Training for Life: Running Through Motherhood and Scoliosis

Whenever someone asks if I’m training for a race, my answer these past few years has been simple—and always the same:

“Nope, I’m training for life.”

And I mean it. Fully. Happily. Without sarcasm or even a hint of longing.

Because the truth is, my goals have shifted. From the later stages of pregnancy, into postpartum recovery, and now well into toddler-mom-hood, I’ve never stopped training—but my training serves a different purpose. I’m focused on movement that supports my back and helps me be strong for my daughter.

Motherhood is physically demanding in ways no training plan can prepare you for. When you layer scoliosis and a fused spine on top of that, each day becomes its own unpredictable challenge. Some mornings I wake up feeling rested, strong, and ready to tackle whatever lies ahead. Other days, my body and mind are like a choose-your-own-adventure book, except that I don’t actually get to choose anything at all—I have to live with whatever uncomfortable bodily chaos scoliosis decides to throw my way.

My goal right now is to find a rhythm that lets me stay active as a mom and stay present with our toddler. I’m leaning into (scoliosis pun!) a realistic weekly balance of running and resistance training—enough to keep building strength and endurance, but not at the cost of spending time with our daughter. She’s growing so fast, and it’s important to me that I can still scoop her up, carry her, and keep up with her energy—without overloading my back. Being fused from T4-L3-ish (I’ll have you know the “ish” is very important here) makes my lumbar spine more susceptible to discomfort and the impacts of everyday stressors, so I’m constantly kneeling or squatting to quite literally get on my toddler’s level. Bending down at the waist is like doing a long run without fuel: you can do it, but you’ll very likely regret it later.

Right now, it’s not about pushing limits. It’s about sustaining strength. It’s about having a realistic workout routine that supports both my body and my lifestyle.

Because also, here’s the thing: you don’t always need to be training for a race to call yourself a runner. That’s the beauty of running—it meets you where you are, in whatever season of life you’re in. I haven’t raced in over 2.5 years. And I remain unbothered by that. There are ways to challenge yourself and grow as a runner that don’t involve training for a race. 

Twenty-plus years of running with scoliosis has taught me that pace and distance matter less the older you get—what matters is continuing to show up, listening to your body, and embracing the ups and downs of the entire perfectly imperfect journey. And what works best for someone else might not necessarily be what’s best for you. Whether you’re logging 20 miles or 20 minutes, you’re still a runner.

So no, I’m not training for a race. I’m training to keep up with toddler mom life—to lift her without strain, to move through motherhood with strength and a little grace.

I’m training for life—and that’s more than enough right now.

(P.S. Did I just date myself by referencing choose-your-own-adventure books? Worth it.)