That is a great story!  I am training for a marathon (hopefully) in March and I love running so much.  I think about what will happen if we are blessed with another child and how soon I will be able to run again.  I read a story of a mom that has 8 children and has run several marathons, one just a few months after the birth of one of her children.  You can totally do it Rachel!

That is a sweet story - it’s so nice to make a connection like that.  And inspiring to hear about a mom with 6 and another mom with 7 who make the time and effort to run!  I am in the same boat as you - I have never been a runner before and after my last baby took it up - and loved it!  Of course, right on schedule I got pregnant again (a new baby every 2 years is our schedule!)  I was determined to keep it up, mostly because for me the WORST part of running is when you just start up and have to build up to being able to run more than a minute or two at a time.  But like you, morning sickness set in and laying on the couch trying not to throw up replaced hitting the treadmill… and here I am, chubby and out of shape again (oh, and 7 months pregnant too!)  I am so determined to start up again once my new bundle of joy arrives.  Just to motivate myself I have already signed up for a race in May (even if I have to walk part of it, I’m determined!)  It’s hard to sort of have to put your running on hold for nine months… worth it, I know, but still hard.  But I do love hearing about other moms who can make it happen!

I took up running when my youngest was about 6 months old. (He was my fourth pregnancy and is 14 months old now). I also have 2 two year old foster daughters - total six children.

Right now I have a bad cold, bordering on sinus infection. Going to wait a few more days before I hit the treadmill again.

What a great story! I’d love to find another mom locally to “train” with, even if it’s just encouraging each other on the phone or by email with only occasional in person training sessions.

Great inspiration!  I’m 14 weeks pregnant for the 8th time in 14 years.  It hasn’t always been easy, but I’ve been keeping up with the almost-daily exercise I started after my last child (now 2) was born.  Can’t say I’m looking great, but I can say I’m feeling great.  I only wish I had been smart enough to take better care of myself from the beginning.  Obviously I’m working out with less intensity these days, but it feels so good to stay active.  I also like to think I’m setting a good example for my hubby and kids. 

This is GREAT!!!

My friend has six and she just finished her first marathon. She is also employed full time as a police officer. She runs every morning at 5:00 with a group of other hard-core women runners. I admire her so much. but I just can’t do that right now!

I am currently 31 weeks pregnant and still running, biking and lifting (well, I probably shouldn’t call it running - more like a very slow jog these days!). It feels so good to stay active and helps me feel better even when my 3 year old tells me that my belly is getting so big .  I’m going to do my best to keep running right up to delivery - we’ll see what happens!

I have thirteen kids and I am 45. I hate running-ok, well I am still fighting off extra baby weight and that involves alot of added discomfort and hindered progress- but I do it, because it makes me feel good about myself. I have a long way to go to my goal- a half marathon before I am 50, but I am working on it. I bought myself a little ring that says ” the journey of a 1000 miles begins with a single step”. I want to encourage anyone thinking about it- do it. It’s great for mental health, it sets a good example for the kids and it is, so I hear, a great way to get in shape- check back with me in a couple of months on the “in shape” part…:o)

I am finding it difficult to fit in exercise.

I do it, but it is only a few times per week.

We have seven kids, and although we live down the street from the YMCA, I have trouble finding the hour it takes to walk to the Y, get on the exercise bike and use the weight machines, and walk home, AND fulfill family responsibilities. 

I only manage to do this a couple of times per week.

I have figured out some ways around my dilemma.  One is to march in place during a TV show.  I don’t watch much TV, but I do like PBS news and “Nova”.  I can march during those, and then I’m right at home, so if I am needed, I can interrupt exercising then resume.

I also bought a 10 minute pilates DVD and some hand weights, and a mat for the floor, so I can do strength training at home as well.

HOWEVER, again, I only get exercise in a few times per week.  When my kids were younger, there were periods when I got almost no exercise.

I am amazed by you ladies who do more.  My hat is off to you, but I decided to write in case there are others who, like me, find exercsie difficult to fit in.  We do not know everyone else’s circumstances.  Those ladies with six kids who are thin and exercise might be genetically blessed with thinness, they might have some advantages such as a husband who has a lighter schedule than mine and can care for the kids while they work out, children in school all day, or some other circumstance different than mine. 

