13.1 Miles in Motherhood
Laura Hagans, age 36, ran her first marathon on Saturday. Not only did she win the women's division, she also set the fourth-fastest course time. Elisha Barno, age 37, won the men’s division for the fifth time. Watching a marathon, or half marathon, is inspiring everywhere you look. People of all sorts, shapes, and ages trudge (or zoom) along the course toward the finish line. It’s a battle of will, determination, and grit. We freaking love it.
Bryana
13.1 miles hits different in motherhood. That’s my personal experience.
I could barely run a mile without walking in February. I ran 13.1 miles in June for Grandma’s Half Marathon and I had a smile on my face practically the entire time. I felt strong. There were a few spots where I questioned my sanity and what the heck I was actually doing out there…I daydreamed about quitting a couple of times…but that pretty quickly dissipated into, “Wow! Look at what my body can do! This is incredible!!!”
Maybe it’s motherhood, maybe it’s age. At 36 I have so much appreciation for my body and what it is capable of. I can’t believe I get to do things like this! Thank you body.
My go-to mantra during tough training and race moments is, “I birthed two children. I can run for 2 hours. This is nothing.”
I have now run 4 half marathons and one 18 mile race. I trained for (and bowed out of the training) one full marathon. I have two kiddos now: a 1-year old and a 3-year old. This was my first race post kids.
For many reasons the training of this race was completely different from pre-kids. My other races, training felt so hard. It felt like a chore. I couldn’t wait for it to all be over. But not this time.
Training for this race, I was constantly filled with gratitude and happiness. I looked forward to my running days. 45 minutes - 2+ hours by myself?! YES! No need to overthink what exactly I should do with time for myself to maximize it? Double yes. All I need to feel so much less stress and way stronger and clear headed is to put on my pair of shoes, my fanny pack, and same old shorts and shirt? Yup! Listen to a mindless podcast for fun? Yes please!
Training is truly the hard part. Some training runs feel amazing, some are absolutely grueling. But it’s not just the physical act of running. It’s the time dedication. My family was such an amazing support. My husband and my parents were with my kiddos for countless hours of my running. It’s also the fact that many days/weeks I needed to choose running rather than something else fun that I wanted to do. It takes a lot of commitment!
Race day was such a great day. Amanda, Michelle (Amanda’s cousin), and myself came together to run the half once again. We’ve been texting and training together for months and that’s one of my favorite parts: the encouragement and commadary with a shared healthy goal. We love the traditions we’ve built around the race, the endorphins & adrenaline, and the aftermath. Amanda’s sister and two nephews, and our friend Erin came to cheer us on. Several neighbors and friends stopped by Amanda’s north shore home over the weekend. We laughed with Amanda’s kids. It’s a joy-filled weekend.
At the finish line - smiling so hard the whole time my jaw hurt!
Amanda
**5:58 am. 2 minutes before race begins**
Bryana: “Amanda, I just want you to know I am going to run with you for a little bit.”
*pause*
Amanda: “Oh really? Because I was thinking it would just be easier if we started separately.”
Amanda’s cousin Michelle: “Oh wow, I’m so glad you two are hashing this out right now….
*cue laughter*
We moved into our Duluth home in 2015. Our house is about half a mile from the starting line of Grandma’s Half Marathon. We decided back in 2015 that we’d all run it every year we are able. Since then, Bonnie (Amanda’s older sister), Michelle (Amanda’s cousin), Bryana, and a handful of others have run the race. Sometimes we spectate, sometimes we run, depending on whether we’re injured, pregnant, or have just had a baby.
I have run five half-marathons. I also ran a marathon way back in 2008 and it did not go well. I didn’t run for 7 years after the marathon, that’s how not-well it went.
Like Bryana, this half felt quite a bit different to me. Bryana and I used to run without caring too much about training or our time. Of course, we trained. We ran for the joy of it and knew it would work out fine.
This year, we trained with intention. We were hungry to feel our strength return after having children, eager to reclaim our bodies. Back in February I told the girls that I was hoping to beat my PR. At that time, like Bryana, I couldn’t jog a mile without walking.
Michelle, Bryana, and I supported one another and discussed our running schedule throughout the week. Garmin allowed us to track one another’s runs and offer support. Bryana and I coordinated some of our longer runs together.
At 36-years-old, 14 months after Eowyn was born, I ran my fastest half marathon. I beat my 2015 record by 25 seconds, by the hairs on my chinny-chin-chin! (To be clear, speed is a relative term here, lol!) Getting faster at this age is not something I thought was available to me.
As you may know, I quit drinking alcohol in October 2022. An alcohol-free life has allowed me to step into this new, e x p a n d e d, reality. Life without alcohol continues to surprise and delight me, and one significant way I’ve been surprised is that I was able to run faster!
Over the past year, I lost four incredible people. The four women lost were all so uniquely charismatic, quirky, and funny. They were the types of characters movies and books are written about.
I dedicated each mile to someone or something. It was intensely emotional to imagine the women I lost running beside me for miles 8, 9, 10, and 11.
This year I trained with an awareness and gratitude for life that was new for me. I am lucky to be here. I am thankful my body is functioning and mostly pain-free. I know running 13.1 miles, or even 1 mile, won’t always be available to me. So for this year, I’m soaking in gratitude.
We adore the traditions we’ve built around this race. A pure celebration of fun, joy, and movement.
Favorite traditions for Grandma’s weekend:
chatting with the neighbors in Amanda’s driveway and watching the kids play the night before
walking down to Lake Superior the night before and visualizing the morning ahead
walking out to the start-line from Amanda’s house
the race!
our amazing cheer crew!!!
post race endorphins
new this year: delicious coffee post-race definitely needs a repeat
Amanda’s mac n’ cheese!!
a dip in the river near Amanda’s house - soothe those muscles in the best way possible!
delirious laughter and time relaxing with friends
Until next time!
