Solutions for Running – With your Period, Bisters, Nursing Boobs and More

Run Like a Mother: How to Get Moving–and Not Lose Your Family, Job, or Sanity is officially one of my favorite fitness books of all time. Why? It gives realistic advice and actually solves problems real women have in the real world … in a super fun and funny way. Running is an awesome form of exercise, but it often comes with a bunch of bizarre obstacles which can easily be sidestepped if you know what you’re doing. Authors Dimity McDowell and Sarah Bowen Shea definitely know what they’re doing, and do you want to know why? They’ve been through it all! They’ve run races with their period, they’ve had to sweet talk husbands in to watching the kids solo so they could jet off on 18 mile runs, they’ve also had to re-begin their running routines after having babies – Sarah has twins.

With their combined experiences, a bunch of races under their belts, two husbands and five kids between them, a love of running and input from tons of other women who run … they’ve compiled one of the most legitimately useful manuals for fitness I’ve ever read. These are some of my favorite excerpts from this book …

On slacking, slowing down and the urge to quit … It’s your head, not your body, that’s hurting, so move it!

Acing the porta-potty line during a race … Just find the line with mostly men, they’re much faster than women.

From the gal who started her period on mile 5 of a half marathon … “I think I ran faster after that to hurry and finish the race, yikes!”

When running alone … Run tall and purposeful, make contact with other runners, and project a don’t-mess-with-me ‘tude.

Running during pregnancy … I ran up to 6 months with my first child, but no more than three miles. I was at the mercy of my bladder.

Run Like a Mother … is a really easy read in which you’ll learn a lot while laughing your head off. These ladies discuss the trials and tribulations of running in a funny, sarcastic way without holding back on the secret stuff most folks won’t talk about. If you’re a new runner or training for your fourth marathon, this book is a great guide for taking your training to the next level while getting you through the tough stuff. Do you have any special running tips to share?