Guessing this marathon–a 2 minute, 20 second PR for Michelle–might be her favorite race. Definitely her favorite pic: check out her  airborne cheerleaders!

Our second-to-last TLAM outtake, mother runners. Enjoy.

Take It From a Mother: What’s Your Favorite race?

“So far, the Iron Girl Triathlon last year. It was my first and I did better than I thought I would. I went to all the pre-race clinics and workshops. I learned a lot about racing and also about myself.”
—Dawn (no longer has any doubts about her ability to do anything, “as long as I prepare myself by training properly.”)

“The Kiawah Island Half Marathon with my husband to celebrate our first wedding anniversary.”
—Tyler (favorite race distance: 10 miles.“ It’s long enough that you have to train, but short enough that it doesn’t take over your life.”)

“My first Danskin. Couldn’t believe I’d done it. The energy from the spectators was amazing! I felt so powerful and strong. Oh, if I could bottle that feeling!”
—Holly (felt like a “real” runner when she figured out how to breathe while running, instead of walking to catch her breath)

“Loved the sunrise coming up over the water at the ING Miami Half Marathon. Amazing view from the top of the McArthur Causeway.”
—Melissa (cannot run fewer than three miles at a time. “It usually takes me a mile or two to feel good.”)

“My favorite race ever was a 4-mile trail race in some woods behind a truck stop in my hometown. It was called the X-Country Xtreme, and the year my husband and I ran it was its first running. Everything was just perfect about that day: running with my husband, running over obstacles including a cattle gate, a muddy creek bank you had to scale with a rope, a giant hill. The weather was cold and overcast and the race organizers built a bonfire. At the end, despite the hills and the obstacles, I felt great, and I passed lots of people (including lots of guys). I ended up being third woman and got a crazy trophy made out of splintery wood culled from the race course. We hung out to watch the costume contest, then went to Waffle House. It was perfect.”
—Terzah (worst race was a 10k she ran a minute slower than the prior year. “I shouldn’t have had such high expectations, but I did. I cried in the massage line.”)

“My favorite race was the Kapiolani Women’s Only 10k in Oahu. We happened to be on the island for vacation and I was training for my first marathon. I thought it would be a good way to have a running goal on vacation. Running up Diamond Head and the ocean views were beautiful. It was warm, sunny, breezy, and a race I won’t forget.”
—Andrea (Zumba is her favorite cross training activity. “It’s social, fun for all, funny to watch, and gives an awesome sweaty workout.”)

“I loved running the Grand Rapids Marathon. It wasn’t the race or the course itself. I just loved that I ran the whole thing and that the race director gave me a big hug at the finish line, just like he said he would in one of the pre-race emails to participants.”
—Robin (most proud of her marathons, but her favorite race distance is a 10k or half-marathon)

“Twin Cities Marathon series 10k. I got to meet a bunch of women I was corresponding with through the Biggest Loser, as well as one of the Biggest Loser fitness experts.”
—Carol (loves the adrenaline rush in the jostling at the beginning of a race)

“The Zappos.com 2010 RNR Half Marathon in Las Vegas. My brother’s band was on the stage at Mile 12 and there’s nothing like running along and hearing your name being called out from stage by your little brother.”
—Carla (also loves women’s events. “You are surrounded by so many other women who are all there to accomplish the same goal. My first Zooma half in Annapolis I actually got teary-eyed as I looked ahead at the huge group of women running.”)

“The Boston Marathon. Because it’s Boston! I had qualified two years earlier and then gotten pregnant so I was running it 11 months post-partum. I had trained for it in Russia during a horrible winter when it was too icy to run outside so I had to do most of my long runs on a treadmill that was next to swimming pool (don’t ask!). I flew back from Russia by myself with my 11-month old and we were both suffering from jet lag and she was waking up every hour the night before the race. Just standing on the starting line felt like an enormous victory. “
—Heather (dreams of running with Joan Benoit Samuelson, “but I’d be nervous I was going to slow for her”)

“New Orleans 70.3 triathlon. The finish line was in the French Quarter; plus, the race was flat and at sea-level.”
—Molly (treats herself to Coca-Cola Slurpees from 7-11 after long or hard runs)

“Fallen Heroes 10K, which honored and raised money for families of Georgia soldiers that have died in combat. It was humbling and emotional to see the crosses and names of all the soldiers.”
—Jennifer Lundstrum (her first race was a Warrior Dash, “for the thrill of playing in the mud”)

“5K Run Through the Lavender Fields in Mona, UT. You run through the Young Living Essential Oils lavender fields when they are in full bloom. The sun is coming up over the mountains in the morning, there is this amazing smell of lavender hanging in the air, and there is every size and shape of person running through the dirt trails of the lavender fields. It was truly a sensory and spiritual run for me.”
—Jerritt (favorite pre-run meal is a banana/chocolate almond milk/peanut butter smoothie and an over easy egg)

“San Diego Rock ‘n’ Roll, because it’s a party. And I love San Diego. And San Diego has the best breweries. What I’m getting at is I run for beer!”
—Lauren (that said, no alcohol the night before a race. “I tried it once and felt sluggish and sloshy the whole time.”)

“The Albany Georgia Snickers Half Marathon. I set my PR of 1:56. I did it for my Dad, a former sub-3 hour marathoner who died of cancer. My family is from Albany and I promise you Dad was with me the entire way.”
—Allyson (quotes Navy Seals to get her through a tough workout. “If you don’t mind, it don’t matter. The only easy day was yesterday.”)

“Indianapolis Mini Marathon. 35,000 runners. Lots of bands on route. This year’s cool weather pushed me to a personal best.”
—DeAnn (was most proud of her 2:10 half-marathon PR. “Yeah, it isn’t fast, but I’m getting faster as I get older, which makes me happy.”)

“The ones where there are lots of spectators out cheering you on, or those with crazy folks wearing costumes.”
—Carolyn (entertains herself on long runs by doing math problems in her head. “Hey, I’m just a nerd.”)

Now taking it to you mothers: what’s your favorite race?