See Mom Run! ~ Malise

Meet New Orleans native, North Carolina resident, wife, mom and runner ~ Malise!
I felt a connection right away to Malise because of her southern roots. I'm talkin' the gumbo, jambalaya, red beans and rice kind of southern roots. We both have hot sauce running in our veins! And at our house it was against the "law" to throw out the Tiger Rag. If you don't know what I'm talking about, it's ok. All the LA natives know.
Each time I visit Malise's blog, Carolina Mama, it seems she is up to something new. She must be the busiest bloggin' mama I know. After you read See Mom Run! ~ Malise, visit her blog and see what new thing she's up to! I think it may involve a submission for a reality TV show.


(Malise in white cap with her twin boys)

When and why did you start running?
My Daddy started us  all running when we were young - elementary school. (I am one of five children.) He used to wake us up to calesthenics, running, hot tea, newspaper and Devotions.
How do you motivate yourself to go for a run?
I've always enjoyed it. Sometimes crave it. Typically, I would ‘just do it’ as my exercise. Today when I am less motivated, I think of the challenges I have had to get back in running shape and that motivates me! Knowing my Daddy would be proud; knowing my boys are watching; knowing I'll feel like a million bucks afterwards!

How many times a week do you run? 3 times a week.

Favorite route?
Love to run no matter - treadmill and I are friends. Yet, I love to run on the beach and on trails. Outdoors motivates and invigorates me in different ways because it is more freeing. The treadmill is a place where I can challenge myself against the numbers and push harder.

What do you think about when you run?
Time in solitude is a spiritual thing to me. However, I love my iTunes, too. And I love to dream and goal plan. Sometimes I turn on my iPhone and Voice Memo myself a Story outline, ToDo List of things I think or writing topics I think of while running. When on the open trails, I often pray.


What physical benefit do you enjoy most from running?

I feel like I can conquer the world!

 And I know it helps me look great. Yes, then I can eat dessert (all things in moderation)!


What are your running goals?
Having met my “Run A Marathon” goal, right now my goal is a strong 10k again. Run 5Ks and 10Ks. May consider ‘the races’ again. Main goals are exercise, feel great, look great. Wellness all the way!


Cross-Train?
Yes, I love everything! I am fortunate in that I love to try new sports and usually I love everything. Recently, at the 4th of July Parade with our children, we all climbed the big outdoor rock climbing wall! I loved it! It had been ten years since I have climbed like that. Very fun. I love yoga, pilates and strength training classes. 'Keeps it interesting.


How has running helped you be a better wife and mom? Balance. Wellness. Perspective. Energized. RoleModel.

What is your #1 tip for a mom who wants to start running?
Just Do It - Jeff Galloway. www.jeffgalloway.com is how I ran my first Marathon. He is a proponent of "Running Injury Free." That is important especially for new runners who are gung ho.

Running here...Running there...

A good article here on how to start running...

RunningSkirts.com has a sale on here.

My friend, Jen, and I ran the Bust Your Belly & Buns Bridge today! We walked on the beach, too. All in all we did 7.17 miles.
I told Jen I was feeling "all Richard Simmons" today with my light green running shorts trimmed in white and my loose white running tank. Something about those two pieces made me feel a bit Richard Simmonsy.

And I was feeling all good about myself when a cyclist passed us and said, "Good Morning, Legs."

Actually I really thought he was talking to Jen anyway because, you know, I was feeling all RSy. And she's the one with the legs.

These are mine. Kinda short.

But then Jen said, "No, he said, 'Good morning LAdies.' "

Oh. Okay.

In my defense, my ears were stopped up the entire 7.17 miles! I blame it on my Richard Simmonsesque running shorts. Or maybe it's all those perms I used to get in the 80's.

(1984)

I HEART this running skirt. Cute, huh? (found at runningskirts.com)

Do you ever run in a skirt?

