A Must Read Women Runners! And An Awesome Giveaway!

"Great book! It was one of the first books that I read when I started running.  Loved the humor and how realistic those ladies are about running and life--I guess they have plenty of experience."  Marisa Olsen

"Funny, warm, wise, real, engaging, smart and sensible--Run Like a Mother is everything you want in a running buddy on the road or on your bookshelf." --Tish Hamilton, executive editor, Runner's World.


"Run Like a Mother is like a good, long run--invigorating, clarifying, empowering, and essential.  Dimity and Sarah tap into the core of motherhood, friendship, and fitness and remind all of us like-minded sisters exactly why it matters so much.  The pages tick by like miles logged with a fit and favorite friend." --Kristin Armstong 

Run Like A Mother.  I see it everywhere.  This eye catching yellow book with the great cover.  The one that every woman seems to be talking about in the running community. I've read your reviews and giveaways for it and I've seen the t-shits and hats.  I've had so many of you recommend it, including the staff at Portland Running company and other running stores.  I know of friends that have been interviewed for it.  But, I've only just now finally read the book and I can honestly say that I LOVE it!  I can't believe that I waited so long to read this book!  As I sit down this morning with my coffee and time alone to really focus on the book that everyone has been talking about for so long, I am realizing how truly "Right On" it is! And not just for mothers but for women runners of all walks of life.  Don't let the title fool you...if you are a woman and you call yourself a runner, I am certain you will enjoy this book!

Run Like a Mother is written by Dimity McDowell and Sarah Bowen Shea but what I think is most brilliant about this book is that Dimity and Sarah have truly captured not only their words and thoughts but the voice of so many women runners and mothers.  They have asked and listened to our voices, stories, advice, struggles and joys as runners and they make our voice heard...the voices of so many women...sisters, daughters, mothers, girlfriends...YOU!  There is something for everyone here and they write about topics that we all think about and deal with as running women and mothers.

This book is written in a fun, sassy, REAL, raw and personal voice and when you are reading it, it is like having a cup of coffee and a down-to-earth chat with a close girlfriend.  I have found myself earmarking, highlighting, laughing, and feeling that "I'm not the only one!" feeling as I dapple in each of the chapters.  I especially love that the chapters are short and easy to read in snippets of time (perfect for the busy mother/woman). Of course there are many of you that will want to read this book from cover-to-cover or in one sitting. They break each chapter up with interesting and catchy subtitles, fun and relatable topics and advice, and quotes from so many of us!  Part of every chapter you will find:

• Practical Motherly Advice--advice about so many relevant topics like fueling, hydration, strength training, cross training, gear, shoes, hill running, trail running, bras and oh so much more!
• Mother Runner quotes from all of you that were interviewed for this book.  Your voice!
• Personal stories that we can relate to 

I love how the chapters are broken up to include different pieces of information.  There are 26 chapters...love how they did this....think Marathon here people!  My favorite part about each chapter (except 26) is that they end with a ".2" section...again, think Marathon.  I enjoy just flipping to the end of each chapter at random times during my busy week and reading the ".2's"...they are separate, fun and useful little write-ups tacked on to the end of the chapters that can be read as part of the chapter or like I do, read them alone.  I've even found myself tagging them to go back to for reference.  Here are some of my favorite ".2's":

• A Long Playlist for Running Long--I wish I would have seen this BEFORE my last marathon!
• Songs We Won't Admit Until Now--That We Listen To
• If You Give a Mom a Pair of Running Shoes and 40 Kid-Free Minutes (inspired by the book If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff)
• Marathon Foods That Go the Distance
• A Few of My Favorite Things
• My Running Neurosis...don't we all have certain things we obsess about?  
• This Is My Brain on a Run...this one was so funny!

The authors asked their readers about so many relevant topics and they included your answers for all of us to read, learn from, and relate to! Here are some of the topics they include in the Motherly Advice sections.  These are great to go back to again and again.

• When do you prefer to run?
• Mantras
• Favorite pieces of running clothing or outfits
• When do you know when it is time for a new pair of kicks?
• Favorite pieces of gear
• Music that fires you up
• Favorite speed and distance workout
• Best cross-training workout
• Most memorable races
• Fuel for running
• Running during pregnancy
• Post pregnancy running
• Injury and time away from running

If you haven't read this book and you are a woman, a mother, a runner, or all three of these things, I would make sure that this is a book you own!  It is a perfect gift for a runner friend...either someone new to running, a seasoned runner who is new to motherhood, or even seasoned running friends that may or may not be mothers!

And Here is your chance to OWN it Ladies! Along with some cool Run Like a Mother Sweaty Bands!

Dimity and Sarah are giving away a copy of the Run Like a Mother book and a sweaty band of your choice to TWO winners.  Got that?  Two of you will get a book and a sweaty band!  Pretty sweet deal! 

I'll keep this giveaway open for two weeks since we're talking TWO here.  So I'll announce a winner chosen by random.org on July 26, 2011!  

Mandatory:

*  Tell us why you want to win this giveaway. 

*  Check out Another Mother Runner website/blog and tell us what kind of sweaty band you like the best.   

Optional and extra entries (please leave a separate comment for each):

*  "like"  Run Like a Mother: The Book on Facebook by clicking on this link.  

*  "like" Runninghood on facebook and/or follow Runninghood blog

*  Share this giveaway by blogging, facebook, tweeting, etc.  

Amanda


P.S.  Some of you have heard me talk about The Art of Runninghood...well, it has evolved into something different than I think many of you think it is.  My mom and and I have started a mother/daughter site called The Art of Runninghood.  It is so much more than art...especially the Sticklete Runner art...this is just a small part of it.  Although it will be a site for us to sell art and other things (eventually artsy Runninghood hats and t-shirts), it is also a blog about so much more.  If you enjoy my reflective, insightful, and even spiritual posts on life and motherhood then I think you will really enjoy The Art of Runninghood.  Please check it out, share it if you like it, and help us grow by putting us on your blogrolls. It is lonely over there. We need a community! Thanks for helping us get it started!  The first post explains it all!