The Adventures of a Runner Mom

Back on the blog again...Survived the 10-miler alone

I managed to survive my 10-mile training run alone yesterday. Only a few more weeks until the Chicago Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon. And the last time I ran a 10-miler was my last half marathon--the Disney Princess Half Marathon this past March in Orlando. (A super-fun, well-organized race, by the way. And super cute technical tees.)

Thank goodness for the newly loaded playlist on my iPod! It's been ages since I last listened to Pat Bentar, Live, Survivor and AC/DC! Not exactly my style of music anymore. But these artists make d@mn good running music!

Sometimes I wonder why I run. I'm not your lithe runner-type. (I know, I know. It's probably that munching on my kids' snacks and my bad Frappucino (Lite Fraps--only 110 cals--but it's liquid calories!) habit. But when I was out and felt the breeze at my back, saw the sun shining down on me and realized that I am about to run my third half marathon, I realized again that running is my therapy. It's my drug. And it's a true love-hate relationship.

I hate getting out of bed at 5 a.m. to run before my husband takes off for work, and I either get ready to take my kids to daycare on the days they go or begin my juggle of watching kids, working at home and not feeling guilty about trying to do both jobs at once.

It's a way to clear my head. I was trying to figure out a good comparision for erecting the Hoover Bridge Dam bypass. Around mile 8, it came to me. It's like a puzzle--several pieces that all need to fit together, but need to be done in a carefully calculated, pre-planned way.

Anyway, back to the running. I get some of my best ideas out on the trails. Maybe it's my motivator to get out there. With the marathon coming up in October, though, I'll be out there plenty! This week is a 3-miler-5-miler-3miler during the week and then a fallback week (I love those weeks!) long run of only seven miles!

But next week, I'm back up to 11 miles. Looks like I'll have plenty of time to come up with some innovative ideas! Now, if I could only come up with some to make me millions...:-)

Ah, a breath of fresh air

While, I haven't been as good about journaling my training as I had hoped. But I'm finally updating this. I just got back from a 3-mile run about an hour ago. Yes, I ran again at night. I was so tempted not to go, but I knew I'd feel so much better after running. And I did.

You know how it is. Long day working, then getting the kids, making dinner, filling out a zillion valentines for my kids, and baking bread for a playdate tomorrow. It's the life of a runner mom, isn't it?

But running is my sanity!

I managed to squeeze in a five-miler on Tuesday with my training partner/friend/neighbor, an 8-miler on Saturday (a wonderful run on St. Pete Beach--I was down there for my cousin's wedding, sans kids. The hubby stayed home to watch them!), and a 4.5-miler and a 6-miler on Tuesday and Wednesday of last week, respectively. Those were done in Vegas while I was there for a tradeshow.

Yes, it required rising at 5 a.m. But the elation at getting in an early morning run while jogging down the the Las Vegas Strip was great.

Only three more weeks until my half marathon--the Disney Princess Half Marathon in Orlando.

Running Down a Dream

Since I've started my Weblog on running, I thought I'd share something that I wrote for Homestyles magazine about training for my first half marathon.

by Tina Grady Barbaccia

As a busy mom who works full time and has two small children, ages 7
months and 3 years — on top of volunteering for professional organizations,
my church and other community activities — time for myself has
become a luxury.

You know the drill. Up at 6 a.m., bed at 11 p.m. (if I’m lucky). Get the kids dressed and
fed. Pack lunches and bags for daycare or various activities. Do laundry. Then there’s
my other full-time job.

It sometimes feels like I need to schedule bathroom breaks!
In my quest to be some kind of Supermom, working out had become pretty low on my
priority list. But I suddenly realized that I was tired of being too tired to take time for
myself. So I decided to start running again. “Are you crazy?” some people asked me.
You’re exhausted, yet you want to get up earlier than you already do, or stay up later,
to run after a full day?” My response, “Absolutely.”

