Ten Things I've Learned as an Outdoor Runner

1.       In my teens and 20’s, I ran for competition. In my 30’s I ran to control my weight. In my 40’s, I run to keep my heart healthy. I have loved running the most in my 20’s and 40’s. Apparently, running to control my weight isn’t as much fun.

2.       I prefer running outside during the winter. Here’s a truth: I don’t want to be hit by your car any more than you want to hit me. When people are too busy or lazy to shovel their sidewalks, let’s just agree to share the road.

3.       A running partner can be a great thing; however, if in Minnesota, be sure to choose a timely running partner. Waiting for her to show up in summer while the mosquitoes swarm in to drain your life blood is not fun. Likewise, standing around in -10F temps? Not going to happen.

4.       I have a lot of running gear. Treadmill junkies have it easy. They only need gear for a 70F gym. I have to have gear for temps ranging from 105F to -10F (that’s the coldest I’ll go. Back in the day, I might have ventured out in colder temps, but this girl is too old for that now). 

5.       Running outside has made me a better driver, particularly when looking both ways before I turn. Just this morning I nearly sent a women to the ER with a heart attack when she turned at the last second and nearly hit me.

6.       I know the law about pedestrians having right of way, and for some reason, I’ve taken it upon myself to educate all drivers who encounter me at intersections while I’m running. It’s harder for me to break stride and sit at the corner while you turn than it is for you to wait the 4 seconds it takes me to cross the street. Just be patient.

7.       I don’t see running as my social time. It’s not my me-time. It’s not supposed to take a huge chunk of my day. Outdoor running allows me to decide to go for a run and be out the door in less than 3 minutes. Depending on how far I go, the entire endeavor can easily take less than half an hour. The benefits from a run long or short will last me all day.

8.       I want to run for my entire life. For that reason, you will never see me training for a marathon or some other race that will require my posting huge mileage. It’s not sustainable for me. I typically run three 8-min pace miles 4-5 times a week. It works for me. More importantly, it is enough to keep my heart healthy and my mind happy.

9.       Once I learned that it was the food I was eating that was preventing my losing weight, I began to enjoy running on an entirely new level (see #1). I used to say, “Well, I ate that extra piece of cake, so I’d better log a couple extra miles” and then see no difference from the run. News Alert! You can’t outrun a bad diet. Taking the pressure off of my running to control my weight has brought a joy to running that I haven’t experienced since I ran competitively in college. 

10.   I kind of think people who run on treadmills are wussies. Don’t get me wrong: I’m glad you’re running, but deep down in my secret “I know I shouldn’t say this out loud” place, I think a real runner has to have contact with the ground while battling the elements to be able to call themselves runners. And yes, I did just go running straight on into a 25mph. And it was AWESOME. J

Hip Mom Rule #7: Be Interesting

. . . there is more to life than your children.

I had had one of those weeks where it seemed liked every time I turned around, I ran into a pile of dirty clothes, stepped in a pile of crumbs, tripped over a pile of toys . . . piles, piles, piles. And to make it more aggravating, my youngest was trying to walk and couldn’t quite figure it out, so he was attached to the backs of my jeans using me as a giant walker. The oldest was bored of the rain, bored of his toys, and bored of his brother not being able to walk. In short, I needed a night out.

I called my friend, also a hip mother of small children and said, “Girl, this week has kicked my butt. I need to get out. Are you in?” Of course! What mom isn’t ready to ditch the family life for a night out with a friend sans children? I was REALLY looking forward to this; I really needed it. We met at a hip coffeeshop with low lights and comfortable couches. I wore a hip outfit that melded with the fun atmosphere of the coffeeshop. I fixed my hair and make up. I anticipated great conversation, new ideas, and a break from the routine of daily mothering.

Instead, we talked about kids, or rather she talked about her kids. The entire time. I kept trying to divert the conversation to the news, religion, taxes, fashion, celebrity gossip, anything that didn’t directly involve poop, spit-up, or potty training. The night was a colossal failure. I returned home from my big night out more enervated than I was when I left.

Now don’t get me wrong – I love to talk about my kids as much as the next parent, but I crave conversations that don’t always revolve around the kids. I crave adult conversation. To get that, I need to have something interesting to talk about. So, I read the paper on Sundays, I belong to a bookclub and read at least one book a month, I watch a couple minutes of the news each day or listen to NPR on the radio. I don’t devote a lot of time to it (because, seriously, as a new mom wouldn’t you rather take a nap?), but I do enough so that if I happen upon another person craving conversation involving more than diapers and sleeping routines, I can actually contribute in some small meaningful way.

In short, it can be hip to chat up your little cherubs. It’s fun to share the trials and tribulations of motherhood. But it’s the hip mom way to have other things to talk about, too, especially if your big night out is with a friend who has her own little cherubs waiting for her at home.

Hip Mom Rule #6: Just because you can get it on doesn't mean you should wear it

In every mother’s closet, nestled deep in the darkness of the back corner, lies a tub of clothes that once fit. These are what we affectionately call the “pre-baby” clothes. These clothes are the measuring stick by which new mothers will gauge their success in losing the baby-weight. There is great pride in being able to say that you are wearing your pre-baby jeans. But, truth be told, not everyone should be wearing their pre-baby jeans. Ever.

Like every other new mom, I tried on my pre-baby jeans just six weeks after my first baby was born. I had lost a ton of weight and was sure I was back to my old self. Well, let me tell you, there is nothing on this earth that was going to be able to slide my thighs into those jeans. Dejected and demoralized, I put them back in the tub and shoved the tub to the back of my closet.

Almost three years later, one year after the birth of my second son, I again pulled out that tub of clothes. What a day. Those jeans slid on. They were a little snug, sure, but they were on. Now I could join the ranks of women who were in their pre-baby jeans, right?

When I came dancing down the stairs to gloat to my husband, I did not get the reaction I was expecting. First of all, a hip mom should know that just because you can zip them up doesn’t mean they look good. They were snug. Okay, I could barely sit down. Second of all, these jeans were cool four years ago. Jean styles don’t change a lot, but they do change. A hip mom knows this.

My other great insight -- babies change women’s bodies a lot! I used to be able to shop in the juniors section, but in reality, very few moms who have had babies wear junior size anything! So I did what any hip mom would do. I went to the store. I found a great sale on some trendy, well-fitting jeans. I bought a couple of pairs in the smallest size that I have worn since the babies were born. I pulled them on, effortlessly, and looked in the mirror. I may never again have the small hips of my pre-baby self, but with my new jeans, I look pretty good. Okay, really good. And I can sit down and breath at the same time.

Use your old clothes as a guide. Let them inspire you. But let them inspire you to get in shape and accept your new hip momness! Then reward yourself with new clothes. Stay hip. Don’t let the joy of fitting into your pre-baby clothes sabotage your efforts at being the hippest, coolest mom around.