Train Like a Mother (book review)

When Sarah and Dimity from Another Mother Runner contacted me back in March about offering me a copy of their newest book, Train Like a Mother: How to Get Across Any Finish Line - and Not Lose Your Family, Job, or Sanity to review, I had to admit I was more than a bit stoked.  I've loved following these ladies on twitter (the links are above) and Facebook for quite some time. While I haven't yet read their first book, Run Like a Mother, I was so excited to get my hands on their newest endeavor (note to self: order Run Like a Mother).  I held off reading until our road trip south for spring break, which was a HUGE mistake because I found I couldn't read in the car in all the stop and go traffic and twisty mountain roads.  I should've started reading before we left because I found I didn't want to put it down!

In the style of my typical Thursday posts, I've decided to do a Thursday Three: the top three loves of Train Like a Mother because, seriously, I could have listed hundreds and needed to limit myself. So here we go...

1. Sarah and Dimity are friends and their writing style is that of a couple girlfriends chatting with you over a beer.  They are down-to-earth and clearly love running.  They are also both quite different in their running pursuits and many of their preferences - but they whole-heartily agree that commando is the way to go!  Train Like a Mother was a fast, fun and easy read.  Plus, they're both pretty damn funny and not afraid to tell it like it is, whether the subject be nutrition (you mean Red Vines aren't a healthy lunch?) or bodily fluids (yep, the rag happens).
2. I loved the layout of the book.  13.1 chapters.  As a fan of half-marathons, that number cracked me up.  At the end of each of the 13 chapters, ranging from why many of us run, training plans, training questions, dealing with injuries (my current favorite chapter that I'll be re-reading several times over the next few weeks as I try to heal my shin splints and save my spring racing season), nutrition and race goals, there is a .1 mini-chapter.  These mini chapters contained some of the best and funniest goodies in the book.  Putting the "TMI Tuesdays Greatest Hits" at the end of the "Injuries" chapter was pure genius.  "The Running Path" - an homage to The Giving Tree - literally brought tears to my eyes. 
3. The race plans.  I subscribe to Runners World.  I read a ton of running blogs.  I've been running for a few years now but certainly do NOT profess to know ANYTHING about running or how to create a decent running plan.  Sarah and Dimity worked with Christine Hinton to create not one but TWO training plans for all the major race distances: 5k, 10k, 1/2 marathon, and full marathon, plus a bonus "bike-to-run" plan for runners returning from injury.  The plans are designed as a "Finish It" plan for beginning runners to that distance and an "Own It" plan for runners with a bit more experience who are looking to kick some serious asphalt.  They are easy to understand and flexible for busy runners (not just mother runners!) to be successful.  Once my body is ready to start running again, I'm hoping to use that Own It half marathon plan to kick some serious ass this fall.  

So there you go - 3 excellent reasons to go out and get yourself a copy of Train Like a Mother.  I'm sure you'll love it as much as I did.  (Make sure you follow Sarah and Dimity on twitter and Facebook, too.  You won't regret it!)

Thank you SO MUCH, Dimity and Sarah, for sending me such a funny, informative, and entertaining book to read.  I can't wait to read Run Like a Mother next!

Mumbo-jumbo: I was provided with a copy of Train Like a Mother by Dimity and Sarah. I wasn't compensated for this review and the opinions are all my own.