See Mom Run! ~ Elaine Olsen

Elaine Olsen, author of Peace for the Journey:  In the Pleasure of His Company, is a wife, mom and runner. I first became acquainted with Elaine through her blog. Elaine's sensitive and poetic writing drew me in and the recording of her journey to know God more and better draws me back.

Elaine began running as a college student and now runs 3 - 4 miles three times a week in her native North Carolina. Entering races no longer attracts her; it is the discipline of running Elaine enjoys. I asked Elaine how she motivates herself to go for a run.

"I put my clothes on; honestly, it takes a lot of mental work for me to lace up my shoes these days, especially since it's so hot and the kids are home for the summer. I adore time by myself, so that benefit alone is enough to motivate me!"

Elaine added she enjoys the adrenaline rush that comes with a run and always feels so much better "...like I've actually done something good for my soul, not just my body."

What do you think about when you run?

"I listen to my Christian music and do a lot of thinking and praying. I find great inspiration for my blog posts while pacing around. There is great freedom to think and breathe and feel the pulse of heaven, even as I feel the pusle of my heartbeat rising while running."

"In my recent book release, I have an entire section dedicated to the 'insight' I've gleaned while 'on the road' out running."

In answer to how running is beneficial in her role as wife and mom, Elaine responded that running is a huge stress reducer.

"I feel better about my body, thus affecting the way I look at myself. I also have more patience with my 'dailyness' after a good workout."

Elaine also adds weights to her fitness routine and utilizes Leslie Sansone's walking program, as well.

Her #1 tip for a mom who wants to start running:
"Find a friend to run with; if not, load up the Ipod with great music, and ALWAYS CARRY YOUR PEPPER SPRAY!"

To order Elaine's book or see a trailer for Peace for the Journey: In the Pleasure of His Company, go here.

See Mom Run! Who's Next?

My next See Mom Run! post will feature Elaine from Peace for the Journey. Elaine's book Peace for the Journey: In the Pleasure of His Company has just been released!
Visit Elaine's blog then check back here for her thoughts on being a running mom.

Built for Comfort?

Several years ago when our third child was a toddler and I was still carrying baby weight, I was listening to my husband and his running buddy talk about their upcoming race. I thought, they really enjoy running and racing!  Then I thought of Jr. high school gym.

My memories are these: an ugly one piece gym suit, jumping jacks, square dancing and running. I hated all of it, especially the running. Actually the square dancing was not too bad because the chances of holding hands with a cute boy were pretty good!
Running always made me feel slow and clumpy. And I invariably got that painful stitch in my side.

But I digress. Often. Really, I do.

Back to that dialogue between my husband and his friend.

I interrupted them and said, "I wonder if I could run."
I had recently stopped nursing our youngest son and my husband answered, "You're not built for speed. You're built for comfort."

And we all laughed. But inside I thought, "I'll show you."
I took that innocent response from my husband as my personal challenge.
As God is my witness...Wait. I'm no Scarlett. I'm Melanie.

"I'll get some cute running shorts and an industrial strength running bra and when no one's watching I'll run."

On my daily walks I began doing a little running. Very little. This whole running thing was just like I remembered it from gym class. Oops. Maybe I can't do this.

But I was determined to give running a good go. Secretly I began reading my husband's Running World magazines. I read all of the articles for beginners. I walked a little and ran a little. Gradually I began to run a little more and walk a little less. I wore a stop watch and began timing the walk part and the run part. I remember the day I could run for 3 minutes without stopping! And then 3 MILES! Yeah...baby.
A few 5k's and a half marathon later and I finally felt like a real runner.
Being able to walk out my door and run for 45 minutes without a walk break makes me feel great. I like the sun here in my part of Florida. I like the blue skies. I like to sweat.
And after 4 or 5 miles I really like a dry towel and a cold glass of water.
Oh. And a shower. A shower is good, too.
What about you? What do you like about running?

Hey Running Moms! Submit your running question in a comment to ASK MEKA, the sidebar trainer. Then check back for your answer.

See Mom Run! ~ Meka

Meet Meka Taulbee ~ wife, mom and runner. Meka and I met at the Aflac Iron Girl race in April. While I was getting back into running and was challenged by the 5k, Meka was running the 15k. An ACE certified personal trainer, Meka holds a degree in psychology with a minor in dance. Dance kept her fit in college but after graduating she gained a lot of weight. Aerobics helped Meka lose the weight but she enjoyed being outside and so began running. Now she runs 5 - 6 days a week and ran during both pregnancies - even on the day she delivered!

(Go, Mama~Meka!)

I asked Meka, "How do you motivate yourself to go for a run?"

