Health & Fitness
Mansfield Mothers' Club: Marathon Monday: Discovering A Love For Running
My mom laughs and says I am running away from my children, but I actually am running so I can keep up with my kids while modeling healthy habits.
By Kate Flinn
One of my favorite days of the year is Marathon Monday. I like to head into Brookline to watch the world’s oldest annual marathon around mile 24 when the runners are so close to finishing they can taste it. I love that runners represent every age, race, religion and physical ability. It is truly one of the most inspiring of days, and I can’t wait to take my kids to see it this year.
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My romance with the event began a while back. I remember watching the Marathon when I was in my early 20s, beer in hand, as I cheered on the sidelines and was personally inspired to run. This would last maybe a week and then the idea of becoming a “runner” would become lost in pile of excuses ranging from lack of time, lack of skill and just a plain hatred for the sport.
In my late 20s, my husband and I decided to try running 5k courses in our ‘hood. Most races were sponsored by local bars and promised a free beer or two at the finish line. Talk about motivation. I began to semi-enjoy running, but really they were social events.
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When I got pregnant with my first child, I decided I should really just be walking (and eating chocolate) for a time. After having my second child and becoming completely overwhelmed with having two children under age 2, I decided I needed to rediscover exercise to not only regain my pre-pregnancy body but also to regain my sanity with an hour a day to myself.
I admit, sometimes I’ve gone to the gym just so I can watch "The View," but a few of my girlfriends helped me rediscover running. Three years later, I am about to run my third half marathon and have started training to run the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C., this October.
I don’t know if it is because I know my time for daily exercise is limited I need to get the most “bang for my buck” or if it is because my ability has improved, but I have developed a love for running that I never thought existed. My mom laughs and says I am running away from my children; she’s only partially right. Actually, I am running so I can keep up with my kids while modeling healthy habits. Nothing makes me feel better than when I am lacing up my running sneakers and my three year old daughter looks at me and says “Mommy…. you go running? I come too.” I know that I am doing my job.
Discovering running, or ANY exercise is beneficial for so many reasons, and I actually think the mental benefits outweigh the physical ones. As long as I get a workout in, I can handle anything my kids put on my plate that day. The biggest benefit to partaking in regular exercise is I am teaching my children it is important to get off the couch and move.
My two cents for others? Start small. Take a class. Put the kids in the stroller and go for a walk. You don’t have to be a marathon runner to be a positive role model for your kids. Just be active!
How do you like to model healthy living habits for your kids?
Kate Flinn is a member of The Mansfield Mothers' Club, a non-profit organization aimed at providing support for local parents. For more information visit http://mansfieldmothersclub.com, email mansfieldmothersclub@gmail.com or write to Mansfield Mothers' Club, P.O. Box 831, Mansfield, MA 02048.