The world of a running mom

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It is time for another installment of “One Fit Mommy”

Today’s fit mom is Heather, who blogs over at The Crazy World of a Running Mom. I always love to meet other running moms but especially when they also have 3 little boys.  I feel like we are in some kind of (crazy) club together!     If Heather can find time to workout and train for marathons, there really is no excuse for the rest of us!

Please read on for more about Heather and why she is definitely “One Fit Mommy!”

Q: What inspired you to live a fit lifestyle?

Before I trained for and ran my first (and only) marathon 6 years ago I had never run before in my life, other than being forced to in gym class in high school (which I did not like). In 2003, I was 33 years old and smoking a pack of cigarettes a day. My husband and I wanted to start a family and I knew that I wanted and needed to quit smoking first. I had tried to quit in the past to no avail. One day I just got it in my head that I’d quit smoking and start running. I knew you couldn’t do both!

Really, my husband was my inspiration. I had seen him run several marathons in the past. The most inspirational one being in Paris where they played the Chariots of Fire song at the start of the marathon! He motivated me to get dressed in my running clothes and get out there…he coached me as I struggled to run/walk even a mile at first. After a couple of weeks it became a habit and I wasn’t smoking anymore or even thinking about it. We both signed up for the Marine Corps marathon and ran it in 2004, less than a year after I had started running. After crossing the finish line I knew I could do anything I set my mind to. I also knew that someday I would run another marathon.

Q: What advice do you have for moms who claim they don’t have time for exercise?

Very soon after we ran the marathon I got pregnant with our first son and although I ran for awhile after finding out but I didn’t keep up with it and once the baby was born I took even more time off. Well, to make a long story short I took a lot of time off to take care of my family and was happy doing it.

I really started to miss running though and wanted to start again, but after my 3rd son was born I was up a lot at night and still needed to get up and go to work the next day. I didn’t feel like I had much energy to do anything other than what I was already doing. Once the baby started sleeping through the night I decided I needed to start doing something for myself again. I wanted to find the time to run. I started getting up at 5am and running and it felt great! I knew as soon as I started running again that I wanted to sign up for either a half or full marathon because it would give me a goal to focus on and it would get me out there each day working towards something and would also be a way for me to have time to myself!

I know how hard it can be to find time for yourself but you will feel so much better once you put yourself on the priority list! I think you need to take care of yourself in order to take care of others.

Q: Are you more of a strength training mom or cardio mom?

I’m definitely more of a cardio mom because I love running so much, but I would like to start incorporating some strength training as well.

Q: What is your favorite exercise and why?

My favorite exercise is running because I like the way it makes me feel and the way it clears my mind. I feel really strong and powerful when I’m running and I like the sense of accomplishment I feel when I finish a long run or a race.

Q: How about your least favorite?

Right now I’m running and going to spin classes and I like both. I don’t do any exercises that I don’t like.

Q: Do you have any mental tricks that you use when you just don’t feel like working out?

I try to get my workouts done in the morning when I’m more likely to do it. I just get dressed and tell myself that I’ll go and do what I can do and if I feel like stopping later I will…but once I get out there I’m usually feeling good and finish the workout.

Q: What is your favorite snack food?

Cheese, all kinds of cheese!

Thank you Heather for being an inspiration to moms everywhere! Good luck with your next race!

You can see more interviews with other fit moms (and dads too!) over here.

Tagged as: one fit mommy, running moms