From Mom Brain to 10K: A Runner’s Return After 10 Years
momtalk Maryland | Episode 4
Listen to episode 4 of the MomTalk Maryland podast, “From Mom Brain to 10K: A Runner’s Return After 10 Years.”
After a decade-long hiatus, I found myself at the starting line of the Charm City Soul of the City 10K—the very same race that launched my running journey ten years earlier. The symmetry wasn't planned, but it felt like the universe had a sense of humor about my running comeback.
My relationship with running has evolved dramatically since my twenties when I completed five half marathons with sub-10-minute mile paces. Back then, I could lace up and head out the door whenever inspiration struck. Now, as a mom, every training run requires strategic planning, childcare coordination, and the mental fortitude to push through when everything feels harder than it once did.
The brutal winter made training especially challenging—February yielded only one or two interval sessions, leaving March feeling like desperate crunch time. Those first training runs were humbling; five minutes in, every muscle protested, and I questioned whether I'd be ready in time. But gradually, my body remembered what it could do.
Partnering with Charm City Run transformed my gear experience. After trying on shoes "like Cinderella," I was shocked to discover Ultra running shoes—with their distinctive wide toe box that initially looked massive—would become my absolute favorite. When race day arrived at Harbor Point, the familiar Baltimore community showed up in full force, neighborhoods cheering for strangers, creating that magical energy only found in city races.
Crossing the finish line in 1:12, simultaneously fighting the urge to throw up while feeling immense pride, I realized something profound: while life changes, we can always reconnect with the activities that once brought us joy, even if they look different now. The running trails of Columbia await, and though I'm not committing to another half marathon anytime soon, the door remains open to wherever these Ultra shoes might take me next.
Want to share your own running comeback story? I'd love to hear how you've rediscovered past passions in new seasons of life!
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