Happy Mother’s Day!

You hear about Soccer Moms and Hockey Moms, but you never hear about Runner Moms.

I saw a runner mom the other day.  I was running down a country road, and as I always do, I raised my hand to acknowledge a driver who gave me a lot of space.  To my surprise, when I looked into the vehicle I was acknowledging, I didn’t just get a nod or wave back.  Instead, the driver, an older woman, was giving me a full-on grin, fist-pump in the air, outright cheer.  I thought: that lady is the mom of a runner!  I mean, she may have been a runner herself as well, but runners tend to be much more nonchalant when they are driving because they know darned well that the runner can’t tell they’re a runner unless they’re running!  Runner Moms on the other hand, they don’t care – they cheer anyway.

Being the mom of a runner is not the same thing as being a Runner Mom.  My mom is definitely a Runner Mom. My mom:

• Came over to my place with my dad, to help my husband build a shed while I sat on the deck with an icepack on my knee and watched.
• Goes to the market every Saturday morning to pick up our joint produce share because I am out on my long runs.
• Comes with my husband to drive extra sports drink out to me on epic long runs on hot days, and brings her cowbell to cheer for me.
• Asked for said-cowbell as a Christmas gift.
• Will hug me when I am sweaty and gross.
• Calls to run the dinner menu by me if we’re visiting her before a long run or race.
• Brags about how my brother and I ran a marathon to anyone who will listen.
• Gets up ridiculously early on a Sunday and drives an hour and a half with my dad to cheer for me at my races, even when it involves standing in the rain.

Thanks, Mom!