Mom on the Run

Since becoming a mom last October, I appreciate my own mom in a whole new way. I never fully grasped how hard it can be to have your identity change in an instant…you’re no longer just you, you’re someone’s mom.

Which is why I’m dedicating this post to the woman who became a mom when she had me and my sister, but also never let go of who she was before us. She was always an adventurer, a thrill-seeker…someone who never felt gender barriers or age limits. And once she became a mom, she didn’t give up her quest for treacherous mountain climbs or running 10k races on Saturday mornings. She took us with her.

My Mom has climbed most of the Fourteeners in Colorado, which are some of the tallest peaks in the nation. She’s run half marathons and continuously wins first place in her age group at 5k races. (We used to have a trophy room to collect all her trophies, medals, and awards!) She took up snowboarding in her 50’s, and loves to ski. She went zip lining in Alaska, hiking through Montana to capture photos on her Canon, and-one of the toughest feats of all– she managed to carry my nearly 20-pound six month old through the mall for two hours while I sat at the Apple store for an appointment! She’s a superwoman.

Side note: her love of fitness carried over to my sister, too…she’s been an exercise physiologist, personal trainer, and used her kinesiology degree in every job she’s had since college. You can bounce a quarter off her backside and her biceps look like cannons!

She’s made fitness and healthy living a tentpole of our existence. Running has especially been a wonderful escape from the daily grind for her, and seeing her maintain her love of working out has inspired me. For those days that the weather won’t permit miles around the lake, Mom bought a Peleton bike to ride indoors. She’s no slacker when it comes to staying healthy!

This Mother’s Day, I wanted to give her a gift that keeps on giving, so I got her these adidas ULTRABOOST X SHOES. She loves them, and they give her the freedom to take a jog, take a hike, or take five at Starbucks. She said they are super comfortable and lightweight, which is perfect for a daily six mile run. Having the right tools makes pursuing the things that make you feel good that much easier, so I wanted her to have these awesome shoes.

I love you for so many reasons, Mom. And I want to say thank you for instilling in us to make our health and fitness a priority at every stage of life. We saw you do it, and I want to be a mom just like that for my son.