Faith Laces

When I first ran with the jogging stroller, I was nervous. I worried it was too big and cumbersome to control or maneuver easily around cars and pedestrians, but after just a couple of runs, the stroller started feeling like a natural extension of my body and even helped to improve my form by keeping me standing straight and looking ahead. Despite feeling comfortable, I still feel a little nervous when I run with the stroller because it’s carrying precious cargo, so I do everything I can to make my runs with Monkey enjoyable and safe. Ten Tips to Protect Your Little Running Partner: Don’t run with your infant unless he or she is able to sit up on their own, usually around 6 months old. Before I began running with Monkey in the jogging stroller, I checked with her pediatrician to make sure it was safe to do so. Run during daylight hours. Although I don’t take the jogging stroller at night or early morning, my jogging stroller has a reflective light on the wheels, as most joggin...

I can still hear you say you will never break the chain ~ Fleetwood Mac  The Chain. Photo Credit - Microsoft Clip Art At the risk of being labeled a bad mother, I confess that I did not feel joy on the day I brought my newborn daughter home from the hospital. I was grateful and happy to have a healthy baby girl, but I was severely depressed and majorly terrified –overwhelmed with the magnitude of the responsibility I was facing. My confidence wavered as I tried unsuccessfully to wake a sleeping newborn to nurse. My nerves were shot and my hormones were going haywire. I couldn’t help feeling like a part of me was missing. She wasn’t missing –she was in my arms, but it wasn’t the same, and I mourned the feeling of life moving within me. Even though I’d anxiously waited for my due date for nine months and longed to hold my baby, I ached with emptiness. Any joy I felt at holding my newborn drowned under the sorrow I felt at losing our physical bond. Thankfully breastfeedi...

The strength I develop through running has benefits that go beyond physical. For me, running is like meditation, a way to connect to nature, grow closer to God, find inspiration and stimulate creativity. Anne Audain credits movement. By moving the body itself, you are moving not just air, food , and blood but even thought through the body. If you let things sit still, you’ll get cobwebs. Movement gives you so much more energy (Anne Audain, cofounder of the Idaho Women’s Fitness Celebration, as told to Dagny Scott in  The Complete Book of Women’s Running , p. 155). This energy carries over to other aspects of my life, especially being a mother to a three-year-old who is constantly on the move herself. Some days even after a good-night’s sleep I’m still tired, and when a cheerful little voice says, “Sun is up, Mommy! You play with me now,” I just want to roll over and pull a pillow over my head. But after a run, I’m revived and energized with plenty of pep to play hide and se...

Photo Credit - Faith Laces One of the joys of running for me is spending quality time with my daughter. Monkey is three now and joins me in the jogging stroller for two runs a week. Here’s how I make the most out of our running time together: Pray  – Before running I pray that God will keep us safe, help us to run our best, and open our senses to his presence. Practice God Sightings  – I feel closer to God when running; I’m hoping Monkey will someday know the same closeness. During our runs, I point out God’s wonderful and beautiful creations like the blue sky, fluffy white clouds, flowing water, green grass, fine sand, heavy rocks, tiny pebbles, the variety of creatures like the birds, ducks, geese, groundhogs, squirrels, and turtles. Highlighting all of the different textures, smells, sounds, and sights around us, I say, “God made that.” Later when I’m making dinner and overhear Monkey say, “God made water or God made macaroni and cheese;” My heart swells and I...

I like to think I got my drive and discipline for running from my father. He’s not a runner, but while I was growing up he was active in multiple sports. Mondays he played tennis. Tuesdays and Thursdays he played basketball. Wednesdays he golfed. Fridays he bowled and during the spring and summer he played softball. These days my father stays active through bike riding. About a year ago, a client ‘paid’ my father with his bicycle. He told my dad it was worth around $500, when it actually was worth less than $200. But my father accepted his payment because that’s the kind of lawyer he is. In a profession with an ugly and dark reputation, my daddy shines like the sun -I’m a daddy’s girl if you couldn’t tell  Photo Credit - Microsoft Clip Art My mom told me about the bike and how my dad came to own one, but I didn’t realize how often my dad was riding until Christmas of last year. He kept talking about riding along the  Rails to Trails , how uncomfortable his bike seat ...

Photo Credit - Faith Laces My Daughter's Guide To Running Like A Princess: A princess runs in dresses, skirts or tutus – no shorts and definitely no sweats! A princess favors pink in all clothing. A princess wears running shoes as long as they are pink and sparkly. A princess runs with one hand holding out her skirt as if she is Belle ball-dancing with the Beast. A princess is free to take frequent rest breaks and be pushed by her mother/servant (is there a difference?) until she feels up to running again. A princess is also free to interrupt a run with a spontaneous ballet recital of sorts. A princess can add dancing at any point during a run. A princess enjoys a short nap after a long run. *Originally posted on Pocketful of Playdough

My typical summer running outfit includes a pair of shorts, a tank top, a sports bra, socks and a handkerchief to wipe away sweat. This morning I put on a pair of black shorts and a loose black and white sleeveless Champion ®  top from Target that my hubby bought for me. When I walked out to the kitchen to put Monkey’s shoes on she said, “Yuck!” “What? My shirt?” I asked. “Yes. I don’t like that.” “You don’t? It’s not pretty?” “No. It’s yucky.” So I changed. To make Monkey really happy I’m going to have to invest in a running skirt. So what does the always fashionable Monkey wear to run? A pretty princess dress, of course. *Originally posted on Pocketful of Playdough