Mama On The Run- August

Hey Cuse! I’d like to (re)introduce myself! My name is Abby and I have been involved in the running community since my good ol’ high school days (15 years ago)!? Former XC and track runner, I am back and more motivated than ever to connect people, inspire people and relate to people. To be totally transparent, I sit at the table writing this out as my baby sleeps upstairs, my three year old throws lunch around the table, and my four year old plays cars on the couch. There are clean dishes in the dishwasher and dirty dishes in the sink. Clean laundry hides in the corner waiting to be folded. Amidst this everyday living, how am I supposed to focus on fitness, exercise, healthy nutrition and mental health? The answer: I don’t. 

Gone are the days when I could wake up, just me, and hit the pavement. Now, exercise takes calculated scheduling. Some days the exercise I fit in to my day is chasing my kids away from the road. Other days, I can run one or two miles and stream a strength workout. When I am focusing on myself for a brief 30 minutes, there is almost always a little shadow asking about “Mommy’s exercise.” In these moments I go back to something I think about every day: movement and exercise. If I don't finish a workout, I tell myself,  “at least I moved my body.”

Some days we get to move our bodies, and other days we get to exercise. It can be planned and it can be spontaneous. It can leave us exhausted and sweaty, or it can leave us with energy and a fresh step for the rest of the day. No matter what way you choose to move your body on the day to day, it all adds up to you making the effort for yourself. Showing up for yourself is incredibly hard to do when there are family members to care for, full time jobs to report to and appointments to make. The secret is to allow grace for yourself in the days where it doesn’t fit in - and shout it from the rooftops when you accomplish what you set out to do. Either way, just know you are doing a great job.