Train Like a Mother: How to Get Across Any Finish Line - and Not Lose Your Family, Job, or Sanity

by Dimity McDowell, Sarah Bowen Shea

Since the publication of their first book, Run Like a Mother, the authors have built up an engaged, vibrant tribe of women runners--more than 10,000 fans on Facebook and an average of 2,500 daily visitors to anothermotherrunner.com--who are clamoring for another book. At its core, Train Like a Mother will comprehensively cover how to train for a race, including training plans for four race distances (5K, 10K, half-marathon, and marathon) for both beginner and more experienced runners; the importance of recovery; pre- and post-race nutrition; strength training; injury prevention (and rehab); and everything busy women need to know to add racing to their multitasking schedules. It is all presented with the same wit, empathy, and tone the avid fans connect and identify with.The book is divided into 13.1 chapters--the distance of a half-marathon, the sweet spot for many mother runners--narrated by both Sarah and Dimity. Like the first book, Train Like a Mother chapters have plenty of sidebars, including Practical Motherly Advice (helpful information about training- and race-related advice), Take It from a Mother (advice and answers from the growing tribe of running moms), and Racy Talk (entertaining, race-related stories from the authors and other moms). The .1 sections are entertaining "commercial breaks" celebrating the sport of running and the added thrill of racing.

Genres: Nonfiction, Fitness, Health, Self Help, Sports, Inspirational

240 pages, Paperback

First published March 20, 2012

Reviews

[Kyria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a comprehensive training plan for any level of runner. Whether you are running your first 5k, your first marathon or your 47th, you will like the easy training plans, explanations of how to eat, what to wear on race day and many others in between.

It not only has training schedules, but funny antidotes along the way of why you should follow a certain schedule and how it's worked for other runners. They talk about many practical parts of running and juggling life, whether you are a mother or not. They also go over some pretty sensitive issues, that some others may not talk about. They call it TMI Tuesday and some of the subjects are things like chafe, going commando and various other things that happen in weird places.

The book even comes in 13.1 clever chapters! The only thing I can say that I did not like about this book is that they have question and answer sections scattered throughout. While I like the idea and love the input from other runners, I wish they were concentrated at the back of each chapter instead of being randomly placed, since that meant I had to stop what I was reading to read them instead, so it broke the flow of my concentration. But that is my only complaint. Otherwise, this was an enjoyable book!

I give it 4 stars. I would recommend this book to a friend in a heartbeat!

[Adriane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me want to train for another race. That’s what a running book should make you want to do, right? Easy to read and perfect for beginning level training.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was super easy to read and very informative! It made me LOL a lot too. Great for any "mother runner"

[sahra]

Eh. Mostly stories about the authors running experience and about half marathon and marathon training. Basically, if you're interested in learning more about getting faster for 5ks and 10ks, you can skip the whole six pages devoted to short distances and look up articles online.

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book, full of useful information and clear training plans. I especially like that there are two sets of training plans (Finish It or Own It) for each length race, so the book will remain relevant for me while I build my strength and confidence as a runner. Also great if you are just getting back into running after having a baby or working through any other health issue. The training plans are the first that I have seen take into account life outside of running. Having a kid means having to schedule running in and it also means that I can't be out of commission indefinitely while recovering from a workout. In addition to being chock full of useful information, it is also a very entertaining read! I highly recommend this book to any beginning runner!

[Sarah Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first running book I have ever read and if they are all like this, I may read a few more. I recently started running and even after a couple months I still didn't consider myself a runner. After reading this I do. I have always been a bit intimidated by runners; thinking they must have way more endurance than I do, so it was really nice to hear how hard running can be, even for people who do it all the time. I think this was a great book for anyone who runs, even if your not a mother. I enjoyed it enough that I plan on buying it, if just for the training plans. They seem really reasonable and since I have a 10K and a half marathon this year, I'm gonna need some training!

[Kimberly Scearce-levie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got me through the half marathon; let’s see how it does for the full 26.2!