I received a cannister of MixMyGranola the way I like it from a friend. She sent me the "runner's mix." It was SOOOOO good. I ate it by the handful and also in a bowl with milk.

I contacted the company and they offered a 10% discount. Use this coupon code: GRANOLA10.

Well...gotta run!

~ what's up with the picture placement? sometimes this happens...i don't know. anyone have a clue?

"In The Hollow of His Hand"

Writing poetry and prayers helps me get through the heart wrenching pain of missing Andrew. This morning a refrain came to mind, "In the hollow of His hand..."
Though some days I feel very alone as tears come so easily at the longing for our boy to be back with us, still I know God is near to the broken hearted because He is well acquainted with the grief of separation.
And so I take the gift of writing that God has allowed me to steward and I pen my heart to Him, to you, to me.

~~~

"In the Hollow of His Hand"

 by Melanie Dorsey

In the hollow of His hand,
Hard times I do not understand.
Yet still I stay.
No other place I'd go,
In a sin cursed world fraught with woe.


Yes, I know there will be gladness.
I’ve had that, too, amidst my sadness.
Still I look forward to that sound.
My earthly body, Heaven bound.


Until that time I choose to rest.
Enduring faith is where I’m blessed.
Though tears quite often stream down my face,
In the hollow of His hand, I run my race.

See Mom Run! ~ Jen

Wednesday mornings around 10:00, Jen would pull into my driveway. Sometimes she walked right into my kitchen and put a dish into my refrigerator. An Italian entrée (her specialty), a banana pudding, stromboli, banana bread…offerings from a friend who was moved to minister. To me.



My neighborhood held too many memories of Andrew…our walks, our bike rides, his skateboarding, his dog walking jobs. I could no longer round those familiar corners and walk those stretches of suburban road with their memories.


So Jen drove us to a nearby park. I had not exercised in months. We walked. I breathed. We talked. I cried. We walked. I laughed. Healing happened.
One. Step. At. A. Time.
Healing continues.
Sometimes in the smallest of increments.
Sometimes in a leap.


One day I shared with Jen that I was thinking of running again. Jen, a long time runner, suggested we add a mile of running to our weekly walks. Wednesday came and I chickened out.


“Um. Not this week. I’m not wearing a running bra.”


No problem.
(Could be a country song: "No Shirt, No Shoes, No Jog Bra ~ No Problem!")


The following week we began to insert a mile run into our seven mile walks. Seven miles. I’m not kidding! Today (7/21) we walked 7.65 miles with some running for good measure. Uphill. Well, actually up bridge ~ our Florida hills.


Early on in my Wednesday Walks with Jen, one Wednesday morning storm clouds brewed. Disappointed, I thought perhaps Jen would call and cancel. The sky was dark and channel 9 said, “Rain.”


The phone rang. It was Jen suggesting an alternate plan. She would bring over lunch and we could stay in.


“I really need to get out of the house” I told her. “I have a lot of nervous energy. Maybe it won’t rain.”


Within a half hour, Jen pulled into my driveway and I piled into her van with a rain jacket and an umbrella.


I think that was the day our friendship turned a corner. The day Jen became my “rain or shine” friend.


And on that day we out walked the rain.


Meet Jen. Wife to Adam, mom of three and my “rain or shine” friend.


When and why did you start running?

I started running in the 4th grade. My elementary school, Mildred Helms in Largo, FL, had an afterschool program called “Run for Fun”. We ran around the fields behind our school collecting popsicle sticks for every lap completed. At the end of the program I won a trophy for being the girl who ran the most laps. That’s all it took; I was hooked.


How do you motivate yourself to go for a run?
Most of the time I don’t need motivation. I enjoy getting out and pounding the pavement, working up a good sweat, being alone without interruptions. On the days when I don’t really want to get out there (usually because it’s really hot and muggy) I tell myself to just go out and do what I can. I give myself a break and know that even if I feel like walking the whole way, it’s OK.


How many times a week do you run?
3 to 4
Favorite route?

