19/10/2026
Detroit Free Press 26.2 ✨
After having four babies in six years, I tucked away a part of myself while I poured my heart into raising and nourishing them.
As my babies grew, I started to find little pockets of time to lace up my sneakers again. A few miles became a quiet place to breathe, to dream, and to remember a part of me that was a little distant from herself.
But little by little, I found my way back to something I loved. Something that wasn’t forgotten, just misplaced for a moment.
I’ve spent so many early morning miles on the trail, ran though many pairs of shoes, trained through thunderstorms, rain showers and 98% humidity. I’ve eaten way too much sugar before 8 am, worked though a few injuries, fallen asleep in my children’s beds after a long day and have chatted to way too many people about running who probably don’t care.
But I’ve also laughed until I cried. I’ve seen a million golden sunrises. I worked muscles in my body that I didn’t know were there. I’ve noticed the way the foliage smells with the seasons (the sweet smell of October is my favorite), I’ve made a whole new group of wonderful friends, and I’ve challenged myself beyond what I thought I was capable of (at the tender age of 40).
Today was about so much more than 26.2 miles. It was a reminder that motherhood can change you without erasing you.
You can build a home, raise babies, pour into your family, and still make room for the things that make you feel alive. You don’t have to lose yourself to be a good mother. You are allowed to be both.
And to those who have wondered why run 26 miles? Because the good Lord gave me a body that GETS to do something so amazing, and so I did. ♥️
homemaker, motherhood, mom of four, marathoner, Detroit Marathon, mom runner, marathon training, running mom, finding yourself again, balancing motherhood, homemaking, fitness journey, motherhood and running, life after babies, healthy motherhood
