The best part about running as a recreational sport is that it is inclusive. That probably explains its popularity the world over. Anybody can run, it’s that simple. And the more runners I meet, I realise how therapeutic it is and how it forces you to take note of yourself. For me, it was as if I connected with myself for the first time when I started running. Even pregnancy had failed to do that for me. However, nowadays it also comes with a lot of noise and commotion. There is pressure of what races are you signing up for, your finish time, how much you are running in a week etc. It feels good initially as a new runner but slowly the pressure builds up. Of course, it’s great if you want to improve continuously and important to strength train to remain injury free but it’s not ok to constantly compare yourself with others. Continue Reading
This is a personal experience and not a sponsored post.
To let my son take a solo international flight was probably one of the toughest decisions I have taken in recent times. I don’t want to sound melodramatic but it’s not easy to let go off those tiny hands in this big world. And since it was a beautiful experience, I decided to write about it. Continue Reading
The most toned I have ever been!
It’s been more than a month now that I have been facing a runner’s block. I’m scared that I can’t run long distances any more. I haven’t done any long run this year except the one 10km in Feb. All I’m able to manage is a 5 km two times a week. At the same time, I have started baking a lot which means I’m also a eating a lot. Instead of constantly beating myself over it, I had to find something apart from running in order to keep my sanity. So for the past one month, I have added skipping (jump rope) once a week to my routine. I started with 200-300 and have moved up to 500-700 with a minute’s break after every 100 skips. I started it as a fun activity as I used to love it when I was a young girl. But then I got talking to some instructors and got to know that it is one of the best activities for –
- overall body strengthening – calves, upper back, shoulders.
- good for the heart
- An alternate, more engaging way to burn calories
- improves core strength
- Improves agility coordination
- Body toning
Like any other workout, warm up and cool down is essential and once again I learned it the hard way when I felt cramps in my calf. Also, replenishing salts post workout is essential, so I do consume electral or Fast & Up. I don’t do it too fast or too much (at least as of now), and love the way my body is toning up and things it’s doing to my upper back. I use a basic jump rope and instead of doing it on a concrete surface, I do it in the park on a less grassy patch.
I have been given a challenge to learn Double Unders (some intense form of jump rope) in 15 minutes by a Crossfit crazy friend. I will be sharing the video soon. And whether this will help me as a runner or not, I will only get to know once I start running. Sigh.
Note – Before trying out intense workout, do get your annual check up done and get a go ahead from you doctor.
I love Chocolate Ganache. The only problem being that I finish half of it licking. Ganache is also easy to spread on the cake or cupcakes. So when I’m in a mood to be a good mother, I let my son spread it and play with the toppings/sprinklers.
227 grams chocolate
180ml Amul fresh cream
- Chop the chocolate in small pieces.
- Heat the cream in the microwave in short bursts of 20 seconds each, 5-6 times
- Pour the cream over the chopped chocolate. Let the chocolate melt for about 2-3 mins.
- Mix well to avoid any lumps.
Note – I use Morde Dark Compound. I find Milk Compound too sweet. However, you can use any chocolate of your choice, Lindt may be 😉
For piping consistency ganache –
300 grams Chocolate
275ml Amul fresh cream.
Do tell me how it turned out.
When I became a mother 8 years back, it was a validation of my existence. It was as if I got to justify my right to occupy space on this earth in that very moment. And I lost myself in motherhood. The best way to describe it would be that I started “decaying in the gentle state of happiness” (quote borrowed from my favourite book). The only thing was that I wasn’t happy. I was making myself believe that I was. This realisation made me restless and I didn’t know what to do. To a lot of people, my life might have even seemed ideal. But I was being pulled in to a deep dark hole of misery and self pity. And I started finding comfort there. I saw myself as completely worthless once my son started spending more time in school and the park. I became extremely negative and didn’t think I was capable of anything including being a good mother.
Running saved me a lot of times but an injury took that away from me (for a few months) and that’s when I hit rock bottom. I realised that my home baking venture which had started as love for baking turned into waiting for appreciation from others. So when anyone smirked at my idea of baking as a business, it deeply affected me. I had never believed in New Year resolutions till then and was one of those people who make light of it. But two years back on this day, I decided that the only way to save myself was to turn my life around. I didn’t share my resolve with anyone as I was scared of being made fun of. No one took me seriously in any case. I was supposed to be this happy-go-lucky person with whom nothing could ever go wrong and could never be lost. It was a tough call to give up baking. I started meditating at home for 20 minutes on my own every day (Pranic Healing). I used to think meditation is a fancy thing rich people did. I don’t think I have ever been more wrong about anything in my life. I started forgiving people and myself for everything wrong that had happened in the past. I cried a whole lot. But I felt strangely light. It’s tough to describe that feeling unless you go through it yourself. I started looking at myself and situations more objectively, became less critical of myself and prepared to fail.
