Mom on the run

I felt as if me and my son Jan (11) hadn't talked in quite a while. During schooldays we always talk on the way to school and back, but during summer vacation he's in his room reading a lot.

So I decided to be good runner ánd a good mom and asked him to accompany me to Zelhem, for a 10K run. Because he was on his bike, I ran much faster than usual, and I managed to run the 5K to Zelhem in just over thirty minutes, which is quite fast for me.

When we arrived in Zelhem we went out for coffee and ice cream and had a really good time together.

Then we ran back home, while Jan talked and talked and talked, while I ran and ran and ran.

When we got back home I felt really good: not only had I put in a very good run, I also felt like I had really connected with my son.

I love this about running! You can be a good mum while you're on the run!

Running in heat

This morning I walked out the door for my run, and was immediately hit by the sweltering heat. So I spend the first mile talking myself into continuing instead of giving up.

But once I'd managed to get myself two miles away from home, I was in the clear, because I had to get back home, and I might as well do that while running.

When I finally got home I collapsed on the couch, sweat pouring off me, and gulped down two big glasses of water.

Maybe next time I'll take my five children with me, so they can cheer me on and hand me paper cups of water which I can then drink and pour all over me. I can hear them now: 'Mommy you're spilling all the water!'

No doubt they'll immediately pick up the habit and throw their juice all over themselves when we're at home, thereby supplying me with new motivation to go for another run to get away from it all.

I love it when everything comes together

No ragged running

As a mom it's not always easy to fit in my runs, and last week I only managd to squeeze in three. Worriedly I wondered how detrimental this would be to my running form.

So imagine my surprise when I ran my 8 kilometers in 50 minutes instead of my usual 60 minutes. Not only that, instead of dragging myself along, wondering why in heaven's name I subjected myself to this, I had fun!

Then I read in my favorite running book, Jeff Galloway's 'You can do it', running three times a week is enough to complete a marathon. Two runs to maintain your running form and the third run to increase your distance.

So by training less, I run faster and have more fun!

It almost sounds too good to be true.

Then again: it makes sense. Running yourself ragged doesn't help anyone, neither as a mom, nor as a runner.

Going loopy

Teuntje (9) fancied an Italian ice cream, and I fancied a run, so together we ran to the neigbouring town of Zelhem which actually boasts an Italian ice cream parlor! That is to say, I ran, and Teuntje rode her bicycle.

'And then you can run back the other way,' hubby suggested from the couch, 'so you can make your Sunday 16 kilometers!'

So, after polishing off our ice cream and a cup of coffee, I decided to follow hubby's advice and go back the other way, so as not to get bored by running the same old bike path.

Within minutes I had absolutely no idea where we were, feeling like little Hansel and Gretel, but without the bread crumbs to get me home. I cursed myself for not bringing a compass, but then I remembered I'm about as good with compasses as with finding my way. Besides: I don't own a compass, but I digress.

'Isn't this exciting Teuntje?!' I said encouragingly, as much to Teuntje as to myself. 'Quite the little adventure, isn't it?'
'Shouldn't we just go back mommy?' she replied in stern tones.
But I despise 'going back'. It's way too much 'Been there, done that, got the t-shirt'. So I firmly said 'No!' and added with more stubborness than whisdom: 'Mommy will find her way soon!'

Indeed! After about half an hour of being throughly lost I saw something familiar: Zelhem!

It turned out I was going the right way all along, but because I began to doubt myself I'd accidentally run in the direction of Zelhem again, running in a loop.

Which just goes to show: you should have confidence in yourself or you'll go loopy!

Doing speedwork

I was inside minding my own business, peeling potatoes and such, when I heard the most horrible scream, followed by more screams: 'Alarm, Alarm! Otsmom, alarm!' (The neigbourhood kids call me Otsmom, Pietsmom depending on which one of my children they're playing with.)

I nearly jumped out of my skin and ran with the speed of light outside, towards the screams. Speedy Gonzales couldn't have gone any faster!

Ots little friend, Oliver, met me outside, repeating with a voice ringing with sensation: 'Alarm, alarm Otsmom! Ots whóle head is bleeding.'

Indeed, there Ot came, crying loudly, pointing to his forehead. I took a deep breath and lifted his bangs, preparing myself for a grisly sight worthy of a Stephen King novel. But instead of a big wound, just a little graze met me.

'Thank God! That's not so bad!' I declared in my best doctor's voice. 'You gave me a real fright Oliver!'

'You can run really fast, can't you, Otsmom!' Ot's little friend said in impressed tones.
'Why, thank you, Oliver!' I replied.

And then I went inside, my legs still a little wobbly, and checked off on my To-Do-List: Doing Speedwork.

The genuine article

The first time I met them was in high school: fellow students who left the classroom after a test, moaning and groaning saying: 'I did terrible! I'm sure I'll get an F!' and blithely proceeded to get an A. While I sadly took in my F, because when I said I didn't do very well, I was telling the truth.

As a mom you meet them too. You go for a visit and your hostess opens the door, and while you're still blinded by the bright glare of her gleamingly clean floorboards she declares: 'Please, don't mind the mess! It's terrible in here.'

Indeed, even as a runner you cannot escape them! Sympathetically they lean towards me , whispering: 'I'm soo slow! Everyone is always faster than me!'

Pleasantly suprised at not being the only one I happily respond: 'Why don't we run together then?' but I can't hear her answer because she's already six miles down the road, leaving me to spit her dust out of my mouth.

They are the fakes among the authentics. The knock offs among the real article.

But oh, how I would like to be the fake sometimes, instead of the genuine article!

The Mom Run!

Thanks to Mapmyrun, I know exactly how many miles I went before I wept. In neat lines it proudly appears on the map.

But while my body moves in neat lines, my mind doesn't. To be quite honest: it bears a remarkable resemblance to my life as a mom.

So I'm proud to introduce a completely new type of run: the Mom Run, also know as the All Over The Place Run.

The "Other" Blog

I was just going to email suzie petunia with my question, but then I thought that maybe others could use an explanation too. (Or maybe not, I am admittedly a little slow to catch on.)

I am wondering what's up with the Moms That Run site? I've visited a few times, but there never seems to be any new content and I can't tell who the contributors are (maybe there aren't any yet?) or how to be a part of it. I love the idea and think it would be awesome to see it take off, but
I'm not sure how best to lend my support. I've read the explanation in the sidebar, but am still a tad confused (see, I told you I am slow). And commenting on the blog seems to be trickier than I'm used to. I wrote one, but it never appeared (or maybe it was deleted because it wasn't very good? lol)