Saturday, March 20, 2010

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.

76 comments:

gba_gf said...

I follow you. ...figuratively and literally it would seem.

Relentless Forward Commotion said...

Don't enter me, I'm reading my copy right now! I just wanted to say I totally agree-as I'm reading, I'm nodding to myself thinking, THEY ARE READING MY MIND!!

Christine Jensen said...

I totally want to read this one. I enjoy their blog and the book sounds wonderful! I already follow your blog :)

kissyjensen at gmail dot com

Christine Jensen said...

I became their facebook fan (by the way as a follower I am listed as Chris)

kissyjensen at gmail dot com

Shellyrm ~ just a country runner said...

I am working through my copy too. If I EVER get my littlest one to sleep through the night so I can have more time to read. So far it is just as you reviewed (great job by the way!!). It is just like they were reading my mind too!

Anne said...

Faithful follower here :)

Anne said...

I'm a fan on facebook!

Anne said...

And am posting it on my blog as we "speak" ;)

I really want this book...so please pick me :) :)

Carly said...

I'm a follower.

Molly said...

I'm a follower, I love to read, and would love to read that book!

Anonymous said...

ok i love those two ladies....i used to read there blog when they wrote for runners world....the book sounds awesome even for a non mother i can relate! love it and great giveaway :)
thanks for posting my giveaway on your side bar!
i am adding you to my blog roll which means i follow your blog:)

Sarah Bowen Shea said...

I can't thank you enough for this wonderful review. I honestly have tears in my eyes as your words validate that Dimity and I achieved what we set out to do. Thank you, thank you!

T said...

I follow your blog!

T said...

I am now a FB fan of the book.

Melissa said...

I am a follower of yours.

Melissa said...

Just became a FB fan of the book!

ajh said...

I am a follower.

ajh said...

I am posting it on my blog.

Sarah said...

I follow you :)

Sarah said...

Now following them on fb

Unknown said...

I'm following you.

Unknown said...

I've linked your giveaway to my blog.

Jess said...

I follow your blog!

Jess said...

I became a FB fan.

Jess said...

I posted about the giveaway on my FB status.

Jill said...

I would love to read this. I have been watching it on Amazon, but haven't hit the button to preorder.

Jill said...

FB fan of the book.

Jill said...

Tweet http://twitter.com/ohmmommy/status/10806484169

Momma Twitch said...

I'm a follower!

Momma Twitch said...

Linked ya on my blog! I hope I win, I hope I win...I wanna read this book!!!

misszippy said...

Great minds think alike (check out my last post!)

Allie said...

I would love to win this book. I'm a follower!!

Allie said...

I'm a FB fan now as well.

Erica said...

i follow you like it's my job!

Erica said...

I am a fan on facebook!

Michelle said...

I'm a follower. I gave up FB for Lent, so I'll get on that after Easter.

I read the article they had in Runner's World last month. Looks like a great book!

Anonymous said...

read their RW article and loved it.
we've all been there a million times.

Anonymous said...

i'm following you now.
before I was just a wanna-be

Anonymous said...

now I got it on my blog roll.

LB said...

im a follower already!

LB said...

just became a facebook fan

Judi said...

I am a follower of your blog.

Judi said...

Posted the giveaway on my blog!

LB said...

linked you on my blog www.myreasontorun.blogspot.com

Tortuga_Runner said...

already a follower.

Robyn said...

Already a follower:)

jamie@sweatyhugs said...

Love your blog! I am now an official follower. :)

jamie@sweatyhugs said...

I've been a fan of RLAM on Facebook for a while now. :)

jamie@sweatyhugs said...

I'm going to edit my most recent post about the book, to add your giveaway information. Whoohoo!

Very cool that you're running the CB 10 miler!

Sarah said...

Already a follower! :)

Sarah said...

Fanned the book on Facebook too. After reading the excerpt on Google books, I definitely want to check out the whole thing!

K said...

I follow you!

K said...

I am a fan on fb!

Katie A. said...

I TOTALLY follow you ;)

Katie A. said...

Became a fan on FB!
Oh, and I've been reading these lovely ladies blog since they started on Runners World.com! So excited for them both!!

Croughwell said...

I am a follower!

Croughwell said...

I am a fan on Facebook.

T said...

Just linked the giveaway in on my sidebar.

T said...

And tweeted about it!

Anonymous said...

i'm a follower of you now

Anonymous said...

i'm a fb fan

Anonymous said...

i tweeted

Anonymous said...

i fb status'd too :)

Anonymous said...

and sent some link love your way

Lisa said...

I'm a follower now.

akjenniekt said...

I am a now a follower and a fan on facebook. Sign me up :-)

Lisa said...

I'm already a fan of Run Like a Mother on FB.

Lisa said...

This giveaway is linked on my blog now.

akjenniekt said...

And I just posted/linked it on my blog :-).

Olivia's Mommy said...

I'm already a follower, does that count?

Olivia's Mommy said...

I just became of a fan of the Run Like a Mother Book FB page

*~*~* Tracy said...

I follow you

*~*~* Tracy said...

I became a fan

*~*~* Tracy said...

I linked your giveaway on my blog.
Thanks!

Stephanie said...

I linked your giveaway to my blog...http://girlsjustwannagorun23.blogspot.com

Thanks!

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