This Is Easy for You (And “Run Like a Mother” Book Giveaway)
You must do the thing you think you cannot do.
–Eleanor Roosevelt
I’m about two weeks away from running my seventh half marathon. I’ve been training for two months. I ran a half back in May and it went just fine, but this time I’m having a sudden crisis of confidence. I’ve been skimping on my long runs, believing they’re just too hard for me. I’m burned out.
I fantasize about skipping the race under the ruse that what my body and spirit really wants to be doing is yoga, swimming, weight work, cycling—anything but running. What gets me out the door to train these last days is the mantra I recently read in a self-help book that you can apply to anything in your life:
What if you didn’t struggle? What if this was easy?
The fact that I feel tired and heavy and slow is no reason to quit now. I wanted to hit a PR in the upcoming race, and I don’t believe I can do it. Maybe I can. Is it important? What if I don’t struggle to hit some goal that no one else cares about and instead I run the race easy? What if it’s fun? What if I trust my lungs and my legs and all the running I’ve been doing and forget the number on the scale and feel pride in my fortitude? I’m going to choose believe it’s easy. I don’t really have another choice.
I ran my first half marathon in October of 2001 in Hartford, Connecticut with a very good friend who had been a high school track star, and for the first time in my running life I really felt like I had arrived as a runner. This fall, things have naturally changed. Now instead of skipping drinks with friends after work to run or missing brunch on the weekend, I’m pushing my 3 yr old in a stroller during my Thursday run and waking up early for my Saturday long run to in order to make it to soccer practice. My training schedule includes speed work and the exhaustion and rewards that come from pushing my body to its limits. My endurance is better than it was a decade ago, and I am a stronger, more confident runner. I love the way running is a journey.
In celebration of this and my decision to keep my chin up and my feet moving, I’d like to give away my copy of Run Like a Mother: How to Get Moving—and Not Lose Your Family, Job, or Sanity by Dimity McDowell and Sarah Bowen Shea.
I’ve really enjoyed reading and referring back to this book since I got it earlier this year. As the title suggests, it’s obviously focused on mothers who run or who are interested in starting, and is collaboration by the authors and a large handful of mothers they’ve interviewed about the running lifestyle. The end result is a pleasant group of essays, lists, and conversations.
In her chapter called “Motivation: Creating My Own Stimulus Package,” Dimity makes a list of what keeps her going. Some of my favorites on this topic include:
Being able to drink a beer (or three), scarf a Twix at the movies, or order a bacon double cheeseburger without (much of) a second thought.
The active lifestyle my kids think are the norm, not the exception, and will, fingers crossed, replicate in some form.
The mellow demeanor my post-run self brings to being a parent and spouse. I’m more patient, more engaged, and less quick to snap.
Hell yes.
The book includes music playlists, advice on what to wear head-to-toe, chapters on what marathon training is like, the importance of cross training, and even a great piece on body image. The book is great fun to read and Dimity and Sarah have an active Facebook page on which they regularly engage their audience in conversations about running and help answer questions about running as a mother.
If you’d like to win this copy, drop a comment here and I’ll announce a winner the day after my half marathon: Sunday, November 6.
Tags: motivation, races, running
October 19th, 2011 at 12:51 pm
I’d love to win a copy. I work full time and I’m the mom of a 3 year old and 4 month old and I’m having the hardest time fitting in a time to work out. I want to, I just can’t make it happen.
This book sounds great. Good luck on your race!
October 19th, 2011 at 1:04 pm
I also struggle with running with a child. It doesn’t help that I’m a single mother, but I think the book could help. Hope you have a great race!
October 19th, 2011 at 1:38 pm
My little one is two, I work full time and I am just finally getting back into the workout groove. It’s all about lunch hour for me
I’d love to read this book though and see what other tips they have.
October 19th, 2011 at 5:32 pm
I’d love to win!
October 19th, 2011 at 6:11 pm
I came to a similar realization yesterday with my weightlifting routine, which wants me to be holding planks for 2 minutes at a time. I don’t want to, I hate it, it hurts, it’s boring. So I decided…why? Why not just hold it for a minute, or for 75 seconds? Is that so bad?
October 20th, 2011 at 6:55 am
Thanks for the inspiration. Read your article and got off the couch and had an awesome trail run! Yay!
October 20th, 2011 at 7:57 am
This sounds like an incredible book. I’ve tried to integrate running into my workout regimen many times before and had not-so-great success with it. But for some reason, I keep wanting to go back to it. It’s like knowing that there’s something like running that I can’t do very well makes me want to work on it. Anyway, the book sounds amazing and I’d love the chance to read it. Good luck on your half marathon!
October 22nd, 2011 at 10:13 am
I have 3 week old twins and a 2.5 year old – and I am counting down the days until I can go on my first post-birth run (midwife says wait until you quit bleeding…) Anyhoo, I’ve dragged myself back up before and I know how hard it is. I can only imagine that fining time with three kids will be…harder. And I’d love whatever motivation I can get
October 24th, 2011 at 2:01 pm
I would love to get my hand on the book. I work full time and have 2 boys – 3 and 5 years old. I am going through a phase where I find it hard to split time efficiently between my husband, kids and exercise…but I somehow manage it…
October 26th, 2011 at 8:41 am
The book sounds great. I’m a newly divorced mom of two toddlers, have done a few triathlons but somehow lost the running groove in the last year. Would love a little motivation to get back on that horse, er, running trail.
October 26th, 2011 at 11:21 am
I would love to win this book. Looks like what I need. I have run a few 1/2s and lose motivation sometimes too.
October 27th, 2011 at 10:45 am
I used to run in high school, not on a track or cross country team, but just for myself. I started exercising again 10 months ago but have had to take several weeks off because of having surgery. I need some motivation to get back to exercising and maybe even running!
October 27th, 2011 at 7:30 pm
The book sounds great! I am a mommy of a 2 and 4 year old boys. I ran my first half marathon two years ago when my little one was 7 months. October 16th I ran my fourth. Two little ones and a full-time job makes it hard to fit the running in, but for me it’s a must. Have an awesome race and really try to enjoy yourself. Be in the moment and tell yourself throughout the whole race that you are amazing because you are!!
October 30th, 2011 at 4:50 pm
I would love to read this book. I am currently working on the 5k 101 program… hope to do a half this time next year.
November 1st, 2011 at 12:04 pm
I would LOVE to win this book! I struggle every day to find the motivation to get active. I’m always on the look out for a new source of inspiration, and hopefully this will help get me on my way.
November 2nd, 2011 at 2:59 pm
This book sounds amazing! I have really wanted to get back into running…a few years ago I ran a 10k for the first time and loved the feeling of being able to run so far, but one thing led to another and…
Now I’ve got a 1yr old, and would love to give running another try. I adore the kickboxing that I do 3x a week, but we’re thinking about trying for #2 and I can’t imagine trading front kicks to the stomach is what any OB or midwife would recommend for a girl in the family way.