I have a route in my neighborhood that goes along the water and meanders through quiet streets. I hardly ever see a car, I get a breeze off the water, and I can usually catch a bit of shade from all the oak trees. The peaceful setting really lets me get lost in my thoughts. I also enjoy running on the beach, usually Indian Rocks Beach, “bust your butt and belly Belleair bridge”, and a long time favorite place is along the water behind Safety Harbor Spa on into Philippe Park. I just noticed, all my favorites have views of the water…I love the water…lakes, beaches, rivers...

What do you think about when you run?
When I run alone, I pray a lot. Sometimes I start off thinking/praying about things that are really bothering me and by the end of my run the mountains have turned back into mole hills.

Psalm 97:5 “The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth.”

When I run with friends we laugh and come up with all kinds of things to talk about…we solve the world’s problems, plan vacations, visualize craft projects, come up with new business venture ideas…


What physical benefit do you enjoy most from running?
When I was younger I ran so I could eat anything and everything I wanted. That doesn’t work for me so well anymore. Even though I have to watch what I eat these days, I’m happy that running keeps me off of the diet roller coaster.


Running goals?
My goal is to keep on running as long as possible. I’ve adjusted my mileage and stretch a lot more in hopes that I’ll be running for a long time to come.

Cross-train?

Running is always a part of my exercise routine, but I mix in other things like walking, biking, elliptical training, and aerobics/exercise videos.


How has running helped you be a better wife and mom?
Running provides a time for me to be alone and blow off steam. I have more energy to physically keep up whether it’s doing things like running around Busch Gardens for the day or just the daily work of running a home.


Jen's #1 tip for a mom who wants to start running:
Enjoy each run. If it means running to the end of your driveway and then walking back to your front door, then start there. If you push yourself till you’re miserable, you won’t want to get back out there tomorrow.


I asked Jen to share her most memorable run. I kind of figured she would tell this story.
When my husband and I were first married we rented a small little lake house in rural Odessa, FL. I loved that little house and the ambience of living in “old Florida”. As I would run I’d see lakes, cypress trees, mobile homes, and barbed wire fences.

One day I was running home when I spotted something ahead on the side of the road. At first I thought it was a dog, but then I realized it was a pig. This was no Wilbur though. It was a very large, black hog.

As I got closer I started to wonder if large hogs were dangerous, so I crossed the road. I would have turned around to take another route, but there was only one way home and that meant I had to get by that hog.

As I moved closer, “Wilbur” started snorting so I started walking. When the hog started running towards me, I took off like I’ve never run before! I could hear snorting behind me, but I never looked back and I never saw that pig again!

This happened in the early ‘90s when Jeff Foxworthy’s bit about “you might be a redneck if…” was popular. When I got home from my adventurous run, I told my husband “you might be a redneck if, on your run, you get chased by a hog [hawg] instead of a dog [dawg].”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
"We take long walks on the trails of Eagle Lake Park,
Laughing and sweating and sharing our hearts." ~ Jen

On my Wednesday Walks with Jen, do I still cry?
A little.
Laugh?
A lot. A whole lot.

See Mom Run! ~ Susan Hood

I was drawn to Susan's blog when I saw the picture in her header. Red socks and running shoes! Each time I read about Susan running trails, running an ultra marathon and getting bit by a coyote while running in a park near her South Carolina home, I concluded, "That Susan is one cool chick!"
But running is not all Susan is about. She is wife, mom,  photographer, and a pursuer of "God Moments."

I asked Susan, what inspired her to start running. I began running 13 years ago this summer. I had just stopped teaching school to stay at home with my children, and I wanted to give it a try. I knew of a 10 year old little girl who had just started and was running races. I thought that if a 10 year old could do it, so could I! So, silly me signed up for an 8k race (4.96 miles) before I could even finish a 3 mile run without having to stop! But, I finished the race and declared to myself that I would be prepared from now on.


