Deena Kastor

There is a running revolution taking hold and it’s wearing a skirt—a running skirt that is.  Women are making their way to the starting lines of marathons and halfs in record numbers.  They account for almost half (or even more than half) of the field these days.  Olympic runners like Paula Radcliffe, Kara Goucher and Deena Kastor are conquering motherhood and running.  We are all not only paying attention, we are cheering them on.  Running has helped many of us make our way through parenting by offering a dose of endorphins and a long distance friend to hear us out.  Women are trading therapy sessions for a pair of Asics and the open road.  Running carves out “me” time for the price of a pair of running shoes and a race entry.  It has not only become a catalyst for empowering women, but a stress-relieving companion in their quest to do it all.  There is no one lining the streets to cheer you on or give you a medal for motherhood, so why not get one for finishing a race.

Mom’s not only like to run alone, they like to run together and in groups.  They have formed front porch communities and taken them onto the road.  They have conquered personal goals and weathered triumphs, all while running together.  It is therefore not surprising that the release of the book Run Like a Mother: How to Get Moving–and Not Lose Your Family, Job, or Sanity has been a huge success.  It acts as the manual to the running/motherhood movement and lends a voice to this emerging runner profile.  It answers women/mother specific questions and offers advice not found in other running books.  It’s authors Dimity McDowell and Sarah Bowen Shea are on to something here.  They have become like the Oprahs of the mother runners.  Through their blog, Facebook Page, and Twitter (Sarah Tweets, Dimity Tweets), they have started a wonderful conversation.  It seems they are listening just as much as they are being heard.  Women relate to them.  They are both real moms, real runners and real people.

10 Questions for Dimity and Sarah:

1.  Running skirt, friend or foe?

Dimity:  Friend. Flatters like nothing else.

SBS:  BFF. I have a mutually exclusive relationship with my running skirts—I haven’t worn shorts in years.

2. What is your idea of the perfect run (details please…when, where with whom)?

Dimity:  Santa Fe Dale Ball Trails. 5ish miles. With my dog Dharma, before she started her annoying habit of just stopping cold on the trail behind me and staring at me like I was crazy.

SBS:  The Presidio & Golden Gate Bridge. Ninety minutes on a weekday morning. By myself—with my fond memories of living in San Francisco for eight years. I never stop marveling at the Bay Area’s natural beauty.

3.  Were you a runner or a writer first? How has running changed for you since writing RLAM?  How has writing changed?

Dimity:  Writer. Comes much more naturally me than running ever will. I think a lot more about my running while I’m running now. My mind used to wander; now it’s all about form.

SBS:  I started running in college before graduating to become a professional writer (and editor). Since writing RLAM, I’ve become an even more avid runner—I used to cross-train a lot more, but now I usually run six days/week. Writing still remains my bread-and-butter profession.

4.  Describe your present state of (running/training) mind and your goals/races for 2011?

Dimity:  Starting over (again). Focus will be on triathlons (Olympic, probably) and trail runs. No specific races yet.

SBS:  After three marathons in two years, I’m halving the distance—dropping down to half-marathons this coming year. I like being able to shower and eat brunch after a race—and not limp when I leave the restaurant. I’d like to dust a few seconds off my personal best and drop my time to 1:45.

5.  What one training tools/items/gear can you not live without?
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