Numbered and ready to run!

Numbered and ready to run!

This sweet description of the morning of a race landed in our inbox recently, and we wanted to share. Sara Evanchick, 35, is a stay-at-home mom to a 3.5-year-old munchkin  in Upstate New York and is, in her words, “just starting to dip my toes in the world of being a health and fitness coach.” Despite the hectic race morning that we all know too well, Sara notched a 5K PR. Guessing part of her morning-long warm-up contributed to the success.

Wake up 2 hours early, so you can get dressed before anyone else is awake.

Put your running shoes on, even though it’s early. Because if you don’t, you could very well forget and slap on your flip flops, with all the chaos of trying to get the door.
Hear the precious pitter patter of munchkin feet while you’re pouring your coffee.
Get munchkin settled on the couch with juice and a little Disney Jr. (Being honest here.)
Make breakfast for munchkin and scarf down something that qualifies as good fuel.
Reheat coffee.
Wake sleeping husband.
Choose appropriate clothing and footwear for munchkin.
Pack a bag for husband with extra munchkin clothes, water, snacks, sunscreen.
Launch second attempt to wake sleeping husband.
Get munchkin dressed.
Double check race bag for armband, sunglasses, water bottle, etc.
Send munchkin in to jump on sleeping husband.
Stretch out while simultaneously playing with hot wheels.
Push half-awake husband into the shower.
Make sure everything is shut off, windows are closed, etc.
Shuffle everyone out the door.
Husband. Awake. But guessing this wasn't taken on race morning.

Husband. Awake. But guessing this wasn’t taken on race morning.

Get to the race, make sure to wave to munchkin as you cross the starting line.
Run your heart out.
Make sure to smile and wave to munchkin as you near the finish line.
Kick it to the finish.

Cross the finish line and hear, “Good job, Mommy! Can I have your banana?”

Like mother, like son: getting it done.

Like mother, like son: getting it done.

Watch and cheer for munchkin in the kids’ race. Try not to burst with pride.
Go home.
Get munchkin lunch.
Get munchkin down for nap.Finally take off running shoes.
Finally shower.
Finally sit down.

Realize that, in a blink of an eye, munchkin will grow up and be too busy to come to your races.
Cry a few thankful tears, for the chaos of mother runner race day.
Can you relate? What’s your favorite–or least favorite—part of racing as a mother runner?