To say I found myself in a rut is probably an understatement.
- A preschooler and one-year-old? Check.
- A crazy busy full-time, work-from-home career? Check.
- A household to maintain? Check.
- An acceptance that my family was complete with my two sweet (and wild) babies? Check.
- A husband doing everything he can to support me in order to keep my head above water but not doing things the way I *exactly* would? Check.
Add in a dash of uncertainty about a virus that shall not be named and what it means for my young kids, childcare, family, extended family … Overwhelmed might not fully describe what I was feeling, but I knew I needed an outlet that would help me redirect energy not serving me well while also giving me a specific goal I could work toward.
“I’m going to train for a marathon” were the words that came out of my mouth in early December.
I wasn’t asking for permission. I was declaring that this is where I wanted to focus some energy and work through some of the tough stuff I was navigating in everyday life as a mom trying to do all the things. So, why would I add another THING to my plate of overwhelm? Good question.
In 2018, in one of my first posts for St. Louis Mom, I talked about my return to running after having my daughter. Now with one more childbirth added to my resume and two-and-a-half years later, my reasons for running, and the benefits, are more important than ever.
- The endorphins are real. There’s no better feeling than the feeling after a run – no matter how fast or slow. There’s just an energy that sticks to my bones for hours and leaves me with a sense of accomplishment – and knowing I accomplished just *one* thing on any given day is sometimes the small victory that gets me through.
- Alone time. Unlike in 2018, I’m not bringing along the stroller this time around. It’s too cold to take a little coach along for the ride, so when I’m training, it is 100% time to me, myself, and I. And it is lovely! It’s quiet. No one needs a single thing from me (and if they do – it can wait, I promise). And the only expectations of me are the ones I put on myself for the workout ahead. Glorious.
- Time outside the house. Part of my life rut has been due to my work-from-home status that keeps me from leaving the house most days. I’ve become pretty isolated, which is a topic for another day, BUT as long as the roads are safe and clear, I’m pretty eager to get outside for some training (yep, even in single-digit temps!). Candidly, given snow/ice, and sometimes just my schedule- I’ve had to do a heavy load of training on the treadmill in the basement, but it’s still an escape.
- Modeling good habits for my kids. It’s really fun when my kids want to stretch with me or want to talk about exercise. This helps my kids see the bigger picture when we have conversations about practicing running because I have a big goal I’m trying to achieve, and we have discussions about how movement makes me feel.
I’ve been following an 18-week program for first-time marathoners, and it’s been fantastic. A really doable mix of effective training runs, strength days, and long runs has sustained me through 12+ weeks already. With the big marathon day right around the corner, I have some big runs left, but I’m feeling prepared to tackle them and get to the start (and finish!) line.
A lot could still happen between now and race day, so I’m managing my expectations. But checking this goal off my bucket list will be a huge accomplishment. But what’s next? Another marathon? Shorter races? Focus on another sport? Time will tell.
Any other moms running this winter/spring? Or setting big goals? Whatever it is, I’m rooting for you, whatever your reasons may be!