I ran cross country and track in high school, and I continued to run on and off up until
I had my first son. Since the birth of my second son, I hadn’t run at all. But in early
June, I decided out of the blue to run a 5K race. I certainly wasn’t in shape. I hadn’t
run in more than a year. But I was determined to do it. And I did. Yes, I was tired
and sore, and I didn’t come anywhere close to placing in my age group. But I finished
— and I wasn’t all that bad.

This set my mind in motion. I’ve always wanted to complete a half marathon, a marathon
and a triathlon, but it always sounded too intimidating. I don’t need to win, and
I certainly don’t need to set any records. You see, I realized that I don’t have “keep
up with the Joneses.” I just need to keep up with myself. So I figured, if I
could handle childbirth and my attempted Supermom juggling act, I could
complete a half marathon — complete being the key word.

My training has become my refuge. As tiring and grueling as
it is, I have grown to love rising at 5:30 a.m. on Saturday
mornings so I have time to nurse my son, get in my long
run, and still make it home in time for daily activities.

During the week, it has been a challenge to get in my three- and five-mile runs. I’ve both
seen the sun rise, and heard the crickets chirp at the stroke of midnight. But this
love-hate relationship of pushing my body to the limit, and squeezing one more thing into an already overcrowded life, has made me realize that I can do anything I set my mind
to. It’s what has kept me motivated.

I may not be able to walk the runway just six weeks after giving birth. And I may not
be as taut and toned as others in training. And I may sometimes need to tote two kids
in a double jogger during my runs. But I’m doing it.

I’m going to run the race and finish. And I’m going to give myself a giant letter “S”
because I am my own Superwoman. And once I finish that race, I’ll find my next
challenge. I’ll set my mind to it and I’ll do it. It may not be done in a traditional way,
and it may not be done perfectly, but I’ll do it. And I’ll be proud. And I’ll not feel
selfish about it.

The first mile

It's 10 p.m. on a Wednesday night, and I'm procrastinating as I work on an article about pothole patching and repairing/repaving roads. (I'm an editor for Better Roads, a magazine for highway and bridge professionals.)

Anyway, for the longest time, I've wanted to start my own blog about running. It's something I've done since high school -- off and on -- but this past June I started running again, pretty seriously, after about a three-year-hiatus and two kids. (My adorable boys are 3 and 1.)

This past June, I just decided, "I need to get off my duff. I need to start running again." So I ran a 5K and just about died. It took me about 34 minutes to finish. But I did it--I finished. And it was then I decided I was going to train for a half marathon.

Running became my addiction. I trained for and ran my first half marathon in September-- the Banco Popular Chicago Half Marathon -- in the pouring rain. I was drenched--and looked like a wet smurf. (Yeah, I wore royal blue running shorts and a royal blue technical shirt.)

But I managed to finish in 2:17:14 (although there is no record of me running the race since the wrong registration was given to me. Yeah, I wore a number for Josh Barber. I suppose it's close enough to my last name, Barbaccia. I managed to track down Josh via an Internet search before the race to see if he had my number so we could switch, but alas, he said he wasn't coming for the race. So, I technically ran as a man!)

There's always some kind of drama going on in my life.

I'm now training for my second half marathon -- The Disney Princess Half Marathon in Orlando. But this one has been rough. I'm still addicted to running. It's my saving grace in a hectic world with a full-time job where I work from home and try to manage to small children as well.

It's a love-hate relationship. I love the feeling after I run. And I love the escapism it provides. But sometimes it's hard to fit it into my busy life.

But I'm determined to keep it up. And come hell or high water, I'm going to finish this half marathon in March. I finally did a seven-miler on the DREADMILL this past weekend. But I'm a bit nervous. I should be running eight right now. And in two weeks, I should be up to 10. So I certainly haven't trained as well as I did for the last half. But I'll finish the race. Even if I have to drag myself to the finish line. And love and hate every minute of it.

I managed to sneak in a three-miler at the gym tonight. And boy did it feel good!

I want other parents out there to know--we can have it all. We don't need the perfect form or the perfect body. But we can run and be happy. And we can show our children that we are healthy. And we can run to relieve stress...or to empower ourselves...or just because running gives us those few moments when we're doing something for ourselves.