When I tell people that my mom, Sandy, is my running partner, they're often surprised. Maybe they even think that it's sweet of me, a 32-year-old, to run with my 54-year-old mom (who's also a grandma to my two boys, by the way). But in any case, they're even more surprised when I tell them that not only is she a great partner, but she's also a lot faster than me.
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This comes as less of a surprise to people who know my mom—she's fit, she's toned, and she's the one who got me interested in running in the first place.
It all started 6 years ago when we took a running class. Yes, a class that teaches you how to run. I never knew this was a thing until my mom asked me to take one with her.
She wanted to get into running to mix up her fitness routine, and since we live close to each other, she convinced me to sign up for a Running 101 class with her. During the 8-week classes, we ramped up slowly, walking for a while and then running for 5 or 10 minutes at a time. Over time, we gradually increased the duration, until we could run comfortably for 40 minutes straight.
MORE: Turn Your Walk Into A Run...And Drop A Size In 4 Weeks
Six years later, we're an inseparable running team. Here are 4 benefits you can get from running with your mom.
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