—it’s just not working for you. The collective strength, support, and just general amazingness of the mother runner tribe, we’re confident, can get you on the regular running habit. We’re all here to push you out the door—and hold you accountable, cheer you on, and toast to your success with a bottle of nuun.
Why should I do this?
If you can commit to 10 weeks of dedicated workouts, chances are, you’ll soar across the finish line. This program isn’t just about the 3.1 miles, though; they’re about making running an integral and coveted part of your life. Commit to these 10 weeks, and you’ll see running—and yourself— in a whole new light.
Become a runner, and you too can wear coordinated, adorable outfits with your BRFs.
Ok, enough of the inspirational talk. What are the details? Training plan? Dates? Other info?
If you are someone who:
*is having a hard time figuring out how to become a runner
*is sputtering; you stop, you start, you hit a speed bump, you stop again
*is coming back from a serious injury (out for at least 6 weeks)
*has recently had a child come into her life and have lost your groove
we recommend that you follow the 5K: Finish It Plan (a .pdf file) from Train Like a Mother. It’s a walk/run plan that builds up your running and confidence in a safe, smart fashion.
If you’re farther along in your running, follow any other TLAM plan. (See the distance question below.) We don’t want to get bogged down in too many details; our overarching goal is to throw miles of support and inspiration into the universe, so all levels of mother runners can succeed.
The 5K: Finish It training plan is bookended by two of our favorite holidays: it starts today (Sarah’s birthday: HBTY SBS!) and ends on May 11th, Mother’s Day. That’s 10 weeks.
We are going to posting the daily workout in our AMR Connect Forums, under the beginners section. There’s already a small army of mother runners who have posted there and are ready for this party to start. Don’t be shy about chiming in and introducing yourself, talking about your workout (my no-whining policy that I try to institute in my house does not apply), generally chatting each other up. You never know who you may connect with–or inspire.
Can I switch up my workouts?
Yes, you can move your workouts around in a week as much as you need to. Our only bit of advice: don’t backload your week if you can help it. There’s something delicious about knocking out one sweat session on Monday morning, if your situation allows.
High 5’s all around for the AMR Virtual 5K.
What if I miss a workout or a week?
No biggie. Just pick up as quickly as your life and health allows, and keep on going. If you’re not sure if the sniffles should excuse you from a workout, the AMR Connect Forums is a great place to ask. Just be prepared to maybe not like the answer so much. (“Sniffles? Lace up, lady. I mean that in the nicest way possible.”)
Can I train for a longer distance?
Absolutely. The more miles—and mother runners—the merrier. There are already a handful of ladies in the AMR Connect Forums who are gunning for 10K’s and Half-Marathons.
Is there a real AMR race on May 11th?
Nope. So you can sign up for a local 5K (or other distance) and have at it. (Here’s a list of women’s races if you need help finding one.) You can also just run 3.1 miles from your house and celebrate Mother’s Day in blissful silence. Or you can go somewhere in between: invite a couple pals to run with you, then head home and celebrate with your offspring. Your call.
Mother’s Day: babe + race. Perfection.
Oh, and there’s something special here that I can’t think of a fake question for:
We are going to record our first-ever, 60-minute podcast out just in time for the AMR Virtual 5K. We’re going to have tunes (or snippets of them…as much as copyright laws allow) and pacing tips and a bunch of other fun stuff, so if you’re running alone you don’t have to be, you know, running alone.
What if my race or run can’t be on May 11th?
Do it on May 10th or 9th or 12th…we’re not super strict around here.
How will you know we did it?
We are going to make up some virtual bibs, and we want to see a picture of you either pre-, during or post-run with your bib on.If you’re in a real race, just hold your virtual bib up for a pre- or post-race…we want you to wear your race number. Once we see that, we’ll be happy to send off our version of a medal: your very own BAMR sticker.
If you have a camera malfunction or just can’t happen, no worries: we trust that you did it.
Huh? BAMR sticker?
Yep, these beauties, a testament to your ability to set a goal and work your badass off to reach it, are not even for sale yet. Send us a pic and your address, and we’ll officially dub you a BAMR. (Oh, and BAMR means Badass Mother Runner, in case you weren’t sure.)
What else?
We’ll use #BAMR5K on Twitter (we also have #motherrunner and #TLAM2013 as frequent tags, so feel free to throw those puppies on as well). We’re going to profile mother runners taking on the 5K here, as well as have regular updates over the next 10 weeks, so rest assured: there will be plenty of coverage.
If all of this feels too overwhelming, here again are the basics:
1. Start training today with the 5K: Finish It Plan.
2. Check in regularly in the AMR Connect Forums for support and accountability.
3. Finish at least a 5K on (or around) May 11th.
4. Send us a picture of yourself with our AMR virtual bib, and we’ll send you a BAMR sticker!