My Mom is proof that you can make fitness a part of your life at any age. She’s 67 years young and runs a half-marathon with me every single year. Talk about a ROCK STAR! Years ago before I changed my lifestyle, my Mom would always encourage me to go to the track with her. I would begrudgingly oblige but would sit on the track bench after walking a lap and watch her log her miles. I never would have imagined that years later I would be encouraging her to run half-marathons with me, but here we are! When I began my running journey, it became something that my Mom and I could enjoy together.
I started running 5Ks, 10Ks, then half-marathons and eventually full marathons. She is quick to remind me that she will always draw the line at running half-marathons! I remember the first one we ran together was the Lewis and Clark in St. Charles. I had been running for a while, so I gave my Mom all the tips and pointers to get ready for the 13.1 miles, a distance she was not used to running. Of course just like I didn’t listen to her years ago, she didn’t listen to me, either. She ran her longest distance right before race day and pretty much never trained longer ones like I had suggested. She finished on race day with me by her side, but let’s just say during the final miles of the race if looks could kill, I would be dead! I continued to encourage her when she stopped talking to me those last few miles all the way to the finish line. We laugh about that memory now looking back.
Since then, we’ve run over ten half-marathons together in different states. We commit to running one half-
marathon together every year and our goal is always to have fun and just finish. Last year we ran the Grand Teton Half-Marathon in Jackson, WY and the views along the course of the mountains were spectacular. We made it a family vacation and my Dad, husband, and toddler were there to enjoy the trip and cheer us on at the race. I even went live on Facebook the last few miles of the run, and my Mom was pretty much done running at that point, so she wasn’t responding to my questions and ignored me.…it was pretty hilarious. That race was one of my favorite of all time, and the best part of it was running alongside Mom. This year we ran the Surf City Half-Marathon in Huntington Beach, CA and we made it a special mom/daughter weekend, thanks to my husband for surprising me for my birthday (he’s the best!).
We enjoyed gorgeous weather, a day cruising around Catalina Island on a golf cart, delicious food at restaurants overlooking the ocean and an unforgettable race experience along the beach. I went live on Facebook again to share the experience with friends and family as we ran along the gorgeous California coast. During a race, you have the chance to chat about anything and everything to keep your mind off the miles. Logging miles with my Mom is something that will always be a special experience to me, and I’ll cherish those race day memories forever. I aspire to be as strong, determined and fit as she is when I’m her age! I hope that someday my little guy and I will enjoy our own special experiences together, just as my Mom and I do now. You see, it isn’t just about the finisher medal or the race itself, it’s about the experience and the memories we make along the way that make it so special. Love you Mom, I’m so proud of you and I’ll cherish our race memories forever and always!
