Run Like A Mother Book Review (and giveaway!)

Unless you've been living on a distant planet, you probably know that I don't read books. It's not that I don't like to or even that I don't want to. It's just that I am the type of person who has an incessant need to finish the things she starts. Immediately. And since I have three young children, it is a rare occasion that I get enough time to make it through an entire book. So, instead, I tend to stick to magazines (or blogs) where I only need to make it to the end of the article to feel like I have accomplished something.

But, a few months back, I was offered a chance to review Run Like A Mother, How to Get Moving - and Not Lose Your Family, Job or Sanity, by fellow mother-runners (and bloggers), Dimity McDowell and Sarah Bowen Shea. I immediately jumped at the chance. Their blog (which has now moved HERE) was one of the very first I ever read. I have always been inspired by their journey and was excited to be one of the select few to get an early look at their book.

So, when my copy arrived last week, I was eager to dive in. Run Like a Mother is structured in many ways like a blog. Broken into 26 chapters (with a .2 between each chapter, their nod to the final stretch of a marathon), the book reads like a conversation between friends. Barely able to contain myself, I put the girls to bed early (seriously) and got to reading. Let's just say I had high hopes for this book and by page three, I knew that McDowell and Shea had delivered. In the very first chapter, McDowell writes,

"When I run there's just me, with no agenda, putting one foot in front of the other, relishing the simplicity and grace of the motion. The trip-trap, trip-trap of my heels lull me into a dreamy space where the reality of my ulcer-inducing life doesn't faze me. Running is more powerful than any drug I've taken, and I'm fairly certain it's the elixir that has allowed me to maintain a sliver of my former self - and my sanity."

I read that paragraph and immediately turned to J and said, "I could have written this. It's like they are reading my mind. You NEED to read this too. It will make you understand why I run." He looked at me like I was crazy, but I was hooked. I didn't look up again until I finished the very last page.

McDowell, Shea and the numerous other mother-runners, who they quoted in the book, (including my buddy, Tall Mom Mel) inspire the reader to run. It's hard not to relate to their stories or to take away something from the multitude of running and mom related topics they touch upon. Unlike other running books I have read, Run Like A Mother, was truly written with the busy running mom in mind. Instead of discussions of VO2 Max and ideal body fat percentage, as the reader, you will find easy to understand snippets of useful running information that the everyday runner can benefit from (men and women alike). Whether it's tips on when you should replace your shoes or what to do when you need to pee mid-run and there isn't a toilet in sight, you will find it in this book.

Run Like A Mother is a must read. Their message transcends gender and whether or not you are a parent. McDowell and Shea show a true passion for running in their writing. A passion that can be appreciated by all runners.

Run Like A Mother, How to Get Moving - and Not Lose Your Family, Job or Sanity will be released on March 23rd. You can learn more about the book at their website and blog, Run Like A Mother: The Book.

And, one lucky reader can win their own copy, thanks to McDowell and Shea. Here's how to win (one comment per entry please!):

1. Become a follower of my blog and leave me a comment to let me know.

2. Become a Fan of Run Like A Mother: The Book on Facebook HERE and leave me a comment to let me know.

3. Repost this giveaway on your blog, Facebook, Twitter or anywhere else you can think of and leave me a comment to let me know (one entry for each repost).

Entries will be accepted until Friday, March 26th. Winner will be selected at random and announced on Saturday, March 27th.