I am not trying to make excuses.  I just don’t want the moms who are truly not able to train for marathons to feel that they are inadequate—especially the moms with one or more very young children and no husband, mother, or older kids to care for the little one(s) so they can go work out.  In addition, I’d like to point out that even mild exercise, such as marching in place during a TV show, is helpful, so if you are a mom for whom running marathons is unrealistic, please do not despair.

What provident timing! Just this morning I was wondering how long I could run once we become pregnant. It’s so inspiring to hear of mothers who are still able to get out there, even when they’ve had to break for multiple pregnancies and when they have a houseful of kids!

Kudos to all the runners out there, but if anyone is like me, I can’t run. Years of playing basketball caused injuries that ruined my knees and if I try to run now, my knees swell up ridiculously. But I still wanted a fitness goal, so my friend who is a doctor recommended that I walk a half-marathon.

Being an athlete all my life, it sounded a bit watered-down, and I was hesitant at first. I can assure you that it is still challenging, still requires goal-setting, and excellent fitness benefits. My new motto is now that if anyone gives me a weird look or response to me telling them that I walk a half-marathon, I ask them when the last time they walked 13.1 miles in under 4 hours. Usually, they get the picture

So maybe this is a viable alternative for some of you who struggle with running or who are just beginning a fitness routine again? There are plenty of resources out there to help you get started with training. All the best to everyone!

It’s so nice to “meet” some fellow Mommy runners!  I have been a runner off and on since high school, but I got back into it seriously after the birth of my baby (now 11 months).  I had actually just started training for my first marathon when I found out I was pregnant again (this will be number 4 for us).  Now I am six months pregnant and still running, albeit much more slowly than I was before.  I’m hoping I can keep it up throughout my pregnancy so my postpartum running recovery time won’t be quite so long. 

Anyway, so nice to see other moms here who are serious/passionate runners as well!

Thank you for this!  I’m due in March with our third and this is the first pregnancy I’m actually running through (hoping up til delivery, though we’ll see), but I was getting a little discouraged thinking that I might not be able to do this as our family expands.  It’s so good to hear about other mom-runners that still make the time!!!

That is what I love most about having a “lot” of kids!  Meeting up with others and sharing a “bonding” moment!  Yes!!!! : )

Thanks! I needed to read this.  I had a great workout routine going until about 4 weeks ago.  I was out the door at 6am 3 days a week to work out and I would go to Mass at 7am once a week.  I loved this weekly routine and thanked my husband daily for giving me my morning time.  I am pregnant with our 3rd and continued this routine until 8 weeks.  Then I gave up all attempts at being the first out if bed in the morning.  I am now 11 weeks and feeling ever so sluggish.  I am counting down the days to the end of the first trimester and hoping to have energy to exercise again.  These stories are definitely motivating me to continue exercising during pregnancy.

Thank you for sharing!!!!!!!!!  I am due with our 3rd in April and gave up running this pregnancy…opting for the elliptical machine instead.  I MISS MY RUNS EVERYDAY!!!  But deep down inside I know that my body needs this break.  When I see another runner outside and I begin longing for my favorite hobby, I have to remind myself over and over again that I’m just taking care of myself and that I can return to it this summer.  It is just wonderfully refreshing to hear of other moms out there who understand!!

That is an awesome story!  I had gotten myself up to biking 9 miles about 3 times a week when I got pg. this time—my baby was only 3 mos. old and I’d lost all the pregnancy weight from him plus 5 pounds more.  I am so looking forward to getting back on my bike after this one—but I also got a tricycle to keep me active when the weather is nice enough.

I learned way back in high school that if I run hard I will cough until I taste blood soon after. “Don’t run” said the doctor and it was another decade before my asthma was diagnosed. But with baby #5, I found the perfect exercise for an asthmatic woman pregnant during the winter: water walking. Before you exercise you can stand in the shower room and breathe all that nice steam. Then you float (they give you floatation devices) in the water (no strained joints) and walk (no training necessary). You can even talk while doing it. Then you get a long, uninterrupted shower with unlimited hot water, breathing all that nice steam again. It’s inconvenient for my husband for me to go out two evenings a week,  but he’s willing because he can see how much it helps me.