Meka: "I think my motivation comes from a fear of gaining weight. When I had gained the weight after college it was 50 pounds. Losing it was a lot of work and I don't want to do that again. Running also gives me a chance to refocus so I always feel absolutely amazing afterwards. After each day I can celebrate that day's accomplishment. Each run is an accomplishment and I am proud of myself for doing it. I ran through both of my pregnancies and even on the day I delivered. Then I ran pushing my kids in a jogging stroller. I have raced with them as well. My children are very much my motivation for running. They deserve to have a good example set of a healthy lifestyle. They deserve to have a mom who can keep up and who is in a good frame of mind each day. Running helps me do that."

Meka explains that when she runs she is able to think more clearly. She often thinks about her young sons. When asked if running helps her to be a better wife and mom, Meka answered emphatically, "Absolutely! Running lets me set an example of a healthy lifestyle. It helps me put things in perspective and put a good spin on my day. My husband and my children deserve this out of me. It helps me have more patience and that is important. My husband knows that if I don't go running it might be a rough day and it is a family joke! My husband [Kurt] and I put the kids in a jogging stroller and go running all together as well."

Favorite route: "One of my favorite routes is in Medemblick, Netherlands. It goes along the dyke and you can see the water and the tall ships with their leeboards. Locally [Pinellas County, FL] I like to run the Memorial and Sand Key causeways as well as down the Pinellas trail and out the Dunedin Causeway. I get to see dolphins quite often on my daily runs so that route would rank pretty high as well."

Meka says cross training is very important as well. She spins, lifts weights and runs on a treadmill changing the incline and decline for variation.

Running goals: "I want to run until I'm old and grey. I want to be able to get out there every day. My biggest dream is to have my kids run a race with me some day.

In the short term I might like to do another marathon and I would like to do the Ragnar Relay."

(The Ragnar Relay Series are national running relay races. Races are run in teams of 6 or 12 and are distances close to 200 miles.)

Meka's advice to moms who want to begin running:

"Believe in yourself. You can do anything you set your mind to. Nobody is perfect at something the first time they try it and all that matters is that you try and that you got out there and did it. Set small goals so you can achieve them and build confidence and then set bigger goals and bigger goals, etc.

Start by walking and walking fast and then add a little jog. Go back to alternating walking and jogging until you feel comfortable jogging the whole time. Then you can work on pace and distance."

"Running makes me feel confident and strong." ~ Meka Taulbee

Meka resides with her husband Kurt and their two sons in Dunedin, Florida. Meka is currently the personal trainer for the University of South Florida sailing team.

Have a running or fitness question for Meka?

Leave your question in the comment box. Check back for your answer in the Ask Meka feature in the sidebar.

Key Lime Chicken and a Mad Dog ~ WHAT?

What do Key Lime pie,

a chicken

and a mad dog have to do with one another?

Answer found here.

See her? She's MY mom!

In the weeks following the passing of my twelve year old son, Andrew, from Earth to Heaven, I had a recurring idea flittering through my mind like the butterflies that dance around my front yard flowers.

One day I told a friend, "I'm thinking about running again. I want to run for the love of Andrew."

I had run in past years - three miles a few times a week. My husband, a runner himself, encouraged me to run 5k's and even a half marathon. But for various reasons or excuses, I just stopped.

In April, four months into grieving for my sweet boy, I ran a half mile in my neighborhood. A week later I was running in the Aflac Iron Girl 5k. I held signs with "Andrew's Message."

Life May Get Really Hard.

Keep Your Eyes On Jesus.

(You can read more about "Andrew's Message" here and here.)

I ran another 5k on Mother's Day morning. This time four of us ran together- my friend Jen, her daughter Summer, my daughter Audra and myself. Grinning, we signed in as the MAD (Mother And Daughter) BootY Camp.

Even though it is hot and humid in Florida, I am running 3 - 4 miles every day and plan to increase my mileage weekly as I am training to run a 10k at midnight on July 3rd. In the fall, with the encouragement of my daughter, Audra, my goal is to run another half marathon. Audra will be running the 10k and the half marathon as well.

When I run I wear a blue band around my right wrist. It has Andrew's name, his birthdate and his entry date into Heaven. When I run sometimes I pray. When I run sometimes I organize my day. When I run sometimes I create artsy-crafty projects in my head. When I run sometimes I get inspired for future writing topics. When I run up-hill sometimes I concentrate on BREATHING.

When I run I always hear Andrew's voice from Heaven. In my mind he is with a group of kids playing, skateboarding, painting. He calls them over and through the clouds, he points me out and he says, "See her? She's MY mom!"

And that's what keeps me running.

I run for the Love of Andrew.

Andrew Christopher Dorsey 4/25/97 ~ 12/15/09