This week’s Favorite Race Friday features Jessica Grimes of Keeping Mommy Sane!
1) What is your favorite race?
My favorite race is definitely Boston’s Run to Remember this past May … . my first half marathon! Completing this race, and dedicating myself to the training that led up to it (while balancing a full-time job, my blog and my two kiddos), is something I am incredibly proud of.
2) Where was the race located, distance, and any other details you want to share.
Like it’s name, the race takes place in Boston, starting in the Seaport area. It’s an early race start time – 7am – so the city streets are quiet. It’s truly a beautiful course, winding through the city to Cambridge and back. A good stretch of the race goes along the Charles River,too.
3) What made the race special for you?
Not only was it my first half marathon, but it was the first race where I enjoyed every single second rather than wishing I could stop or that the race would end. That’s not to say it was easy, but it wasn’t insanely hard, either. It was also a very symbolic and emotional race, coming only a month after the Boston Marathon bombings, plus the fact that the race itself is a tribute to fallen law enforcement officers. I’ll never forget running beneath an underpass on Memorial Drive in Cambridge and seeing a line of officers on the bridge, waving flags and cheering for us. It still gives me chills.
Although nothing compares to seeing my family at mile 12, my son wildly waving a sign he made all by himself that read “Mommy, run fast! Move your feet!”
4) Best piece of running advice you can share with other mother runners
Believe in yourself – and trust your training. That’s how I got through my half, just telling myself that “I got this!” and reminding me that I’ KNOW I can run 12 miles, so 13.1 will be fine”. But this is still sometimes tough because I often find myself questioning, “Am I a real runner?” I think part of me is still getting used to this new identity as “a runner” and I need to work on building up that running confidence. But my kids think it’s fantastic -: I love when they see me put on sneakers and they say, “Have a nice run, Mommy!”
Where you can find Jessica Grimes:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KeepingMommySane
Twitter: www.twitter.com/sanemommy
Instagram: instagram.com/sanemommy
Blog: Keeping Mommy Sane (www.keepingmommysane.com)
If you are interested in participating in Favorite Race Friday, send me an email at 30somethingmotherrunner[at]gmail[dot]com
Beautiful article. I love the “trust your training” advice. As new runners or runners who haven’t completed a certain distance, there’s that “how is this possible?” thought every once-in-awhile. The Run to Remember is on my Bucket List and Jessica makes it even more so. Thanks for sharing…