By Nina Alviar
The three of us were walking through the golden sunny hills on Greenough Drive, our babies all within a month’s age of each other and strapped into our matching Baby Bjorns. We walked with gusto, like Mom’s who wanted to see the familiar shape of their derrieres return after the spreading of pregnancy. Truckin’ through stands of trees, becoming breathless on the winding uphill climbs – we were invigorated. Except it was hard for me to “keep on truckin’.” I had to keep stopping to tend to my baby.
I know to this day that the ladies would say that they didn’t mind every time I had to flip Marquez the other way like a pancake in the Bjorn. Or every time they had to wait for me to nurse him while they stared at llamas and while the llamas stared back. Or when I just slung the Bjorn over my shoulder and held Marquez for the last half mile, slowing me down. But I felt terrible holding them up – of course their babies slept the whole time. I wanted to be in a bigger group of exercising moms where maybe there’d be at least one other baby who was a non-stop nursing pancake.
These days, as a runner and a mother, I know that it can be intimidating to join a running class or training group – I might be the slowest, I might have my baby in the jogger and lag behind if he needs me. So with running-mom Eva Dunn-Froebig of Run Wild Missoula, I helped to develop the New Parent Training Class.
We’re gonna train for a 5K and we don’t care how many times we have to stop and feed, change or cuddle our babies. We’re going to run, walk and learn together in a supportive environment and achieve a goal. This is a training class “Where parents are understood.” Yep, parents. Dads/partners are welcome, too. You’re welcome to come with baby* or without—it’s up to you.
Neil Chaput de Saintonge at the River City Roots Run in August 2008
Here’s what you get: Comprehensive training program to complete a 5K, weekly group runs on Tuesdays at 6 p.m., speakers, a nutrition plan, a nifty “Run Wild Missoula New Parent Class” hat, and other parents to run with! It costs $25 for Run Wild Missoula members, $50 for non-members. Class starts Tuesday, May 18 at 6 p.m. and continues until the Hellgate Village 5K on July 10, the day before the Missoula Marathon and during the Missoula Marathon Expo. (oh yeah!) Class meets at Runner’s Edge, 325 N. Higgins Ave. Check out www.runwildmissoula.org for registration information, and if you have any questions, please email me (Nina Alviar) at ninatanna@yahoo.com.
*We gotta say it – to participate moms must be at least six weeks postpartum unless they have a release from their doctor. Babies should be at least six months old before they can ride in a jogger stroller. Please consult with your pediatrician. We can’t wait to meet you (and your little pancake.)
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One more amazing, inspiring resource in our community! I love it.
Awesome idea ladies. Way to say yes to life and not let obstacles hold you back. Best of luck.