[Laura Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the personality of the authors. They are real and they are funny while offering practical advice for runners. I’m switching it up this season and leaving Hanson’s for a the Mother Runner plan. We shall see!

[Sherri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a delightful read. I enjoyed the humor of the authors, the stories they told, and the various advice that is peppered throughout. I've never heard of Run Like a Mother, but it's definitely something that I want to check out now!

[Kimberley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Useful training plans

Useful training plans, but not much else here. Not very detailed advice. I Did enjoy the personal stories from others.

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the candid style. The half training plan was amazing. The tips to get through training were extremely helpful and motivating.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good info, fun stories. Found it useful and entertaining. Helped me see myself as a runner.

[Mindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Some good info and some funny stories but I did not take a tremendous amount away from it. Enjoyed the first one better.

[Kirstin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely a useful book for mother runners looking to train for a race.

[Ashley Coberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but not my favorite

[Kierstin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just another book on training for races. It has beginner and advanced plans and lots of humor.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was alright, not as enjoyable as Run like a Mother.

[RebL · Rating 3 out of 5]

The sequel to Run Like a Mother, which I preferred, but with more training plans.

[Hannah Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, can’t say enough good things about this book!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listen to their podcast and love them! So as I was reading I could hear their voices and laughter throughout. I love hearing their running advice especially because they are not elite athletes. They are regular women with the normal struggles a lot of us have with running. The book also highlights advice from other mother runners and includes training plans. I great read for any woman who likes to run or who is thinking about taking on a new race distance.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this kindle book for $1.99 a few days ago through BookBub on Amazon. It's still on sale!

I'm currently training for my 2nd duathlon which is in less than two weeks and wanted some motivation. I'm also hoping to start training again for another half marathon. A friend, who is a runner, recommended this book.

The book includes training plans for various race lengths and levels of effort, tips about nutrition, cross training, race day, and more. But, my favorite part of the book were the quotes at the end of each chapter. These were answers to various questions by other runners. I just found many of these humorous or touching to the point that I got teary eyed a few times.

Some quotes to the "question", "When I cross a finish line I feel..."

"Unstoppable."
"Relief"
"Like I can conquer the world and anything it throws at me."
"Like I'm going to die."
"Victorious, even though I haven't won."

I just loved it when I could relate to these other runners... and even when I couldn't!

The only thing I didn't really appreciate was some of the language. I guess it is primarily one of their slogans about being a "bad***" mother runner". I probably won't read their other book because of this, but I did come away with a lot of things that were good, too!

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of my complaints with their previous book (Run Like a Mother) is that it didn't have any training plans. In this book, they remedy that oversight by teaming up with a coach/trainer. They provide 2 plans ("Finish It" and "Own It") for each distance (5K, 10K, half, marathon). They also explain speed workouts, intervals, etc. in much more detail. Hard-core runners who are already comfortable with their training regimen might not get anything from this, but everyone else (probably even total beginners) will. It's not just training plans, though, they also have their personal anecdotes sprinkled through, practical advice on how to manage running and a family, and so on. All in all, a much better book than RLaM.

[Helen Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a mother but I do enjoy the banter between these two "mother runners". I think between them they cover the range between the performance/clock driven runner and the more casual "run to be with my friends" kind of runner.

They touch on everything from busy schedules, to clothes, to workouts that you hate but have to do anyway.

It also includes two different training plans (each) for 5K, 10K, 1/2 and full marathon distances. Their workouts all include a "don't miss" day and a "blow off if you must" day which is a nice feature.

I'm anxious to try one of the plans for a training cycle but I'm not sure which one yet.

**Special Note** I originally purchased this on Kindle but returned it in favor of the paper book. Training plans were really hard to read on the kindle and couldn't be photocopied for doodles and notes as you progress through the plan.

[Mindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I did get tired very quickly of all the running adjectives dropped in almost every sentence (and that's really my biggest complaint of the whole book), I thought this book gave a good grip on running for beginners to those with a few laps around the track (whoops, there's my own). I think the read was a bit more balanced than their first book. They've obviously matured in their own running and in life in general and I think you get a better perspective from both.