Susan motivates herself to run by...

[visualizing] those extra cookies and cake and doughnuts attaching themselves to my thighs! No, really, it is a part of my lifestyle, and I know it is something that I desire for my health. I am adopted and have no idea whatsoever of health issues in my biological family. So, being proactive with exercise and nutrition is about the only thing that I can do for prevention.


How many times a week do you run?
4-5 times a week. My mileage varies depending on what event I'm training for. It could be 3 miles of hill repeats or a 20 mile long training run. I don't do the same thing over and over--I get bored too easily!


Favorite route?
Trails, definitely! If I am at the beach, I run along the shore. The treadmill is my least favorite.

While running, Susan says she talks to God about everything!

I'll jump from one topic to another with the Lord! And when I run with my I POD (on low volume so as to hear any traffic or other runners), and I sing praises to Him (in my head! Singing is not one of my talents!)

Runner mom--no make-up!!! This is child #1 who flew through the course way ahead of me! I took my time and had several God moments! So worth it! It's not about the time...it's about the journey. ~ Susan Hood

What physical benefit do you enjoy most from running?
Being able to keep up with my teenage boys and husband! Plus, eating seconds of a delicious meal and not worrying about it. I do not do that very often.


Running goals?
These have changed significantly in the past year. This time last year I had just completed an ultra marathon on the trails. 34 miles in the woods really gets you to listen to the Lord! Listening to Him has made me put any big goals on the back burner. Life is about spending more time with the Lord and studying His Word than lacing up my shoes for a three hour run. My priorities are about my relationship with God and then my family. Training comes after my time with Him in the morning ~ not before. I will probably do a half marathon in the fall. Nothing on the calendar yet.

Lining up at the Paris Mountain Xterra 15K last month. One of my favorite races. (Susan in light blue bandana)








Cross train?Yes, m'am! I get bored too easily with just running. As one gets older (heehee!), one needs to work on flexibility. Pilates is great for that. Strength training(weights) and cycling ( on our trainer in the garage or classes at the gym) are great cross training activities.


How has running helped you be a better wife and mom?
It is a great stress reliever! If I don't run or cross train, it shows! I have much more patience with my family when I exercise.


Susan, any advice for a mom who wants to start running?
Give yourself an hour out of the day to exercise! Your family gets the other 23! Don't feel guilty at all. I started with a 12 month old and 3 year old. It can be done! Again, it's about setting your priorities. Your family will thank you! I promise!


Susan says...
Running with others is so much fun! Look for running groups in your town through the Y or health clubs. Stay hydrated--drink water a few hours BEFORE you run. You may have to set the alarm clock a little bit earlier, but dehydration can be dangerous. Also, I carry pepper spray--especially on the trails. I never run alone on the trails--period. Be proactive when you run. Watch the cars and assume that they don't see you. Wave and get their attention at stoplights and stop signs if you need to cross. Better safe than sorry. ( Can y'all tell that I ran with the high school cross country team this morning and felt like safety mom??) Above all, have fun and enjoy yourself!
Susan blogs here: http://scrunnermom.blogspot.com/

See Mom Run! ~ Linda Crow

Linda Crow is funny. Linda Crow likes coffee...a lot.
Linda, who is also a lot funny is a mom who runs.

Linda's blog, 2nd Cup of Coffee, was one of the first I read when I began blogging in 2008. Her humorous take on life encourages me to find the funny, too. A contributing writer to Life Savors Savory Stories to Inspire Your Soul and A Cup of Comfort Devotions for Mothers and Daughters, Linda is also a columnist for her local Muncie, Indiana paper.
I asked Linda about running. I may or may not have been drinking coffee. I'm pretty sure she was.



Linda, when and why did you start running?
