Running With the Mothers

Though I am in denial, I guess I have officially become an exercise addict.

Friday nights I typically hit the hay somewhere around 9 p.m., before my six year old has even put on her pajamas. But this past Friday night, Sarah Bowen Shea, co-author of Run Like a Mother (the book) as part of the book tour came to our humble little town to talk about running and then take anyone who wanted to go on a short run. A Friday night talking about running and then actual running? Count me in.

And so, looking spiffy for my big night out in running shorts, running sneakers, sports bra and tank top, hair still dirty and in a messy bun from an earlier workout in the pool, I met up with a friend for a night of running. Of course, my friend had to show me up by appearing in a running skirt, making her look just fancy enough for a Friday night in Ridgefield.

When I introduced myself to Shea, who was also wearing a running skirt, I felt myself craning my neck and standing on my tippy toes, trying to make eye contact despite her being several inches taller than I am. I felt connected to her as a fellow writer, runner and mother, and having the same first name didn't hurt either.

Megan Searfoss, race director and founder of Ridgefield's Run Like a Mother race and organizer of Shea's reading at Georgetown Autobody, introduced Shea and the book, noting that "everything that is written in this book is our life and what we do every day."

I definitely like to hear more about me, so I sat back and relaxed, not even stressed that it was 7:30 at night and I was not in bed yet.

Shea and co-author Dimity McDowell are both writers, runners and moms who some marathoners might recognize from their Marathon Moms Blog or their pieces in several publications, including The New York Times, Runner's World, Self, and Fit Pregnancy among others. Shea explained that they wanted to write a book that spoke to moms and did not give dry training plans that anyone could find online or from another book or coach.

While Shea read her selections, I tried to pay attention but was distracted by a woman sitting on her deck that overlooked the parking lot of Georgetown Autobody. She was blasting some music, smoking a cigarette and downing a cold brewski while simultaneously giving our group dirty looks. After about 10 minutes, she chugged the last of her beer, went inside and slammed the door behind her. Either the talk inspired her to hit the treadmill or our little fit group was putting a damper on her evening relaxation routine.

Refocusing on Shea's reading, which was from her chapter about "exercise obsession," I listened as she recounted the experience of running every single day for six years, dubbed "The Streak." I compared my need to run to Shea's streak and felt less certifiable than she.

But then I went out on the "jog" with Shea and the rest of the running ladies. It was 8:30 at night and I was sprinting like a lunatic up Main Street; I rethought my self-congratulation from earlier in the evening about not being addicted.

Once I got over the realization that I was just as crazy when it came to running as everyone else enjoying the event, I relaxed and focused on the bigger picture of the evening and the book.

It doesn't really matter if you are a beginner, an elite athlete or somewhere in between, the event was all about moms who try to fit in any level of exercise into their jam-packed lives without losing their sanity (or husbands) in the process.

So thank you, Sarah Bowen Shea, Dimity McDowell and Megan Searfoss for again reminding me that I am not alone in my insanity. And if being crazy is what brings us together, so be it.