So we’re entering the final countdown to Train Like a Mother: How to Get Across Any Finish Line – and Not Lose Your Family, Job, or Sanity. Let’s say we’re at Mile 22 of a marathon. Which is when, conveniently for this post, you might call on the power of a lucky charm to get you across the finish line. Hopefully these charms we list below will still be lucky, even after they receive the unhappy news that there was no room for their magical powers in the (hopefully still magical) orange book.
Take It from a Mother: Do you have a lucky running charm?
“My wild red hat. It’s knit, multicolored, has strings to my chest, and pom-poms.”
—Courtney (took a wrong turn in her first race and ran 10K instead of the 5K for which she registered)
“Pink shorts.”
—Erin (started running track in high school, where the pink shorts made their debut)
“I like to wear a pair of earrings my husband gave me.”
—Keri (entertains herself during long runs by texting people)
“Moving Comfort Fiona bra. I will not run without it.”
—Mary-Glen (works on speed by running with a fast neighbor)
“I have a running girl necklace I like to wear.”
—Phyllis (started running to cope with grief after her mom passed away)
“Prayer. I can’t run without God.”
—Randi (loves the excitement and energy of races)
“Jewelry that represents various members of my family.”
—Sarah (treats hip pain with Active Release Technique)
“No lucky charms for me.”
—Wendy (thinking about a race makes her crave eggs and toast)
“For my last two half-marathons, I’ve worn a necklace with my kids’ birth charms and names on it.”
—Lesley (has to wear her Garmin on race day, “I would probably go out way too fast if I didn’t”)
“Always left shoe on first!”
—Melissa (worst race experience: her quads locking up during her second marathon in a week)
“I have a bracelet that all the moms in the group got from our coach before our first race. I wear that every time I run.”
—Jennifer (felt like a “real” runner when 1) she started thinking about running all the time and 2) she got her first bloody toe.)
“Balega socks.”
—Gemma (favorite pre-run meal: an English muffin, lots of water, and a handful of chocolate chips)
“I put a guardian angel pin my mom gave me onto my race bib.”
—Erica (came very close to throwing up at her last 10K. “I haven’t felt that nauseated since I was pregnant with my twins!”)
“I like wearing my son’s athletics t-shirts. He’s the strongest person I know.”
—Neita (motivates herself by reading running blogs)
“My son’s baby washcloth.”
—Maria (proudest running moment: a 7-mile run with a new group of friends. “I had never run more than 4 miles prior to that day. They were all so encouraging that it really motivated me to finish”)
“My white TNT hat. I wear a white hat to honor the great Joan Benoit Samuelson.”
—Lois (dubs the foam roller her best friend. “I’m a massage therapist, but no one massages me.”)
“I lost my first baby at 32 weeks when I had cancer, so I wear her footprints on my waist. When it gets hard, I look down and run the miles for her little feet that will never get to run.”
—Rebecca (proudest running moment was this year when she ran a half-marathon. “Eight years ago, I couldn’t walk, my mom bathed me, and my sister carried me to the bathroom. And this year I ran a freakin’ half-marathon!”)
Now we’re taking it to you mothers: Do you have a charm de lucky?
My lucky charm is my Nuun visor from Hood to Coast. It doesn’t make me faster nor does it make any race easier, but it holds hugely happy memories and never fails to put a smile on my face.
Not sure it’s a lucky charm, but I have to wear a Nike visor.
I wear my lucky 26.2 pendant, or my IM pendant.
I don’t have one but I just have to say to Rebecca- wow! Absolutely amazing! I would love to read more about that journey.
I thought the same thing. One powerful mother runner!
Yes, I am sitting here crying. What a powerful woman!
Tissues. It all started with a 5K and I PR’d. Since then, I run with at least one tissue crumbled in my hand
Must wear a visor! Sunglasses slip & sun in my eyes is a no go!
Every single race – black lace hanky panky thong. I wore them for my first ever race – 1/2 marathon in Seattle, 2010. I finished, so I decided they were lucky! I keep setting new PR’s, so they MUST be lucky!
My lucky purple volleball visor from high school, but it’s also functional!
My lucky BRF running necklace. Several of my BRFs have the same one with a little 13.1 charm, a running stick girl and a running shoe on it. Soon I hope to add a 26.2 charm to mine!!
At least one toe on each foot is painted in my Grandma’s Pepto Bismol Pink nail polish. Grandma never understood why I ran, but always supported me. She’s been gone for 6yrs, and she had the polish for many yrs before that. Maybe keeping it in the fridge (she did, not me) really does help. Who knows how old it is, but still works :) Also had a pair of bare feet earrings, but lost one. My BRB got me another pair.
PS – I am NOT a pink girl…
Aw, that’s me. Thank you for posting it. It’s something I hadn’t mentioned on my blog before, and this gave me a reason.
My prayers for you and your baby – always! No matter how may years, no matter how many miles!
That is very sweet, thank you very much.
You sound like an amazing woman Rebecca!
Obviously, God is what it says above (and that’s right). Oh Rebecca’s just blew me away – way to go girl!!
I’m thinking I need to get a lucky charm! I have the things I always run with, but I’ve never considered them lucky as much as critical to my comfort. :)
Wow- major sweaty eyes from Rebecca’s lucky charm. Amazing strength from her Mom and sister. I’m seriously sobbing knowing the love it takes to take care of a loved one who is in such tremendous pain. Wishing you continued miles for your sweet baby girl!
I keep my 1st daughter’s prayer card with the picture of all three of us ( husband, myself & our sweet little girl ) that was made for us at her funeral in my pocket while running. I also wear a necklace my husband gave me. If I don’t have these two items I think I would have a small freak out.
I grew up in a baseball-centric house, so superstitions are a way of life. I have to wear something purple (if nothing else, my Road ID but I feel better if it’s more than just that). I have a winged sandal necklace that I wear to races and I wear wing earrings for most of my runs. My toenails get painted orange the night before every race.
This winter my family jokes that my gross (from all the sweat) blue fleece winter hate with a hold in the back for my ponytail holds all my mojo. I don’t what I’m going to do when it gets to warm to wear it this year. It will be 90 and I will be rocking the road in my blue fleece mojo hat!
Wonderful. Thanks for writing that. I’ll definitely return here to find out more and tell my coworkers about your site.