After watching my husband run for a few years, I began in my early 30s (I’m now 47). I have not always run without sabbaticals or waning enthusiasm, but once I fell in love with running, I could never entirely forget or forsake it. In fact, writing about running right now just gave me an emotional twitch, tempting me to stop writing and put on my shoes!

About 15 years ago, I went through a bad bout of depression which lasted a couple of years. One of the things I did to combat that oppression was run, and it truly helped in conjunction with counseling and meds. Running helped save me. It was a gift from God.


How do you motivate yourself to go for a run?
I know that when I let too much time pass between runs, I lose ground, no pun intended.


I know that about one mile into the run, I will start to feel the most joy I have probably felt all day.


I know that when the run ends, I will feel as though I have accomplished something not every 47 year-old can do.

I know that I’m taking care of my body.


I know that running helps with weight management.

I know that I’m setting a good example to my children in staying active.

"I love sunshine; I love the big blue sky.

Running allows me to absolutely bathe in those blessings." ~ LInda Crow

How many times a week do you run?
I like to run every day, even if it’s just a short course of 2 or 3 miles, but realistically, I’d say I run every other day. I go a little longer on Saturdays.


Favorite route?
I like to run in the road (sidewalks don’t “give” with your foot strike). I run through neighborhoods and on one very busy road in our town. I don’t mind traffic so much (there is actually a sidewalk there) because it’s predictable. There are no cars jumping out of bushes or barking and growling at me. So I trade the beauty of a trail for the relative safety of lots of eyes and ears around. However, if I have a partner, I like to run in more scenic places, like our beautiful trail. In the winter, I use an elliptical machine to keep my endurance up.


What do you think about when you run?
For some reason, one of my first thoughts is always, “Thank you, God, for this day, and for this chance to be outside and enjoy the world you have created.” After that, I may continue to pray or work out problems in my head, re-live pleasant memories or listen to music. Lately I’ve been into music, but I think I’m going to cut back so that I can have some of that quiet time I mentioned.


Sometimes I check my form; that is, I make sure my shoulders are relaxed, arms not crossing my body, hands relaxed, looking straight ahead, forward motion instead of up and down, etc.


When you’re running, there is no one to interrupt you, no one calling for “Mommy,” no media to distract, no chores to be ignored. You look at the clouds and trees and remember how small you are. It’s comforting, in a way.


What physical benefit do you enjoy most from running?
Honestly, I think the emotional benefits are as valuable, maybe even more so, than the physical, but strictly physically speaking, I’d say weight management.


Running goals?
Occasionally I sign up for a 5K, but mostly I just try to get out there regularly. Just keep at it. On the days it’s difficult, I tell myself, “It’s hard, but it’s not impossible. Finish!” And I do.

~Linda running the Indy Mini~

Cross training?
I lift small weights at home. It’s important to balance your workouts so that your upper body gets attention, too. And weight-bearing exercises help with bone loss. Plus it gives you nice lookin’ sculpted “guns.”

How has running helped you be a better wife and mom?
Running makes you physically stronger and increases your endurance, so it follows that you can last longer doing the daily Mom Gig. It’s a great stress reliever and as I mentioned before, gives you a little time and space between you and your young ones. Even a 30 minute run can do wonders for you emotionally. Do not discount the benefits of sunlight on your body and spirit, even if you use sunscreen (recommended, of course).


What is your #1 tip for a mom who wants to start running?
Get fitted in good shoes by someone who can analyze your stride.
Start by walking. When you build up some endurance, start a very slow jog toward a pre-determined goal, such as a mailbox or stop sign. Then walk again. Or you can walk for 5 minutes and jog for 30 seconds or 1 or 2 minutes.


The main thing is, don’t rush yourself. A beginner’s biggest mistake is increasing time, mileage, speed too quickly. Be patient. It’s not a competition; it’s a process. You’re beginning a long, glorious journey!


Linda: *Addendum: As soon as I typed the last word, I went for a run on a glorious summer night!