I'm excited to introduce you to Crystal, from Discovering Me In Them. I asked Crystal to share how she juggles being a stay at home mom and part time Veterinary Technician with running. Here's what she had to say:

I became a mother before I became a runner. Sure, over the years I had run in 5K’s and part of relay races with my family. Not to mention the time in my twenties when I half committed to running here and there. That relationship failed miserably just as most of my relationships did in my twenties.

It wasn’t until after I had my first son that I became committed to a healthy lifestyle and being fit. Chase was eleven months at the time and I had lost all my baby weight with him yet somehow I lost track of life and I gained it back… and then some more. I had always been a petite person yet suddenly I found myself looking in the mirror loathing the woman looking back at me. I needed to get back to a healthier me. I needed to feel good about the woman in the mirror looking back at me.

10155298_799608540113964_5809804910607025762_n

That following spring I had planned to run another relay race with my family. It was fall and I decided to start training for the 5.8 miles I would be running. I had done it before and knew I could do it again. It would take some serious commitment and time away from being mom.

The winter went by and spring came. I ran through the entire winter, in Vermont! I was getting stronger and leaner. My body was transforming and turning into the stronger form it was suppose to be. I was working full time when it was just Chase. Still, I got home from work two nights a week and would throw on my running gear and out the door I would go. I also dedicated both Saturday and Sunday mornings to a run. One of those days I would do my long run.

After a couple of years, a few winters, and miles logged in my notebook, it was apparent that I had fallen in love with running.

In the spring of 2013 I found out I was pregnant with my second son Wesley. I was determined to continue my running while pregnant and encouraged by my doctors to do so as long as I felt good. I was told to listen to my body, and I did. I was fortunate to be able to run throughout my entire pregnancy. I had come so far in this new relationship and I was not about to give up on either one of us.

I knew when I was pregnant with Wesley that I wanted to train for my first Half Marathon after he was born and when my body allowed me to. I signed up with my father as Team Mama and Pop-Pop (my son calls my dad this) and in the late spring of 2014 I ran my first Half Marathon!

10557467_714543241953828_4128647683871096290_n

So how does a stay at home mom with two boys juggle Mommy-hood and running?

Determination: I have a set schedule when I run and try to stick to it. Having days that are my “running” days helps me. If for some reason I cannot run that day I will opt to switch the day or skip it. The minimum that I will allow myself is three running days. Four is my goal. Five is a bonus.

Support: My partner knows that I need to get out and run and how important it is to me. He knows that when he gets home he is “tagged in” and I am out the door. On the weekends it is also known that I need to get out for my morning run. Jason works on Saturdays but will not leave until I get back from a run. He works around this because he knows I need to get out there!. This also means on my big races he is there with my children to meet me at the end of the race. That right there is my motivation. Nothing gets me running faster than longing to see my son’s faces at the end.

1897874_714542811953871_1327628146355079590_n

Healthy Living: It is important for me to live a healthy lifestyle. It is equally important to me that my children see this and learn from it. I grew up watching my dad run and now I do races with him. As he is an inspiration to me I can only hope I can pass down my love for running and healthy living to my own children.

Me time: Running is one of the very few times I get to be by myself. Running for me a sacred.This is the time when I can clear out all the “mess” that is in my head. Running is like vacuuming up all those tiny crumbs from under the couch and hidden in the cushions that get forgotten about or ignored. When I run I reflect, I pray, I write, and I honor myself by being in that moment. I am grateful for the ability to run and all it gives back to me in return. Every road, every hill, and every turn I take leads me to a better place within myself.

Running makes me a better mother.

[Tweet "Hear how @discoveringme2 juggles life as a mommy and runner #motherrunner #running #fitmama"]

How do you juggle motherhood and running?

Crystal is a stay at home mom of two happy and energetic boys. She works part time as a Veterinary Technician. Crystal is addicted to running, loves taking pictures, writing, and spending time with her family. Crystal did not fall in love with running until after her first son was born and soon after was hooked. She has completed three Half Marathons in less than a year and intends to complete a couple more before the end 2015. Living a healthy lifestyle and modeling this for her children is important to her and pushes her to new limits. Crystal is the creator of Discovering Me In Them where she writes about the humor of the life with two toddler boys, parenting, health, running, and discovering herself.

How I Juggle Mommyhood and Running-Guest Post

POWERED BY SQUARESPACE