In my twenties, I use to run 5 miles and then do strength training for an hour, sometimes seven days a week. Was I obsessed? No, I just had that kind of desire and motivation.

These days I wake up with the same desire and motivation, but it usually fizzles out by 8 am. I start with the best intentions. I put on my work out clothes and check the gym schedule but apparently my kids don't always get the memo. So if mommy doesn't get any sleep or breakfast takes a turn for the worse, I lose all my enthusiasm.

 I am even lucky enough to have a treadmill and a jogging stroller, but there are days I still can't get inspired.  Then while I'm driving, I become envious of all the people running, especially of the woman I frequently see running on River Road with her blue jogging stroller. 

When my first child was born, I found myself in the same exercise funk that I am in now.  She was four-months-old when I joined a running group called Mommy Runs. Every Saturday for eight weeks I met with other moms and a training coach. This way I had no excuse, I had other people counting on me and that was the incentive I needed.

Together, we trained for a 5k run, after that 5k I kept the running schedule with one of the new mom friends I had made. During that time, I even recruited other friends to run with and together we ran the Long Branch half marathon in 2009.

 Once again four months after the birth of my son, I am back in my running depression and my previous running partners are pregnant.

 I really thought after I had my son I would have a great schedule for myself. I am not working anymore and my daughter is in afternoon pre-school 3 days a week. I figured in addition to some of morning classes at the gym, I would come home and run with the jogging stroller in the afternoons. Are you still laughing?

So for 2011 I am setting 2 goals for myself.

First, I signed up for the Long Branch Half Marathon again, this time with my husband. Now I need to start training and get out of this running funk.  Coincidently, I just received an email from Mommy Runs offering training for the Asbury Half Marathon, which happens to be a few weeks before the Long Branch Half. It is exactly the support and motivation I need to get running again!

My second goal is to try and get a spot in the August Jersey Girl Triathlon. I have never done one but I am excited and anxious to give it a try. Maybe by the end of the summer I will have abs like The Situation. Are you laughing again?

For more information on Mommy Runs click here and the Jersey Girl Triathlon click here.