Karla Borland shares a story that many runners can relate to – the transformation of a disapproving mother into an enthusiastic runner.
My mother has always been what a Scottish friend affectionately called a “nippy sweetie.”
She’s the kind of person who bakes and cooks obsessively for anyone who’s unwell, willingly helps me with housework in her spare time, and is incredibly generous. However, she’s also the person who regularly criticizes my appearance, wonders why I have wrinkles at such a young age, and for years, compared my passion for running to having a serious mental health condition.
Once, she even said, “People are talking about you running in all weather conditions, even in the rain. You’re lucky they haven’t institutionalized you by the side of the road.”
“Concerns about Knee Health”
For years, my requests for running gear like base layers, socks, or a head torch on my Christmas list went unanswered. Whenever I tried to go for an early morning run, I was met with disapproving sighs whenever I visited home on weekends.
When my mom and dad came to watch me run in the London Marathon, my mom wondered if they could spend the whole morning shopping on Oxford Street instead (fortunately, my proud father vetoed this idea).
During phone conversations, whenever I mentioned feeling tired after a weekend of being on-call at work, my mother would tell me that I was running too much and should focus on my job (she has a strong work ethic). Up until a couple of years ago, suggesting any form of exercise other than walking was like suggesting a 4-day workweek.
An Unexpected Twist
Therefore, it came as a surprise when I discovered that my mom had taken up running and was now running on the beach five mornings a week.
It was less surprising to find out that she’s actually quite talented as a runner. She’s the most competitive and determined person I know, even more so than my Olympic gold medalist husband. I wouldn’t dare challenge her to a game of bridge or table tennis – her new retirement hobbies – because she’d undoubtedly beat me.
Now, in addition to our usual phone conversations about the latest news and updates, which mostly consist of my mom listing all the sick or deceased people in the North Coast of Northern Ireland, we also discuss topics like pre-run bathroom habits and running gear.
According to my dad, my mom has single-handedly supported the activewear brand Sweaty Betty during lockdown with her purchases of matching running outfits. Compared to her stylish attire, my own mismatched and drab running gear looks pitiful.
She’s even claimed dibs on my Nike Next % trainers once I’m done with them, although I’m not sure how much advantage she’ll gain from them on Portstewart Strand.
How about Interval Training?
Some of our conversations have been quite amusing. I once suggested that my mom try interval training to improve her speed, but she remained unconvinced, despite my explanation of the physiological benefits. Needless to say, she never attempted interval training. What’s even funnier is that she now claims to have never had any negative feelings about running in the past, which greatly amuses me.
Recently, my mom told me that running is like brushing your teeth – the day doesn’t feel complete until you’ve done it. And I have to admit, I agree with her.
But perhaps the most unexpected thing of all is the immense pride and joy I feel seeing my mom enjoy running so much.
Running with my mom on the beach is a truly special and unexpected experience. It’s something I never thought I’d get to do, and I hope we continue this together for a long time.