My First Half Marathon: Running, Parenting, and Everything In Between
Back in April, I took on a challenge that had been looming over me for months—the St. Jude Half Marathon. It was my first half marathon, and let me tell you, training with a baby in tow was a *whole* new level of endurance. Between work, daycare, and being full-time weekend parent due to my husband’s work schedule, finding time to run was an adventure in itself. Spoiler alert: the race did *not* go as smoothly as planned, but I crossed that finish line—and that’s all that matters!
Training: AKA “Trying to Run While Trying to Parent”
Let’s be honest, training for a half marathon while managing life with a little one is like trying to schedule meetings with a toddler as your assistant. There were days when I squeezed in a quick run between daycare drop-offs and work meetings, hoping to beat the clock (and the laundry pile). Weekends? Oh, that was when the real challenge began. With my husband working, I had my daughter all by my lonesome and weekends are long runs, so that meant pushing a stroller 8+ miles and praying for stamina.
Race Day: Hills and Thrills (Mostly Hills)
Race day came, and I was feeling pretty good. That is, until the first hill popped up out of nowhere (immediately into the second mile) . Did I mention I didn’t really train for hills? Yeah… those little surprises turned my pace into more of a “slow and steady” situation. By mile 10, I was just negotiating with myself to keep moving. Forget a personal record—I was proud just to keep running and not roll down the last incline.
Still, crossing that finish line—even slower than expected—was a huge accomplishment. It might not have been the smoothest race, but finishing my first half marathon, even with some unexpected challenges, felt like a win.
Post-Race
One of the best parts of race day was having my best friend, honorary auntie Gail, there to cheer me on. Not only did she give the loudest cheers from the sidelines, but she also watched Olive while I ran (seriously, a lifesaver!). After crossing the finish line, we celebrated in the best way—with my very first post-birth frozen margarita at Blanco Cantina + Cocina on Broadway. Trust me, this place has my all-time favorite frozen margs, I couldnt have asked for a better celebratory drink.
Though the race itself was fun, what gave me the tingly-est feeling was feeding my daughter in one arm and my medal in the other, knowing that every late-night run and chaotic schedule led to that moment. Sure, it wasn’t the smoothest race—those hills caught me off guard—but for a first-time half marathoner and full-time mom, I’m proud to say I crushed it. Hills, baby, and all.
So here’s to all the moms out there juggling work, parenting, and personal goals. You don’t have to be the fastest—you just have to keep moving. We’ve got this!
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