Around that time, I also started my blog with the hope of inspiring women like me to do something for themselves and to save themselves. The blog got noticed in more than one way and I started getting a bit of content writing work. It is a constant struggle to write when you are low but I didn’t want to give up this time, this was my only chance. I started receiving mails/messages from a lot of people(men and women both) that my blog is inspiring them to take up fitness/running and to revive their passion, which inspired me further to keep at it. I also realised that with so much happening I started to become a more understanding mother. And now all I want for my son is to feel loved and create his own journey.
In 2015, I got a lot of content writing work, I blogged more frequently, took good care of my son, have done several races (injury free!) – 2 full marathons, several half marathons, several 10kms, paced at Bengaluru marathon and my blog got covered in a national daily 🙂
I might not have achieved anything significant but enough to keep me going. At times, I feel a strong pull to go back in to the dark hole and trust me it’s very tempting but I have managed to kick its butt on most occasions and will continue to do so. But it all started with one resolution on a cold winter evening and some very supportive people.
You might also like https://momontherun.in/a-33-year-old-monk/
Every now and again there are moments that define us. These may not be massive, life-altering events. They could be everyday occurrences that throw light on who we are or what we have become. The realisation is as immediate as it is striking. I had one of those days recently which I know will alter some aspects of parenting for me forever.
Kabir was out for a picnic with his friends yesterday. It was a nice sunny winter afternoon. He was practically on his ripstik for 3 hours out of 4. Instead of coming back home from the picnic, he decided to play for 3 more hours in the society park. I don’t think there is anything better than free play, that too outdoors, for a child, so I let him be. He came home tired and devoured a full plate of chicken fingers at such speed that I was surprised he left the bones. Then came the tough part of getting him to do his dreaded Hindi homework and practice for dictation. Kabir hates Hindi and I suck at it so I happily passed on the task to my dad. But you can’t ever escape being a mother, can you?
Mistake 1 – He kept asking for dinner and I thought he’s making an excuse to escape homework, he’s done that in the past. In any case, how can one still be hungry after having so much chicken! It’s protein, isn’t it supposed to fill you up? He was cranky, unmanageable and pretty much refused to write a single word. I scolded him at the top of my voice while feeding him dinner (feeding him is something I rarely ever do) and despite my bitter words, he cheered up. I was proud of myself for being a ‘good’ bad cop.
In retrospect I realised it wasn’t my scolding that did it, it was food going into his system which did the trick. Yes an 8 year old, after playing for 7-8 hours, can be that hungry. And I thought I knew it all!
Mistake 2 – Kabir asked for a break after finishing his first bit of homework. I refused to oblige. And then he started complaining about pain near his waist. Since I was fuming already, I didn’t believe him and thought he is complaining of a stitch probably because of all the food he gobbled up so quickly. But no he wasn’t. He lifted his tee and there was a big fresh wound from his fall at the park.
I thought I will never fall in to this trap of disregarding something just because it is a child who is saying it. But I did. A lesson I wouldn’t forget for a long time to come.
Now that the “running season” has started and most of us are out on long runs during weekends, it got me wondering how our kids really view us and our running. What exactly is their perspective on this little hobby of ours! So I asked ten runner moms and this is what their little ones had to say. I can’t deny I had fun making this post. Cute and candid responses 🙂
Vaishali Kasture Son (7) – Mom runs because it makes her very happy.
Seema Pillai Daughter (11) – “Office is boring – so you want to have some fun”. Son (13) — ” Because you want to be fit and happy”.
Priyanka Sehgal Mehta Son (8) – because she wants to be fit. Daughter (5) – because she wants to bring medals and certificates home.
Preeti Daughter (11) “My mom suffers from a disease known as mad person disease. She claims she runs to keep the craziness away. Which sort of proves my point about mad person disease. My message to all you kids out there who have moms who run – I feel you”
Sangeeta Son (11) Because she likes to run and so that no clothes are SMALL for her.
Sonia Son (11 ) She is always running against time to manage home and work. Now she runs on roads to help her remain fit, release her tension and encourage others.
Tanya Daughter (4.5) – She likes to run because she likes to eat well and sleep well and then become strong.
Nipa Daughter (10) – to escape from her kids, but we always catch up. Son (8) To stay healthy and be able to keep up with us.
Sayuri Son (10) because she not get angry on me. 2) because she likes to wear running clothes. 3) because she like to be fitness.
