For our Mother Runners!

Dayna Player Robinson
6 days ago
4 min read

Running Through Motherhood:

Why Your Training Needs to Change (and That’s Okay)

Warning: We are going to get a bit personal on this one.

Shout out thanks to so many of my Mother Runner friends who share their quotes to help other with this post!

I hope they help at least one mother is whatever stage of motherhood she is in.

With Mother’s Day weekend coming up, I’ve been thinking a lot about what running has meant to me—not just as an athlete, but as a mom.

There’s this quiet pressure I see in so many women—especially runners—who become moms:

“I should be faster.”

“I should be doing more.”

“I used to be better than this.”

And recently, someone even said to me, “You should be putting in more miles/time than you are… one day you’ll look back and be sad.”

Honestly?

I don't think I agree.

My Running Story Didn’t Stop With Motherhood—It Changed

I ran a marathon before and after each of my 3 sons births.

That sounds impressive on paper… but here’s the real story behind it:

I was working full-time with each marathon cycle.
I was nursing during one training cycle, pumped at the start line.
I was a stroller mom, the furthest I have ever pushed my kids was 11 miles.
I was working on my master’s degree while working during another.

It wasn’t perfect. It wasn’t pretty. And it definitely didn’t look like the “ideal” training plan.

But it was real life. And I SOOOOO need those miles along side my mother friends who where a few steps ahead of my in the motherhood journey!!

And now?

I’m in a different season.

The miles still matter—but the why behind them has shifted.

From Chasing Times → To Building a Life

These days, my training isn’t just about me.

It looks like:

Starting Velocity Kids to help me grow my own kids love for the sport.
Standing at the start line with another son at 13, running his first half… and completely smoke me
Running alongside my son when he was 10 during his first half marathon
Hiking Rim-to-Rim of the Grand Canyon as a family and seeing the pride in their faces
Becoming a mountain coach to ride 3 mornings a week all summer long with my kids.
Spending hours on family mountain bike rides/trips together, not caring about pace—just being outside

And those moments?

They mean more to me than anything ever could.

Because I didn’t just teach my kids how to run…

I helped them love movement

I showed them what consistency looks like

I gave them a lifestyle they’ll carry forever

The Truth No One Talks About

If I had spent these years chasing being “faster/more time/more miles”…

I truly believe I would look back with regret.

Not because speed doesn’t matter—it does. But because time with your kids in these teenager years matters more.

You don’t get those years back.

And with Mother’s Day here, it’s a good reminder—your impact as a mom goes far beyond your pace/"results". There are many more "Why to Run" reasons!

Why Your Training Should Change As the Motherhood Journey Changes

Each step in Motherhood brings a completely different load:

Physical (pregnancy, postpartum recovery, hormones, late night sports games/practices)
Mental (decision fatigue, constant planning, emotional load)
Time constraints (your schedule is no longer your own, BUT you can still make time for all the things you want most!)

Trying to train like you did before kids—or like someone without those demands—is where frustration and injury creep in.

So instead of fighting it…

Adjust it.

For moms—from brand new to grandmas—this is where the magic happens:

What Running Gives Moms (at every stage)

Whether you’re a new mom, in the thick of it, or watching your kids grow up…

Running gives you:

A space that’s just yours
Mental clarity in the chaos
Energy to show up better for your family
Confidence in your body again
A lifelong example for your kids
An excuse to "hang" with other moms for hours each week

And maybe most importantly… It gives you identity beyond “mom”

You’re Not Falling Behind—You’re Building Something Bigger

If your pace isn’t what it used to be…

If your training looks different…

If your goals have shifted…

You’re not doing it wrong.

You’re evolving.

And if you stay consistent through this season—however imperfect it looks—you’re setting yourself up for something powerful:

Years of strong, healthy running

A family that moves together

A life built around what you love

Final Thought

One day, I really don't think I will look back and wish I spent more time, more miles, more. . . . .

I’ll look back and remember:

The miles I shared with my kids
The finish lines we crossed together or course I chased my kids on
The adventures we took as a family

And I’ll know…

I got it right.

If you’re in this season and trying to figure out how to train smarter (not just harder), this is exactly what I help runners do every day.

Because your running should fit your life—not fight it.

Happy running!

-Dayna,

your favorite Exercise Physiologist and Run Coach

Give your favorite Running Mother the Gift she wants most = Running Healthy!

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