Mother-Runner-Strange Dinosaur

by Serena Burla on September 24, 2012

I am a mother runner.  Most days when I walk through my back door lugging my backpack, sweaty clothes, and typically two 16 pound bags of ice, in addition to my post workout body, I am greeted withthe most welcoming sound, a shrieking, “MOMMY.” It gives me a burst of energy similar to someone cheering foryou loudly by name in a big race.  After a quick analysis on his part of how sweaty I am or perhaps whether or not I will fall over, my son Boyd and I usually share a snuggle hug and start talking about the morning as I fill the tub for an ice bath and grab something to eat.  A week ago our morning chit chat was halted by Boyd wrinkling his nose and exclaiming, “Mom, you smell like a strange dinosaur.” High humidity coupled with a 70minute medium paced run on that particular day had made for a stinky me.  As a busy runner mom I had to stop and question whether or not I’d managed to swipe on some deodorant in the past 12 hours-yes, perhaps just not enough.  As I switched from tough runner to mom mode I searched for details about this strange dinosaur and its scent that we supposedly share.  I came to learn that a strange dinosaur smells like rotten candy.  When I asked Boyd to draw me a picture of it so I could have a visual he drew this...

It took my breath away, as it was one of the few pieces of art he has created thus far that’s had clear features.  This creation now proudly resides on the refrigerator as just one more reminder of how lucky I am to be a mother among my run-eat-sleep repeat schedule as a professional runner.  Yes, there are times during heavy training that I am not always on my “A” mommy game.  If you have ever bribed your child in order to get them to nap even though you are the one that needs it, you are not alone. Also, if you have a high energy child like mine who can run circles around you especially when your legs are throbbing after a long run here is a tip, find a great playground that is fenced and assign yourself a role that makes you be home base.  I have been the dispatcher and Boyd the firefighter this week.  In both running and motherhood I am committed to enjoying the journey while working/playing incredibly hard and loving what I do, even if I smell like a strange dinosaur in the process.

~Serena