Tobacco Road Race Report #4

Mommy Endurance
Submitted by: Elizabeth Fuson

Being a mom is a full-time job. All parents (especially moms) know how difficult it can be to put your needs first when you have young children…I think most of us would agree that we “need” to run if not for our physical health, for our sanity! I have been told by my children on more than one stressful occasion, “Mommy, you need to go for a run!” I know I need to run. They know I need to run. My husband knows that I need to run. Despite all of that knowing and understanding, somehow a mom’s training schedule usually get bumped lower on the priority list when it comes to meeting the demands of our families.

That is frustrating, especially when training for a race. So, now fast-forward through months of struggling to get my runs in while juggling Homeschooling my three children, carting them around to one extra-curricular activity after another, and taking care of things at home. On most days, I am exhausted. “Balance” has become my middle name these days. I want to train as hard as I can and set new goals for myself, but at the same time not take anything away from my dear family. That is hard! Putting yourself first on the priority list can make you feel extremely guilty.

The day before the Tobacco Road Half Marathon we arrived in Raleigh and checked out the Race Expo and course. We got settled in that night for bed and then, low and behold, my daughter starts running a fever! This is the child that is never, ever sick. Not only that, my Husband got called into work at midnight for a work emergency. He had to go. Would he be back in time to watch the kids for me to go run in the race? I was already experiencing pre-race anxiety and this did not help.

I lay there all night (literally) wondering when he would be back. My daughter was ok, but I can’t leave the children alone. About 4am I had decided that there would be no way for me to run. Even if he did get back, I was going to be too tired to have a good race. One little problem, I had the parking pass for my friends to park so I would have to drive over to meet them and give them the pass. Luckily, my husband got back at the last minute and with no time to spare I took the parking pass over to the hotel to meet my friends. I went dressed to race just in case I changed my mind. Good thing I did, because I decided to race at the last minute! Months of training, I’ve paid to run, plus I’m already here made me decide to run although I prepared myself that I would probably not do as well as I’d like to.

 Long story short, all that Mommy Endurance training has paid off. Evidently, I’m used to juggling demands and last minute changes to my workout routine/runs. I’m accustomed to being stressed out. I am a Mother for crying out loud! I can do anything sleep or no sleep! My goal for Tobacco Road was to break through the 2 hour mark…I finished in 1:55:18…a new PR!