Meet Laura ~ wife, mom, psychologist, writer and runner!
When and why did you start running?
I’ve been a runner for most of my life. Looking back it seems it has always been a part of me. It really began in middle school, a crucial time in my young life. It was during those years that my parents divorced and life as I knew it was sort of pulled out from under me. At this troubled time, a friend persuaded me to join the track team. With this decision, something strange and wonderful happened. I fell in love with running and began an adventure that has lasted for over twenty five years now. All those years ago I made a discovery that I think you are running through too, Melanie: running helps to heal. Not only does it strengthen the body, but it empowers the spirit as well.
There have been seasons in my life, of course, when other priorities took precedence over my love for the run. As I put myself through college and graduate school, earning a wage seemed a wiser way to invest my time. And after the births of my two children I found that even leaving them for short periods of time left an emptiness inside of me until I had them in my arms again.
Despite these brief respites, I always knew that being a runner would forever be a part of who I am.
How do you motivate yourself to go for a run?
I have limited time to run, so I know that if I don’t get my behind moving, I won’t get to go! Like most families, it seems like we are always on the go. My husband is a runner also, so we have to coordinate our schedules. Until just this year, we weren’t comfortable leaving our two boys at home alone. They are old enough now to be left for brief periods and so I have a little more freedom. Still, I don’t like to waste my time with them. So I get up at 6 a.m. before they are awake and run for an hour while Jeff is getting ready for work. I work part-time, so I only run on my days off.
I guard my running time jealously and look forward to that time.
How many times a week do you run?
I usually run four times a week. Sometimes more, sometimes less, but that is my usual.
Do you run alone or with a friend?
I have had various running partners throughout the years, but I am going through a season of running alone right now. Partly, that’s because of the time that I run. I do have a neighbor that will occasionally run with me on the weekends. Those times are always a treat. I like to run with a friend sometimes, but I prefer to run alone.
I did just start my boys on a running program recently. Teddy is 13 and Jeffrey is 11. I have started running a mile with them after I get back from my usual route. We’ve been doing this for about four weeks now, and they seem to like it. This week we are going to try to increase our distance a little.
Favorite route?
Well…I wish I had a gorgeous beach like the one I’ve seen in your photos, Melanie! But I’m landlocked, surrounded by the WV hills. I usually run the sidewalk of our little valley road. I have another six mile route that I like to run on the weekends that is more scenic, but it is a bit spooky to run early in the morning when I usually head out.
What do you think about when you run? (Plan? Pray? Random thoughts? Just try to breathe?)
Just try to breathe! Sometimes that is very true.
Usually my runs are my prayer times. It’s such a peaceful time for me to connect with God. Especially right now. This time of year the sun has not come up yet when I leave the house and I always get the joy of watching the sunrise when I am heading home. That’s pretty special.
What physical benefit do you enjoy most from running? (change in appearance, skin, cardio benefit, enables you to eat dessert?)
I just feel better when I am running regularly. It benefits my mental state more than anything. I have such a sense of accomplishment after a good run. And it’s something that is mine. It’s a pretty big part of my identity.
Dessert is good, too!
What are your running goals?
My personal goal is to keep running my usual six miles. If I had more time to run, I think I would have a loftier goal. But I am enjoying what I do right now and see no reason to change anything.
The boys and I have a goal that they will be able to run a 5k with me in the fall sometime. I think they are less excited about this than I!
Cross-train?
I love to do yoga, which keeps a nice flexibility balance with the running. Since I have been training with my boys, I have been trying to be a better role model. We lift some weights and do some stretching for about half an hour after we run.
How has running helped you be a better wife and mom?
Running has helped me be a better wife and mom in so many ways. My husband runs also, and he encourages me with his discipline. It means so much to have that support. It also means he understands the mental health benefits of running. My husband and I are both psychologists, so we often prescribe exercise to our patients!
I have really been enjoying running with Teddy and Jeffrey. They are at the ages where they really don’t have a lot of time for mom. It’s funny what we end up talking about while we run side-by-side. I think it’s added a fun dimension to our relationship. I hope we can keep it up after school starts.
What is your #1 tip for a mom who wants to start running?
I would say, enjoy yourself. It’s important to have goals and work through the hard parts, but running should enhance your life, not make it more stressful.
I have to be careful about this myself. I have gone through seasons where running has become a stronghold in my life. I can easily overdo it and lose focus on some other very important things by spending too much time running.
Don’t let your running life control you. That’s a big red flag. It should bring joy. If it doesn’t, then maybe there is another form of exercise you might check into. I have had seasons where I felt God calling me to fast from running. He gently showed me that I was putting too much importance on this one part of my life.
~Balance is a good thing~
Do you have a “most memorable” run or running moment?
Before I had my children I ran a very difficult 15 mile race. The course was riddled with hills and was very challenging. I was in such good shape that when I look back now, it seems like it was a walk in the park! I’d like to run that race again someday. And maybe a marathon.
"I’ve learned a lot over the years while putting one foot in front of the other." ~ Laura
I’ve come to think of running as a metaphor for life. I call it Liferunning,
and I actually wrote a series about it on my blog "a million years ago".
If you think about the parallels between running and life, the lessons are endless. There’s the preparation, the pushing through the pain, the goal-setting, the different roads to take…I could go on and on.
Looking at running this way has helped me to keep it in perspective and also open my eyes to the experience of running every time I go out.
Visit Laura at The Wellspring...where her heart overflows.
7 comments:
Thanks so much for "running" your thoughts by me! Check back because I enjoy keeping the conversation running.