It is Your time to start! If you have been contemplating running for a while, or just taking a break, we are here to help give you that push you need! We are having a contest to see how often you can get out running. There will be 2 categories- one for experienced runners and one for new runners. (The last thing we want to do is see you get injured for doing too much too soon!) Comment here every time you run and the winner will receive a Moms that Run car decal. Email Kelly at kelmarker@gmail.com if you have any questions!

The contest begins May 26th and ends June 14th!

by Workout Mommy

What to eat? When to eat it? How do I eat it?

These are all things that filled my brain when I was training for my first marathon. I really had no idea that I would even need to eat during a run until I learned the hard way after a 10 mile training run one Saturday morning! Do not wait until you are ready to pass out from running to decide that you might need some fuel in your body!

Fuel is an important part of your race day training so make a plan so that works for you.
Here are some things to keep in mind:

1. What are my choices? Gels are ideal because they are going to give you a concentrated source of carbs for your body. Protein or Power bars tend to be very dense and the protein and fat will take too long for your body to absorb. Gels are a quick source of energy are easily digested into your bloodstream for energy. You can find them at your local running store, in every flavor imaginable, or online. I usually get mine from Roadrunnersports.com
2. Experiment with food choices early. Decide what type of food/fuel is going to work for you and test it out during your training runs. I have discovered that my stomach cannot handle Power Gel but it has no problem with GU. This was key as my first marathon was handing out Power Gel packets at mile 14 and had I not known their impact on my intestines, it might have made for a very miserable marathon experience! Try out different brands and choices and become familiar with how each item affects your body.
3. Determine how you are going to carry your fuel. Whether it is a fuel belt, pocket, or just in the palm of your hand, you need to have a plan. You need to be familiar with where it is on your body so that you don’t waste time and energy fumbling for it when it is needed. For shorter races I prefer to carry my GU in my hands, almost as reassurance that I have it if necessary. For longer races I prefer to carry it in either my Fuel belt or occasionally I will safety pin it to the inside of my shorts. These are methods that I have tried out during training and they have worked for me. Find out what works for you and stick with it!
4. How much will I need? GU Sports advises you to have one packet for every 45 minutes of a race. For me, that is too much and I start to feel nauseous. Experiment throughout your training with how much fuel you might need during your actual race. Plan on what feels right for you and then add an extra. You never want to be caught at Mile 20 without any energy to carry you the last 10k! I’ve also been in crowded races where runners have dropped their gel but have not been able to rescue it from being trampled. Have an extra just in case. If anything it will give you peace of mind.
5. Hydrate! Be sure to have water on hand to wash down your fuel either by carrying it with you or planning around the water stops of your race. Gels need water to be fully absorbed into your small intestine. Without adequate water, you might end up with an irritated stomach and risk dehydration. Personally, I think they also taste a lot better when washed down with water.

Happy running!

article contributed by WorkoutMommy

We hope you will find all of the answers to your running questions here. We are a group of women who have miles and miles of running experience. Some have been running for years and others have just started their journey. We welcome the insight, knowledge and experience that every runner brings to Moms That Run. We learn so much from each other, and we hope you will join us so we can learn from you, too. Let us share in your joy and lift you up when you feel like quitting. We’re all here for each other.

We’re well into the new year. How are you doing with that resolution to run this year? It may be that time of year when you have lost your fervor for the resolution you made to start running and maybe lose weight. Here are 10 tips to help keep you running all year long. You can do it! It seems that making resolutions to lose weight and/or get in better shape are the most popular among Americans. I’m only making this guess based upon the sharp and sudden increase of sweaty bodies vying for the treadmills and ellipticals at my local gym around January 1. I’ve noticed that the hoards of eager, flabby bodies tend to thin out (and by “thin” I mean dissipate… not lose weight!) after a few weeks. What happened to the determination? Where is the enthusiasm they felt as the new year began?

I know some of you who visit Moms that Run and the Marathon Mommies blog have no problem sticking to your resolve to get out and run and stay in shape. Maybe you’re one of these people, but maybe you aren’t. Maybe you know someone who wants to make a New Year’s Resolution (here in March!) to stick to an exercise routine and make it a habit in their life. I have some advice for you resolution-makers out there. I’m going to stick with what I know and focus on running as the exercise of choice.

1. Set a date for a race or fun run. Register for it now. Look for a race at www.racecenter.com or Google races in your area. Spend the money now to race in a few months and you’ll be sure to stick to your goal!

2. Don’t set unrealistic expectations. Start small. Build from there. If you are new to running, don’t set a goal to go out and run 3 miles on January 1! Set a goal to jog for 1 minute and walk for 3. Increase your minutes running and decrease your minutes walking as the days and weeks pass.

3. Be accountable to someone - a real person - not just a piece of paper or a blog. Tell someone you can trust about your goal and encourage them to ask you about your goal frequently.

4. Run with someone! For me this is absolutely the most important thing to assure my success. If you know someone is waiting for you at a designated time and place, you won’t want to let them down.

5. Set a time to run - preferrably in the early morning. If you keep telling yourself throughout your day that you’ll do it later it will be a negative weight on your mind and not a feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment like it would be if you had done it first thing in the morning.

6. Lay out your clothes the night before. I know this may seem silly, but this eliminates the best excuse you can come up with in your sleep-induced stupor in the early morning hours: “I don’t even know where my shoes are!”

7. Pick a training schedule so you know exactly what you will be doing each day ahead of time. Hal Higdon is a well-known, knowledgeable and respected coach who has made many of his training programs available online for free. Check them out - I’m sure you’ll find one that is just right for you.

8. Pick a route ahead of time. Whether you like to run the same route everyday or mix it up, there is a better chance that you’ll stick to your goal if you know where you will be running ahead of time. Don’t know where to run? Try a site like mapmyrun.com to see where other runners in your area like to run.

9. Give yourself a day off every week. Fatigue is a sure-fire way to give up on a resolution to run!

10. Don’t beat yourself up for missing a day. Life happens and sometimes that means you’ll miss a run here or there. Don’t give up on yourself or your goals just because you aren’t perfect! If you were perfect you wouldn’t need to make resolutions in the first place!

Nothing makes us happier than seeing someone else find success in their running goals. We are here at Moms That Run to cheer for you and give you the help, advice and encouragement we all need. We hope these pointers will help you or someone you know be successful in setting and sticking to your resolution to run this year. Happy Running!