There was a time when I thought all of my athletic days were behind me. Somewhere along the way I realized my motivation to train and compete didn’t have to end just because I became a parent. In fact, I believe it has helped me become a better parent. My kids know I’m a runner. They know that if they wake up early any given morning, I will most likely be running. My youngest, who is three, thinks that whenever I’m gone, daddy’s home and “mama’s at runnin.”

As a competitive runner and a mother of four, I am often asked, “How do you have time to run with kids?” I’m sure other parents who exercise regularly are probably asked similar questions. Years ago when my oldest was a baby, I learned quickly that you cannot find the time to exercise. You have to make the time. Usually this means waking up early and getting it done before my job as a mom begins.

When I head out for a run in the early hours of the morning my house is unusually quiet. I have a few minutes to get ready and focus on what I have planned for the morning. Running helps me think clearly and is a huge stress relief. I feel much more energized and refreshed after a run. The competitive runner in me loves pushing myself to work harder, to get stronger, and to run faster.

When I return home, it is immediately time to switch gears and go into mom mode. There is breakfast to be made, kids to get ready and so much to do! I know that if I slept in and waited until a “more convenient time,” it would never happen. By making the time to take care of myself, I know I will be able to take care of those around me.

Our children learn so much from our example. My kids have each asked if they could run with me at different times. When I run with them around the block or in a race, I try to make the experience a positive one so they will want to do it again. On one occasion, I was heading out the door for a workout when my five-year-old daughter asked if we could run together. The competitive runner in me wanted to get my own workout in for the day, but the mom in me was so proud of my little girl for showing initiative and wanting to run. I decided my own workout could wait a few minutes. We started by running around the block together. She decided she wanted to keep going and make it a whole mile. I’d never run alongside someone in Dora pajamas before, but if anyone could pull it off she could. Halfway through the run she looked at me and said in all sincerity, “You do this every day?!” I couldn’t help but smile. Suddenly she had this new appreciation for me and how hard I trained. We finished holding hands and she felt so accomplished. She couldn’t wait to tell everyone at home what she did.

I want my children to see the value of health and fitness. I want my kids to learn that getting better at something takes time and a lot of practice. I love when they are able to come to one of my races. Hearing them cheer means more to me than they’ll ever know. They know I do not always win but I do my best. I want them to see a mom who sets high goals for herself and tries to achieve them. I want them to see the importance of hard work and dedication. More than anything I want them to know that they are loved. I want them to know they mean more to me than any job or hobby I could ever have. In balancing these two areas of my life, it helps to show my children that they can take care of the people they love while also taking care of themselves.