Run Like a Mother 5k – Like a Running Mom, Keep Things Under Control

Cool race. Close to home. I ran it and won last year. Great prizes that included hour massage, free entry for me and a friend for this. No reason to skip it. Dealing a little bit though, I must confess. “Defending 2013 Victory” vs “Being happy I am able to race, appreciating and enjoying what you have”.

Both things, but second first! So I laced my shoes and got there. Starting line, full of colleagues, all running moms. Suddenly, I found myself running with just one mom and a kid in front of me. I was not sure if race had started. I only heard 3, 2, 1 and a gun shot! A race, so no time for doubts. Just run. 

Even first position got fast switched from one mom to another I held my 3rd behind that amazing yellow t-shirt running kid who I got to pass before the 1st mile. On second place now. First mom “en la mira” 20 secs ahead, then 25… 30… I kept following her. 1st lap, then starting 2nd lap feeling a little bit out of my race comfort zone, so time to switch gears to “this is what you have right now, relax, focus and keep it”. And I did! Very proudly to the end to get my flower and finisher medal. 

BIG LESSON from this race “Like a Running Mom, Keep Things Under Control”. 

Following some Tips for Busy Moms that I applied to running. Have fun!

1. Rise Early	"It's wonderful for busy moms to wake up 15 minutes before their children and take a little retreat"	Wake up early enjoy breakfast and arrive early to find a comfortable parking place close to potty! Yeah!
2. Unplug	The average American home is a noisy place, thanks to the telephone, television, radio, and CD player. When you're feeling overloaded, try turning down the background noise in your life by "unplugging" some of these electronic taskmasters.	No GPS or stopwatch. No heart rate or cadence monitor! Unplug! Hummm… I hope this doesn’t include ipod.
3. Start Small	You're tired and just don't feel like making dinner, but you don't want to serve fish sticks again. So set a new, much smaller goal: "I will go in the kitchen and make a salad," or even, "I will go into the kitchen."	You are tired or sore to race or even run? Just get on those bright running shoes and favorite running t-shirt. Start walking and see what happens.
4. Be Here Now	Like the sixth-grader worrying about the SATs, our minds constantly bring future worries into the present. Don't Sweat the Small Stuff, no to "anticipatory thinking." "The best way to avoid stress is to immerse yourself in the moment"	Just 1st mile? OMG! Still 2 more or 12 or 25 more to go? Start counting posts, chasing another runner, play with breath, arms, hands, fingers. One time, another time and repeat…
5. Adapt	Do you fall apart if dinner is not served on bone china at six o'clock sharp? "We get attached to how things are going to be". "But if your kids are at each other's throats while you're making dinner, maybe the most important thing at that moment is to get down on the floor with them"	Shoes’ color not matching short and t-shirt?  You’d better keep thinking where, when you are going to solve this issue and develop action plan with milestones and deadlines and whatever that keeps you worried about this stuff so that breath getting too much out of control doesn't bother you.
6. Talk It Out	"Self-talk" can help us control our emotions. When things go wrong, "It's not a disaster, it's an inconvenience." By developing an inner voice that, for example, encourages you to stay in bed when you're sick and let your husband clean up the kitchen, you become, in a sense, your own best friend.	Too sore or too tired to run? "It's not a disaster, it's an inconvenience." By developing an inner voice that, for example, do not run today if those feet are swelling. Cross train and prepare your favorite recipes, you become, in a sense, your own best friend.
7. Laugh a Little	"Laughter re-enchants daily living," Healthy laughter comes from Bill Cosby's gentle kind of humor that eases little annoyances.	Stretch those lips horizontally. Add 5, 10, 15 reps every other mile and for every camera around at the races.
8. Take a Break	Let's face it: We're never going to finish everything on our "to do" lists. The average mother runs 21 minutes short per day. Usually, the first thing to go is relaxation time. "We'll never have any downtime unless we schedule it," she says. You should be able to complete this sentence: "What I do every day to relax is...."	Learn how to take breaks and practice it all the time. Ensure you will never forget how to relax, take easy and enjoy.
9. Enjoy Nature	Sun, water, wind  -- the elements feed our senses and lead us toward serenity better than anything. It may mean relaxing in your backyard, drawing a warm bath, or going out for a brisk run. The important thing is to figure out what soothes you and then where to find it.	It is the same windy, rainy, cold, humid, hot, hilly for absolutely everybody so “the temperature and humidity slowered me down” it doesn’t count.
10. Just Let Go	"We have to recognize that chaos is a part of life". "Then we must recognize our own contribution to it. That's the only part we can control." The irony is that by taking steps that seem to signify giving up control  -- like "outsourcing" certain household jobs  -- you will actually be gaining more freedom to enjoy your family life.	Chaos is a part of running. Training plan not running in a perfect way? No worries. Just focus on the things you can control like the color of your shoes, the matching running sock, the after running snack and rehab smoothie. Outsource to nature and trust on God the rest.

And never forget. Run for fun or do something else!