Hi, I’m Sharon. Welcome to Mommy Runs It!

This started out as an ordinary running mom blog. You know the type:

Mom meets running.

Mom falls in love with running.

Mom starts training for increasingly ridiculous distances, much to the bewilderment of her non-running friends and family.

Mommy. Runs. It. Right?

image courtesy of 1st Place Sports

All of that changed in December 2015 when I was diagnosed with a spinal condition called spondylolisthesis. (Yeah, I know, spondy-what? Click HERE to learn more.)

I had to stop running. And as my condition progressed and my daily pain worsened, I eventually had to give up almost all physical activity. Less than 6 months later, I found myself in the operating room undergoing a spinal fusion – a major procedure with a long and tough recovery.

Mommy Doesn’t Run It.

My surgeon restricted me from running for a minimum of 6 months post-surgery. But to be honest, especially in early recovery, running hasn’t been much of a consideration. First I had to retrain myself to do everyday things like shower and use the stairs in my two-story house. I had to regain the strength to care for two very active kids.

In other words, I have to focus on the Mommy part first. The Runs part – well, only time will tell how and when that’ll happen.

First I run the errands. Then I run the miles.

My Running Story

I wasn’t always a runner. I grew up as a dancer, but I despised team sports and going to the gym. That all changed in 2008, when I found out that the YMCA offered 2 hours of free childcare and cable television on all of the cardio equipment. Sold!

There were days when I dropped the kids off, plopped myself down on a stationary bike, and watched Keeping Up with the Kardashians. No lie. But eventually I started to enjoy working out. It was good for my mental health, and it appealed to my vanity, i.e. I wasn’t afraid to wear a bikini in public. I eventually started incorporating running into my workouts. I come from a family of runners, so I guess it’s not all that surprising that I liked it.

In the spring of 2012, I heard about Jeff Galloway’s Run-Walk-Run program – and on a whim, I signed up to train for a marathon with my local Galloway Training program. I ran my first marathon in February 2013, my second marathon in February 2014, and a whole bunch of half marathons and 5Ks in between. I’ve experimented with other training methods, but so far I’ve been most successful with the Galloway method.

More About Me

I’ve been married to Victor since 2003. He’s my partner in crime, in life, and in this blog. He contributes articles from time to time, as does my dad, a lifelong runner.

We have two beautiful daughters who are bright, creative, and incredibly strong-willed. Our life is fun and challenging and messy, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. (Well, maybe we would a little.)

I love yoga and all kinds of dance, especially ballet. I’m an avid beachcomber, a crossword puzzle enthusiast, and a Netflix binge watcher. I love to read but rarely make it all the way through to the end of a book. I’m not very good at crafting or cooking, but I try hard at both. I’m obsessed with Instagram and yoga pants, especially Teeki. I hate being late but I’m always late. And I make lots of mistakes, despite usually having the best of intentions.

What to Expect

When I started this blog in 2013, I was learning how to be a runner. Today I’m learning how not to be one. In these (web) pages, I share my story – about recovering from an injury, living with a fused spine, and finding my way back to a fit and happy life.

Trust me, I’d much rather write about running gear and race recaps. But it is what it is, and I’m going to make the best of it. I hope to be a resource for other injured runners, people with back or spine problems, or anyone trying to stay active and fit while living with chronic pain or illness. Or if you’re here for the giveaways and promo codes, that’s cool too. Either way, I hope you’ll stay a while.