Run Like a Mother Sunday in Naperville

Get up, get showered, get the older kids ready for school. Take them to school, take the little one to his class. Shop for groceries, do laundry, clean the house. Get the kids at school, get them to activities, get them from activities. Make dinner, clean up dinner. Help with homework, read with the kids, get them ready for bed.

And somewhere in that day, we're supposed to find time to work out?

Absolutely, say the organizers of a race coming to Naperville this weekend.

And not only would a workout be nice, it's a necessity, they say.

The Run Like a Mother race is predicated on the idea that for too many moms, the closest we get to exercise is running errands. Megan Searfoss, a mother with three children, launched the women-only race on Mother's Day in 2008 in her Connecticut town to encourage the moms she knew to make a commitment to their own health. Participation has grown, and this year Searfoss added races in Portland, Ore., and her former town of Naperville.

Those who sign up are given training tips and access to six weekly training sessions intended to help women run the race, even if they weren't runners when they signed up.

Jeanene Rollins wasn't a runner six weeks ago, but she's become one as she's trained for the Naperville race. Carving out time to train hasn't been easy, but the Naperville mom says it's worth it. Being a healthier, happier mom makes her a better mom.

Today, Rollins tells us why she wants to Run Like a Mother.

‘I can do this'

Being blessed with a metabolism that allowed me to eat as I pleased throughout my life, with little attention to what, if any, exercise I got was something I took for granted.

But somewhere between taking a desk job, turning 30, getting married, pregnant and divorced, that wonderful metabolism came to a screeching halt. I realized I had to change something.

Now here I am at 39 trying to learn to eat better, exercise more and teach my son the same. He helps keep me motivated to keep trying.

Run Like A Mother? How could I not sign up for a race with a name like that? It took only about three seconds for me to agree to run my first 5K, yet 30 seconds later, I thought “What have I done?!” How on earth can I possibly fit one more thing into my life?

Just two of my “jobs,” mom of a rambunctious 5-year-old son and full-time career woman, keep me pretty busy as it is. The encouragement of a dear friend and the promise from her that the trainers would be there every step of the way made the decision easier. I signed up that same day online for the race and the training sessions. I can do this — at least that's what I keep telling myself.

I am not a runner; I have zero experience running, even on the treadmill. To say I was nervous to start training was an understatement; there's no way I could race against other longtime runners.

I arrived for the first training session and was the only participant who showed up! More were coming next week, but until then it was just the three of us — me and two trainers.

The RLAM trainers, Darlene and Sandy, were so encouraging and patient. These two very experienced runners chatted with me the whole time and kept me moving. They never let me feel like quitting was an option, we'd just adjust the plan if necessary so I could finish.

With that vote of confidence, I completed my first session of the program — eight run/walk intervals over 45 minutes. I was given a copy of the training program for novices, a slow build to race day, nothing too overwhelming. I was excited and that was a great feeling. I made it through one session and repeated to myself, “I can do this.”

Now with a new perspective, it is all about finishing the race. Each week we receive follow-up emails reminding us to train and giving words of encouragement that keep the momentum going.

Even with the best motivation and momentum, we all know juggling one's schedule can be one of the biggest barriers to participating in something extra in your life, like a 5K race. I'm lucky enough to belong to a gym that offers child care, and lucky enough that my son loves it when he's there.

Even with the available child care, it has been a challenge to stay on track. What I call “life stuff,” I often prioritized above my training, leaving me struggling the next Sunday to meet those training program goals.

Every Sunday, Darlene and Sandy work with each participant based on our skill level. I never felt out of place even if I wasn't quite on track for the program that week. They helped me make progress at every session and left me feeling motivated to work even harder during the week.

The race is quickly approaching. It's hard to believe I started this journey only six weeks ago. I've met several amazing women over the past few weeks at these training sessions and I'm looking forward to seeing them all.

Regardless of where I place in the actual race, I have at the very least learned that when I carve out time just for me, even if it's just an hour on a treadmill or an hour at the park with the trainers, I am better for it. I am a calmer person, more focused and more attentive to all the “jobs” I have in my life. Not to mention healthier and stronger than I ever knew I could be.

It's this that keeps me going back for more.

— Jeanene Rollins

If you go

What: Run Like a Mother 5K

Why: To empower mothers to make their health and fitness a priority

When: 8:30 a.m. Sunday, May 8; kids 1-mile run at 8 a.m.

Where: Neuqua Valley High School, 2360 95th St., Naperville

Cost: $30 for 5K plus $2.64 online charge; $15 for kids run plus $1.81 charge; no race-day registration available

Info: runlikeamotherrace.com