There is a resource section in the back that is not to be missed. If the training plans weren't worth the price of the book, this section seals the deal.

If you want to feel camaraderie of being a woman and a runner, RLAM is for you. If you want to cross a finish line, woman or not, running buddies or not, TLAM is your book.

[Allisonjam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this book a lot. However, I do like Tales From Another Mother more. This book is very good for practical running advice. I am somewhat following the workouts for the 10k own it plan and there is a lot of humor sprinkled throughout. However, I think maybe the practical elements of it is what made me like it a little less than Tales. Tales has a lot of non-fiction essays and the flow was similar to reading memoirs and fiction, which I think I generally prefer. In some ways, this reminded me of how short stories are put together, the way there is a less of a flow (like in chapters) and more of an abrupt stop. I am not usually a fan of short stories, so maybe there is that bias showing. However, I would recommend reading this for all variety of runners, as it has training plans and tips for people that are beginning to run 5ks to people wanting to improve on their marathon times.

[Nicki Conroy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a mother and are thinking about running a race, this book is MUST read. It includes training plans for 5K, 10K, half marathon and full marathon distances. It has cross training items in it.

More importantly than all of that, it has real life tidbits from both authors and other mothers who filled out a survey for the authors.

I am truly looking at spending time tonight to re-do my April marathon training schedule and move to the Own It plan in TLAM.

Connect with Sarah and Dimity (the authors) at their website, anothermotherrunner.com, or on the Run Like a Mother facebook page or on Twitter (@SBSontherun, @Dimityontherun, @themotherrunner).

I will have a more detailed review on my website (nickisnook.net) in the next week.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I debated between three and four stars, but decided on four because of the training schedules. I have been feeling like I needed more direction on how to work up my distance and speed to be able to run my first 10k. But the free training schedules online didn't have you run longer than 4 or 5 miles (that's still over a mile I'd have to do without practicing at the race) and the trainers at the gym are having me do base building exercises which only get me 2-3 miles a workout. How do I get to 6.2? These training schedules really spell out how to increase distance and speed, with a long run in the training of 7 miles! A 10k will be easy after that, right? There are also training schedules for 5k, half-marathon and marathon.

[Sara Burt · Rating 5 out of 5]

First book I have ever read on the topic. I was a skeptic going in because my runs have always been for my sanity and my soul. I did not want my routine messed with. However, these statements right out of the block convinced me training is worth it: "Training hones your mind to handle discomfort, pride, dejection, boredom, and elation, sometimes all within nano seconds of one another. Training means you might suffer more than you're used to." "Training gives you quantitative measurements of your improvement, when the rest of your life is blurry and difficult to pinpoint with any kind of progress. Training lets you feel a mini victory every day. But more than anything, training is a reminder that hard work gets rewarded."

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this one even more than Run Like a Mother. I laughed out loud--a lot--particularly when Dimity is the one speaking. Although the section on TMI was not only hilarious, but enlightening! I also cried and cried when I read the acknowledgement page. (Yes, I always read those.) I know how much juggling it takes for me to fit in runs (and I KNOW I have it pretty easy), but to try to put a book together, write other articles, raise your kids and fit in your runs had to be much more difficult than what I have to do each day. I think I just like to see that nearly everyone has difficulties balancing their responsibilities as well as their fun. :)

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Train Like a Mother follows up with more specific information on racing different distances and detailed training plans for each distance. There is a "finish it" and an "own it" plan each for 5K, 10K, half-marathon, and marathon distances. In addition, there is more information on topics like nutrition and strength training, and more great stories and anecdotes.
The authors have developed a big social media following (website, Facebook, Twitter, podcast, etc) and I was a bit hesitant to jump on some trendy mother-runner bandwagon. But the authors are so down-to-earth and relatable and likable that it's easy to see why they are so popular.